The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1891

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3996, 23 December 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1891

They play comedies in Welhngton at other places than the Opera House ! A piece has just been put through at the Land Board which might amuse the people were it not that, it is cruel to laugh at two respectable Irish ladies. One a young school teacher, and the other somewhat older, has been put to the rack there at that modern inquisition invented by the prefaent Ministry, and known as " alleged dummyism inquiry." In the Coleman Phillips' case there was some colour for bringing ladies before this Court, because the persecuted ones were connected with one of the wealthiest men in Wellington, «nd it was possible to imagine that his capital might be available for a dummying speculation, but in this instance we have two todies who do not appear to be in any way connected with grasping capitalists, but rather to be industrious persons earning their own living, and disposed to invest their small savings in a section adjacent to one taken up by a relative. Whether there is more than this in the affair we are not in a position to say, but even if there be a little more we would sooner see the bold Minister for Lands fly at some nobler game than a couple of Irish ladies. In the last session did not a well-known M.H.K. indicate a member of the Cabinet as being mixed up with an alleged case of dummyisui, The Wellington Land Board know all abput this, bijt J they dare not hold an inquiry into this particular transaction, but, hounded on by Ministerial mandates, they worry out W ' !S a cou P^ e ot Irish girls. What depent jnap in the community would like to see his sisters brought up before a Board and cross-exanined by a barrister, on th>. understanding that if they said any thing which might criminate themselves, they would be put in the dock of the Supreme Court. Then, again, the interrogating barrister appeared to receive tome slightassistance from one or two members of the Board, notably from JY> r A. W Hogg, though to the credit of Mr McCter'He, another member, it may be said he displayed sympathy with the victims of a petty and coniempt'ble persecution, It is time that ignoble 6oenes like this were stopped, and that the license of the Land Board to worry women and make itself generally ridiculous were withdrawn. Let us have the affair with which the name of the Post-master-General has been associated, investignted.insiead of a pusilanimous attack on decent women, or if for obvious reasons a Minister cannot be looked at let us hope that at the next Cabinet meeting that genial son of Erin, the Hon Pat. BuckJey, will take his shillalah with him and teach some of his ruder colleagues a much needed lesson.

local contemporary, and it was' absolutely arranged that it sboald be open to the press. This really meant that a reporter *as desired to attend of the right colour! Uufortuna'.ely the member of the press who was ex (jected and desired did not turn up, and in his place appeared a represen tutive from our own office,—a press man of the wrong colour! The presence of an independent reporter snr-mi-d to scare the meeting out of its wits. It collapb"d utterly and absolutely and took refuge in the petty subterfuge that a mistake had been made in the advertisement and that the gathering was only a private Committee meeting. The working men of the town must feel proud of au association that dare no f - face daylight or stand the test of tlm presence of an honest and independent reporter. Everybody knows that Mr Bnick's mission here has been a failure and that even the demand for J.P.ships at a guinea each is very limited, but it is ridiculous trying to conceal so patent a fact by garbling or suppressing the report of a duly convened public meeting.

An inset from the Wholesale Drapery Company appears in our issue of to-day.

The Masterton Rifle Volunteers fire for the marksman's medal :»n Christmas Day.

The early train from Eketahuna was delayed for several hours this morning owing to a tree having fallen across the line north of Manpamahoe.

We remind pedestrians that athletic sports are to be held at Whakataki on Boxing Day. A Public Schools Swimming Club has been established at Dunedin.

The new police station buildings at Pahiatua have been completed, and are a credit to the contractor, Mr J. Dawson. Mr David Crewe, who recently returned from a trip to the Old Country, intends commencing business in Pahiatua as a stock salesman.

Hailstones as large as marbles fell in Masterton yesterday aiternoon, prior to a heavy downpour of rain. Tho nei f , English and European mail, via Rio, will close at the Masterton Post Office to-morrow (Thursday) morning. The Pahiatua County Council is good at conundrums. At its meeting on Satur - day last it passed the following resolution :—The public, whenever each or anyone of thein find a short cut from anywhere to anywhere else immediately publicly notify it for the benefit, of any and all those Whom it may concern, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Makuri township. The downpour ef rain which was experienced yesterday was preceded at Kuripuni by a heavy fall of hail, the effect of which was to level crops to the ground. | The Wairarapa Standard is threatened with a libel action by Thomas Munday, builder, of Carterton, for certain strictures published in March last in reference to the latter's bankruptcy, unless a public apulogy is made and all expenses paid.

A party of alpine touripts, including several ladies, leave Carterton for Mount Holdsworth 011 Christmas morning, returning on Sunday night. Mr Buick, organising secretary of the National Liberal Federation, addressed a public in jtfting at Carterton last night. At a meeting of the village settlers at Mangaoainoka on Saturday last, the following resolution was passed : —That in the opinion of this meeting the time has arrived for the formation of a Road Board, the area to include the Pahiatua, Mangataiuoka, and Mangaramarama Village Settlements, and the Mangatainoka town sections.

At a special meeting of th<» Eketahuna Boad Board on Saturday last, the tender of Mr \Y. Woolf at £143 was accepted for the erection of a bridge 011 the Tawataia road. The tender of Mr J. Roy at £7114 a was also accepted for culverts at Parkville.

Mr N. Grace's thoroughbred sire The Mute has been destroyed, having beeu found on the ruu ot its owner with a broken leg. The Mute was the Hire of the well known racer Pasha, The seoond match of the season between the Masterton and Carterton Lawn Tennis Club, was played at Masterton on Saturday afternoon. Ten games were played, of which Masterton won six.

The Wairarapa Sale Yards Company is to be voluntarily wound up. Mr H. H. Welters, of Carterton, has been appointed liquidator. Mr E. Feist is, we regret to hear, still confined to his house. He has been unable to attend the meetings ot the Borough Council for some weeks, and has been granted leave ot absence.

The installation of Mr C. A. Pownall as Mayor of Maetertoji took place yesterday, The proceedings were merely of a formal character, not a single ratepayer being present. After the transaction of the business of the Council an adjournment wag made to the Club Hotel, svherethe health of the newlyinstalled Mayor was drunk in bumpers. The sneak poultry thief is again on the warpath in Masterton, and numerous householders have been relieved of what was intended for their Christmas dinner. One resident of the Upper Plain lost no less than six geese in one night, the birds being killed before being removed from the yard.

An effort is beinp made in Masterton to erect a water fountain for the convenience of the public. The Minister for Defence is to be applied to for a site in front of the police station ior the purpose, and should this be granted the fountain will be erected without delay. A half holiday lias been declared by the Masterton Borough Council for Mcn« day next, the occasion of the summer meeting of the Mattorton-Opaki Jockey Club. A number of business people of the town have signified their intention of closing on that date. The return cricket match played on Saturday last between teams representing Gladstone and a wjn fpr the former. The Wairoa Guardian states that fifty tone of flax have recently been sent away from the Tuhara flax mill.

The Advocate report 3 tint during the last few dayt, several horses have disappeared from Marjon and vicinity in such a manner as to leave no other possible inference but that they have been stolen.

A quiet wedding took pluce in St. Matthew's Church this morning, when MrW. 13. Uhennells, of this town, was united to a ladv bearing the same name, who has recently arrived from Home. Mr Chennells is one of the mine business men of the town, and possesses the confidence and respect of the community, and all will wish him and his bride every happiness. He was for a time, when ho first came to this district, on the staff of the WiiRAUApi Daily, and vye able to speak from experience of his estimable business and social qualifies. \A e shall be evor to welcome the crowds who may take advantage of these desirable opportunities, and the more widely to distribute our Christmas gifts the better stjall we be pleased at Te Aro House. WeilinntoD.

A jockey in the employ of Mr P. F. Tancred, named Corlett, was taken to the Greytown Hospital yesterday suffering from a fractured collar bone. The last parade of the season was held by the Masterton Rifle Volunteers last evening, l.ieutenant Hooper being in command. The men were put through their facings by Lieutenant Malcolm and non-commissioned officers. At the close of the parade a meeting was held, ac which a Committee was appointed to arrange shouting matters. The Masterton Borough Council has refused ft grant permission to Mr M. Caselberg to convey water from ths Waipoua to his private residence, as the ' original contract had been determined, ! the contractor having failed to comply with the requisitions of the Council. His Worship the Mayor expressed his opinion at last night's meeting of the Council that i unless the permission required was granted, Mr Caselberg would have very ' good grounds for an action against tho | corporation. One of the most tasteful art productions yet published in New Zealand is ' issued this year under the auspices of ' Messrs Nelson, Moate, and Co., Indian, ) China, and Ceylon tea merchants, and ; we have to acknowledge the receipt from Mr J. E. Francis, tho firm's \Vel« lington managur, of an excellent chromograrih almanac which amply justifies this expression of praise. The central tubjecc is a female figure, a 3 charming presentment of .Eastern beauty 8 —The Circassian Slave it is called. The picture is prettily tinted in no less than s fourteen colours, and the tints are very y pleasingly harmonised The marginal b space is devoted to views of Messrs Nelson, Moatc, and Co's warehouses at Christchurch, Dunedin, Hobart. Launa ceston, Auckland, and Wellington. It is only fair to mention in this somewhat rare instance in which a Colonial ohromo 8 can be honestly admired, that Messrs J. Wilkie and Co, of Duuedin, are its t designers and executors.