FEATHERSTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5372, 15 June 1878, Page 3

FEATHERSTON.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The weather during tho past week has been very unsettled, and copious showers have refreshed the earth. The effect has been to make tbo roads very heavy for travelling. Business is quiet, as is usual at this season of the year; but tho settlers aro alivo to tho importance of having a railway station in their town, and are making preparations for the coming event. Tho town is very prettily situate ou tho western side of the Wairarapa Yalley, whore the road from Wellington over the Eimutaka comes into it ; and the locality is healthy in tho extreme. Signs of progress aro observable in many places. Several now buildings havo -recently been erected, and others aro in course of erection. A nice villa residence has just been built for Mr. Shirley, on the Underhill-road, Mr. Tringham being the architect. It is very commodious, and is fitted up with every convenionoo for a home. Tile residence of H. S. Wardeli, Esq., R.M., is also situate ou this road, and occupies a commanding position. The grounds are tastefully laid out, and trees of tho choicest description aro growing in tho greatest luxuriance. Tho estate consists of about 400 acres, which are divided into paddocks, and tho green fields and well-kept hedgerows havo a very pleasing effect, I understand that Mr. Wardeli was offered £BOOO for this property, but declined to .take it. The price, of land in this township has considerably advanced of late. Loss than an acre was sold the other day for £340 to Mr. Wilson, tho whole block of ten acres, of which it formed apart, having previously been purchased for £IOO. It is expected that the railway- will be opened in about a couplo of months. Tho station buildings are in a forward state of progress, and tho engine and goods sheds aro completed! Tho crossings at the roads aro nearly finished, and the ground is all prepared for laying down tho line of rails. If tho works at the tunnel are completed, I see no reason why tho lino should not bo opened at the end of August or beginning of September. A largo accession to the population is anticipated on the opening of the railway. It is expected that tho citizens of Wellington will avail themselves of the increased facilities for travelling afforded by the railway, and that families from town will take up their residence in this picturesque and healthy locality during the summer mouths. There are already two excellent hotels in the district, where travellers can obtain every accommodation, Attached to ono of these is stabling accommodation for 80 horses. Two new hotels aro also about to bo built. Ono is in course of erection near tbo railway station, and tenders have boon advertised for another, to bo erected on the corner allotment opposite Mr. Toogood’s store. Thin latter will bo a very large building, .and tho accommodation most complete, being fitted up with .bath-rooms and all tho other conveniences obtainable in a first-class hotel. There are to bo 21 beedrooms, private sitting rooms, dining and commercial rooms, &o.

The Featherston' people are proud of their school. And well they may be, for it is acknowledged to bo ono of the beat conducted schools in the provincial district of Wellington. Mr. Girr, a gentleman of extensive scholastic attainments, is the head master, and he is assisted byMr.MoKiven and Miss Gira The system adoped is one that makes learning by the pupils easy, and imparts to them largest amount of information possible. Ibe higher branches of education are taught licio, and the results aro most encouraging. Xhe copy books exhibit a good style of writing, and are certainly a marvel of neatness, not a blot being observable on any cf them, There are three, churches in the town the Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Wesleyan. The first-named is supplyod by the incumbent, the Rev- Mr, Knell, who performs Divine service once a fortnight ; and oh the alternate Sundays Mr, Girr, the schoolmaster, officiates. The other churches are supplied by ministers of their various denominations, assisted by local preachers. The Bank of New Zealand has a branch established in Featherston, and also the Brink of Australasia. There is a telegraph and postoffice. Messrs., Hastwell, Maoara, and Co;’s line of coaches pass through this township twice a day from Masterton to Kaitoke, and return from thence twice a day, bringing the mails and passengers from Wellington for the various townships in the Wairarapa.