The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 4000, 30 December 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1891.

[. _ y We paid a visit to Mr E. Tayler's > " swamp nursery " a few days ago, i and were somewhat surprised to find if that it was the most productive patch ■a of ground that we have seen in some ■- twenty odd years' experience in the 5- Wairarapa. It covers between one Lt and two acres of well drained rich ie soil, and is bounded at the upper end |~ by a fast flowing stream of clear d water. The land is so arranged that d this water supply can be conducted ii without trouble to any or every porie tiouofic, wi-h the r«3ult that every d crop planted becomes a certainty. As ie an example of the benefits of irrigation, it is well worthy of a visit by any wh wants to know how to make one acre do the work of ten. Flowers, fruits, and vegetables abound in the utmost luxuriance, and such iruits as strawberries were, after a mulching, throwmg a seconu crop ; indeed, wonderful t vigour and vitality were the chserac it. teristic of tree, shrub and flower. The ie nursery is a one-man show, all the _ work done in it being soniribuied by Mr E. Tayler himself, though posr, sibly he may, encouraged by the splendid results of his enterprise, put in more than an orthodox day's work to the cultivation of his plot. Tb.3 total product of his labours would be something phenomenal if tested by either weight or measure. We should say that he has increased the value of his land from ten to twenty told, merely by availing himself of certain ;0 natural advantages which it possesses, is and arranging a simple inexpensive - and efficient system of irrigation. J - Some time ago we pointed out that •j half Masterton might ba irrigated from the Landsdowne reservoir, and an inspection of the benefits of this y water supply more than confirms the opinion we then expressed. The value of the garden land about the town, could, at a very small expense, be ? quadrupled by an irrigation service. If our municipal affairs were in really good business hands for a * time, we feel sure that a simple : ' and effective supply could be prof cured. Of course, no private inl dividual can bring to the town such d a boon, tfcis has b3en demonstrated y ad nauseam by Mr Eenall and prac- " lically the only hope of tapping eomp of the abundant sources which surr round the place lies with the Borough a, Council. Thlo body hgs never made e an intelligent and sustained effort to e provide water or drainage for the burgess/58 Let us hope that some day our trustworthy but .cautious 8 city fathers will move on a Jittle, They ought certainly to visit Mr E. ; Tayler's nursery to see for themselves the*enormous benefits of irrigation. i KB&EHHHHHHMIHHiHHIB f We exceedingly regret to have to r record the sudden demise of Mr Peter ? Dickson, of this town. Some seven " years ago, in conjunction with Mr Price, he commenced business b.n » draper jn this town, and speedily 5 made his way amongst us by his many , excellent and genial qu&litjeE. From ' a small beginning his energy de- ■ veloped a very large estab lishmflnt, 'which is one of the rnoEt prosperous 'j businesses in the town. Jn our relations with Mr Peter Dickson, which covered the whole time he has been in Masterton, we always found him to be straightforward and honourable. ; That he has a host of friends who will mourn his loss need hardly be '. said, for his intelligence, his bright cheery dispsgition, his kindly con-

ideration for others, made him a ;eneral favourite. The town /is sad~ lened by the melancholy tidings, for le was a man who could ill be spared ,niongst us He occupied no public losition, other than a high Masonic ank, he was only a tradesman; >ut he was an upright one, who has eft a good record behind him, and yho deserves to be held in affection,te remembrance in this community. Richard Gibson was fined 10a and 7s oats at Eketahuna on Monday for asaulting Mr Jamta Jones od the Bports [round on Boxing Day. For assaulting dr F. von Reden, J.P., he was fined in .similar amount. The man Nelson, who was arrested t Eketahuna last week on a charge of arcßiiy from the person, has been renanded till to-morrow (Thursday). Bush firps are now raging in the ?orty Mile Bush, and several residences lave been placed in danger. Dr Hosking, of Masterton, proceeded io Pahiatua by the late train last eyeliner to a. tend Mr and Mrs Dickson and leveral of those who were poisoned at he weeding on Christmas Day. We ire informed that in several cases ipasms have set in, and the most langerons symptoms have presented ;hemselves. We have made inquiries and fine? that he cause of the insufficient supply of ;aa on Christmas eve was a defect in :he water tank and retorts. We are, lowever, assured that there ie no possibility of a recurrence of such a ihing as that of Thursday night. The Woodville JSxaminer hears on »ood authority that the Railway Comnissioners are strongly opposed to the instruction of a portion of the Woodrille Eketahuna railway from the Woodirille e.id, and will throw all possible obstacles in the way. A black, hairy caterpillar (similar to that frequently found on the common ivy) has, according to the Pahiatua paper, made its appearance in the Forty-Mile Bush district, but at present its food is * weed bearing a yellow flower. If weeds alune are to suffer, the caterpillar will do an immense deal of good ; but we [ear he will change his diet presently. Mr Burling, senr., of Aliredton, has celebrated his ninety-second birthday. Be is as hale and hearty as ever, and is now engaged at wool-sorting on his farm. The Pahiatua Star thus confirms the remarks made in our leader of yesterday : —The great bugbear of the Ministry has even invaded the grand co-operative system of Public Works which is to do so much for their especial protege, the " poor working man." Dummyism has been found rampant at the railway works at Eketahuna, men having had lengths of thirty chains of formation let to them who are said to be merely the nominees of certain well known large contractors. A blight has appeared on the vegetables in Maaterton this year which has not been noticed for several years past. The great attraction in Masterton for New Year's Day will be the Caledonian sports, to be held on the Park Oval. The arrangements for the gathering are most complete, and with anything like weather a most enjoyable day should be spent. An effort was recently made to form a Rifle Club in Masterton, but owing to the opposition of certain Volunteers no definite action was taken. It is now proposed to form the Club at the Opaki in lieu of Masterton, and Major Donald, the promoter, has received a notification from the Defence Department ta the effect that there will be no objection to such a course being adopted. A Maori named Teati Te Whai died on Wednesday last at Waikouaiti at the advanced age of 110 years. A Natiye passed a £lO note through the totalisator at the MastertonxOpaki races in mistake for a pound. The note was paid out to same lucky individual as a pound. A boy named John Paton, 8J years of age, has died at Wellington through eating karaka berries. The interest of Miss Crawford in the Albert Hotel, Wellington, has been sold to Mrs Leonard, late of Masterton, who has taken possession. A successful sale of Hawke's Bay and Canterbury horses was held by Messrs Lowes & Ijrns at their Masterton yards yesterday. The prices obtained for the better class of animals were very good. There has been a falling-off in the frozen meat traffic in the colony during the past few months, and the railway revenue has consequently been affected. A correspondent of a Wellington paper asserts that Mr Ballance's orgau, the Wanganui Herald, has never been a society office or paid union wages, and that it is one of the most poorly remunerated establishments in the colony. The Featherston correspondent of the Pud says :At the Opaki races yester* day, signalling was resorted to between the Stewards' Stand and the Starter, for the benefit of the totalisator. When the horses were weighed out and assembled at the starting post, they had to wait until a white flag was waved from the stand, presumably to acquaint the Starrer that the investments on the machine had ceased, and that he could get their, dway. This unusual procedure caused unfavourable comment from owners of fractious horses and the jockeys. The procedure, we may state, was by no means unusual, and was decidedly in the interests of the Club. A recent visitor to 'he eastern slopes of the Fuketois tells our Pahiatua contemporary that on account of the drier climate on that coast, the bush clearings become, unlike those in the Forty Mile Bush, in a very few years, entirely devoid of stumps. The dry weather ot the third or fourth summer after the bush is felled enables a second fire to run through, and the logs and stumps left by the first fire are invariably burnt off Messrs J. C- Walker and Breeds, of Masterton, had a narrow escape from an accident last evening. They were driving into town about six o'clock, when they discovered, on approaching the Waipoua bridge, that the wheel of their dog cart was almost off.Had they gone anotherfew yards the vehicle must have upset. As it was the cart was drawn off the road and afterwards repaired by Mr Ewinpton. The following additional particulars of the case of poisoning to which we yesterday referred are supplied by the Pallia • tua St-tt :—The dinner at which the pudding was eaten was partaken of between two and three o'clock on Christmas Day, and the first sufferer was taken ill at eleven o'clock that evening. The remainder of the party, ivhicb numbered 22 in all, were al! more or less affected later < n, and several of the cases assumed ilarmiiig symptoms. Mr Ridd ascribes the poisoning. to some deleterious jngredi ents used in making the pudding, si/ch 13 over stale eggs, or some other Dbjectionable matter of that kind, and does not tear that any irritant poison has been" mued with rhe food- Dr Davenport was sent for, ajjd his treatmant for the patients iiffered but sljghtjy from Mr Kidd's, so that his diagnosis of the pase'inust have; igreed with that of the first named. At present it is not possible to say whether iny the cases will prove fatal, tut Mr London's condition was said to be most serious. At present sixteen persons are laid up at Mr Baylor's house, and six jthers at the residence of Mr Jos. Moore jf Makakahi. h J. Hooper and Co arc now showicg the mow and largest assort* meat of new spring good? crer shown in the district. English a'nd Fre'non &iiji aery, Trimmed, and Untrimaied Hats' and Bonnets, Flowers, and Feathers, <tc. ' ' ijtyllsh' and Pretty Jackets. Dorothy Dapes,' Mantles,' Dust Cloaks, Garaboldi Jackets, ic. We are showing a splendid stock of Fashionable Delaines, Prints, Cambrics, Zephyrs, &c. We held the best assprtment and largest stock ot nev dross materials in tljo IVairarapa, All the leading shades, de< iigns, satins and materials for the season, single and double widths. The Fancy Department is full of the jest novelties, pretty apron 3, ribbons filings, collars, cuffs, and parasols etc '