LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume II, Issue 62, 7 March 1868, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Waibarapa Brewery. The Brewerystarted by Messrs Manning and Smith in Greytown is a complete success so fa". The beer is excellent, it is light and refreshing without being heady. We predict its certain success as we are assured that the beer will keep for any reasonable lentgh of time. The brewery is already patronised by the hotel keepers and many settlers in the district who prefer paying half-a-crowu for “ home-brew ” to extravagant prices to obtain so-called “British” from the Empire City.

Bottles. —Hotel-keepers need hot now dig holes to bury empty bottles as they can be disposed of to advantage to the local brewers by whom large quantities will be required.

Tenders are called for the cbnstruction of two bridges and for the formation of 40 chains of road on Carters line and also for the formation of 113 chains on the Taratahi plains. We refer intending contractors to our advertising columns for particulars.

Altbedton Small Farm Association.— A meeting of the members of this association is called by advertisement at the Masterton School-house on Monday next at seven p.m. All members are earnestly requested to attend and those unable to do so are desired to send their decision in writing declaring whether they accept the rules proposed for their guidance by Mr Holdsworth. In case floods should take place on the day of meeting it will be adjourned to the following day at the same place and hour.

The Provincial Engineer.— We understand that Mr. J. D.. Baird, the Provincial District Engineer, is detained in some time attending to the repairs of the Ngahauranga and other roads carried by the late floods.

Wairarapa Cavalry. —Signatures of those willing to volunteer for town on the arrival of the Prince are at present being received by the Officers of the different divisions of Wairarapa Cavalry. About 30 signatures have already been given in and we expect that a troop of about 40 will be mustered to represent this district in doing honor to the Sailor Prince.

Cheap Rides. — A gaod opportunity is now offered to those of the Wairarapa wishing to visit their friends in town or vice versa. Mr Hastwell has reduced his hires by the extra coach to Wellington on Tuesday's, Thursday’s and Saturday’s and from town on the Monday’s Wednesday’s and Friday to a rate which we believe can hardly prove remunerative. The rates by the Mail Coach will remain the same as ever. For the reduced rate of fares we refer our readers to our advertising columns. M|r Groves— A letter has been received in Wellington, from Daniel Groves, thc’energetic prospector for gold m this province, and to whose perseverance we will be deeply indebted should payable metal be found within our limits. It4fl dated from Wairiri Station, 24th February, and says:—l leave here to-morrow morning with every necessary equipment for a long prospecting tour; where I will get to, and where it will end, 1 know not. Mr Gibson, of this station, has joined my party, which now consists of five men. We have a horse, gun, revolver, and two dogs. We will, if spared, put ourselves in communication with you.”

Road Boatids. —Some time ago a suggestion appeared in our columns which seemed to meet with general approbation and yet no action has yet been taken to carry into effect. It was that there should be a general meeting of the Road Boards of the Wairarapa “to discuss the merits and means to petition the General Government to introduce a bill giving us the management of our own affairs |with a share of territorial revenue.”- We presume that the reason why this meeting has not been called is that being “ every body’s business it is nobody’s business” but we hope to see one of .the Road Boards take the initiative and have the meeting called at once.

Melancholy Death.— A melancholy death has occurred in Auckland jail of a detained debtor named Charles Clayton, the detaining* creditor, one Robert Brookes, notonlv did not allow his debtor out of jail when ill” but refused to give his body up to his family. The Superintendent of Auckland interfered and to ok the responsibility of insisting that the remains should be given over to tire friends of the deceased.

Sir Dominick Daly, the Governor of South .-uistialia is dead. His death is much regretted by all classes as he was very generally liked. J

Kennabd v the Provincial Government. —The action brought by Messrs Kennard Brothers, to recover £7,000 in connection ir ith the Q.uccn s W hart contract, came on for heai lug in the Supreme Court, before a special jury, on Thursday last. Air Borlase appeared on behalf of the Provincial Government, and Mr Travers on the part of the contractors. Some £12,000 is to be won or lost by the transaction.

The Disturbances at Opotiki. Major Yon Tempsky has been authorised to raise 200 men for the armed Constabulary to serve at present at Opotiki on the East Coast where the rebels are again “ showing their teeth.” The gallant Major commands one company and has proceeded to Auckland to raise the number ofmen required.

The Wairarapa Railway-. The people of Kai-wara-wara have subscribed £ls towards preliminary expenses for this railway. Gross Negligence.— We have to record a second accident to the mail coach caused by the gross carelessness or culpable neglect of di ivers along the road near Wellington. The first accident which occurred a short time a"o was thus:—On the coach coming from Wellington, driven by Mr Davis coachman, it was met at the Kori-kori bridge by man driving lus team he saw the coach coming alon" and did not draw un, both met on the bridge it a frosty morning 4 the dray horses slipped’on the bridge frightened the leading coach horse who whirled right round and fortunately broke the pole the driver got the horses well in hand—the passengers jumped out. The accident was caused by the driver of the team not drawing up when he perceived the Mail Coach. The second accident was caused by a colisiou with a cart driven by two drunken men. An account of it will be tound in oim town correspondents letter. Mr Hastwell intends prosecuting the inebriates.

Native Lane Court.—A meeting of the ISative Land Court was held at Otaki on the 26th, 27th and 2Sth of last month. An application was made for the adjournment of the com t to another time and place to bear the claims ot larakaia and others. The application was after a lenthcned discussion refused. The Hutt Races are postponed until the arrival of the Luke i.i Edinburgh.

Gold in the Waiuarapa.— The “ Tndcpcndent ” says “ A young man who came down from the U airarrqm on Saturday in Cobbs Coach, states that he was one of a. prospecting party which had recently visited the source of i aulierenikau stream in the Rimutaka ranges. Ihe color of gold was found both in the river bed and the terraces, and our informant considered the indications to lie of the most satisfactory kind. The late floods however prevented prospecting being so thoroughly acoinplished as could have been desired.

Supreme Court Criminal Simses.—The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court was held in Wellington during the past week True bills were found by the Grand Jury against all the prisoners except Burke and Teague committed for perjury. Jacob Stuart and Samuel Bresnehan charged with stealing goods from a perpepatitic merchant named Jacob Frankel were found not guilty and acquitted. Edwu Miller was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor for stealing a horse froin Mr Field of Waihengn. James Morris for a similar offence against Mr James Smith of Taratahi received a similar sentence. J. T. Eoilean was convicted of obtaining money under false pretences' and was recommended to inercy; he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment Edward Evans Morton pleaded not guilty of the offence of assaulting the police, the jury however returned a verdict of guilty but judgment was reserved until after hearing the case of perjury. The other perjury cases will be heard on the llthinst.

Oat Crop. The oat crop in Taranaki this season is theheavieat and finest ever yielded in that province. For the past eight years the settlers there have had to import oats; this year the table is turned, as they will not only have abundance for the supply of home consumption, but be able to ship a quantity aw’ay. A New line op Coaches to Wanganui will we understand be started in a few days.

jury against the same prisoner. In the perjury cases to which we have several times alluded against Brown, Rogers and Morton the counsel for the different prisoners applied to have the cases tried by special jury. The application was granted and the cases will be heard on the 11th instant.

A Fray.— Under the heading the “ Independent ” has a paragraph which says that there had been an afray between the police and _ the public but they had not received particulars. To put the Wellington people perfectly at ease we may mention that the whole of the affray consisted in the resistance ot Mr Thompson’s servants when that gentlemen was arrested at the suit of Mr Ueland of the Hutt for the rent of his premises (the Royal Hotel Featherston.) For the just punishment awarded to the rowdier who resisted we refer our readers to the police report which appears in another column.