WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4817, 30 August 1876, Page 3

WAIRARAPA.

(from oub own correspondent.) The rise in wool has made a wonderful improvement in the faces of sheepfarmers, and no wonder when I heard it stated by a reliable authority that many would have had to give up sheepfarming for the same reason the fox gave up trying to get the grapes, if the prices had kept down. I notice a large coach factory is in course of construction in Greytown, for Black and Co., of Wellington, as a branch establishment. It was designed by Mr. Turnbull, having a span of forty feet—the widest in the district. I believe they also intend erecting one at Masterton. It is to be hoped that their enterprise will meet with the support it deserves. There have been three cases of wives bringing their husbands before the Resident Magistrate. The first was heard in Greytown, whore a man was charged with the ill-treatment of his wife while under the influence of drink; in fact, he had to be locked up on account of the demon still possessing his mind. When placed in the dock the case was postponed till he was in a fit state to hear the serious charge made against him. The second was a case heard at Featherston, when Mr. M. Greathead was required to state his reasons for hot supporting his wife. His chief objection was, that not being of gigantic proportions, he was unable to maintain a wife who possessed too large a bump of alimentiveness. The case was adjourned for further evidence. The third was heard at Masterton, and was, perhaps, one of the most interesting cases brought before the R.M. in this district. Mr. Moody, well-known in former years in Wellington, was summoned by his young wife for the maintenance of herself and two children. She stated that since they had been married they had kept a boardinghouse, and he had done nothing with the exception of earning enough money to pay a butcher’s bill, and was not sober more than two days at a time. He on the other hand brought forward evidence to show that she was encimtc at the time he married her, and since she had left him she was living in the same house with a Mr. Smith. Tile bench refused any allowance being granted for her support. There have been more swagmen passing backwards and forwards this winter than has ever been known before, in fact I noticed one of the fair sex indulging in that occupation; she was not a princess, or I have no doubt if she had been, carrying a swag on the back instead of the head would have become fashionable for ladies.

Mr. .T. O. Hayward has just returned from the other island, bringing with him two entire horses, Barbarian and Blair Athol, which are above the ordinary breed; such horses as these are likely to improve on the wretched breed which we now possess. Tenders have been accepted for forming and metalling footpaths along the main street, Greytown, and I should think it was nearly lime, when three years have been wasted in establishing a local board through illegalities and dissensions.

has been a meeting of journeying blacksmiths at Hasterton, for the purpose of

reducing the time of working to eight hours per day, as lately they have been working nine and ten hours. Mr. Blackett was in Greytown on Saturday, looking out for a site for the proposed bridge across the Waiohine. It a wonder that meetings have not been held in Carterton and Masterton, for the purpose of calling the attention of the Government to the necessity which exists for the immediate construction of a bridge, as traffic is continually being stopped.