TOWN NEWS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume II, Issue 61, 29 February 1868, Page 3

TOWN NEWS.

(from our own correspondent.) Thursday Evening-, • February 27; 1867. The most prominent event of the week past was the ball given in honor of the Governor. Tne management forgot the usual courtesy to the press, hence the public have been deprived of the most palateable piece of news stirring (on dit), for a long time. If the good things promised by the Governor, with the aid of his advisers had been published, it would have been well received. The sum total of it was, that he was well pleased with his reception and the goodfeeling of the Wellington people towards him and that he would do all that lay in his power to forward the interests and well-being of the colony both political and social. There was a large and respectable attendance and the whole passed off most successfully.

The billiard match Hitchin v Lissington came off on Saturday in Osgood’s lower billiard room. There were about 30 gentlemen of the upper ten who took considerable interest in the game. His opponent “ Frank,” played very unsteady, and Hitching won easily.

It is rumoured that it is intended to giv a spread in the large room at the back of the Government House to the marines of H.M.S.S, “ Falcon,” and that the Governor will honor it by his presence. There was no meeting on Thursday last of the Railway Committee. The details necessary for the brilliant reception of the royal visitor engrossing all the spare time of the lion Secretary. The time and trouble spent by him and also by several of onr well to do loyal subjects is remarkable for the next-to-do-uothing done in the matter previously; several gentlemen having come down handsomely in the shape of subscriptions.

After several days of fine warm weather we have been visited with a continuous pouring rain for the last two days. The “ Evening Post ” gives the following;—

The heavy rain of the two last days may be expected to cause much damage in the country The Ngahauranga rood is very severely cut up, and completely gone in some places, and eight of the bridges along it are more or less destroyed. On the Hutt road there are several slips, but only one of any moment, and the approaches to the bridge at Ngahauranga have been carried away, compelling the traffic to take to the ford. The Hutt River is full, and overflowing near Valentine’s, but the bridge is at present safe. Corbett’s Hotel which adjoins the bridge, is, however, being underminded and the people are moving out.

Higher up the road, there is a heavy slip at the (gorge ; but beyond that point no information has reached town. The Government labor has been concentrated on the slips so as to remove the present interference with the traffic in a few hours. An official notice has been issued, closing the Ngahauranga road for traffic. Since the above was in type, we have seen a gentleman just in from the Wairarapa, who informs us that up to yesterday afternoon there were no additional slips on the llimutaka Hill. The river has overflowed its banks in the Upper Hutt, but no portion of the road has been washed away. During last evening Majqribank street suffered severely from the heavy fall of rain which had continued throughout the day without intermission. Mr Edmeade’s Brewery was flooded, and several of the neighboring places had more or less water in them; but the worst loss is at “ Sheet’s Folly,” where the bridge and breastwork, together with a large quantity of earth, have been swept away, and MrLipman Levy’s house has been placed in imminent danger. The water rushed down with great velocity, and those who lived at the further side of the stream were unable to return to their homes. The land has been carried away within three feet of Mr Levy’s fence, and little more will undermine his house, while on the other side a considerable inward raid has been made. It was folly ever to have constructed the cutting, but at any cost the Town Board should endeavour to remedy the evil.

His Excellency the Governor leaves for Auckland next week. He will he preceded to Auckland by the hon. E. W, Stafford, who leaves by the Lord Ashley on Sunday next.

Mr R. M. Marcnant returned from the South after that famous trial Davis v Marchant and Marchant v Davis, the railway case of Southland notoriety. The Southland papers which arrived by last mail had a most just article concerning one side of the affair. The most curious part of the matter about these papers is that they have been lost from the Athenaeum and the hotel files in town. Mr R. M. Marchant has taken himself off in the Rakaia to Sydney, and as usual upon his departure left a letter to be published tn the “ Independent.” The traffic on the Ngahauranga road is closed by order of the Road Inspector. Cobb & Co. take the mail on horseback this morning, the road being closed to the Wanganui coach.

The Odd Fellows turned out in procession] in regalia to-day, headed by a band. A dinner takes place this evening at the Odd Fellow’s Hall.