TOWN NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 47, 25 November 1867, Page 3

TOWN NEWS OF THE WEEK.

A meeting for carrying out the Anniversary was held at Osgood’s, Mr M‘Kenzie in the chair. A large committee was appointed, and every prospect of a successful gathering. The Hon. Mr Hall and Major Richardson have arrived. It is rumored that a short clause concerning the original security for loans not being lessened, and which was introduced by the Government, at the last moment, into the Consolidation Bill, is likely to create a difficulty. It is said that the clause was introduced by the Governor’s desire, as the only condition on which he would give his assent , to the Bill, There is also a difficulty in connection with the Treasurer’s going to England. Some Financial Acts make no provision for. his absence, and the Comptroller is constantly compelled to require the Treasurer’s signature,! The Law Officers donot at present see how to obviate the difficjilty. .1 -t

The “ Independent” and “ Post” announced on Saturday, that a new journal under the auspices of Mr Wakelih, is ,to .start at the, commencement of next year, ,to be called the “Wairarapa Journal.” ; The Wellington merchants and the public have heartily gone in to the matter of the tramway to Wairarapa. The settlers in the Wairarapa, it is trusted, will now take this matter up, and a committee formed to act in conjunction With the one in Wellington.

The Eesident Magistrate has decided that the late 'proprietors of the “ Advertiser” are responsible for their debts. There is, ho doubt, that the decision has given satisfaction; not only as it decides this case, but otherwise would debar men -who would attempt to get rid of “unpleasant little accounts” by the course' attempted to be adopted by Messrs Bull and Parsons.

A large and enthusiastic public meeting was held oh Monday evening for the purpose of adopting; an address to Sir G. Grey. The Superintendent made as usual, an eloquent speech, which was well received, and heartily applauded. The following paragraph is ■well worthy of re-print ; “ I believe that if any feeling is more prevalent thru another in this colony, it is one of regret that his Excellency Sir George Grey should depart before the arrival of the Duke of Edinburgh. That is now the prevalent feeling, and I, for one, consider that a, great calamity, and I feel assured that those feelings will not be lessened, when I tell you that, within the last few hours, an intimation has been given to his Excellency Sir George Grey, that the principal chiefs in .the centre of the Island, who have been long engaged in hostilities with us, desire that previous to his departure, he should visit them to receive their submission to the Queen. (Cheers.) It will be a great public calamity, if Sir George Grey’s intended departure should prevent him from accepting an invitation fraught with such beneficial results to the colony; knowing, ns I do, that part of the programme laid down by his Excellency was, that he should land with the Prince at Tauranga, and that after visiting the settlements on the East Coast, he should go to Taupo and have a gathering of all the principal chiefs of the Island; knowing, as we do, the importance which they attach, and the deference which they pay to birth and rank—it is impossible to over-estimate the results which might have flowed from the visit contemplated by Sir George Grey with the Prince to the centre of the Island—to Taupo. Knowing the feeling of the natives, I believe, if such a visit had taima place, there is scarcely a single chief engaged in rebellion during the last three or four years, w r ho would not have gone to that meeting, and who ■would not have been so gratified by the visit of one of the sons of the Queen, that he ..would gladly have seized an opportunity so grateful to his sense of pride of—if not absolutely laying down his arms—at any rate of retreating from rebellion and of abandoning Hauhauism, and, I believe, in good faith of taking the oath of allegiance to the Queen. That is my impression of what the result wouid have been if Sir George Grey remained to receive the Prince, and if this visit had taken place. I can only say in reference to this point, that though Sir George Grey may not be here to receive H.R.H. the Duke, time may permit him to seize the opening now afforded him. and before closing his career here, have the satisfaction, by such a triumph as I have indicated, of .avenging himself for all the charges and calumnies which have been so unscrupulously heaped on him.” (Loud cheers.) A committee was also formed to give a reception to the Duke of Edinburgh on his arrival, it is expected he will be a month in Melbourne.

Thursday morning. There is no news of local importance worth mentioning, except a great fire at New Plymouth, which destroyed the Marsden Hotel. Land Boards—A meeting of the Land Board took place on Saturday afternoon, at Wellington. Messrs Fitzherbert, Ludlam, and Hickson, were present. An application from Mr Bidwell for the lease of 2,300 acres of land in the Moroa and Kuhutara blocks. Tire land has lately passed through the last Native Land Court held at Grcytown. The application was opposed by Mr Fitzherbert; but Messrs Hickson and Ludlam supported it, and it was received. Mr Bidwell stated that his offer to purchase had been declided in consequence of the boundaries being disputed by the natives.