MAKURI NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4032, 8 February 1892, Page 2

MAKURI NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent). The weather took a sudden turn to wet a few days ago, • and there has been heavy rain, As, however, I came into Fahiatua to the land sale, and am now (Feb. 6) writing in that town, I cannot say whether Friday's rain flooded the rivers, That, any. how, is of no moment. The important thing, that this rain, coming just when the bush was getting a bit dry, and yet when almost the last moment for burning had arrived, will entirely ruin the chances of certain sections, They were felled more than a year ago,. arid if not burnt now j never will be, With regard to Che bush felled this last season (say June to December) it is probable all will be burned, most of it pretty well,

The land sale on the sth was of course a great excitement. The local journal has kept up attacks on the Grown. Lands,.sayjng they bungle everything! As an instance,, in its issue of the sth, it says some sections at Tutaekara were advertised tor sale in the Gazette several times, the last date being January 21. Yet the Oommissioner never ofiered them for sale, and merely said privately they were withdrawn by the Minister, Any yisitor to the 6a|e will, I tj}mk, agree fjjat Mr Baker, like ftfr Marchant, wants a smart clerk., "\yhen the jjgaturi segtjons were jjeing ballotte for he read out two names as applicants for a very valuable section. It is quite the picked corner, for some eight miles level, and a place where a smart man might make a little pile. Had it been auctioned a publican or carrier might liavo given £IOO for it. The rental was only Bsperaore and the area abpjt two acres, Now. only one of the applicants was present, and Sir Baker asked him carnally if he would mind the section beiug " altered." The baok, itseemed.was gravel, on which cabbages would not grow.' Would the applicant mind it being cut outi'-Mr Baker would giye him some adjoining land, better in quality. The applicant was willing, the ballot proceeded, and the applicant, Mr Eobertsqn," Ipcaf agent for th'e Wqodvilk Exa\)\i\v.ie, got it, Well, I am not much of a land buyer, but I think you will agree with me that it is unsafe lo do' things in "this loose way, When a seotjon is only two acres, the very smallest alteration of boundary inay make a difference in value equal to several years 1 rent.

When the auction came off the County Chambers were blocked, and Mr Benzie and some friends had made a little knot in front where they could sit and bid at leisure while tbe rest were all Mr Baker proposed to adjourn to the hall, and flir Benzie objected. But some bußhman with native wip culled out ( "come and'take a backseat," Thjs jnyitatipn produced roars'of laughter, and we all adjourned to the large hall next to SulHyan's Hotel, The bidding was pretty spirited throughout,