LOCAL NEWS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 22, 1 June 1867, Page 2

LOCAL NEWS.

Tim Waiuaiupa Band. —It would be a cause for regiet if this efficient baud should be broken up ; and jet we learn that this will be the case unless better support than as yet been accorded to it is not given by the settlers of the valley. We think that the band should make an appeal to the public, and we feel sure that it would be liberally responded to.

Greytows Reserves. —The deputation appointed at the late publia meeting with reference to this subject waited upon Mr Bunny on Saturday last, when that gentleman stated that he had seen the two crown grants, the one for IJO acres being the site of Grcytown, and the other for the Town Belt, botli of which were made to Mr. C. R. Carter, in trust for the members of the Grey town Small Farm Association, and he suggested that these lands should constitute an endowment for a Boarding and Grammar School. The deputation did not fed that they were empowered to make any recommendation of the kind referred to. and considered that it was for the settlers ef Grcytown to decide to what purposes the revenues from these reserves should be devoted Mr. Bunny promised not to lose sight of the matter, and to make further inquires, which he thought would not result iu'anything practical until Mr Carter's return to the colony. Agricultural Association. —A meeting of the committee of this Association was held at the u Rising Sun ”on Saturday last. Owing to the unfavourable state of the weather there was but a thin attendance. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Boys, Bunny, Jackson, Kempton, Masters, Wakelin and Wardell, was -appointed to draw up rules for the association, to be submitted to a general meeting for approval to be held on the loth June. The Weather. —The winter appears to have set in early this year, and during nearly the whole of the present month the weather has been very unfavorable to farming operations, and out-door pursuits. It is hoped that a change of the moon will effect a change in this respect, and dispel the present prevailing dullness and gloom. The rivers at times have been bant high, and the roads are very muddy and heavy.

Native Lands, —Nobody doubts that the bringing the “ Native Lands Act" into operation would prove benefical to the native owners, to the Wairarapa and to the Province ; but the mode adopted for doing this is very dilatory, and otherwise objectionable. The sitting of the Native Land Court ought to he held at fixed dates and not be left to the option of a Judge residing at Auckland. We understand that information has been received by the natives that the next Court will be held at Greytown in August, and not at Featherston as was at first proposed. While on this subject we may mention that Mr. Hamlin, formerly interpreter to the Wellington Land Purchase Commissioner, intends to settle in the Wairr.rapa, and in conjunction with Mr. Maunsell, to engage in the negotiation for native lands to extend to Taupo and the East and West •Coasts.