The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3985, 10 December 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1891.

The Babbit Board, holding that its special mission, the importation of stoats and weasels, is accomplished, has determined to invite settlers to declare by circular whether the members of it shall go out of office, and in the interim the business of the Board is to be that of a suspended animation Perhaps it would have been as well if the Board had arranged for a nominal existence for a time, so thst if any matter cropped up which required consideration it would be in a position to intervene. As it is, the replies of the settlers are likely to be favourable to the immediate demise of the Board. The question is not of consequence, as the real work of importing the natural enemy is now completed, and the Government Inspector is competent to look after the rabbits ; but as a measure of prudence a nominal existence for a time might have been expedient

Attention is directed to the special Xmas price list issued by the Wholesale Drapery Company. Messrs Jno. Graham & Co. announce that their special Xmas advertisement will appear on Friday next. The next English and European Mail closes at the Masterton Post Office tomorrow (Friday) morning. A new patent system ot meat-frnezing is beine introduced to the colony. A plant under the now system is being erected at the Spit of the North British andHawke's Bay Freezing Company. The widespread fallacy that one can not have ton much of a good thing is illustrated by the fact that positive drunkenness has resulted from the excessive use of strong tea.

The London Daily Teleraph declares that Australian and New Zealand butter ia beating that imported from Normandy in the open market. The Becret, it believes, is that the former is pure grass butter. The resignation of Mr Thomas Mackay as Inspector in the North Wairarapa Rabbit District ha 3 been accepted by the North. Wairarapa Rabbit Board of Trustees.

The Evening Post says ;—Desptfe a rumour to the contrary, which found publication recently, we are informed on the best authority that Mr P. Gill is continuing his connection with the Mutual Life Association of Australasia, and will be, as previously, stationed at Masterton as resident agent. Bumble bees haye recently made their appearance on tbe Eaßt Coast. Although they have been in Masterton for seyeral years, they are anything but numerous.

The attention of our readers is directed to the special announcement ot the Union Clothing and Mercery Company inanother column. The firm, whose stock of clothing and mercery and whose favourable prices are too well known to need explanatory remark, offer a still further concession to the public in the shape of a discount of two shillings in the' pound qn all goods bought durinp December. Cpuntry customers will appreciate this sensible form nt liberality, which is much preferable to the usual bestowal of trifling and common-place prestnts. The Union Clothing and Mercery Company will be found at their old-established premises, corner ot Manners«street and Cuba- street

The Melbourne Argus of Nov, 24 says : —A burglary rurpassing all recent occurrences of the kind in point of sensationalism was attempted at file house of Mr Francis E. Ryan, 111, Madeline street, Carlton, early this morning. Mr Ryan lives in a two storey brick house next co the Harr. of Erin Hotel, and last night be left his wife and family at home while he went to the Democratic Jlub. He was late in returning, and it was past midnight when he let himiclf into his house by the front door with a latch ley. Once inside he was startled by hearing a noise as of men clattering up the staircage into tbp second storey. Being a man of fine physique, apd much strength and courage, he did not hesitate to follow, notwithstanding that the men might be reckless and violent burglars. He ran upstairs at their heels, and just as he had almost overtaken them they darted into his bedroom, where his wife lay asleep, and locked the door behind them. The wife screamed ip terror, and M* Ryan buret in the door with two or three well-directed kicks. When he gained admittance the burglars, who were two in number, turned upon him and struck him with two bi'lets of fire wood. The firsi blows drew blood, and probably Mr Ryan would have fared ill if he had not been armed with a stout walkins-stick. He defended hmiselt with that, and soon forced one of the men on his knees. The other, however, came behind hjm and struck him a heavy blow with a lemonade bottle, which stunned him for an instant. Taking advantage of this slight opportunity, the robbers sought to escape through the wmdow, but they were unable to do so. and Mr Byan having recovered from his momentary faintness returned to the tioht, and succeeded in keeping the men in tbe room until neighbours were attracted by Mrs Ryan's screams. To hand the robbers over to the police was a matter of ease, and under the care of Constables M'Gowan and Kelley, they were taken, one to the Melbourne Hos» pitd and (ho other to the watch, jjome,

Mr J. A. Perry, of Tenui, was admitted to the Masterton Hospital yesterday suffering from a fracture of the leg.

The difficulty over the Boxing Day holiday has, we understand, been amicably settled, the storekeepers o Masterton having resolved to close thei places of business as usual on that day.

The North Wairarapa Babbit Board has resolved to take the opinion of the ratepayers of the district upon the advisability or otherwise of abolishing the Board.

Shearing operations, both in Canterbury and Otago, have been considerably delayed by the prevalence of influenza among the shearers. A meeting of the Loyal Masterton Lodge, 1.U.0.F., was held in the Lodge room, Perry street, on Tuesday evening, at which there was a fair attendance. The usual routine business was transacted, and the reduced scale of initiation fees forwarded by the District Lodge was received.

The Factory Act passed last session comes into operation on Ist January. The only salaried officers under the Act will be in large centres, who will have the general supervision of its operations. In other placeß the administration of the Act, which will be enforced gradually, will be in charge of a civil servant or police officer vs at present. We need hardly remind our readers of the concert to be eiven in the Theatre Royal this evening in aid of the Peacock family, who were recently burnt out and left in a destitute condition. The public ofMastertonhas always readily responded to appeals for assistance, and on this occasion will no doubt fully maintain the reputation it has gaitied for chaiify and benevolence. Apart from the objects of the entertainment, the programme to be submitted will be a varied and attractive one, the whole of the leading talent of the district assisting'.

The Southland Neics, referring to the report that the Clucha and Bruce County Councils had been unable to obtain ten--dera for certain work in consequence of the wages offered by the Government to the unemployed, states that the men on Government works range from 5a to 6a 9(i, payment being at schedule rates, and according to the amount of work done. Tliat means that the strongest and hardest-working man out of some three hundred earns 6s 9d a day, the average wage being 6a. The Marlborough Express, presumably a Liberal " grinder," takes exception to our report of the Eketahuna banquet; It does not care for the "new journalism," as adopted by the London Star, the Fall Mall Gazette, and other metropolitan journals, and because we happened to mention that the Minister tor Justice rose with a "significant twinkle in his eye," and that Mr Buick, M.H.R., "reminded one more of a parson than anything else," it says, "We shall have to wait for a somewhat fairer report than this before we can attempt to.criticise the speeches made." If our Marlborough contemporary is waiting for a " fairer" report he will probably wait a long time. Perhaps it will interest him to know that both his friend Mr Buick, |and Mr flogg, M.H.R., have complimented our reporter upon the fairneßs and accuracy of his report. The Masterton Masonic Lodge, N.Z.C., met in the lodge room, Bannister-street, last evening, W.M. Bro. Altken presiding, and over thirty brethren being present. After the transaction of the usual business, the following officers were elected for the ensuing twelve months: —I.P.M., Jas. Aitken ; W.M., P. Dickson ; S.W., C. A. Pownall; J.W., J. A; McKenzie; Chaplain, Rev. W. E. Paige , Director of Ceremonies, T. E. Price ; Treasurer, R. M. Galloway ; Secretary. W. Sellar ; S.D., J. Wickens ; J.D., A. E. Copping ; Stewards, J. R. Graham and J. Dixon; Tyler, E. S. Richards. The appointment of I.G. was left over till next meeting. Messrs D. A. Tabuteau and C. A. Pownall were appointed auditors for the Lodge, and E. Richards, junr., auditor for the W.M. The installation was fixed for the second Wednesday in January. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Masterton Hospital Trust was held in the Council Chambers at 8.80 p.m. yesterday. Present Messrs J. C. Boddington (chairman), B. P. Perry, G. 8. W. Dalrymple, J. B. Keith, and Rev Father M'Kenna. Theminutes of the previoua meeting were readand confirmed. The Treasurer reported a credit balance of £199 9s. The Custodian acknowledged receipt of sets of draughtmen and board?, also two seats for outside, from Mr Q. S. W. Dalrymple. A vote of thanks was accorded him for the gifts. The Hospital diary was read. The Custodian reported patients admitted during the month :—9 males, 1 female. Patients now in hwpital:— 9 males, and 1 female. Accounts amounting to £37 10a Id were passed for payment. Accounts of ex-patients were gone into by Trustees, and in three cases the Secretary was instructed to take out summonses for recovery. It was resolved to call tenders for supplies for the ensuing year, saiae to be dealt with at a special meeting to be held on Friday, the 18th December, Mr J. B, was appointed visiting member for the month. This being all the business the meeting adjourned.

\A e shall be ever ready to welcome the crowds who may take advantage of these desirable opportunities, and the more widely we distribute our Christmas gifts the better shall we be pleased at Te Aro House, 'Wellington. In addition to offering exceptional advantages to customers, such as an immense variety, a carefully selected and fashionable stock of goods in every department of the warehouse, we intend, during the remainder of the present month to present all cash customers to the extent of 20s and upwards with an attractive Christmas gift, at Te Aro House Wellington. We have a regular, devised scale for the things, and in proportion to tbe amount of purchases bo will be tbe value of the present, 'xhis scale will be on the same lines as on previous years, and nq doubt will give equal satisfaction, at Te Aro House, Wellington. CJne thing should be noted especially, and that Uis that this gift distribution will extend during the present month up to the very last day of December, 1891, neither more or less, Those that are wise will therefore take care to be in time at Te Aro House Wellington.—Advt