LATEST TOWN NEWS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 31, 5 August 1867, Page 1 (Supplement)

LATEST TOWN NEWS.

GREAT STORM IN WELLINGTON. £3,000 TO £4,000 OF DAMAGE TO HUTT ROAD. NO TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WITH THE SOUTH. MARIA BAKER COMMITTED FOR WILFUL MURDER. DIVORCE BILL INTRODUCED BY MR. TRAVERS. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL BY 'THE PREMIER. The Mail from Wellington arrived on Saturday evening. The down coach left Grey town early on Saturday morning and on getting to the Pukuratahi met the mailman. The coach immediately returned after receiving the mails. We condense the following from “ Our own Correspondent’s ” letter and the “ Evening Post” ; —■ The embankment protecting the Hutt road from any encroachment of the Sea has been washed away iu several places ; the greatest difficulty for vehicles to get along in consequence of slips. The damage done roughly estimated at from three to four thousand pounds. A slaughter house was Blown down at the Hull. Valentine’s Hotel stands in a precarious position. The approaches to the Hutt Bridge have suffered considerable damage, and Corbett’s house is in a dangerous predicament. Telegraphic line down ; no communication with Nelson, Canterbury, Otago, or Southland. On Friday morning a downpour of rain, more resembling the bursting of a waterspout fell on the city, flooding many dwellings, and arousing the inhabitants to look to their security. At Te Aro considerable damage was done, a new culvert bursting, and submerging much valuable property, and carrying away a bridge, Mr Edmeades is a sufferer, the outbuildings of his brewery wrecked, fencing thrown down, and many hogsheads of beer washed off his premises. Cuba-strcet is greatly cut up, and at its junction with Manners-street are evidences of the havoc made by the flood—Capt Rhodes’ fencing demolished, and his house and stores inundated with water. At Thorndon end several mishaps have occurred—Hill-street has been seriously damaged, particularly that part opposite the Catholic cathedral, where an'extensive land slip occurred, carrying down a great portion of the street, and leaving a gap some forty or fifty feet in length. The Governmentßuildings suffered also serious injury. Maria Baker, a half-caste girl was chavgedjbefore the Magistrate with the wilful murder of a male child on the 20th June, The pri-

soner did not seem affected by her position. Prisoner had been for six' months previous to the 28th in the employ of Mrs Liardet, on that day she was too ill to w r ork, refused to go to the hospital, but expressed a wish to go to Mrs Lockycr’s a widow living at Thorndon, she returned the same evening, stating that MrsLockyer had refused to let her stop, she went away again for a few 1 days and then came back when Mrs Liardet refused to take her back. She denied to Mrs. Liardet that she had had a child. The body of a male child was found in Mrs Lockyer’s water closet. The female searcher gave evidence that the prisoner had confessed to her that she had given birth to a dead child and that Mrs Lock-. ycr had promiseddo bury it. The prisoner was fully committed and Mrs Lockyer w r as remanded for seven days for further evidence on the charge of aiding and abet-. • O O ting, hail being granted. Mr Travers carried a resolution affirming the expediency of introducing a Divorce Bill. The Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company have received sach revenue during the last six mouths as to enable them to pay off all their debts, and to expend a handsome sum iu putting the affaire of the company in sound working order.

At Messrs Bethune and Hunter’s, sale Mr. Haywnrds premises at Feathers ton sold for £650 ; and the suburban section at Greytowu brought £2 7s Gd per acre.

Parliament was occupied during the greater part of last week in the discussion of two most important measures intmdused by the Government. The first entitled the Representation Bill, was brought forward for the purpose of giving two additional members each to Westland and Auckland. This Bill met with no favor from the Middle Island members, and was also opposed by Messrs Brandon, Borlase, Bunny anil Ludlam, and on a division it was lost by a majority of twenty-eight to twentyone.

The other Bill is without question the Bill of the Session. Its short title is the “Local Government” heretofore known as the “Shire Council's” Bill. Its 1 extended title is “a Bill to establish road districts, and generally to provide for the administration of'local affairs outside of boroughs,” Mr. Stafford made an able speech, and said that the Bill was intended to provide for the interests of the more recently settled country districts when contrasted with those of the towns and older settled sulmrban districts. He showed conclusively that if road boards are to have destructive functions, and powers to make bye-laws, they can only be safely constituted by the General Assembly. We direct the special attention of the members and promoters of road boards in this district to this important point. Another reason, and a still more important one, why road boards should be constituted by an Act of the General Assembly, is that body alone can set apart any portion of ordinary or territorial revenues, which shall by a permanent Appropriation Act be assured to the several districts of the country as a permanent measure. The Government consequently propose, ont of the consolidated revenue of the colony, such as Customs, Stamp Duties Ac., to a double amount of that which has n raised by local rates and contributions, If this district, for example, raises one shilling- to the pound it will receive two shillings in the pound from the consolidated revenue. In addition to this it is proposed to make an endowment from the territorial revenue of the district to the district Council vamim-in amount from 20 to 30 per cent of he, grass receipts from land sales. , The powers given under the Bill to the District Council are of great importance, and altogether it appears admirably arranged to meet the requirements of outlviiV'districts like the Wairarapa,

The second reading of the Hill is fixed for Tuesday next, and though there is not sufficient time to get up. a petition in favor of the measure in this district, this Extha will reach the Government in sufficient time to assure them that in their efforts to carry the measure through the House the}' will have the support of the whole of the outlying districts of the colony. This Bill if passed will prove extremely beneficial to the Wairarapa. ❖ ; Tun Taukeu Koaii. —We are informed by a gentleman that it is about twenty feet deep in mud, and that the road between Hasterton and the Taueru is impassable. The Government were warned' last summer this would he the ease hut they then paid no attention to it