|(l« UPaipjaita itailj THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24,1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3997, 24 December 1891, Page 2

|(l« UPaipjaita itailj THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24,1891.

Christmab is " the heir of all the ages," and to say aught that is true and beautiful about it one would have to dip the records of the files of time. Possibly nothing new or original has been said on this festival for a century, and in a matter-of-fact colony like New Zealand, it would be superfluous to attempt its praises. To tbe young it is a perennial 30urce of enjoyment, but to the elders, on whom tbe cares of life fall more heavily, itis less a season of enjoyment. Does the sufferor from the prevailing epidemic, or the convalescent who baa emerged fiom it, minus his wonted appetite, take delight in Christmas cheer ? Still, no doubt, there is a measure of enjoyment even for those who are physically unlit to royster, for do they not sympathise, and, to a decree, participate in the merriment of the younger ones in the community 1 New Zealand is, of course, the most beautiful and enjoyable country in the world for the celebration of an ancient festival, and though the antipodes g nerally have a tendency to make the traditional methods of observing the anniversary some what topsyturvy, still, subject to this d'sabihty, the colony always did make a grand show at this season of the year, and, no doubt, always will. It is rather hard, however, for the pressmen to write about Christmastide, and wecan sympathise withanorthern contemporary, who, finding he could not quite fill out his wonted spaoe with observations appropriate to the occasion, winds up a leader with a wee touch of polities in which the folly of anticipating the future by a too profuse expenditure on public works is ably demonstrated. Let an editor permit himself a political interlude in his Christmas article and all is right. Perhaps after all it is cruel for any journalist even for one day in the year to deprive himself of his privilege of supplying political information to the public. The amount of such aliment which the public is supposed to absorb is no doubt unlimited, and the demand perennial, and it makes a jourualist feel happy _to insert a slight political lucubration before wishing one and all the traditional "Merry Christmas." Why should he not do so 1 Still, clouds do clear away about Christmas time, tbe torch of hope burns brighter, and the fairer lights of faith and charity shine out! Even the most cynical sees at least some reflection of the lights of Christmas and has some inclination to repeat the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless everybody!"

Mr A. R. Mackay, till recently Urowa Lands ranger in the Forty-Mile Bush, and well-known in Masterton, has been appointed Engineer and Inspector of Roads for the Rangitibei County Council. There were twenty-four applications for thu position. A freak of nature in the shape of a nVe»!c,2ged sheop has been discovered at Martin borough. The death is announced of another daughter of Mr Joseph Vile, of Feaiherston. This is the secund daughter who has died within a mouth.

A millionaire n iinod Harris has been run over and killed at Parrainatta, New South Wales.

We are in receipt of the Christmas number of the Canterbury rimes, which, aa a weekly p.iper. it would be hard to beat in the Southern Hemispheie. A new assembly of the Knights of Labor has been formed at Kuineroa, with a membership of sixteen.

The interest of Mr Charles Stewart in the Hawera Junction Hotel has, we understand, been sold to his sister-in> taw, Mia W. Stewart. The Christmas number ot the War Cry has reached us. It comprises twenty pages oi the usual interesting matter, and is printed in three different colours.

A fine show of Christmas meats was made last m>ht by Mr John Elley, the Queen-St butche", the windows being elaborately dressed and the building decorated with evergreens.

A large number of visitors from the country have already arrived in Masterton, and the town is very lively. Several places of business are draped with evergreens, ana the bright and joyful indications of a delightfully festive season are everywhere to be seen.

They have had a sensational thunderstorm down the Valley. On Tuesday afternoon a vivid flash of lightuing, followed by a terrific thunder clap, was experienced at Greytown, The lightning demolished the chimney of a cottage at South Uroy town and split up one of the verandah posts, scattenup the fragments nil round. A heavy downpour of rain followed the explosion. A t Featherston the permanent way wa&fcijured. The half yearly meeting of the Court Loyal Enterprise, A.0.F., was held in the Foresters' Hall, Maaterton, last evening, about thirty-five brethren being present, and Bro B. E. Hornblow, C.R., presiding. After the transaction of the ordinary business, the following officers were elected for the ensuing term :—C. ft., Bro Green ; S.C.R., Bro Payne ; Treasurer, Bro Hornblow ; Secretary, Bro Waddington; S.W., Bro J. J. Roberts; J.W., Bro Pragnell; 5.8.. Bro Hawke; J. 8., Bro W. H. Cole; Auditor, Bro B. Brown; President of Juveniles., Bro J. J. Roberts, One new member was initiated, and the Lodge closed in the usual manner.

An elderly Maori woman named Ru peka Tauranga died suddenly at Taho« raite on Monday morning. Deceased retired to bed a little after midnipnt, apparently in good health. Soon after day break she was heard to give a groan, and another woman who lay beside her shook her and asked her to get up, but receiving no answer pulled the clothes off and found that she was dead.

A claim on a dishonored promissory note has been brought against Mr W. R. Bone, of Masterton, by a Mr Macartney, uf Nolson. The case has been partially heai-d by Colonel Roberts, R.M., but has been adjourned for the production of evidence. Mr Bunny is appearing fjr tho plaintiff and Mr Pownall tor the defendant.

An excellent show of Christmas meat, and one that would do credit to any part of the colonies, was made by Mr Walter Perry, the veteran butcher, at his coiner shop last evening. The windows were tastefully dressed and decorated with evergreens and trifles, whilst the brilliant gas illuminations showed everything off to the best advantage. The show was witnessed by hundreds of people during the evening, and Mr Hoi • loway and his staff are to be congratulated upon the success of their efforts. The show of beef was particularly good, demonstrating that for stock-fattening purposes the district cannot be beaten. The mutt on and lamb was also first-class, two giant specimens of the former attracting very great attention, whilst veal, pork, etc., was well represented, and assisted to make the exhibition one of the best of its kind ever seen in the district.

The wuathhr for the Christmas holidays, whioh commence to-morrow, presents every promise of being fine, and the community generally will be afforded ample opportunity for enjoying itself. The priucipal attractions on Boxing Dayfor those who do not leave the town will be the picnics to be held by the Wesieyans and Catholics in the Public Park and Mr bush respectively. Sports are to be held at Eketahuna and Whakataki, at which a large number of residents of Mastertun have signified their intention of being present, whilst several sportists will no doubt proceed to Martinborough, where the Lower Valley races are being held. On Boxing night the Foley Dramatic and Comedy Company will occupy the 'iheatre Royal, and produce Byion'swell-known comedy " Our Boys." The summer meeting of the Masterton-Opaki Jockey Club will be held on Monday next, at which there promises to be a large attendance of the public. The sports in connection with the Mauriceville Athletic Society take place on the same day. The train arrantements for the holidays are mos; convenient, and whilst there will be a largo numder of visitors from Wellington, a goodly number of Wairarapa residents will take advantage of the opportunity presented for visiting the Empire City.

The other day a "Picturesque Atlas ' agent called at a farmer's house in the Taien district to deliver a complete set of the " Atlas " parts. The agent was rather surprised to be cordially received and invited into the best room, instead of, as he expected, being met with a firm tefusal to take delivery and probably having the door shut iu his face. The books were hinded over and accepted in good spirit by the farmer, whe laid them past. When the agent asked for pay* ment, the farmer, with a twinkle in his eye, said the agent mUBt apply to the Official Assignee for that, because the stat* of his affairs had compelled him to file his schedule a few days previously. Therefore he could expect no money from hini then. The agent then begged that the farmer would give him back his bo"ks. This the farmer could not possibly see his way clear to do. After a good deal of persuasion, the farmer ultimately agreed to return the books on one condition, that the agent give him a clear receipt from any future liability in connection with the work, should he he able to get throush his bankruptcy all righ*,. This the agent willinely gave, and the books were handed back. At his hotel that night the agent related bis transaction with the farmer. The words that wicked agent said when he was told that the farmer in question, far from being a bankrupt, was worth thousands cf pounds, are too expressive for reproduction. The farmer's little dodge to get ahead of the " Picturesque Atlas "man is much admired in the Taieri district.

W e shall be ever ready to welcome the crowds who may take advantage of the desirable opportunities, and the more widely todistribute our Christmas gifts the hette 5 shall we be pleased at Te Arp House, W lington. In addition to offering exceptional advantages to customers, such as an 'nimense 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 the amount o purchases so will be the value of the present ihis scale will be on the same lines as on previons years, and no doubt will give equal satisfaction, at Te Aro House, Wellington. One thing should be noted especially, and that it is that this gift distribution will extend during tbe 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 iu time at Te Art) llause Wellington.—Auvr <

There are still several patients in the Masierton Hospital suffering from influenza.

The Catholic picnic, to be held in M'Kenzie's bush on Boxing Day, commences at 11 o'clonk.

The Egnrnnt Settler gives a list of the newspapers in the colony which support the Government. The following are their names, and the names <>f the towns where they are published :—News, Invercargill; Standard, Gore ; Globe, Duuedin; Mail, Oamaru ; Leader, Teinuka ; Colonist, Nelsnn; Times, Chiistchurch ; Herald, Wanganui; Set ' tier, Btratford; Standard, Waikato ; Star, Auckland ; Observer, Auckluid ; Standard, Falmerston North; News, Napier ; Star, Masterton. The best triends will fall out, and (re regret to say that Damon and Pythias in this town have had a serious misunderstanding. Damon la our first citizen, and Pythias is a well-known licensed victualler. How the quarrel arose we may not declare, but it is certain that Damon took out a summons for £lO against Pythias, and that the latter has had this precious document framed and glazed and contemptuously exhibited in a Queen street wiudow. We might at another season be disposed to say " pull devil pull publican," but on Christmas Eve we feel bound to suggest thafc the combatants should shake hands and allow this little fray no longer to disturb the harmvny of the festive season.

The local paper understands that the inspector of the Benevolent Institution, iu the course of his peregrinations through the Tuapeka district, made his acquaintance of an individual who has £3OO lying on deposit in the bank, and has for some time been in receipt of 7s 6d a week from the Benevolent Trustees as a destitute person. Than this nothing could well be meaner or mora discreditable, and shows how necessary it is that periodical visits should be made by the inspector into every district, and exhaustive inquiries instituted into the circumstances of every individual in reoeipt of charitable aid. TheTimaru Herald states that Mr Marmaduke Disou, of Weßt Eyreton, out of respect to the outcry against large estates, offered a farm of 704 acres on co-operative terms, iu 70 shares of Ll7O each. A meeting was held to hear his scheme explained, when Mr Dixon stated that he oroposed to sell the shares L2 per acre cash and LI per acre per annum for 15 years, unpaid balances bearing 6 per cent interest. The meeting reaolved that the scheme would not work, aud Mr Dixon will try some other. The Hawera Star says:—We have bean introduced to a specimen of a novel internal parasite affecting some sheep near Okoiawa. Three of them were found, on consecutive days, in the windpipes of sheep which died. The specimen brought to us was found ou Wednesday, in a sheep there which was naarly dead, and was killed for examination. The parasite is a whitish worm, or maggot, fully half an inoh long and nearly a quarter of an inch in diameter. It is pointed at one end and truncated at the other, there are two round bIaCK spots at the broad end which look like eye's. It travels about with a maggot-like action, and must be a very uncomfortable tenant tj the sheep which has to carry it. It resembles the lava of the oestrus ovis, or sheep bot-fly. There were many iung-worms present also.

The following description of a method far preserving butter is taken lroin the Town and Cuuutry Juurnul: -"After having well washed the butter, and carefully dried it with linen cloth, pack it in earthern jars, with Bpeeial pains to have it solid, and leave no vacant spaces. Set the jars in a vessel of water brought to the boiling point. After 15 minutes of this hot bath, remove the jars, and the work is done. Six mouths afterwards, if this simple operation is properly parformed, you are promised a store of butter as fresh and sweet as if direct from the churn. The theory is that the heating; has driven to the bottom of the jars the caseine, whose chemical modifications affect the butter "

During the bearing of a case at the recent Supreme Court sitting at Blenheim, one of the jury fell asleep. Inquiry by His Honor eluited the explanation that when the jury retired te lunch, visions of roast goose, lamb and green peas were in prospective, but epicurean fancies were at once dispersed by the appearance of plain bread and cheese. While the grumbling wbb at its height a boy made his appearance with the plates of savoury meats, young potatoes green peas, etc, and as these delicacies spread their appetising aroma five jurymen went to the charge, and discussed the eatables, while the seven bread and cheesers envied their good fortune. It turned out that the choice rare was meant for the prisoners, and contemplation of 3s a day, lost time, and the wretched victualling produced an unpleasant impression on the minds of the jurymen. The offender who slept

was one of those who relished the prisoners' fare. -

Under the heading' A Little Scintillation " Air George Fisher publishes the following characteristic letter in the Poat:—"Sir,—When Tweedledum jb at his aphelion, and Tweedledee is at his perihelion, the rest follows as a matter of course. ' Whom the gods,' &o. The Knights ot Labour are evidently a' lump off,' and the Napier News is clearly ' on therazzle.' What I mean to call attention to is that in a fit of temporary aberration the Napier News has given away my seat without giving the Knights ot Labour at Eketahuna time to give us another candidate for Wellington. This is not as it should be. The Knights of Labour at Eketahuna should protest. I implore those Tooleyites to rise in remonstrance like one Tooleyite. Really these great and powerful bodies must have a greater regard for themselves and for each other, othorwise they will engender those inevitable results, the unjust suspicions and humiliating misunderstandings, which ensue from a sacrifice of self-respect. As for me Ido not ask to be considered, W hen danger looms I will instantly consult the Wellington SSHng and Puppet Branch ot the Grand National Keep-me-in-Ollice Federation."

The Chinese Government having discovered a monopoly of military power in Hunan and Anhai, increases the military in the other provinces, and will disband the Hunan forces afterwards.