Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1895. PUTTING UP THE SHUTTBRS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5136, 21 September 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1895. PUTTING UP THE SHUTTBRS.

It is reported that Mr Seddon is about to put up the parliamentary shutters, as lie can do no business this session, the demand for labour measures having fallen oil", and his stock-in-trade generally being at a discount, A week or two is to be taken to wind up necessary business, and then, instead of the usual fat volume of statutes, will be published a thin attenuated work, i entitled" New Zealand Statutes 59, Viet, 1895,". There will be small pickings for lawyers this year, the session having proved abortivo and unproductive. Still, it is not with-out-some feeling of comfort that wo see the Government abandoning all ; ilieii'. poliey measures,throwing them overboard to save the Ministerial ■ ship. We lmve been suffering from : over-legislation for many years, and if the present break-down is not providential it is certainly a natural and healthy re-action. The Seddon Ministry is now very much in the position which the Rosobery Administration occupied a, year ago, it enjoys place without power, Lord Rosebery did not care for place where power was gone, but we must not expect an exalted sontiment of ' this kind from Mr Seijdon. The I Premier will stick to place as long as ho may, and if his legitimate power be gone it is qnito possible i that he may exercise influence to I I delay tho inevitable ending, which 'loHjecliaraqterisedas legitimate, can.. (luit it is ai) anxiety for It may be - Mr Seddon to put place that causes -''utters on up the parliamentary i».. Mr this occasion. Very possibly - Seddon beats a retreat in order to savo a rout. The Ministry fears not tho Opposition, it is its own lighting mon who are dreaded because they aro exhibiting a mutinous spirit, and threatening to desert. The truth is that the Government supporters are very bitter. They recognise that wheil thoy go back to their constituents they cannot justify Mr Ward's conduct on the bank question, and that, they must censure him oyer the tariff bungle, Once thoy wero proud of their leaders, aud beliewd

in thorn, now they'have found oat that thoy are Dead Sea fruit, They are still anxious to keep the Party together, but thoy scowl at the Government, and in return get black looks from Ministers, Indeed, somo Ministers go so far as to " cut" their own supporters when they come across tliem. There is altogether too much tension iu the Liberal camp just now, and MrSeddon, who is the more level headed of the Party, is quite right in decision to put up the parliamentary shutters. Once the session is wound up things will settle themselves, There will be no difficulty in filling the vacancy in the Supremo Court bench, no trouble in finding a new Agent-General, and 110 obstacle in the road of appointing one or mora new Cabinet Ministers. The sooner the shutters are up and these and other little matters are settled the better it will be for the country. Ouit local contemporary Tim regrets that an inquiry Pouch has not been made into Aiuix. certain charges affecting Constable Stewart. Does not our contemporary know, evon better than we do, that Constable Stewart has the right, by virtue of his ollicial position, to demand an inquiry, and that Sergeant McArdle could also ask for one, but that when neither one nor the other care to vindicate themselves by such a process, the only conclusion to be drawn is that an inquiry is not wanted by them. The public want one, but any appeal from tlio public for an inquiry would, judging by past experience, be evaded. Our local contemporary very foolishly declares, too, that wo have accused certain Masterton publicans of bribing and corrupting the police, We liavo done nothing of the kind, but we have accused them of serving the police with liquor in excessive quantity and at wrong hours, and this charge we are pre. pared to substantiate. Our indictment is against the police,not againsl the publicans, and 110 one knows better than the tlio editor of our local contemporary that it is well founded,

Our local contemporary says the counter petition in favour of the police, has been signed by over one hundred residents. If it be respectably signed, why do the owners of the precious document refuse to allow it to be seen. Will our contemporary, who has access to tho document, tell us how many householders havcsigncditp If the petition te an honest one, why not let it sec daylight? Is it to bo looked at only by publicans, policemen, and our local contemporary? The light rain which commenced in Masterton at an early hour this morning did a great deal of good. Anglers whipping the streams about Masterton this morning, had better fishing and some good trout were taken. The Excelsior cricketers have made a movement. When are the other Masterton cricketers going to wake up? At Durham (England) on July 10th, Elizabeth Urquhnrl, fifty-four, was indicted for the murder of her husband, aged sixty-six, at Jarrow. This was a very distressing case. The prisoner and her husband and lived happily together, but were iu great poverty and distress. For two years lie had been bedridden, suffering very great pain, aud often expressed a wish that he was dead. On June sth his wife bought a 3d packet of vermin powder, and, having administered a dose to her husband, was in the act of taking a fatal draught herself, when she was prevented by a policeman who had been sent for. She was yery much excited, and when charged with the wilful and malicious murder of her husband, said: " There was no malice; «c were as friendly as could be. I kissed him before lie took it, and said: ' There, you will soon bo out of your pain now.' I gave it to him at a quarter to five. He mixed it himself, aud drank it sitting on the bed. He said: " I feel funny," aud died immediately. The jury found that the prisoner was guilty, but iusauc. She was ordered to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure. The Australasian edition of the Rmcwtif Reeim, supplies the following interesting particulars in regard to the Queensland artesian water supply:— Queensland lias expended £637,851 in artesian bores; of these, 372 are complete, their aggregate depth amounting to SO miles, the deepest bore being that at Wiuton, which reaches -1U&1 feet aud yields 720,000 gallons per day. Some bores, for various causes, arc failures, but no less than 201 arc running, and , their daily outflow would fill a resei-roir i one mile long by 200 yards wide and 20 i feet deep, livery year these tiny but. ; ever-running jets of water, fed by subtcrrauean seas, would fill a reservoir 12 miles long, a mile wide and 20 feet deep, 'llic cflect of these artificial streamlets, suddenly set flowing under rainless skies and across plains almost perpetually arid, can scarcely be realised. These artesian waters, in brief, are creating new kingdoms. The following was recently related to the Field (London) by au eye-witness: After a meet of the West Watcrford hounds at Youghal-bridgc, several of the field adjourned, to partake of the hospitality of a neighbouring gentleman. One of tlicm placed his horse in an . empty loose box, and closed the lower : half of the door, which was 3ft. (Jin., the . upper half being 2ft. Gin. in height, when suddenly, to the astonishment of i the onlookers, the horse, who was excited ' by another animal bciug walked about , outside, leapt through the aperture, and . alighted in the yard outside without a , scratch. It seems extraordinary that a ' horse standing 15! hands could jump ; over 3-jft. through an aperture of 2Jft. 1 without injuring himself. 1 The new duties on fruit have been ' carried, wc arc grieved and ashamed to ■ say, remarks tho Wellington Pod. The Ministry, by dint of assiduous whipping , and all sorts of lobby pressure, has sueI ceeded in imposing a heavy impost on , one of the prime necessaries of healthful [ life, For the benefit of 'IOOO fruit growers the entire community is to lie taxed, and the supply of healthful food ' rendered dearer and more scarce. The 1 duty, it is said, is only a halfpenny ini crease, That is what tho Customs will 1 collect and the Treasury profit by, but, i as with all Protective duties, the con- [ sumcrs will have to pay very mncli more. ; A very large proportion of the imported truit arrives in a more or less damaged condition. The duty will be levied ou | good and bad alike, so that the retailer ! will be compelled to make the good 1 fruit fit for sale to pay for the damaged i and useless fruit. Before flic consumer 1 gcts_ the apples, or cherries, or rasp- ■ berries, the duty will have increased the ; cost by from a penny to twopence a : pound—a very serious increase where ! thereis a large family of fruit consumers. ; A more unwise and unjust tax was ' ncyer imposed, wen in the interests of ' Protection. Like all such taxes, if it i brings in revenue it will not benefit i local producers, wid if it benefits them it will not enrich the Treasury. In either ease tho consumers must suffer, , and where they do wo hope they will re- . the names of those who have caused it by voting for this inquitous tax, The tlmo to remember effectively Will bo at next elections. The injury -111 not, however, bo confined to done .j Already Tasmania fruit consumers. doubtless threatens reprisals, anu ''liiskind carry out the threat. A war ot inbetween tho colonics will havo widereaching and disastrous offects to many classes. Tho return of railway receipts and expenditure four tho four weeks ending 17th August shows the /ornwr Jo havo been £74,148 18s 4d, and' tlj,e latter £57,266 13s 3d. In the corresponding period of tho previous year tho figur.es wero £77,081 ?s and £58,354 4s 6d respectively. .

Who is the well-known pressman in this town who wrileß anonymously to the JFairarapa Star?" asks our local contemporary of us, The answer to this lonundrum was given in Court the other fay, when the S.M. suggested that the " Fairplay " letter was " written on the premises." There are now seven patients in the S-reytown Hospital. Messrs Lowes and lorns announce their next stock salo for Wednesday, October 2nd. Letters of naturalisation have been issued to Joseph Akel, hawker, Masterton. _ Mr R, K. Forsyth, of Towai, has resigned the Commission of the Peace. The Woilii Grand Junction Syndicate, finding funds inadequate, theshareholders have resolved to form a new company with a capital of £160,000. The Sknduril considers the permanence of the reveal of trade in Great Britain dopends ou futuro Australasian, American and French tariffs. Amongst the latest converts to tho " homing fancy " in England is H.E.H. the Duke of York, who has ordered large lofts to be croclod at his residence for this favourite variety of pigeons. Owing to representations from tho Captain of the Salvation Army, theopenair addresses announced by the Eev. Mr Yorke, will not be delivered to-night. The series of addresses will begin after to-morrow night's service at about 8.30, and will be continued through the week, excopt upon the following Saturday. The service announced tor to-night will not be held. j A large pearl on exhibition in Washington, turus out to have been produced by strategy—u piece of beeswax having been placed between the shells of a fresh-water mussel, which was then placed in an aquarium. The mollus at once proceeded to covor (lie obstruction with enamel, and in a few years the pearl was complete. General Booth, who is expected to arrive from England by the llimutaka on the Bth prox. is to land at Jervoisquay, where a groat demonstration will be made by the Salvation Army. At Collingivood, Victoria, last week, a witness said that she and her husband always had their meals together, and yet sho had not spoken to him for niuo months. The Philadelphia Ledger avers that the sheriff of Worth County, Georgia, arrested a school teacher recently, and iournl a pistol in his pocket, and that the teacher said the weapon was used to keep his school in order, At a meeting of the Otago Dock Trust on Friday, tenders were opened for the loan of £SOOO at 5 per cent., to be used in erecting cool stores for produce. Kine tenders were received, for a total of £13,100. It was decided to accept£lsoo at£lol Is Gd; £2600 at £lollos, and £'loo at £lO7 ss, making a total of £1,500. There was a fair attendance at the ordinary weekly meeting of the Masterton Mutual Improvement Society held in the Wcslcyan Schoolroom last evening. The President (Itev. J. Dukes) occupied the chair. "An evening with the Poets," was the order of business, Miss Dukes reading an essay on Shakespearo, Mr Donald ou Burns, and the President on Hood. The essayists also read extracts from their works. Discussion followed, and a very pleasant and profitable evening resulted. "An evening with the Dictionary,will be the order of business at the Society's next meeting. On the Wellington section of the Railways, during the four weeks ended on August 17th, the receipts amounted to £4958 13s, as against £.105!) 17s Id; tho number of passengers carried was 25,9.15, as against 20,166 ; the faros amounted to £2068 17s sd, as against £2173 3s lid, When the Tarawera was about SCO miles from Auckland, on the passage from Sydney, a little bird which had been hovering about the vessel for some time, suddenly dropped on deck, apparently exhausted, says a contemporary. On being given food it quickly revived, and soon made frieuds with all on board. It now has the freedom of the vessel and has made itself quite at home. It is of the snipe species and it is thought to have been a pet shore bird. It is a determined vermin-killer and evinces considerable liking for a meal of cockroaches. Great enthusiasm is being displayed by the Excolsior cricketers this season, and the members hope to uphold the reputation which their Club has gained during tho past Bii years of its existence, From all accounts the present season will eclipse previous ones, and it is the Club's desire to see a Thursday Union formed throughout tho Valley, so as to to give prominence to this good old English sport, There will be two teams —a Thursday and Saturday one, in connection with the Club, so that all members will have an oppootunity of taking part in the matches arranged, and with regularly-attended practicos, members should display some good form iu coming contests. There are few towns of its size so well provided with public vehicles as Masterton, and every day there is something new boing introduced by our enterprising townsmen who cater for this branch of public convenience. Messrs Pinhey Bros, arc certainly to be congratulated on their latest purchase of a roomy and handsome landau, built by Messrs Rouse and Hurrcll, of Wellington. This firm have now three wellappointed cabs at the service of the public, aud as each is numbered, there can bo no mistaking them. For the conveyance of heavy baggage they also run an express, which can be brought into use when needed. The firm since starting business, has always attended well to the wants of patrons and may rest assured of the support desorved, Mr O. Pragnell had his window nicely and attractively dressed last night, the speciality being mostly children's wear. The Frances Ross Company gave a delightful performance of Robertson's comedy "Casto" at the Masterton Theatre Royal last night, and were received with great enthusiasm. The pieco was certainly ouo of the most perfectly staged ever seen in Masterton and every character was ably sustained. Messrs Sinims & Mowlcm advertise forprivatesale a cabinet-making and undertaker's business, of 20 years connection. Messrs Simms and Mowlcm add 12 wcaner pigs, 2 porkors and 1 hoifer and calf, to their next stock sale in tho yards on Wednesday, 25th inst. Messrs Simms and Mowlcm adviso the private sale of the line of 250 ewes and lambs, advertised in their stock list for Wednesday, loth inst, tho lot will now como forward ou that date. A cablegram from G. A. Cameron, of Cooigardie, to Mr W, Sellar, the secretary of tho Wairarapa syndicate, this morning, says " things aro booming." The inquest on the body of the infant found in a brown paper parcel at Greytown, has been adjourned till Wednesday next. One ol the drawback of country life, at least to the small settler, is undoubtedly the increased price ho has to pay (or any articles of clothing or general drapery, by reason of the extra charges for freight or carriage. This drawback need exist no longer, for extra charges are dono away with under the new system which has been inaugurated at Te Aro House, Wellington. ! Undor this system, any of the parcels advertised, will be sent to any address in Now Zealand, rosr hue, the prices charged being exactly the same as those at which the goods ate sold over the counter in Wellington. As may bo imagined, however, this liberal oHor is only extended to oash customers, and all orders for advertised parcels, mußt be accompanied by oash (or the amount, before the order can be exe- :•* at Tb Alio Hoosk, Wellington, in" iiiMtra''® '' * hiß system, we will ifSii.- firsts Parcel which contains 1 Lady's White Mainsook Blouse, trimmed with embroidery md wHb 'ho now butterfly collar; 1 Navy or Rlsck Sateen Blouse, with white spots, new £ •1 pair of Black or tested Taffeta : Glovestnnd!i pairs of Mesßlack Cashmere Hose." Tbifc couijilata parcel ivj)l be Bent, tjoat free, to any rfcboßß, on receipt .9! 19/6,