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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3906, 7 September 1891, Page 2

The Committee of the Masterton School of Art has managed for the past three years to keep the classes open with very slender means at its disposal. The late teacher, Miss

Holmes, made her work a labour of love, or probably the school would have been closed long ago, and we presume her resignation *ias decided the Committee to give up an undertaking which has been exceedingly useful in introducing " the beginnings of art" to this town. It is, however, to be regretted tnat when an art school has been established some three years, and is fairly well equipped with necessary appliances, it .should be allowed to fall through. It would be an advantage perhaps if the Committee could see its w<ty to say what sum really is likely to be available for another year of art teaching. The amount might be insufficient to attract an outside teacher or even a local instructor with a status equal to that of Miss Holmes, but it might >be adequate to induce some local resident with a sufficient art knowledge for keeping the classes open, to undertake the work. The Committee* doubtless, is a little weary of the somewhat thankless task which fell to its lot during the past year or two, and would gladly be relieved of all further responsibility, but we would point out that the final effort we have suggested might be tried before abandoning a scheme which might yet thrive and grow if it survives the serious ailment which now threatens it.

A false alarm was sounded on the Yictoria street firebell on Saturday last. Shearing operations will commene at Akioio station on October lßt. We understand the Woodville Examiner is about to be turned into a limited liability company. Five«pound shares are being issued.

A Maori who was asked the other day if he could speak English, in the Waipawa R.M. Court, replied, " No, sir, I can't." This satisfied the most sceptical. A first offender who appeared in the R.M. Court ihis morning was dealt with in the usual summary manner. The sculling race between Gauduur and Hanlan has been declared off.

Influenza is preyalent in Melbourne. Lord and Lady Bopetonn, the Premier, and the Colonial Secretary aie all prostrated with it.

A canvasser for the Picturesque Atlas at Invercargill has been fined £5 and £2 costs for assaulting a subscriber by striking him on the face. Messrs C. H. Mills, D. Pinkerten, and A. W. Hogg, three of the Labour members, address a public meeting at Carterton on Saturday next uader the auspices of the Knights of Labour It is expected that Lord Sheffield's team of cricketers will play in the four large centres of New Zealand. A guarantee of £IOOO has, however, to be made.

The football match between the second fifteens of the Red Star and Petone Clubs, played on the Park Oyal on Saturday, resulted in ja win for the former by fiye points to one. The work of the pupils attending the Masterton branch of the School of Design was inspected by a large number if interested persons on Saturday. Some of the specimens submitted were genuine works of art, and reflected the greatest credit upon the pupils and their instructor, Miss Holmes.

Says che Pahiatua Star: —We regret to leain that Mrs Burrows, who is at present on a yisit to some friends at Masterton, is suffering from a serious internal disorder. She is advised that her only hope of recovery hangs upon the success of an operation which she mußt submit to if her life is to be spared. Cool storage for butter in any quantities will be provided by the Wellington Meat Export Company, Limited, during the forthcoming season. Full particulars re charges, etc,, may be obtained fcom the Secretary, The Parliamentary correspondent of the Hawke's Bay Herald says:—The gossip goes that one member, who is a supporter of the Government, but who was independent enough to vote against the second reading of the Payment of Members Bill, received so severe a wigging, not only from some of the rank and file of the party, but from members of the Ministry as well, that he has now hardly the temerity to call his soul his own.

A station hand on a visit to Masterton had his pockets rifled on Saturday night, amongst other articles missed being an order on Messrs Leyin and Co for £l6. The order was afterwards found to have been cashed at a local store. The matter was reported to the police, but no clue to the robber has yet been found.

The rainfall registered at Ditton (Rangitqmau) for the winter months of June, July, and August, was 8*47 inches. The average for the previous ten years was 16'98 inches, The total rainfall since January, 1891, has been 28'45 inches, whilst the average for the corresponding period for tho previous ten y ears was 34*10 inches.

At a meeting held in the Club Hotel on Saturday night, a new cricket club, to be known as the "Masterton Cricket Club," was formed, and twenty persons gave in their names for membership. It was resolved to reque3t the Star Club to amalgamate, and thus have one strong club in the town. It is to be hoped that this course will be adopted, and that the grand old English game, which has for some years beenlanguishingin Maaterton. will be resuscitated. We wish the new Club a bright and prosperous career. The following letter recently appeared in the Napier Daily Telegraph: —Sir, — Can you tell me whv it is so often the case that teetotal advocates cannot speak the truth ? Is the absence of alcohol in the human system conducive to lying aud slandering ? Nothiag has done so much harm to the cause of temperance as the verbal intemperance of its preachers. What can any cause gain by a lot of 6Ri*aggy, miserable, unwashedlooking, seedy individuals loafing about the country revilin? respectable persons ? If some of these temperance apostles were horsewhipped, or ducked in a ditch it might teach them that a liar is a more despicable creature than the besoddened I fool who has made a swill-tub of himself.

The Pahiatua School Committee recently applied to the Education Board for funds £o supply school requisites. The following reply was received from the Board s Secretary:—" I am directed to inforin ypu that the capitation grant is made for tbe purpose of enabling school committees to meet ordinary charges for maintenance ans up-keep, and where due regard is pajd to the amount available this has always been sufficient, In no other case has a demand been ipade fpr more liberal allowance to enable committees fo carry out their duties with respect to tbe items of expenditure on the enclosed pcale. Are there any special reasons for making these works more expensive in Pahiatua tban any other district undec this Board ? Your own estimate of the first charge on capitation grant only amounts to £3 lls6d per year, and a reference to | your accounts for previous years will show th.at with careful management the revenue of yowp Conjmittee has been sufficient to enable it to' meet the expenditure. The Board fully considered the question at : its lasfc meeting and decided that it catinot entertain your application grant to enable you to B,uppJp Hoopejr and C.omp&lJJ' aonOuuce the arrival gf their first shipments for ill" BBigofi wijiph (s ffifw being opened up at iha 800 Marphe. Every department will be tV!'" with" a}} tjie latest and French flowers, hats ana *»uets, fashionable mantles and jackets, the newest styles, designs and materials for dresses, new prints, muslins, delains, new laces, ribbons, gloves, parasols, &c., &c.

The Bon Marcbe has always held the reputation for the nicest assortment of new goods at the opening of the season, and Hooperand Company are determined to offer the public such a choice this season as will eclipse everything in tbe istrict.

Captain Snow, of the Trade Depart* merit of the Salvation Army, la to be in Masterton on Thursday nfixt. A special evangelistic service was held in the local Presbyterian Church last evening, when an impressive sermon was preached by the Rev. Eobt. Wood.

It is expected that £3OO will be given in prizes by the Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association f®r its forthcoming Show. Down Dunedin way the plan is coming into fashion of inserting "in meraoriam" notices on the anniversary of the death of husbands. One advantage of this Bystem seems to be that it reminds the world of the existence of the widow.

In response to a query from the New Zealand Rifle Association, the Sydney Association has decided that matches at two, three, five, six hundred and a thousand yards shall be open to the New Zealand team, and a special match will probably be arranged as well. The totalisator tax of per cent upon all moneys passed through the machine, is to he imposed by means ot the Stamp Act Amendment Bill, which was introduced into the House of Represensatives on Friday. There is to be a penalty up to £2O against officers of racing clubs who make improper returns. Gourmands will ba glad to learn that the eacargot of the Fiench—the vine snail, eaten so extensively in France—has been acclimatized here, although it has not spread much. The Bnail which is now so common in most parts of New Zealand as to be a nuisance almost is the 4 European Garden Snail' Helln aspersa. It is also edible, but not so tasty as the escargot. Both kinds, as well as the smaller.species, are still sold in large' quantities in Covent Garden as food for cage birds and tor consumptive persons. The juice squeezed from K. asptrsa (the kind common about Masterton) forms, when mixed with white of eggs, a first class cement. It is also considered a good substitute for cream. At a meeting ot the Programme Committee ot the Masterton Pastoral and Agricultural Society held on Saturday, it was decided to give prizes of £6, £2 and £1 for the hunter's competition, £4 and £2 for the high jump for horses, and £4, £2 and £1 for tilting at the ring. A prize of £3 3s was awarded for most points in horseß and cattle, and a gold medal and £1 Is for the champion champion bull, & champion cow or haifer. in thoroughbred and draught horses. Gold medals were also awarded for In sheep, gold medals were awarded for champions in Lincolns and Bomney (ram and ewe respectively), a similar prize being offered for the most points in pigs. In the implement class prizes of £2 2s and £1 Is were awarded for cream separator and wool press. A class for shoeing draught horses was added, and the remainder of the programme pasaed.