WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 49, 30 December 1871, Page 12

WAIRARAPA.

(From a Uukhebpondbnt.) We have suffered a great deal from the effects of the late gale, the gardens both fruit and vegetable now look shockingly bad. T may say our iruit season is over. It blew tremendously all Friday night in the west part of the Valley : it was reallv impossible (and unwise if one were inclined) to sleep from fear of being blown away. On Saturday morning, on passing through Featherston, it put me in mind of the appearance of Wellington after the great shocks. The first thing that met my eye was fencing down in quantities. Next the schoolhouse chimney down, then the Land Offices, the Court House do, tops of chimneys lying on the streets. A great part of the front of Casselberg's shop, near Hodder's hotel, was blown clean out. This really looked serious. Fragments were to be seen at. a great distance; the lamp of the Royal Hotel minus, and out-buildings much damaged. Abbott's Hotel seems to have suffered more than their neighbors, as they had all their chimneys blown down, and were unable to kindle a fire in their house. Several stacks of hay were blown down, and many acres of mown grass lying on the ground. A ten acre paddock of Abbott's has been cleared so completely that I defy a stranger to see the least mark of its being a hay field the day before. Not one bit is left; all trouble of mowingithas been saved them. It is several years since we have had a season approaching anything like this. and I consider the gale lasted longer than usual. I hear from the roadmen that the damage to the Rimutaka road is immense ; that it will take the labor of all the present staff at least five months to replace the damage, as such large quantities of metal has been blown off. The Rimutaka ususually suffers as much or more from this cause than it does from traffic. This brings me to the railway question—instead of bringing it to the Upper Huttonly, I recommend for economy's sake to continue it to Featherston. I dare say the Rimutaka toad, taking slips and bridges into account, cost the Government, at least £BOO a year from the Golden Fleece to Shirley's. This would go a great way at 5 per cent, towards paying the interest on a railway loan. The mills would not consider the distance to Featherston much, consequently timber would be taken to Wellington at from Is Id to Is 6d per 100 feet, and other carriage at from 10s to £1 per ton from all parts of the valley, of the price it would cost, if the railway station were close to the mills. But when horses have dragged heavy loads over the hills, they would almost as soon take their loads into Wellington, considering it would of necessity require a second handling. I doubt very much the saving. The distance on a level road would be a greater advantage.