LOWER WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4406, 4 May 1875, Page 3

LOWER WAIRARAPA.

(feou oub own correspondent.) Grey town, May 1. Masterton has at last grown entirely independent of Greytown, and may be considered the chief township of the Upper Wairarapa. Greytown has a newspaper, a bank, three doctors, a lawyer, and two clergymen ; and Masterton has, or is to have, one at least of each, while in all other respects it has for some time Vied with Greytown. Masterton has, therefore, attained to a distinct district centre* and only wants a political seal to make it a capital. , . .. e Political feeling is still quiescent, in spite of the declamation on the political stage. The absorbing interest is to work, work, work—whether it he at building, farming, or whatnot. Only a political catastrophe, such as cutting off the loans, slaying the General, or smothering the Provincial, Government, will rouse the people here, as perhaps elsewhere, to action. At the same time, it should be noticed that political events are observed, and political comments (when read) considered, and that a dormant opinion is enlarging, which, when excited, wiU no doubt exert itself powerfully enough. , , . There are but few items of even local interest that have occurred during the week, and moat of what have occurred you have already noted. Mr. Clapcott gave some readings on Thursday evening in the bandy and comfortable lecture room of the Wairarapa Institute. The room was fairly filled, and the proceeds go to the Wairarapa Hospital fund. Mr Clapcott is a very popular and pleasant reader. I think this district may now be said to be completely canvassed for life assurance. . , , The Bishop of Wellington is now here, and consecrates the Masterton Church to-morrow, and the Carterton on Monday. Every township has now a handsome church, and all owing to the Bev. A. Knell, whose persistent activity and great personal influence among the members of the Church of England, exercised for the benefit of the Church, deserve the most cordial recognition. The frequent visits of the Bishop, too, induce a greater interest in church questions. On Thursday and Enday, Maones, male and female, in all states —from quite sober to quite drunk—wandered up and down Greytown. Some fighting even went on. The numerous pas are now nearly all deserted, or only half inhabited. They seem to dissolve away. Her© and there nre seen fields of carefully cultivated crops, which compare only too favorably with those of the colonists. Erom Maori vegetable sellers the inhabitants of Greytown get some portion of their supplies. The Maons, however, depend mainly upon their rents for obtaining clothing, &c., and occasionally the proceeds of some public or private sale of land enable them to make a glaring but transitory display of finery. On the occasion of land sales there is often considerable amount of drunkenness among a portion of the natives. A day or two ago, Mr. TJdy, sen., accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Saywel], had got to the Wellington side of “ The Hill ” (Bimutaka), when the horse stumbled and Mrs. Saywell was thrown out. They proceeded on their journey, but found it advisable to return, as Mrs. Saywell became much worse. Mrs. S. is now laid up unable to move. The late Grattan McCabe, on Mr. K. Wakelm's retirement and Mr. Grigg's failure, was appointed by the latter to bo editor of the Wairarapa Mercury t which position he held some months. About to insert “ The Jumping Frog of Talavera County,” ho observed that Mark Twain was a great friend of his, and would one day make a name. This was over six years ago, and Mark Twain has made a name. The one or two copious showers of rain that have fallen during the last week or two started the grass, and there is some prospect now of winter feed being sufficient.