WOODVILLE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3884, 31 December 1883, Page 3

WOODVILLE.

[from our own correspondent.] December 28th, 18S3

The Licensing Committee refused to grant a license for a booth at tho sports on Boxing Day. This produced a howl of sober disappointment frqm those who seemed to feel it most, but the respectable portion of the community one and all agree that_ it is possible to have a day's enjoyment without tho fun of getting drunk. If a man chooses to take refreshment with him well and good; no one objects to that; but a booth is apt to leat_ to strangers becoming- noisy and tillpleasant. Nothing of the sort, however, happened on Wednesday. It is said that Mr W. G. Cornford has sent in his resignation as schoolmaster. It is nearly seven years since he first entered on these duties, and ho has worked hard, and unceasingly to fulfil those duties, which, being unassisted, came more heavily upon him than they might have done had ho had tho staff of teachers that the size of the school would seem to merit.

Tho Wairarapa papers were, I believe, the first to discover that a number of settlers are about to leave the Hawke's Bay province for America. Other papers then took it lip, and I see it has reached Christchurch, and has been made tho subject of a leading article, much to the discredit of tho fair namo of Hawke's Bay. In reply to these correspondence has arisen, which explains, or attempts to explain, the cause of their alleged emigration. It says tho settlers are dissatisfied with their land, that they have no roads, etc., etc. Now, being curious tq find out the real state of things in Norsewoo_, I made enquiries of ono of the lea ling busiu.ss men there, and he says tho wholo rumour vj unfounded. He says the Scandinavians aro far too wide awake to leave their holdings, and has not heard any dissatisfaction expressed. Now, I think that every paper that has helped to spread this rppqrt should, in fairuesa to the bush sottlemehts in general, cither prove it to bo a true one, or take the first opportunity of contradicting it.

The R.M. Court was held here to-day. A number of cases were on the list, but several were not represented aud so were not heard. We should like to have the contract for building the Court House let at once. The money is appropriated, so why not let us have it spent. At the present dull times it would be most acceptable to have some Government money spent in the place. I wonder whether our ever-vigilant member, Mr Smith, has, for once, forgotten that we are patiently, and apparently vainly, awaiting a Court House : The usual cases of Chalmers v. Davcy and Davey v. Chalmers were the chief ones which were hoard, a small judgment for plaintiff being given in each case. Christmas Day was anything but tempting so far a3 weather goes, and the general feeling up here was not of intense merriment of joviality. In fact this Christmas has been unusually dull. Contrary to expectations, however, of the most sanguine, Boxing Day turned out delightfully. Ihe sun is well "known to bring out tho butterflies, nor did it fail to attract a wonderful gathering (for Woodville) of all the youth and beauty, which wo so prize and cherish, to witness the various feats of— Wit or arms, while both contend To win her grace, whom all commend. —The chief events were as follows : —Woodville Handicap, first prize Lidholm. District Maiden Race, Joseph Perfect. One mile Handicap, Angus McLcod. Ihe Pug of War, married men v. single, was won by the former. About 7 o'clock on Thursday morning Mr E. Smith discovered that a portion of his nremises was on fire. It is supposed that someone had slept in the house, which is for the time being empty, and accidentally dropped a match, and so caused the fire, which was, however, luckily averted. It is said that from something that has since transpired an enquiry will be made into the matter.