LOCAL NEWS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 18, 4 May 1867, Page 3

LOCAL NEWS.

Official Advice. —We understand on good authority that one of the officers who lately resigned his Captaincy in the Volunteers, in consequence of Major Smith’s appointment, has received a letter emanating from the Defence office, recommending him to reconsider his decision, Is it not a strange course to take the officers seriatim? Why have not the whole of the officers received this kind official advice ? East Wairarapa Election. —On Monday last, the Returning Officer, (H. S. Warded, Esq,) gave the following as the official declaration of the poll: Andrew Eevans Masterton 12 2 Wharehama 15 0 Castle Point 2 0 Taunui 0 6 Huangarua 0 2 Fahaua 0 0 29 10 Mr Andrew having therefore a majority of 19. was declared duly elected. In our advertising columns, an address appears, thanking the electors for the honor conferred on him. G1 eytown Band. —The Band will play this evening the following programme, (weather permitting), in the paddock opposite Mr. Ticehurst’s:— “ lihine Wine,” MARCH “ Katrine,” (Schottische) Shabet •‘Mammas Pet Waltzes," Farmer “ Scotch Polka,” D'Albert Selections from “La Travidore,” Verdi “ Polka Mazurka,” Her Linn “War Galop,” D’Albert Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. —On Sunday last the Rev. Mr. Rishworth. the newly appointed minister for the district, preached to large audiences, in the Grey town Chapel, his first two sermons. In the afternoon taking for his text 2nd Cor. sth c, 20th v. In the evening, Luke 23rd c, 42nd v. He is an able and eloquent preacher, and will no doubt be a great boon to the Wesleyaus in the district who have been so long without a pastor. Assault. —On Monday last, a case of assault Wrigley v. Dugan, was heard before 11. S. Wardell, Esq, R.M, at Masterton. After hearing the evidence defendant was fined £2 and costs.

Wairarapa Cavalry Volunteers. —At a meeting of the members of this troop after parade at Manaia, Masferton, oa Wednesday last, Mr Joseph Bennett, was unanimously elected Lieutenant, in place ot Mr T. Collins, resigned. Queen’s Wharf. —We have not heard that it is to be called the Wairarapa wharf in consequence of having been built out of money belonging to this valley, nor that debentures carrying ten per cent interest are to be issued upon the security of it and applied to the purposes of the Wairarapa. Subsidies. —lt is true, we believe that the subsidy paid for two coaches a week to Wanganui is more than double the amount Cobb tic Co get for running coaches to Wairarapa, and that they run four a week, though we only get mails by two of them, and this our members should see is rectified. Returns Wanted. — A return of the cost of constructing and maintaining the Ngahauranga road ; a return for making the road and maintaining it over the Pakaikariki, with all outlay, annual or otherwise from it to the Manawatu river.

The Patent Slip Difficulty. —The statements now before the public suggest that somebody has been guilty of awful fibbing. The Panama Route. —Reading that the last steamer from Panama to Wellington had called at Oparo Island we looked for it on the chart. It appears to be almost in the direct course, and talcing the distance between 'Wellington and Panama at six thousand miles, is about two thousand four hundred from the former, and three thousand six hundred miles from the latter place. As the harbour is reported good we should think the Panama Steam Company will make it a coaling station, and as such it will be most valuable in increasing the facility of the Company’s boats to carry cargo. Opara then would probably be visited by many who now live in the numerous islands to the North-west ot it, the Navigators among them. This is a discovery which may be the making of a Company which deserves complete success fur the clHcicnt manner in which it ins carried out its noble and daring enter-

r.lrjnDKii of Mr. C. W. Smith,— The Mongouui correspondent of the 11 Southern Cross," says, —“ 1 am sorry that T have to report the murder of Mr diaries William Sydney Smith, at Victoria Valley, at his section known as Bloomfield. 11. B. 'White, Esq., R.M., received information on the evening of Friday last, and on Saturday morning went over to the scene of the murder and held an inquest over the body The jury was formed of half Europeans and half natives. A post mortem

examination was made by Dr Burdett, which clearly proved that a wilful murder had been committed by the infliction of three wounds — two on the head with an axe or tomahawk, and the throat cut with a knife or sharp instrument. No satisfactory clue as to the perpetrator could be obtained. It appears that tile deceased was occupied in shelling corn at the time of the murder, and nothing in the house was disturbed. The doors were fastened outside. His loss is deeply regretted by the settlers and natives. Tjie only conjecture is, that revenge for some supposed or intended insult must have prompted to the commission of this diabolical deed. The whole body of the natives are endeavoring to find out the perpetrator.

Local Self-government. —We beg to direct the attention of the public to an advertisement in. another column calling a meeting at the Greytown School-house on Monday evening. The subject to be brought before the meeting is that of placing the public property and the public affairs of Greytown under public control, has our warmest support A petition should be adopted to the House of Representatives on the subject. The Public Hall. — A very full meeting of the committee was held at the Greytown School house on Thursday evening, when it was resolved that it would be advisable to appoint a person to collect the amount due from shareholders and to canvass the public for new shares. The general feeling was that the undertaking ought to be prosecuted to a successful issue.

Electric Telegraph. —The poles, wires, and insulators have now been placed on the ground the whole distance bet ween Wellington and Masterton, and are all ready fop erection. We have to caution parents to warn their children not to meddle with the insulators as their doing so will subject the contractor and the public to serious inconvenience, and render themselves liable to heavy penalties. We learn with regret that the insulators laid down between Kaiwarra and Ngahuranga have been wantonly destroyed, which will prevent the line being completed to Masterton until new insulators are received from England. Provincial Prize Firing. —The firing for the Provincial Government rifle prizes took place by the several local companies during the present week—the details of which we will give in a future issue. The highest scores obtained at Featherston were T, Benton, 42. At Greytown, Lieut. Udy obtained the highest score in the district, viz. 45. R. Welch scored 41 and F. Whybrow 39. At Masterton, on Thursday, the Cavalry Volunteers fired for the prizes on the race course at Manaia. Rhodes Donald obtained 31, and C. Dixon, jun. and H. Campbell 30 each respectively. At Carterton the highest score was made by Mr. Oates, 39. When the whole of the returns have been received we will publish them in full.