The Wairarapa Daily WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Issue 3920, 23 September 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23, 1891.

An unusual number of petty bank* ruptciea, during the current year, remind us of the easy going character of the Act in force, and the laxity with which it is administered, owing to the low tone of commercial morality which characterises this colony. There have not been wanting cases of a glaring character in which it has been evident that bankrupts have become iuyolved from grave misconduct on their own part, but provided a debtor has no assets, the Bankruptcy Court has no terrors for him. A debtor who has an estate, and who has been guilty of improper conduct, may have reason to tremble, because his assets may become converted into " powder and shot " for his own punishment, but the lucky happy go-as-you-please debtor, who is all liabilities, is abso lutely safe. The honet-t trader may shrink from the Bankruptcy Court, but the scamp has every inducement to avail himself of its sheltering winga. The fault does not altogether lie in the law or in its administration, but in the low commercial morality i of the community. The machinery | for punishing misconduct is provided and impartial judges arc available, but it is quite understood that it does not pay to punish a debtor, and so the veriest and most scandalous culprits come off with flying colours. If the Chambers of Commerce in this colony were worthy of the name much might be done to improve this unsatisfactory condition of affairs. They could appoint inspectors to report upon all cases of insolvency which cropped up, where fraud or misconduct were apparent, and put the law in moiion against the offenders. This might involve the expenditure of a considerable sum of money, but even if it cost the commercial fraternity ten thousand pounds the money would come back with an increase if the Augean stable of the Bankruptcy Court were thoroughly cleansed. Every business man of any standing piobibly loses from one hundred to a thousand pounds per annum by bad debts arising in the main from the laxity which is allowed to prevail in business transactions. Were he to devote a tenth or even a twentieth of his present losses to a fund which could be applied to putting a stop to malpractice he would speedily bring down his bad debt list to a trifle pf its normal dimensions. Tt is idlo to expect much from any alteration in the bankruptcy law, but if a number of honest traders formed a Vigilance Committee and waged systematic war against culpable defaulters there would soon be a change.

The rivers in Hawke's Bay are stated to have been flooded last week to a higher l*vel than they have reached for nine years past. A scoundielly outrage is slid to have been perpetrated at Te Auto. The graves of certain natives have been opened and the greenstone and other yaluables removed. The police have the matter in baud, The Public Potitions Committee of the House has made no compassionate allowance to Mrs P. Boys, widow of the late Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the Wairarapa. The amount spent in the construction of the Mount Cook gaol up to 31st March last was £35,744. Mr P. Pickering, of Masterton, has secured the contract for covering the Taratahi Dairy Factory with irqn. A stranger to this district made himself rather obnoxious on Sunday evening at St Mark's Church, Carterton. The church wardens applied yesterday for a summons, but when the constable went to search for the delinquent he found he liad left for fresh fields. A burning flue in Hall-street caused an alarm to be sounded on the Masterton tirebo'ls about 6.30 last evening.

has this season .^H \\ agnmcFs flaxmill on the WaipoiT has resumed operations. *i The inquiry into the local optionyoll recently taken in the Masterton licensing District will be held Roberts. R.M., to-morrow. The heating of r.he case C. R. Miller v H. K. Elder has been adjourned by Bis Honour District Judge Robinson till December 9th, at the request of the counsel. Says the Pahiatua Star : - We are pleased to be able to state that good sized trout ore frequently seen in the rivers of this district. Mr Gibson informs us that he has seen several fully a foot lonsr in the Mangaramarama, and Mr Gregory saw a few very nice one 3 in the Mangitainoka the other day. A lively fat eel, over two feet long and weighing lilbs, slipped out of the shampoo water supply pipe at a fashionable hairdresser's establishment in Melbourne the other day. Mr George Smith was exempted from service on the jury in the District Court this morning, on account of his being keeper of the Muuicipal Fire Brigade. The annual general meeting of the Eketahuna Rifle Club will be held on Friday evening next in the Oddfellows' Hall. The livery stables at Eketahuna recently conducted by Mr Pfter Thompson, have been fcakon over by Mr A. Mangnuson. Mr A. von Keisenberg's string band has been engaged for a ball to be held at crladstone on October 2nd,

A couple of handsome stained gUss windows have been inserted in St Mark's Oharch, Carterton, by Mr D. Pickering, of Masterton. Efforts are being made to induce Mr H. D. Bell to contest the Wellington Mayoralty election. The ordinary bankrupty business will not be taken in the District Court until Friday morning.

A poll taken on Saturday on the proposal to raise a loan of £2500 to construct a bridge over the Ruamahunga River at Kokatau was carried by 9 votes tol.

The case Renall y. Tayler is being heard by the following jury In the District Court:—Messrs John Harvey (foreman), Thomas Burslem, William Kummer and Henry Timmins. Two men on the Murchison field (W.A.) are reported to have obtained four hundred weight of gold, and several others are said to average a hundred ounces weekly. Great numbers of miners are flocking to the ground, and it is feared that owing to the scarcity of water the consequences to many of them will be disastrous.

The twentieth anniversary of the Court Loyal Enterprise, A, O. F., was held in the Temperance Hall, Mastorton, last evening. About a hundred persons sat down to a capital Bpread provided by Mr James Wickens, after which songs, recitations, etc., were given. Music was provided by Miss Pearson, and Messrs Mueller and Reese. The proceedings were brought to a closo by a dance, which was kept merrily gunb till the early hours of the nimning.

There are at the present time one hundred and fifty members of the Court Loyal Enterprise, A.0.F., the total value of the property of which is £785 Is 9d. The lodge has a larger number of members than any other lodge in the provincial district; for its age, and has had loss sickness for the past year thun any lodge in New Zealand.

In the District Court this morning His Hommr District Judge Robinson granted discharges from bankruptcy to Thor Nelson and Horn Manthera. The bankruptcy of Thomas Mmnday was declared closed, and the bankrupt ordered to come up for his discharge at the next sitting of the Court.

About eight o'clock last evening a vigorous alarm was sounded on the Masterton firebells, when it was discovered that the workroom of Mr W. Whitt in Queen-street was on fire. The various fire brigades were qnickly on the spot, and the flames were subdued before any damage was done. The fire appe irs tc have originated from a spark from the fire place, which settled in some sawdust below the flooring, and smouldered until it caught the timber. Fortunately the fire was discovered in itsinclpiency. Mr Douglas, Babbit Inspector sf Otago, in his amnual report charges the rabbiters with their game, He says :—Several tinning factories have been established during the last year, and whilst uo doubt excellent work in the destruction of rabbits is performed during the season the price then paid is so good that it is a very good investment to preserve the rabbits throughout the summer, when they are of very little or no value, and great difficulty is often experienced in yetting thorough poisoning done. All sorts of schemes are being adopted to hoodwink the inspectors. Mr Beard mentioned in the District Court this morning that the jury list was incomplete, only about a dozen persons being present. He suggested that so mo means should be adopted to secure the presence of the full number of jurors. The Registrar explained that same of the jurors had been exempted, whilst one was dead before the servioe of the summons. His Honor said it would be more convenient if persons exempted on account of being in the public service would let the Registrar know as soon as possible. He quite agreed that some steps should be taken to prevent inconvenience in the direction indicated.

The ball held in connection with the presentation of the Rugby Unum Football Cup to the Eketahuna Club last evenin? was a great success. The hall was beautifully decorated by Mr F. Pellinp with ferns evergreens, and photographs, interspersed with Chinese lanterns. Owing to the non-arrival of the Cup, the Club was disappointed in not having it on view, andtho presentation had to be postponed. The pleasures ot the evening were added to by pianoforte duets by Miss and Master Meade, and a violin solo by Mr Collier. The catering was entrusted to Mr C. E. Bremnuhl, which was all the most fastidious could wish for. Mr Foden, in his well known finished style, supplied the dance music. In the Mahommedan marriage ceremony the bride says:—'• Is|and here in the presence of God, and all who are assembled, to unite my heart to your heart, and my destiny to your destiny, and be called by your name." The bridegroom repeats the same words, omitting "to be called by your name."

A glarinc instance of excessive railway freight occurred to a Hamjltqn store-: keeper, who received two cases of gas oil from Auckland, each containing an eiaht gallon drum, or 16 gallons altogether, for which he was charged 15s 6d, or between three and four times the amount he would have been charged for the same quantity of kerosene.

The appearance looks externally and internally of our widely known Family Drapery Warehouse is now extremely brilliant. With the advent of the Spring Season conies an Entire Change of Fashions. Tho dark, sombre tints of winter are now completely effaced by the light, cheerful, beautiful new colors that distinguish the present season's fashions at Te Aro House, Wellington.

Ai>- advantage to customers not possessed by any small traders any whero is the immense range of chr ice in every description of fabric and fashion to be always seen »' Te Aro House, Wellington. Visitors to our Warehouse will view with wpnderment our vast piles of every description of Spring and Summer Dress Fabrics consisting of Jacqi»ard_ Beiges, Natural Homespun, Art Diasjonela, French Corduroy, French and Scotch Cheviots, Savouy Suitings, Camel Hair Tweeds, Jacquard Vigoneaux, Twilled and Plain Beiges, French Delaines, Printed Bengalines and Foulards, Flora and Striped Ben«alines, Silk Grenadines. Summer Serges and Foules, &c, «fec, a TeAkoHousi:, Wellington.