Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1895 RUINOUS ROAD-MAKING. THE PONGOROA CAMP.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5126, 10 September 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1895 RUINOUS ROAD-MAKING. THE PONGOROA CAMP.

Tiir.iu: is one of those frightful extravagancies, a co-operative camp, at si certain place known as Pongoroa; it has been there for some three years and for all we know to the contrary it may bo there for another three years as an illustration of the manner in which public money is wasted by our present rulers. The Pongoroa Road, the special industry of the co-operative camp is a six foot track -a temporary path—but wo are informed that.it costs the country quite as much as a permanent twelve foot formation. A road expert informs us that the culverts on this six foot track are placed above the " tilling " instead of below it, so that they are suspended high and dry abovo'tho water which they are supposed to accommodate. The same authority tells us also that a bridge six foot wide and sixty feet long, of a primitivo pattern has been constructed in connection with the Pongoroa toad on the co-operative principle with brilliant results. Six men have been employed for nine months over its erection, and its cost is estimated at over £4OO. The contract value of the work he affirms would be under £l2O. On this one item aloue it is calculated that there has been a loss of about £3OO to the Colonial taxpayer, But according to our informant, tho principal waste of money occurs in the cost of inspection. Tho officer in charge of the work resides at Pahiatua, and it takes him two days to reach the camp and two days for the return trip, so that each weekly visit involves four days' travelling and costs a bleeding country a very considerable sum, enough, it is suggested, to form the six-foot track itself, We are purposely giving one or two details, so that any member of the House who takes an interest In this question, can verify them, We do not for one moment suppose that the Government officers would endorso the figures we have published, but we know our informant to be a practical man, indeed both he and bis work havo beon known to us for the past twelve years, and wo credit his statement. Men's wnges on this job havo varied, being sometimes as low as four shillings and eight-pence per day, and sometimes as' high as twelve shillings and two-pence. The average has not been probably very excessive, but there can be little doubt that for threo years past the

work Ims cost the country two or three times as much as it ought to linvo done, and not only this, hut it lms been badly done. The one strong point claimed for this co-operative system is that, thongh the work dono under it costs more, it is well done. Pongaroa, with its high rtnd dry culverts, is a memontu of the folly and incompetence of our Public Works Department, "which cannot be well explained away. It is time that the working men of the Colony woke up to know that they are being taxed specially to keep up this ruinous and dishonest system of co-operative and inoperative works.

The overseer at PonOK certain garoa may be, for all OVUiiskkks. we know to tile con- * trary, a most exemplary official. As far as we aro concorned, he is a stranger to us, and we are not even acquainted with his name, But we do know that certain overseers are a blot on the co-oper-ative system. The Government has rewarded many men who have been activo canvassers at the two last general elections, by making them overseers. Now a man may bo a good political tout, but a bad overseer, It is not the three or four pounds a week which he receives—although this may be three or four times liismai'ket value—which is the main loss to tho Colonial taxpayer. An incompetent overseer means an incompetent co-operative gang. As far as wo are able to judge the question of competency is rarely considered when an overseerisappointed. Prom the Government standpoint, a competent official would bo,a nuisance and a drawback, the man required is someone who is popular and of tho right color,

"There's a tavern in A tavern* tho town," and a • ix rumour reaches us that the town, ajournalistic-coiislabu-llstic caucus was held there on Saturday last, with a view to publishing an antidote to certain remarks made in our own issues, on " tho police." The result is said to bo the production of a letter signed " Fair Play," which has appeared in a local journal and which, curiously enough, commences by a complaint that the police, when attacked, are " unable to defend themselves." If a caucus of constables and pressmen, with the assistance of good liquor, to say nothing of Mr Seddon and Mr Hogg, are unable to defend the police, we will publish their defence ourselves, in our own columns. Will any sympathiser with them, venture to send us his views ? We like both sides of a question to be fairly put, and it is not necessary to hold a caucus in order to secure publicity for all that can be said in favour of the Masterlon police.

" Splints" is the somewhat inglorious telegraphic address of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The difference between a stamp and a donkey is, you slick one with a liek and the other you liek with a stick. _ The Duncdin Franchise League's soil]) kitchen has now been closed. Jn addition to soup, 120 blankets and about 1000 articles of clothing were given in necessitous eases. The Masterlon Jiorough Council meets this evening. Messrs J. Elliott & Co., saddlers ot of Masterton, announce elsewhere that they have for sale a large assortment of second-hand trap, buggy, andspring-eart harness. Also second-hand ladies' and gents' saddles. The annual drawing examination took place at the Masterton School last Wednesday, 171 candidates working 22G papers. Further additions are made to the entries, in all classes, for Mr F. 11. Wood's next Taulicroiiikim slock sale. We publish with this issue an inset from Mr S. G. Radford, draper, of Queen-sired, Masterton, the prices quoted being worlhy of more than passing notice by careful housewives. A large party of residents made another unsuccessful search yesterday in llie Ruanialiunga River, for the body of young Waitc. One hundred and thirty arresls have been made in Xueheng, including the chief leader of the massacre of the missionaries.

The rabbits by the steamer Nineveh sold in London at Is each. The hares were unsaleable, the market being heavily Hooded by English,

Arch-Dnke Ladislans, while out shooting in Hungary accidentally shot himself, and died from the wound.

The imports of. the United Kingdom for the last month showed an increase in value of £2,972,000, and the exports an increase of £2,900,000. The Rev. Piniha died at the residence of Mr H. Mahupuku, l'apawai road, last Friday, the immediate cause of death being asthma, says the Standard; the deceased having suffered from this complaint for a long time, He was much eslccmed by the natives ot this district amongst whom lie had laboured, since he was ordained some fourteen years ago by Bishop Hadlield, Over forty members aud friends met in the Wangaehu Schoolhouse last evening to bcprcsenl at the Mutual Improvenicnt Society's usual fortnightly meeting. The Rev. J. Dukes, President, occupied the chair and Miss Foist, Secretary, read the minutes of the previous meeting. The business of tho evening was a debate " Which is the greater evil : Drinking or Gambling," in which Mr Thomas led off for" Drinking," in a very able speech, while Mr Torry, juiir., in a like manner championed ''Gambling." Much interest was evinced in the debate, some vory good speeches being made, and about a dozen members taking part. After the chairman had summed up, a vote was taken resulting in Mr Torry's side winning by a majority of 13 votes. The Society has now a membership of something like 35 members besides honorary members, and bids fair to make its influence felt in the district. ."An evening with the poets," will be the order of business at the Society's next meeting, which will be held on Monday, 23rd inst.

The Works and Fintae Commitfeo of the Masterton Borough Council mot last evening. Present -the Mayor, and Crs Feist, Yates and Wagg. A number Of applications to havo gas laid on were acceded to. Accounts a s presented were passed for payment, and the Manager's request to have an extra man, one week in each month, was acceded to. '

During the past month 40 tons 19cw of coal was carbonized at the Masterton Gas Works, 410,700 cubic Met of gas being made, against 384,900 cubic feet iii August 1894. This is au incrcaso of 25,800 feet.

Yesterday afternoon, as two wellknown" drummers" were driving from Greytnwn to Maryborough •' something went wrong with the works," while going down the hill towards the Ruamahunga River, and a capsize resulted. Samples got considerably mixed, aad tho buggy sustained a few fractures, but the two bag-men got off without a scratch, 1

At Lis (ireytown rooms next Saturday, Mr F. H. Wood will, in addition to general merchandise,groceries, furniture, clothing, &c„ sell second-hand furniluro and effects, being the contents of a six-roomed house, which aro being removed to the rooms for convonionco of purchasers, The Roods to be submitted aro of so varied a naturo that thero.is something to suit the requirements of everybody,- . ,

The Government propose to create a new office—that of Deputy Public Trustee. Mr W. C. Buchanan, lias been gianted leave of absence from the, House for a week, on account of sickness.' Iho Minister of Lands intends to bring down a Bill shortly to enable ilie Government to remit the sheep tax in cases where the sheep have been lost through the severity of the weather in the South. _ Several summonses for failing to send in sheep returns, have been issued, and the cases will be heard at Mastertoii on Friday. ' A caso in which E, McGuire charges William Kcisenbcrg with assault with intent to do grievous body harm, will occupy the Mnsterton S.M. Court on Friday, We regret to record tiic death of Mrs Harding, wife of Mr W, F, Harding, of ieuui Valley. At the next regular sitting of the Masterton S.M. Court, a Mnsterton publican IS to be charged with a. breach of the Licensing Act. The Mastertoii Salvationists hold a coffee supper this evening in aid of the Self Denial Fund, I lie Maslerton jitock Office has just received a quantity of sugar-cano seed, of three varieties, to be given to any settlers who may earc to experiment iii growing sugar-cane. Mrs Goodall, milliner and dressmaker of Mastertoii, has justopened up a choice selection of ladies' and children's underclothing, ladies' aprons, children's and girls' pinafores, and some handsome and weil-niade children's dresses for present wear. There is also shown in her establishment, a nice lot of ladies' hats in newest shapes, children's huts and bonnets. Altogether the assortment is worthy of inspection by the ladies of Mastertoii.

Mr E. 6. Williams, it practical woolscourer aud fellmonger, of many years experience, is opening works at Homebush, and in another column notifies Hint lie will scour and deliver wo 0 l at Hie local railway station for three farthings per lb, Messrs Simms and Mowlem hold their usual fortnightly stock sale in their yards, Queen-street, to morrow (Wednesday), at 1 o'clock, the entries for which comprise f s!fi(J ewes in lamb, 00 fat sheep, 12 two mid three-year-old steers, 10 yearlings, 3 springing cows, 2 cows in milk, 3 empty cows, also pigs and horses of all classes, A case of interest to local bodies was decided by Mr Stanford yesterday. The Manawatu lioad Board sued the l'almer-' ston Gas Company for £25, the cost of repairs rendered necessary to the Longburn road by the eoal Iniliic, The Magistrate held that the tralllc was extraordinary, and was undertaken by order of the defendant Company, and he gave judgment for the plaintiff Board for the amount claimed, with costs,

If you study practical economy you will buy your drapery and clothing at Hooper's lion Jlarche. You ask why ? We'll tell you why! You've twenty pounds to spend or twenty shillings if you like. Your object 'is to got all you require for the mouey you have. It you buy ot Hooper's you will get all you determined to secure and a bit left for something else. Also you will get the best of everything; the goods of standard manufacturer.'. If you buy elsewhere your twenty pounds or twenty shillings, as' the case may be, will not go as far as you thought and you will cither have to sink the quality or shell out more cash. Will that suit you ? We trow not. You'ro no fool; you've been wandering up and down this blessed world for years and you know your book. One may say this is only assertion, wherc's your proof? We reply, uso your eyes, exercise your judgment ana criticise andcompirc, and your verdict must be for Hooper A' Co,, ready money drapers,. lion Marche, Mastertun, -Advt, One ot the sights of Wellington, at any time is undoubtedly the magnificent establishment,known as Te Aro House, and now that every department within its walls is filled to overflowing, with a bewildering variety of the season's novelties in millinery, mantles, dress-s, etc., it is more than ever a pleasure and profit to visit tlio wholesale family drapery warehouse, Te Ato House. Particular attention has been paid this year to the requirements of country customers, and the result is (o be seen in the immense and varied stock of calicoes, shirtings, flannels, flannellcttcs, strong ■tearing dress materials, men's an I boys' clothing ifec. The choice in each depart. ment, 1 is almost unlimited, as may be imagined, when it is. stated that of flannelette alone, over 50,000 yards have this season been imported at Te Aro House, Wellington. -Advt.