LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume II, Issue 54, 13 January 1868, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Crowded Out.—Owing to the number of new advertisements and the late hour at which several came in, we are obliged to hold over several- letters from correspondents and other matter.

The Bishop op Wellington.—His Lordship the Bishop of Wellington will hold services to-morrow, (Sunday), at the following places in the valley Grey town. 11 a.m. ; Carterton, 3 p.m.; Masterton, 7 p.m.

The Wellington Almanac.—-We have received from Mr M‘Kenzie, the enterprising proprietor of the “ Wellington -Independent ” a copy of his Book Almanac .for the year 1868. The volume is excellently produced at the moderate price of two shillings and sixpence, and contains besides the calendar, diary,' Militia and Volunteer list, an excellent directory of the town and Province of Wellington, the compilation of which must have cost trouble and. money. ; We.need hardly anticipate success for the book, as it is is bound , meet with a rapid sale.

Masterton Sunday School Pic-nic.—On New Year’s Day a Pic-nic was got up by the

teachers oj the Sunday School, for the children of Masterton and Upper Plain. The place chosen was some distance below Mr Master's house, were the ground was favorable for the games intended for the children’s 'amusement., There were three of four swings put up; some played at foot-ball, and others at cricket, &c. There were a good number of adults .as well as children, for both of whom there ivas an abundance of good things, and all enjoyed themselves. A little before six o’clock the Rev. Messrs llonaldson and Ross and Mr Feist addressed the children in a very pleasing manner, after which several hymns were sung, and all dispersed highly pleased at the happy day they had spent.

Masterton Road Board. —This board met on Saturday last to consider the tenders for forming and metaling of twenty-one chains of road, on the Kiangawarawara Plain. J. Benington’s tender was accepted.

Waihenga Races. —These races will come off on Thursday, the 6th February, 1868. We shall possibly be able to give some particulars of the coaling races in our next issue.

The Anniversary—ls the Anniversary of this Province to pass over without, steps being taken in any of the townships to celebrate itj? We throw out the hint and trust to see it acted on.

A Complaint. —We have been particularly desired to draw the attention of the proper authorities to the way in which the culverts on the road, between the north end of Greytown and the White Bridge, are being repaired. Half of the road is being taken up at once, thus leaving only the space—the exact width of a waggon—for which to pass over the road, having holes 9 and 10 feet deep on each side, endangering life and property. There is no light to warn anyone travelling at night of the danger. Taratahi Road Board. —A meeting of the above Board was held on the 3rd of January, when all the members, with the exception of two, were present. The Assessment of the East Taratahi was decided on, and the collector was requested forwith to get out the list of names of the district and post it in accordance with the Highways Act. A letter was received from Mr Baird requesting one of the Board to meet him on Monday morning, on the Carterton new line of road, Mr Oats was requested to attend. The assessment of the West Taratahi was not fixed on, the members for that portion of the district not being present. Mr Hursthodse's Last Work. —We have been favored with a copy of Chas. Flinders Hursthouse’s last work. It is a small pamphlet entitled “The Incorporation of Britain’s Colonial into her Home Empire; the political fusion and amalgamation of the two, their consolidation with one.” The work, short as it is, copes with a large subject in an able manner, and we regret that want of space in our present issue prevent us from thoroughly reviewing and quoting from it Important to Farmers. —We draw the attention of our readees to an advertisement which appears in another column ahnouncing that Messrs. Colburn and Harding intend shortly to bring their Steam Thrashing and Cleaning Machine through the Wairarapa.

East Taeatahi Assessment. —The assessment for this district has now been fixed and can be seen at Mr Carrington’s Taratahi Post Office. Appeals against the rate will be heard at the meeting of the board on Saturday next.

Featheuston Road Roaed. —The annual meeting of the rate-payers of the Featherston District is advertised for Thursday, the I3th instant.

Carterton Line. —Tenders arc invited for the formation of 89 chains of this road. East Masterton School District.—A public meeting of the Electors of this district is called to beheld at the Masterton Schoolhouse on Monday Evening next at 7 p.m.

Mouoa Small Farm Association. A meeting of the committee of the association, will be held at the School-house, Masterton, on Monday, the 20th inst. We understand that subscribers to the association will be required to pay up their subscriptions of 10s per acre at once, as it is stated that it was on the understanding that the land should be paid for in cash, that its price was reduced from £1 to. 10s.

The Pukeratahi Hotel. - Ladder's Golden Fleece Hotel,' at the Pukeratahi, is now advertised as in the market.

Dr Hector’s Expedition. has been received of Dr Hector, who lias made an exploration of the Taupo country, visiting the south side of the lake, or what is called the Hau Hau country, and has been generally ■well received by all the natives. One old Maori threatened to kill him, but he was laughed at by the others, and his threats disregarded. Dr Hector has visited the Kairaanawa range and Patea, having returned from the latter place to Wellington by way of Rangitikei. Dr Hector experienced very severe weather—heavy rain and snow up to the beginning of December. We may look forward to an interesting report from our New Zealand Geologist who braves the weather and the Hau Haus with equal determination in following up his scientific researches.—“ 11. 13. Herald.”

Potent Love Philtre.— The Chatham Island’s correspondent of the “ Hawke’s Bay Herald ” relates the following;—“ A somewhat singular case has been adjudicated on at Kaingaroa. A Maori Don Juan, named Piripi, was accused of applying to Hotoma (a celebrated native Abernethy), and paying into his hands the. sum of twenty-six shillings, for the purpose of procuring a potent love philtre, with the expressed intention of administerin'l- - to Eroka, the wife of Ropata, in the belief that it would assure affection for himself and hatred towards her lawful lord and master. Hotoma corroborated the charge, and confessed to having received the sum of twenty-six shillings .from Piripi, but cither through fear or honesty he immediately gave information of the fact to a chief named Tamariki, leaving the cash in his hands. After a long and patient investigation, the charge against Piripi was proved; he was accordingly sentenced to a fine of ten sheep and one horse, and banishment from the settlement.”

Calcutta was visited by a fearful tempest on the night of the 2nd November. The loss of life and property was immense. The returns received up to the Sth show the number killed and drowned to be 1,016. There is scarcely a tree remaining in Calcutta; 126 brick houses and 3,000 native huts were levelled to the ground -

The Pkince’s Visit.—VVe (Hawke’s Bay Herald), understand that Mr McLean, the Superintendent has, been asked by the Government to accompany his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on any tour /which the Prince is likely to make through native districts, and will probably assist in organizing any gatherings or demonstrations that may be made by the different tribe?. A Shepherd Kino.— The “ Delinquin Chronicle’’ hears that Mr Hugh Glass has this season shorn somewhere about 560,000 sheep, 125,000 being depastured in New South Wales.

Kangaroos.—During the last three months -nearly 8,000 kangaroos have been destroyed on one station in Victoria (Harton Hills). These 8000 kangaroos consumed the grass of 12,000 sheep, and the wool'of these sheep may be calculated as worth £2OOO per annum.

Hard Times in Auckland. —The Provincial Government of Auckland would seem to lie nearly in a state of collapse We take the following paragraph from the ‘ Evening News’ of the foth; —“ His Honor the Superintendent has caused a circular to be sent to the heads of departments in the Provincial Government requesting them to give notice to their subordinates that at the end of this year their services will be dispensed with, as there will be no funds available for salaries after the present month. The same course has been taken recently by the Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury.” Only Think of this Friends. —An American paper says:—There is a man up the country who always pays for his paper in advance. He has never had a sick day in his life, never had any corns or toothache, his potatoes never rot, the weevil never eats his wheat, the frost never kills his corn or beans, his babes never cry in the night, and his wife never scolds.