The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3728, 5 February 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1891.

All large and profitable businesses usually take more or less the form of monopolies. It is suggested that the time has arrived in New Zealand for nationalising certain lines of business which are come to be specially regarded in the light of monopolies. The principle contended for is that the state should be the only monopo list, but t}ien, if monopoly be a vicious prattice the question arises as to whether it can always be indulged in with Impunity even by a State. But even if the principle be admitted it is extremely difficult to draw a line in applying it. We once knew a wood screw maker to secure an absolute monopoly in the wood screw tracte. According to the tenets of the New Zealand liberal party the State ought to have stepped in and jiatiqnalised the manufacture of these scjrews ; The State, however, forebore to interfere, st)d after a few years the monopoly was broken up by a natijral reaction in trade. At present in New Zealand the liberals propose to nationalise the fire insurance business, the .coal trade, and the Steam Shipping business, and should they succeed in doing this they will add a f3w thousand more men to the muster roll of the army which now finds service and salary at the hands of the State. This army even now, including as it does the civil service, tha railway service, the post and telegraph service, the school teachers, etc, constitutes no inconsiderable pppqrtion of the adult population of New Zealand, and should it be largely augmented, we should find in time that one half the men in the Colony were working to raise the State incomes paid to the other half. What a splendid opportunity for a Government to create three or four new departments in which there would te seyeral thousand billets to be given away, Caa we frjist a Liberal Ministry to distribute a few thousand billets amongst their friends to the advantage of the colony? We fear these r al io Qf, l' B ' D g ideas, however well they would w'Cl'lf politicals and their camp followers, wou~i» prove an intolerable burden to the State. It is only the boycott coming up in a few form. The Unions failed to boycot the Union Steam Company apd now call upon the State to do it for them. we have learnt by experience thai when a little boycotting is to be done even the State is not safe, and the labor party would just as soon boycott the State as any private company or firm. It would be a dangerous political expedient for the Liberals to get the State to boycott private companies and then they themselves to finish up by boycotting the State. We do not think Mr Ballanoe and hig colleagues will travel very far on the ising" lines, and we believe the nropCJals made by may be regarded , more in tb ? or u."° works than as danger oi^ a ' 8 - 1

r ,^^ e r^ a ' ;e strike cost the Westport Coal company no lesß than L 20,000. ' !Dccesß f n l wet practice was neia by the Masterton Volunteer Fire tfngade last evening. Orchards are being ribbed wholesale in Ureytown by sneak thieves. Several residents are now prowlinp round with i fl int locks.

The Education Board has awarded a va ' ue of £3O per annum o Alajory Fellingham, of the ton School.

-Pleuropneumonia iB very prevalent in some parts of Victoria, and the stock j inspector recommends that cattle be inoculated with anti-pleuro virus. l'he next census tor the colony of . e f Zealand will be taken on the night of April sth. A country editor closes his financial review with the remark : "Money is close, but not quite close enough to reach."

The Manawatu Herald says that the ship Hydrabad is to be broken up in 8 cwt pieces and the material of which she i» built (Lowmoor iron) sent to Auckland.

The quarterly sittings ef the Masterton Borough Licensing Committee will be held on March sth, and of the District Licensing Committee 011 March 7th. B

A painter in Adelaide named Lowenthal shot his wife three times, and a fourth shot struck the baby she was nursing. The woman died, but the child is recovering. At a meeting of the Volunteer Fire Brigade held last evening, Captain B. Hounslow, and Firemen BartJett and Allen were presented with long service medals.

A Dutchman was on a Coroner's jury, and after sitting quietly for an honr during the inquest, arose, peered into the face of the corpse, and then, turning to the rest of the jury, said " Mein Gott, dot mon ish dead."

The Wellington Evening Post thinks the richness of the country between Eketahuna and Wooclville affords an ample guarantee that the construction of this section of the railway line would be profitable, and urges the Government to undertake the work without delay.

The horses attached to the brake of Mr D Hoggie refused to pass the door of the Bon Marche this morning, the flag announcing the great clearing sale being ot such an attractive nature. The horses floundered about considerably, but very little damaee was done. Four children of a widow named Lund, at Auckland, whose ages ranged from two to ten years, were rescued from a brothel kept by their mother yesterday morning, and committed to an industrial school. It was stated in evidence that Mrs. Lund had another boy, but recently sold him to a Chinaman for £5, after which he was taken to China.

A lady from the country yesterday stepped into a certain Masterton banking institution and called for a "box of Beeohatn's pills, please". The teller blushed profusely and retired to give venu to his feelings. On regaining his equilibrum he politely informed the lady of her mistake, whereupon the latter offered a brief but abject apology and beat a hasty retreat. The Greytown Borough Counoil has decided to have nothing to do with the Masterton petition, praying for the severance of the Wairarapa from the Wellington Charitable Aid District. As the objects stated in the petition have been sought by Mr Buchanan, M.H.li, and his colleague, Mr Beetham, it is considered unfair to put the matter into other hands, The annual ram and ewe fair under the auspices of the Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association was commenced in the yards of Messrs Lowes aud lorns to-day under the most favorable circumstances. The attendance of buyers was good, and the bidding brisk. The sale, which is being conducted by Mr J. lorns, will" be confined to-day to Lincolns, of which there are 590 entries—393 2 tooth, and 197 aged. To-morrow 150 2 tooth and 50 aged Romneys, 30 Cotswolds, 10 Downs and 21 lambs will be offered.

The house of which Mr A. "W. Hogg, M.H.R., is a membar, came suddenly to grief yesterday afternoon. A debate was, it appears, being held by a number of lady visitors as to the desirability of extending the franchise to women, and an adjournment for lunch had been moved, when the roof of the building came crashing in, and in an instant the rooms were filled with bricks and mortar. Terror-stricken, the inmates of the house rushed into the street, thinking that probably the irregularity of the proceedings had evoked the Divine displeasure, and resulted in a rain of bricks. But no, it was only the collapse of the chinjney. Although no bodily injury was sustained by the lady occupants of the house, the escape was no less miraculous than providential. The roof of the house was completely demolished, and its repair will necessitate the expenditure ot a considerable sum of money. The Lyttelton Times special writes : —The youngest man in the House is 1 believe Mr JBuick of Marlborough. He is 24 years of age, and is probably the youngest man who ever entered the Houbg of Representatives, The late Mr Slieehan was, I thjak, 25 yearq of age when he attained a similar position. Mr. Jackson Palmer, who defeated Mr, Monk, is also quite in the freshness of youtn, somewhere in the twenties. None of the other members are under 30 years of age. Mr Arthur Rhodes 32 ; Messrs Ward, Carrol, and W. P. Reeves are 33. Mr Ward is, I think, possibly the youugest New Zealand M.fi.R. who his ever yet been sworn in as Minister of the Crown.

Bays the Hawera Star; —At the time of the last election a story was abroad concerning two settlers near Manata, one of whom on polling day was assisting the other to work sheep on the farm. It so happened that A was strong in the McGuire interests, while B was a staunch supporter of Sir Harry, and they made it up between themselves that, as it would waste considerable time to eo to Manaia to record their votes, they both should stick to their work and pair off, and neither vote would count. After dinner, A said he would require to bring in the res', of his sheep ; he wouldn't bj> long. and B " could uo on with hig w'ork in the yard in the meantime. A went, but managed also to get as far as Manaia, and, being there, thought it a pity not to repord his vote. The deed was done, and, upon arriving home again lie never mentioned the little fact. B in the evening also found his way to Manaia, and, in talking over the arrangements made tha 1 ; day between A and himself, what Wft? bis chagrin to discover himself sold ? B has since declared he has never thoroughly appreciated the demoralising effect of New Zealand politics until this incident opened )iis eyes.

R. Fairbeother & Son, of Cartertqp have just opened a very large assort ment of China and Earthenware, and ■ Paperhangings, and are offering the beat i quality at very low prices. Call and dee.—Adjt. A Monster Clearing Sale of Drapery [ and Clothing wjli be held during the next few days at L. J. B oooer and Cos' Bon Marche. Every article in the wareh >use will be offered at greatly 1 reduced prices. The Sale will commence on Saturday morning, January < 31st, at 8 o'clock. A. tremendous sacrifico of Dress Goods, Millinery, Ladies' Jackets, Mantles, Corsets, Straw Gcods, Hosiery and Gloves, Umbrellas and . Parasols, etc etc. will be made to make room for Fresh Shipments to arrive. ' Ho be ready for bargains in every -*• at Hooper's Monster department, ~ —Jav morning Sale commencing January 31st, at 8 o'clock. The Clothing Stock at Hooper's Bon Marche will be Sold at Nefct Cosf during the Great Sale, Mens', Boys' and Ch'ldrens' Clothing, Hats, Shirts, Seeks I Ties, etc, at exceptionally low prices. We shall sell, and those that patronise the Bon Marche Monster Clearing Sale will reap the benefit of our being overstocked. Hooper and Co, Bon Marche. —advi.