LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume II, Issue 59, 15 February 1868, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Waikuiomata Lime. —Mr O’Neill re* turned to town a few days ago having come through the Wainuiomata line to test its fitness for the proposed railway. He was accompanied by Mr Grove and we had hoped to be able to give an account of their proceedings in our present issue but will have to defer doing so until he has sent in his report to the committee at Wellington. Our readers will find full

information on the subject in our next issue.

A Temperance Meeting will be held iu the Wesleyan Chapel, Grey town, on Friday next. Messrs Rishworth and Ross will attend

A Free Bale and Dinner will be given by Mr Jones at the “Sir George Grey " Hotel, Masterton, on Friday evening next. The dinner will take place at half-past seven and the ball begins at nine.

Mr Ronaldson who has officiated for II years iu Masterton as clergyman of the church of England has been ordered to Wairoa by the Church Missionary Society. Asa zealous pastor, a kind friend and an upright man, Mr Ronaldson has made many friends by whom his loss to the district will be much felt.

Cricket. Wc understand the Featherston Club has accepted the cricket challenge of the Grey to wn eleven. The time for the match has not been arranged.

Public Hall Meeting.-—A general meeting of the shareholders of the above company was held on Monday evening last. Eesolu-t-ons were agreed to, confirming the names of the Trustees and also thanking Mr. B. Smith for the plan furnished by him which can now be seen at this office.

Floods. —The flood on Monday week in the Waiohine River made a clean sweep through one of Mr Revans grass paddocks and did considerable damage to the road leading to Woodside hill. Jackson’s land was also flooded by the Tauherenikau. A channel was made from the new road into the backwater leaving holes four feet deep in the road destroying the metalling of the road for the second time. This has caused serious injury to Mr White the contractor for the road.

Proposed Improvements at Carterton.— We understand that Mr. Thomas Moore of Carterton, has very liberally given over a quarter of an acre of land, in a central position in this township, as the site for a church, and that Mr. C.R. Carter has had the same conveyed to the Bishop of Wellington and the trustees of the Wairarapa. Tins is a beginning which we trust to see followed up, by contributions towards the building. Arrangements are also progressing with a view of securing the erection of the proposed Carterton Town Hall; plans of the same may be seen at Mr, Fairbrother’s. Wc imagine it would prove a good operation if funds for its erection were raised by means of £5 shares.

Levee. —A levee which was very largely attended was given [on Saturday last, on the occasion of Sir George Ferguson Bowen assuming the governorship of New Zealand.

The Kennabd Dispute will be tried at the next civil sessions at Wellington in March next.

Mr Fox.—A number of this gentleman’s friends entertained him at a dinner at Wanganui last week.

Storm at Napier.—Napier was visited by a heavy storm last week in which the ship Echunga went ashore and became a total wreck, all hands were saved. The Late Floods. —The Province of Dunedin has been visited with heavy and distrous floods by causing loss of life and damage to shipping and property. In Dunedin the flood is said to be the heaviest seen since the discovery of the gold fields. Numbers of bridges have been washed away and telegraphic communication stopped. Nine lives were lost by drowning on Messrs Douglas, Alderson & Go’s station. Other lives were also lost in different places. There were also several shipwrecks. Canterbury has also suffered severely from a heavy flood.

Court at Carterton. —As Carterton is the Township of a district (The Taratahi plains) larger than either Masterton or Greytown and fully as populous it is to be hoped that at last monthly sittings of a Magistrate’s Court may be soon held there; at present the inhabitants are put tc serious expense and inconvenience in having to go as far as Greytown or Featherston to seek justice.

Gold Prospecting.— At the meeting held on Wednesday last, a letter was read from Mr. Grove stating that lie intended first of all to prospect the Wharehama and Tinui streams and Guthrie’s run; if these places proved unprofitable it was his intention to go up country and devote three months to a thorough search. He was to report to the Superintendent to-day (Saturday) and leave town to join his party on Tuesday or Wednesday nest. —We have no doubt the settlers here will subscribe largely towards the expense of this prospecting.

Heavy Hailstorm. —There has been a heavy hailstorm in Invercargill. The hailstones were of the size of road metal and much damage has been done. Perjury. —Edward Evans Morton has been committed for perjury. This is the third person committed. All the prosecutions arose out of a civil cases of Morton and Brown.

Mr Hieschberg has now received promises to the amount of £53 towards the preliminary railway survey.

Dixon’s Accommodation House.—W c regret to have to refer onr readers to an advertisement elsewhere from which it will ba seen that Mr. Dixon has closed his Accommodation House. This will ba a great loss to travellers who were sure to find a welcome and a home in Masterton. Mr. Dixon and his family have made many friends in the Province and could therefore always command every support. Oua Town Letter. —We have been disappointed by our Town Correspondent whohas not sent his customary weekly letter

Bai.e to the New Governor.—A ball will be given to Governor and Lady Bowen on Thursday next, by the people of Wellington.