CASTLEPOINT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 832, 29 July 1881, Page 2

CASTLEPOINT.

[jfEOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] July 26th" During the last ten days we have experienced an almost incessant downpour of rain, which has rendered rivers, creeks, and roads all but impassable. The Whareama River was swollen to almost' the same height as in the March food oi last year.- ;; ' Host Rogers, of the Club Hotel) gave his annual dinner on the 12th inst, when about fifty guests partook of his hospitality, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. "\ ■'•'. In consequence of the late rain, business is dull throughout the district.. On the atations, as a rule, but few hands are being employed. I notice a small number of" unemployed" travelling the country this winter—possibly our muddy roads deter them,; ' ' ' Mr Sutherland, from Napier, is in this neighborhood pnrchasing cattle, and, lam informed, has made up a mob of about 300 head to take north. • Now.that r smallpox isfprevalent in several parts of, the world, it may not be out of place to mention thatf the Vaccination Act appears to be all but disregarded here, for out of some 140 children regis-' tared, only about |th have, I understand; been vaccinated. No doubt the main cause of this laxity has been the difficulty of obtaining the services of a doctor with;in any reasonable distances'now, however/ ! that there is one resident at Tenui, thw excuse jb not admissable. Possibly Ti persons interested communicated with the Government, the medical gentleman at present in the district might he appointed to the post of public vaccinator. Landowners are paying particular attention to that enemy of mankind and the sheep—"the rabbit." It is to be hoped that success will erown the efforts made, notice the rabbit Irispestor (Mr McHutclion) is most assiduous in the discharge of his duties, rain, and mud not preventing him from keeping up' a systematic 'tour of inspection. Carriers, shippers, and others interested in the Castlepoint trade, would do ■well to consider the question of charges for the forthcoming wool season; as I hear that several of the largest station owners seriously contemplate sending their produce to Wellington via Masterton, as being the cheapest route

• GUOD BREED OF PIGS. The Farmers' Review tells its readers that " the improved Essex is one of the best of the smaller breeds of swine," but that the breed has never beon a general favorite, except for crossing and improving coarser breeds. • "They are entirely black, fine boned, with a shortish face, small erect ears, body of good length hams usually very good, tho coating of hair usually rather thin. They mature early, fatten very easily, aud> have a large proportion of fat meat; are quiet in disposition, not especially prolific." The Suffolk-" resembles the Essex in a number of respects, but it is pure white in color." Early maturity, tendency to fatten at almost any age; a quiet disposition, a well-formed carcass, are points all conceded to the Suffolks, and it is also to be admitted that a cross between this breed and any of the larger and coarser breeds will often produce pigs which are' scarcely to be improved "

The Queen, according to Truth, lately allotted a suite of rooms at Buckingham Palace to the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, for their London residence. These'rooms had been for,some years in. the occupation of Prince Leopold,' who has been removed to another Buite on a higher storey j and as H, R. H. is ordered to go up and down stairs as little as possible, it has beeii; necessary to build a lift for hia accommodation, at an expense of. about £2OOO. Practical people will probably think that "it wo'uld ; have been more sensible to avoid 'annoyance an'd; outlay by giving the Duke and Duchess'the" upstairs rooms, but I auppoae th'ia'woul| u in '■•.' some way or'other I 'have infringed ' rigid etiquette of our Court. .'"■'. T : A Fact Worth KKOTOO.-In tfiese times. of retrenchment and enforced economy, both public and. private, ty is consolatory to km that the if'wiud is generapy tempered! to, the shorn laujb,". and |hat tjjefe are few misfortunes without compensating adyan : tages. With ijijoney: abijndance i|s V purchasing flow will go us fa> ip thirty shi))iiigs in tbg era qf prosperity. As a prqol qf this, the.readers qf this paragraph need: only, pay a-visit to % large sale of surplus stock WJmfi 'sni's'fc Te, An Home; Wellington."'! Avery full ana elaborate catalogue of the many largo reduc? tibns made in' the jjrices of general drapery and clothing|is;.enclosed'.with gatuday's (July 2nd) issue, and merits careful perusal on the part' of -all station: holders, hotelkeepers, heads of families, and country residepts generally.. Special opportunities, jtye {he one at present unp>r consideration, occur but seldom; and jt js therefore ; of importanpe, that the, fullest advantage should be taken of it at the earliest period, Te Aro House'has always stood well with the public as, to the'.undoubted veracity of its advertised prices, and no doubt many country residents have: a 'lively recollection of the satisfactory bargains they secured in the past. Equal, if not: superior, advantages are now being offered., Owing. , tojthe unprecedently low rates at which the ( ' t ■'■ gojids are marked ni discounts can. be al-" " lowed during the sale. As an additional at-. tractioDj the sale will include;a special; . presentation'to each purchaser of {.3 worth and upwards of a beautiful chromolitbographic picture, mounted on the best white cardboard, size 24 inches by 18 inches, No time should therefore be lost in paying a very early visit to the surplus stock sale , at James Smith's Te Are House, Wei-ington.-[ADYT,]