GREYTOWN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5492, 2 November 1878, Page 3

GREYTOWN.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Ist November. The railway has afforded us a theme not yet worn thread-bare. On this occasion my comments bear upon the complaints which aro mad© from all sides relative to the vexatious delays that occur in the despatch of goods, to the serious inconvenience of business people. Goods from Wellington are detained for over a week before they are finally delivered, whilst timber, in huge stacks, is lying at the Feather* ston terminus, awaiting transmission. No time should be lost in providing all tho additional rolling-stock that is required. Freight trains should certainly run more often than the present arrangements allow. All the weak places on the line should be carefully attended to and thoroughly strengthened during tho summer months. One very material advantage conferred by the extension to Featberaton is the reduction of the charges for carriage from Wellington, amounting to something like fifty per cent. This should cause pur storekeepers to lesson the price of necessaries and all kinds of merchandise, otherwise they will find their customers dealing direct with the city. Hr. J. Payton, lato of the Standard, but now the chief proprietor and editor of the Masterton Free Press, has taken his departure for Lis new field of operation. During his residence of many years in Greytowu he always took a very active and prominent part in local matters affecting the welfare of the township. There has seldom or never been a movement here that he was not connected with. He was chairman of many local bodies and institutions; therefore, I can safely echo the opinion expressed by manv people, that we shall miss his presence much, whilst on the other hand, in Mr. Payton Masterton will gain a worthy and useful citizen. Tho Free Press , at present a tri-weekly journal, will be issued next week under the style, and title of the Wairarapa Daily, striking out a new path in the journalism of the Valley. Having a little knowledge of the costliness of newspaper enterprises generally, I am afraid the venture iu made too Boon and will be attended by no little risk, I shall bo glad to find my fears in this case have been ill-founded. The step is a bold one, and deserves success. Mr. Casolberg, tho energetic chan man of the Waiohmo Board of Conservators, iu response to a numerously signed requisition ha'* consented to be nominated for the representation of the Greytowu Biding in the Council of bounty West. A better man could hardly have been selected for the seat. Successful in life, pushing, persevering, and above all zealous in tho interests ho represents, ho is sure to do his duty. Checver’s Minstrel Company essayed to “do” tho Wairarapa townships this week ; but after drawing unsatisfactory houses at Featherstou and Greytovvn, they shook tho dust off their feet and retired from the field with precipitation and disgust. They declared they would never again grace our smiling valley with their presence. The troupe departed in haste for Wanganui. The fact is the Wairarapa is overdone with amusements of various kinds—church soires, art unions, tea fights, bazaars, subscriptions, all for churches; travelling troupes and local amateurs, and numerous other tokens of an advanced state of civilisation, have taxed our resources to tbe utmost. We need breathing time, for which we devoutly pray. There is a circus hero now, and more of them are coining I understand. Wo have blessed with exceedingly favorable spring weather. Grass is abundant everywhere, and the crops arc looking well and healthy. Tho land comprising tho plains of tho Moroa. between Tauheronikau and Greytowu, could 1 be considerably improved if a little trouble and energy were expended on them. Notvrith*

standing the unpromising appearance of stones and river-drift lying on the surface there is superior soil beneath, which could be converted into profitable arable land in the course of a few years’ patient labor. The two or three proprietors who hold most of the plains would, in my opinion, benefit both themselves aud the community if they were to subdivide them into farms of one hundred acres in extent, aud let them at easy rentals for 20 or 30 years with improvement clauses. The land will take the plough in most places ; the stones could be cleared off and utilised for dividing fences then tree planting should be resorted to extensively, as has been wisely done in Canterbury, to provide shelter .and attract rain. In thn way, with frequent turning over of the ground, ample manuring, regular cropping and grass souring, not many years would see the country studded. with numerous flourishing farms. I hope the railway will bring us a few industrious new-comers —Scotchmen for example, who would nob be afraid to tackle it so long as they could find “ porritch” to live upon.