WOODVILLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1035, 29 March 1882, Page 2

WOODVILLE.

(MOM OUR OWN UOKKESI'ONDENT.)

I informed you in my last letter that there was to be a land sale of Woodville knds, and it was thought thero would be great competition, and that very idea prevented many/from applying, but to everyone's surprise (hero were only nine applications, hut the balance, I hear, has been all taken up at upset prices since, the cash sections sold very well, but were not run up more than from 20 to 2o per cent above upset prices. Having applied for a section mysolf I thought I would run down to Napier in case of opposition, and I will briefly give you my opinion of the country &c. Starting from Woodville at about one o'clock on Tuesday I got to Makatokaa little after six, passing through Tahoritiand Danevirke, a Scandanivian settlement, with fair quality land and well grasßed paddocks.' Having arrived at Makatoka I enquired where best accommodation was to be obtained, and found Steven' unlicensed hotel very comtortaWe; Left there at : 6,20 and passed through about as miserable a country as that between Cross' Creek and the Upper Hutt. After travelling about 20 miles we began to get into a better country, called Takapu, and ran through the run of Mr Sydney Johnston, and Woburn, the Hon Russell's run, Waipukara struck me as being a thriving township and nicely laid out. Waipawa comes next, but nothing remarkable about this township—looks scattered. Hastings struck me as tho best, most wealthy and go-ahead of any township on the line of route. Napier was reached about half-past ten o'clock, and the stink as we passed through the streets was simply sickening. It appears there is a great deal of sickness about, over 400 cases of typhoid fever, and the whole town struck one as plague strioken, half the shops had a shutter or blind drawn, flags half mast high, and every token of disease, Carbolic choked jou in the streets, and Cloride of Lime was sprinkled thick over every flour of both shops and hotels, making a delightful odour. I was only too pleased to get out again next morning. Tho railways are nothing to boast about in any respect, and the engines are splendid for t'dowu" hill, but if they come to rises they a failure, atid come nearly to a standstill, not being half powerful enough for the traffic. It is rumored we are to have another hotel put up here and another line or coaches to run between Palmerston and Makatoko, the party was up last week making enquiries re chance of obtaining license &o, 'Tenders are now out for erection of a ohurch for Unitßd Free Methodists. From 'plans I have Been it will be a very pretty

little chapal, to cost about £350 when completed, The bush around the town-; ship is all being felled at last, /This will greatly improve the appearance of this township, to say nothing of safety from fires,

Speaking of fires, we had a very narrow escape froin fire in the centre of the town. Mr Murphy's hotel caught from a l)U9h fire a week or two since, and Mr Gillard's house was burnt last week. I understand the insurance oil it was £100." During the last week we have had two uew arrivals with families, both being settlers, and expect in another week or two Mr Carlisle, formerly oditor of the Hawko's Bay Herald, who has purchased, a very nice property from Mr H, Campbell. He intends having a lot of bush fell during this season. Work will be very plentiful as the bnshfalling season commences.

A brass band is in course of formation and already the instruments have arrived and teaching is progressing under the leadership of Mr G. A, King. I hear there will be au attempt made shortly to start a Masonic Lodge hero, there are several masons vesicling here now, and some others anxious to join the fraternity, Mr G. A. King, P.M. is taking the matter up and intends shortly to call a meeting of thoso interested.