Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1874.] MONDAY, MAERH 25, 1895. VITICULTURE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4984, 25 March 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1874.] MONDAY, MAERH 25, 1895. VITICULTURE.

Considerably more than a hundred thousand pounds is spent in this Colony each year on imported wines, which, to a largo extent, are anything but tho pure juice of the grape. Better wines which aro the pure juice of' the grape are grown to a limited extent within New Zealand, and ean.be grown in groater quantities than would cover our local consumption, In soil and climate Now Zealand', is ;as happily dowered as that great vintage country France, i But -whilo in France viticulture is generally understood, • in New Zealand,it is,excepting to a few isolated 'an 1 unknown art. Iu Hawke's" Biiy for more than a generation^grapes have been successfully grown'aiid wine has been suecessfullymade for private consumption, and we are not surprised that now large vineyards have been laid out there for tho open market. Of the success of the latter we entertain no ,doubt, .because.tho results can be forecast by,'exports with very considerable, accuracy. No crop is surer than a grape crop, and we do not speak without book, for wo have grown grapes ourselves on a limited scale for the past half-dozen years and wo regard the yield of-this fruit as more regular ana sure than that of any other. It is also a paying crop for-an acre of land in vinesafter thoy come to maturity may be expected to produce at least £2OO, Such a return seems phenomenal, but it must be born in mind that a very considerable amount of light labour is needed in cultivating an i acre of vines, and that if this were paid for, the lion's share of tho £2OO would be spent in wages. This aspect of the industry ought to interest working • men, as the employment is a healthy one, admirably suited for their sons and daughters at certain seasons of the, year, when other work is scarce, If New Zealand grew all its own wine, ten thousand young people would be required for a month or two in each year, to cultivate and harvest the fruit. In Masterton, the cultivation of the grape is becoming fairly' understood, bo much so that we notice a decline of more than one-half in the retail value of grapes, fhis mean? an increased consumpt\qn, and # jrMes'pm? Mwhioh

was race regarded as the luxury of | the rich, is rapidly coming into use as a diet for the poorost in the community. Some time back a well-known settler in this town was engaged iu preparing a manual on the subject of viticulture, a task for which he was eminently fitted. If such a manual were now published it would be a boon to thousands of settlers throughout the country, who are beginning to talk about grapes, but do not know how to go to work to grow them, It would be a public benefit if the Department of Agriculture wero to publish and circulate before next plantingsoason somo sucli handbook, There is a good deal of information required to grow grapes successfully, and though we have some years practical experience, we know that we have still much to learn, and that the publication of a trustworthy manual would be of value to eyen those Who do know something of viticulture, but it certainly would be invaluable to those who as yet have had no personal experience in the cultivation of grapes, Saturday was a red letter day for pastoral and agricultural matters in this district. For years past, there has been disunion amongst certain settlers, in connection with our local shows. Some of the more important of them liavo .sheltered themselves in a cave of Adullam, and the result, has not been beneficial to local interests. The acceptance, by Mr W, H, Beetliam, of the Presidency of the Mastertou Association means the burial of a hatchet. Ho Ims, in an unselfish spirit, taken a .position which lie was on many grounds reluctant to assume, We hope to see his example followed by other influential residents. There is 110 reason now why all settlers in the community should not work together to make the Mastertou Association a credit to the district which it represents. There is no reason now why both the Wairarapa and Masterton Associations should not work cordially and harmoniously together. Yew heavy ram fell in Masterton on Saturday night aud Sunday morning. Wairarapa District Court sits at Maslei ion next Wednesday. Mr W. H. Eecfhain lias been appointed presidentand Mr Jas. McGregor vice-president of the Masterton A. aud P. Association, The next annual Show o£ the MasterA. and P. Association will be an Autumn one. A treat is in store for Mastertou. as the Pollard Lilliputiau Opera Company are making auangements for a 6easou here shortly.

Th? cricket match between Greytown mid Jlafarawa was played on Siilrday last, resulting in a win for the foi.ner by 15 runs. Greybwn, therefore, whs the championship for the season. | Mr J. W. Burton preached to a large congregation at tlieMasterton Wesleyan Church last eveniug. Particularly vivid lightning was noticed in the north, south, and western skies on Saturday evening. Yesterday (Sunday) proved cold and showery, but towards evening cleared

The Wairarapa Hunt Club meet at Taratnhi next Thursday. The " throw off " will take place at Mr T. liay's at 2.30 p.m.

The Giisaud Library Committee of the Masterton Borough Council meet this evening.

New York has 30,03,1 barbers, who shave 1,000,000 a week on an ayeragc. There are now nearly two hundred lady doctors practising in the British Empire. There is reason to believe that gold in paying quantities has been discovered in the Isle of Man.

Wc remind our readers of Mr F. H. Wood's Tauhercnikau stock sale, which takes place to-morrow, March 26th. Full particulars appear h another column.

Mr Gollau's horses, The Possi blc, Bonnie Scotland, aud Bessie M'Caithy, have bceu scratched for the Sydney Cup. Mr F. M. Wallace, of Christchurch, the premier violinist of the colony, has (fractured a shoulder by a fall at tenuis and it is feared he will lie unable to play the viol'ii again,

Mr William Lowes has been re-elected Sccretaiy of the Mastciion A. rid P. Associatiou.

In 1893 fourteen thousand acres of new land wero sown in grass in the Pahiatua County. Last year the in crease was seven thousand six hundred acres.

The Pahiatua riflemen competing at Treutliani won the following amounts;— W. W. McCardle jnr„ £9 odd; J, C, Taylor and G. Hyde, £5 los each; G. Avery, £1

The members of the Wooclvillc liiile Club won closo on £4O at the Association meeting. Mr and Mrs George Beetliam intend starting next week for Nice, writes in February last the London correspondent on the Auckland Weekly News, where they will probably remain for two mouths or so. Mrs Beetliam still suffers a good deal from rheumatic pains and finds the severity of this winter in London very trying, but it is hoped that a sojourn in Southern Europe will be beneficial. Mr and Mrs Charles Pharazyn also leave for the Continent very shortly. They have not yet decided definitely whither they will wend their way, but will be guided a good deal by the state of the weather. They had thought of the liiviera but that is buried deep in snow just now and swept by cutting winds, So it does not offer its usual attractions' to visitors in search of a mild temperature,

Pahiatua County for the past season produced 2,570 bushels of cocksfoot,l9l bushels of rye grass; and 20 bushels of other fodder seeds, The quantity ot oats grown was 6,490 bushels; peas, 110 bushels; beans 160 bushels j wheat and barley, nil. The estimated crop of potatoes is 1742 tons.

The total area of the holdings in the Wairarapa South County, as given in the latest agricultural returns is 630,507 acres j Pahiatua Couuty 125,781.

Mr W, li. Bono Superintendent Collector .of Agricultural statistics is to bo congratulated on having completed the returns for tho Pahiatua and Wairarapa South County, in even quicker time than last year. On Saturday next, tlic 3Gih inst, Mr F. H. Wood will hold at Grcytown, an entirely unreserved sale of salvage from the late fires. The list is a long one and as the articles offered must he quitted, some real bargains may bo looked for,

Cr E, • Maunscll of the Wairarapa North County Council, has pointed out that our report on his remarks re O'Connor's claim, at the last County Council meeting were rather misleading and asks us to state that tho Council does undertake to pay for the erection of the wing fence across Mr O'Connor's land at tho Tenui Bridge, which is erected for the purpose of preventing stock going on to Mr O'Connor's paddock, when being driven across the land agreed upon by Mr O'Connor as a publio right-of-way. But the Council does not recognise Mr O'Connor's claim for payment- for tho right-of-way, at the rate of ten shillings a week beyond thedatoof tho County Counoil accepting Mr O'Connor's terms of a payment at the rate of two pounds a year, and the erection of the wing fence,

The Excelsior Cricket Club hold a grand social and dance on Easter Mon- ' day, April 16th. . Messrs Lowes and lorns add to their stock salo for April 3rd 300 ewes 200 1 lambs and 300 wethers. The Boy John Dukes conducted service at Carterton Wesleyan Church Inst evening. Thirteon trucks of sheep were attached to the ordinary train which left Masterton for Wellington this morning. A lady doctor has been appointed to a Goyernment hospital iu Madras at a i salary of £BClj a year, Tho Observer understands that the Minister of Lands intends visiting Wairarapa about the first wcok in April, The estimated weight of hay aud ensilage produced in tho South Wairarapa County this season, is 1,976 tons. There is only one stack of ensilage, and that is in tho Gisytown Hiding. Tho members of thoflorthWairarapa Rifle Club, competing at Trentham, won about £25. The Taueru Club representative (Mr Smith) won £l2. A cable message from Hobait says that a discovery of diamonds has been made in Donaldson's hydraulic claim. Mr \V. li. Bone expects to have tho Agricultural Statistics for the Wairarapa Korth County, completed by next Wednesday. Mr A. Beside representative of tho Gear Company, advertises for 38 fat sheep, lost from Mr Daysh's paddock at To Ore Ore. Mr John Bagge, who on Saturday evening last severed his connection with the Maslorton Post Oflice, has been in the Government service for 35 years Mr J. C, Martin, S.M. at Wellington, will preside at the sitting of the District Court nt Masterton, which opens next Wednesday, Much sensation lias been caused in Spain by the discovery that 21,000,000 spurious dollars are in circulation in that countrr. _ Tho mandoline is said to be coming into vojiue iu some fashionable churches in Unghmd, as an aid to tho musical portions of the service. The staff at the Masterton Post Oflice havebecn photographed by MrD. Wilton for presentation to Mr John Bagge. Messrs Simms and Moivlem make tho following additions for their sale on Wednesday next;—lo weaner pigs, 250 lambs, 150 ewes, 8 2-tootli Lincoln rams 62 fat ewes, 25 fat lambs, 2 cows, Captain Home, E.N., formerly Scr-geaiit-at-Arms of the New Zealand House of Representatives, and for some years past Governor of a large penal establishment in Kcw South Wales, is at present on a holiday visit to Wellington,—Post The Government have just acquired, under the Land for Settlements Act, from Khler, Smith & Co., tho Mcriva'c estate of 9!l!)8 acres, iu Western Southland. OurFenlhersloncorrcspondcntwrilos: —The Tauliercnikau Hotel is about to change hands, Mr F. lliley having sold out to one of tho Messrs Cress of Cartel ,on." The articles presented to Mr J. Bagge by h's stair last Saturday, were engraved by AirH. T. Holmes as follows: — ; " Presented to John Bagge Esq., Postmaster, by the staff of the Masterton Post and Telegraph Department, , 18115." A leaflet will shortly he issued by the Agricultural Department which is being ; written by Mr T. W. Kirk, dealing with . blight which has affected the potato , crops round Woodville and Palmerston. This latest pest is said to be easily got rid of, and full instructions to this end ; will be given by Mr Kirk. Settlers iu (ho Wangaehu are agitati ing for a Post Oflice and mail service. Tho necessity of an accommodation I house on the Eidot'ord lioad is also a [ good deal felt, as all who haye business ou the road arc compelled to complete their journey or throw themselves on [ the hospitality of settlors. A good ac--1 coiumodation house at the corner of the Wangaehu lioad, with paddocks for . stock would he, in (lie opinion of many, i a very desirable improvement to the locality, We have received two now waltzes from the composer Mr Antonio D. Vannini of Blenheim, entitled" Sunny- . bourne"and "Blenheim." We have r heard both played and can safely recommend them to our readers as being far ) above the average of local compositions. 5 "Sunnyboume" is both pretty and i sparkling, and written in excellent - waltz time, "Blenheim" though written in quite a different style wi'l we are sure be quitcas popular as" SunnyI bourne". Both waltzes have only to . be heard to be appreciated. On each cover there is a pretty and interesting : engraving, that on "Sunnyboume" , representing Queen Charlotte Sound, and on" Blenheim," the Opawa Diver. The announcement is made m another part ot this paper that a sale of greater magnitude than ever yet attempted by To j\ro House , is now being held, and should arrest tho at- ■ tention, ot everyone in tbis part ot the , Colony. Te Aru House lias lonj> held the premier position as the leading Family Drapery Warehouse in the city, and further developments are now taking plaeo to in--1 augurate the now year ot 1895.

Early in tho year Mr Smith admits ton partnership in his business, a commercial gontleman who has long been associated with the London buying tor Te Aro House. To thoroughly reduce and prepare the stock previous to tho partnership stocktaking sweeping .cd uclions will be made in all departments. Tho stock must bo reduced by £15,000, and will be ottered to the purchasing publioatmost tempting prices, Heads o! families, storekeepers, ssttlers, careful housewives, young and old, rich and poor, alike will save heaps ot monoy by reserving their purchases for this great partnership Bale, which commences on Friday, 4th January, 1895, at To Aro House,

L. J. Hooper and Co. notify tho arrival of their lirst shipments of autumn and winter drapery, millinery dress goods, jackets, mantles, macintoshes, etc.— Adyt.