LOCAL NEWS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 42, 21 October 1867, Page 3

LOCAL NEWS.

Found Drowned,— We have 'this morning received information of the finding of the body of Tbos Drew, who had been missing since the 15th inst. On that day he had been in the company of a mad named Gledhill, on their way to Mastcrton. He lay down in a flax bush after leaving Jcuning’s accommodation House in the evening where they had refreshment, when Gledhill left him, and no trace of him could be discovered until yesterday when he was found drowned in the Taueru. Public Meeting. —lt will be seen by a notification in oiir advertising columns that Mr Bunny has convened a meeting othis constituents at the Grey town school house,, on Thursday evening, Oct. 3lst when we trust there will be a large attendance of the electors of the district .to hear from Mr, Bunny an account of his stewardship ns one of the members of the Provincial Council and one of the . General Assembly during their last sessions. Mono a School. —We understand that Mr Alfred Wahelin has obtained the contract for the erection of a teacher’s residence at the Moroa School. It is gratifying to learn that the’subscrijitions have been sufficiently liberal to enable the School ..Committee to' erect a Verandah Cottage foV tlie School Master, and that the number of scholars has been nearly doubledduring the lastnine months.

Cobb and Go’s Line or Coaches.— The public v/ill be glad to learn that Mr Haatwell, who was the pioneer of the first conveyances from Wellington to this district, has succeeded in purchasing Mr W. Davie, oif this line. . His name being a sure guarantee that everything will .be , done to promote the comfort of passengers. He has ' also been successful in his , tender for the mail contract, and in securing the services of “ Ike ” as he is familiarly called—one of the most courteous, and skilful drivers in Hew .Zealand.. We wish Mr’ llastwell success and prosperity in his spirited undertaking. Me C. li. Carter. —This gentleman, so long politically and socially connected with this district, arrived at Greytown by Cobb’s Coach on Saturday afternoon, and in the evening the Wairarapa Brass Band played a series of tunes in his honor in front of his temporary abode, theappropriate air of :t Auld Lang Syne ” being amongst the number. On Monday evening he held a public meeting -relative to the Greytown Reserves, a report df which will be found in another column. Featiierston. —We are informed that, with reference to the case of Jones v Magee published in our last, we were in err jr in stating that She evidence of Jones wwit to prove that the defendant had obtained meals on the pretence that he had a cheque at Bannister’s as that point he failed to establish, and the plaintiff consequently requested leave to withdraw the charge. ■ Featherlton . School Rate. —lt will he seen by a notice in our advertising coluuns that a meeting will be held at the Fcathcrston School-house on Monday,' October 28, for the purpose of bringing the Fcathcrston School district under the provisions of the Education •Act. Cricket Match. —The match between the Greytown and Featiierston and Taiiherenikau Clubs will be played on the Greytown race-course on Thursday, November o, 1867.

The Tramway. —We publish to-day a letter from two eminent Civil Engineers —Mr G. O’jSTeill and Mr 'Sen Smith— on this important subject. The latter is accompanied with a colored splan be -at this office. Mr Ben Smith has been for |gme time known to the public of Wellington as an efficient engineer and architect. MrO’Noill was engaged in London as Engineer for the Provincial Government of Otago by Mr Stevenson, and is one of the few professional Engineers in the Colony who belongs to the Institute of Civil Engineers of London. It is estimated by them that the proposed tramway would leave a profit on the outlay of 30 per cent. We shall have more to say on this subject in-future issues and in the meantime we direct attention to the letter in question, and to the plan with which it is accompanied. Mineral Spring. —A spring was discovered some time ago cn the Taratahi Plain the water from which Mr Hirschberg has had analysed by Mr S. Grace, M.D., Wellington, from which we learn that the Water contained Chlorlide of calcium .81 „ magnesium 08 Alkaline chlor ids, principally with sodium, compounds iodides and bromides 29

1 .18 Dr Grace remarks that the mineral water sent is likely to prove useful in cases of stomachic derangement, certain affections, and possibly, in chronic rheumatism, as it contains iodides and bromides;

Tarataiii Road Board.—A meeting of voters in conformity with the advertisement took place at the Carterton School-house soon after 2 o'clock on Saturday last, when Mr S Rcvans was elected Chairman. The voters elected the following gentlemen as the Board of Wardens:—Messrs S. Oates, H. Udy, B. P. Perry, B, Boys and M Hirschberg. The meeting then declared in favor of a maximum rate of 3d per acre; after which Messrs W. Udy and J. Reynolds were elected auditors, ■when the 'meeting separated, having .passed a cordial vote of thanks to the Chairman. The Board of Wardens forthwith met and elected Mr B. Perry, Chairman, and Mr B. Boys, Treasurer.

Resident Magistrate’s Court.— Greytown. — The Court sat as usual on Thursday, when 15 cases had to be disposed of. The case which excited the greatest amount of interest was that of Braggins, v 11. O’Connor. The defendant was hound to keep the peace for 3 months, himself In £SO and two sureties of £25 each. The Magistrate in the most impressive manner denounced the cowardly conduct of the deft ndant in assaulting a female, and expressed his opinion that any remarks he might make would he lost on a man like him. There were four debt cases, seven drunk and disorderly and three for fariufis riding. " Small Farm Association.— The original members of the Small Farm Assocation arc requested by Mr C. R. Carter, - the Trustrce of the Greytown reserves, to meet him at the School-house, Greytown, on Wednesday next, the 23rd hist., when we trust that all of them who can-conveniently attend will be present.

Greytown Board of Wardens, —Wc call attention to an advertisement in to day’spaper I stating that the 'assessment list has hecn made up and can be inspected at tins office where it will.lie for fourteen days. It should he examined forthwith for those who may not be satisfied with the rate imposed must make their objections within the, period stated, or they must pay the amount imposed, We give this warning as wc know the Board intend to proceed in earnest —they mean business. The contributors are so s .atterel that the collector cannot be expected to call more than once, or the expense of collecting may be a very serious inroad upon - the rates. After one ■call the collector will have to invite the rate payers to meet him at Mr Warden's pleasant Tittle place of business in Greytown, but the invitation in many cases will be attended with heavy fees for mileage and other costs, besides the loss of time to the 'defaulters, whose expenses directly and indirectly will be in proportion to his distance from the Greytown Court House.

Mercury (October 14), we have the hoiio’ inform you that a tramway might be font from Wellington to Wairarapa (Masterto. at the total cost hereinafter stated.

The proposed tramway would be carr along the present main roadj fioni Welling;. .■ to “ Hodder’s Inn,” and from Greytown • Mastcrton—the portion from Hodder’s Inn " Mastcrton, along the red line shewn on pi herewith sent —the said portion of the line close to-the line proposed by Captain Smi; .■ for the road deviator, andiwouldsavcanasec:of about 600 feet over the Rimutaka Mom tain : the length of the proposed new line i tramway would be about 14 miles, the cost < which would be counterbalanced by the advantages gained in avoiding the great rise ow the summit road level of the said mountains.

The present road would have to lie wideue were necessary, and diverted so that both curves might be obtained, and that the gencr: i traffic, other than by tramway might not I hindered.

A new bridge would be required at the Hut the present one, not being sufficient for th intended traffic.

Bridges would also be required over the Ilutt River, near llodder’s Inn, and over th Tauhcrenikau River, at Moroa Plain, near Greytown. Before proceeding with any work, the consent of the Provincial Government, the Town Board, Wellington, and the Local Boards a: the Ilutt, &c., would have to be obtained. It is unnecessary to ask for further information from Hokitika or elsewhere, as the cost, of material, workmanship &c., vaiy so much iu the different localities of the Colony. Wc have based cur calculation on the present cost of materials and labor at and near Wellington, and we are at present of opinion that the sum stated will be sufficient to form the proposed Tramway; but it is necessary to make an accurate survey of the present road and proposed new line ; from llodder’s Inn to Greytown, this would not cost a large amount, and it would enable us to go into much nr we detail than is possible from all the data i.i our possession.

Pkoiuhlf. Cost.— Timber for Guides, sleepers, &c., iron plating, bolts, &c., labour, cost of widening and diverting present road, preparing present and new road for t: a mvay and finishing up work, &c., working plant, bridges &c, Total cost for 60 miles ot'a tramway, £107,000. The total cost has been increased about onethird on account of the formation of the new line of road near Captain Smith’s proposed line. "We have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servants, CHARLES O’NEILL, C.E BEN SMITH, C.E.