WAIRARAPA AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 44, 25 November 1871, Page 5

WAIRARAPA AFFAIRS.

Now the session of Parliament is over you will have more space to devote to local matters than you before had at your disposal, and I shall, with your permission, take advantage of the circumstance to bring the affairs of this flourishing district more prominently under notice. I am persuaded, from the tone of the debates which took place in Parliament relative to the Masterton and Wairarapa railway, and that of the press of the other provinces on the same subject, that the importance of this district is not generally known, and, in consequence, has been seriously and injuriously under-rated. In the first place, it contains more cattle and sheep than any other electoral district of the province; in the second place, it contains a larger number of small farmers than any other; in the third place there is no other district which contains so many large and thriving townships. The traffic between Wellington and the Wairarapa has also been much under-rated. Some five or six heavily-laden waggons, besides drays and carts, will be engaged during the next three months in conveying this season’s wool clip to Wellington. Last Thursday, no less than eleven timber waggons, each carrying two thousand feet of sawn timber, were met on the Rimutaka, on their way to Wellington. At Featherston there are three large hotels, a Court House, Post Office, and Telegraph Station. In its vicinity there are flocks of the finest and largest-bred sheep, equal to any in the province, depasturing. There are also a number of large dairy farms, at some of which fifty cows and upwards are milked daily. On the banks of the Tauherenikau river a large boiling-down establishment has been erected; and on this side there are a number of large agri-

cultural, sheep, and dairy farms, at one of the latter as fine cheese is produced as can be obtained in any other part of the colony. In the vicinity of Greytown stands the Woodside saw mill, which has turned out more telegraph poles than any other establishment of the kind in New Zealand. There is also another saw mill constantly engaged in cutting timber for the Hutt and other bridges. At Greytown there are four large hotels and six or seven stores, two of which are equal in size and appearance to any in Wellington. There is a large public hall, nearly as large as the Odd Fellows’ Hall, three churches, and the best fitted up and the best supplied reading room of any in New Zealand. This town is also well supplied with blacksmiths, wheelwrights, coopers, carpenters, cabinet makers, saddlers, shoemakers, and tailors; it also contains a large brewery and a soda-water manufactory. It has two resident clergymen, and two resident surgeons, a Court House, Telegraph, Money Order, and Post Office, the latter transacting more business than any other country office in the province. At Carterton there is also a town hall, several large stores and hotels, and a large number of thriving small farmers. Passing on to the Taratahi Plains, smiling homesteads are to be seen dotted about in all directions, where, only a few years ago, the fine cattle of Messrs Rhodes and Donald, in a semi-wild state, undisturbedly depastured. Arriving at M asterton, a fine town presents itself to the view, well supplied with all the requisites of a country town in the mother country. There are three fine churches here, several hotels and stores, and some of the most persevering agriculturists to be found in the province. There are here also flour, flax, and saw mills, in full operation. There are two saw mills on the Taratahi, and two flour mills at Carterton. The Pioneer Saw Mill, belonging to Mr Hooker, turns out weekly a very large quantity of as fine timber as can be obtained anywhere in the country. Only last week a boiler came up from town for the use of the flax mill erected in the Lower Valley. Here also are to be found the largest and best stocked freehold estates, and pastoral runs, of any in the province ; without mentioning those situated on the East Coast, a large portion of the wool from which also passes through the valley to Welliugton. From the foregoing it will be gathered that the Wairarapa is not so unimportant a district as mauy of the members of Parliament, and notably Mr Dunedin Reynolds, appeared to imagine. FATAL ACCIDENT. On Friday last an inquest was held at Cadwallader’s Hotel, Carterton, before Dr Spratt, the Coroner of the district, and a respectable jury, touching the cause of death of a boy about fifteen years of age, by the name of Frederick Wise, the son of Mr Alfred Wise, formerly of Gawith’s Hotel, Wellington, who had been kille,d the preceding day by the falling of a tree, which one he had been felling had knocked down upon him, striking him behind the ear, and causing instant death. His dog was the means of discovering the accident, which set up a lamentable howl, and directed the friends of the deceased to the spot where the body was lying. After hearing the evidence, a verdict of accidental death was returned. NARROW ESCAPE. The other day a young man by the name of Robert Caruthers, formerly of Adelaide, had a narrow escape from being drowned in the Ruamahunga river. He had pulled off his clothes with the intention of fording the river, and then fastened them on his back in the swag he was carrying. The river was high and muddy at the time, and he was quickly taken off his legs by the strength of the current. After being taken down the stream several chains he managed to reach a snag, by which he held, and eventually succeeded in fastening his swag to a branch of a tree which was overhanging it. He then swam ashore, having nothing on but a Crimean shirt and his boots. In this state he was seen by Mr James, of Parkhill, who fetched him some clothes, and next day went with him to the river, where his swag was found, and, after some difficulty, recovered. But the foolish fellow lost what little money he had, and also several small parcels he had with him. I

say foolish fellow, because no other would venture to ford the Ruamahunga when in a muddy state. It is seldom safe for horsemen when that is the case —a fact which should be known to all travellers passing through this district. THE RAILWAY. This, of course, is the prominent topic of discussion here; and it has been widely reported that Mr Brogden will at once commence the survey of the line. I should mention that the very opposite feeling was excited here to that which was exhibited at Wellington when his arrival in the province was first known. It is felt thatif’he commences his contract in this province it cannot but prove advantagous in many ways, not the least of which would be his making of Wellington his headquarters. He will be sure to give out small contracts, which will be the means of creating future local contractors. The fear is not that local men will not be employed, but that sufficient men will not be obtainable to push on the work fast enough, without raising wages, and disturbing the labor market. Small contracts, under a large contractor, will prove more beneficial to the country, than they would under a Government which would be subjected to a thousand sinisters influences. I have not met a man in the district who has any sympathy with the promoters of the Wellington meeting ; though of course they see the advantages that would accrue to the colony if an arrangement could be made which would insure that all the railway carriages and trucks were constructed in New Zealand. As our railway will at once pay interest and working expenses, it should be proceeded with as fast as possible. There is another reason why this should be done, as the timber required for other raihvays can be supplied from this district at a much cheaper rate after the railway is opened than it could be under other circumstances. Besides the sooner the railway is opened the greater the saving of interest on the outlay. ROAD BOARD MEETINGS. This Board held a meeting on Friday last, when all the wardens were present. It was resolved to advertise for tenders for the formation of sixty chains of road on what is known as the back line, and for metalling ten chains on the road leading from Morrison’s Bush towards Greytown. On the following day the Greytown Road Board met to hear objections to the assessment, when it was finally passed. THE WEATHER. The weather still continues unsettled. After two or three very hot days last week, the weather set in cold to the injury of vegetation and serious inconvenience of shearers. It is reported that Mr R. Barton lost ten fine Leicester rams during the recent S.E. gale, and that the total loss of sheep and lambs exceeds 5,000 in all. This serious mortality has only occurred amongst the sbeep, and it will probably have the effect of postponing the shearing season to a later period of the year. PUBLIC LIBRARY. I have the best authority for stating that now the session is over the Hon Mr Waterhouse will be happy to attend the proposed meeting at Greytown for the purpose of taking the necessary steps for the establishment of a Public Library. Since the preliminary committee was appointed no information has been afforded the public as to its proceedings. To render the movement a success a small working committee is indispensable, and 1 would suggest that this committee be formed in addition to the president, patrons, and vice-presi-dents. In other words that the patrons of the institute should not be placed on the managing committee, but be honored with the title of vice-presi-dents. lam informed by Mr Barton that the very handsome donation he offered was expressly for the establishment of a Wairarapa Public Library, unconnected with the Greytown School. If only care be taken in haviug a good secretary or managing committee, the movement cannot fail to prove successful.