EAST COAST NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4696, 16 April 1894, Page 2

EAST COAST NOTES.

(From a Correspondent.)

April 12. Tho present autumn has been remarkable for a number of cold southerly storms, the most severe one being experienced on Monday last, when large quantities of hail fell. Grass is abundant in the district, and the stock look exceedingly well.

The now formation on the Glads atone-East Coast road, {com Mr Yennell's out station at the Wharau to tho Coast, ia practically completed! but has not yet been finally taken off the contractor's hands. The total " distance from Masterton by this road , (via Te "Wliitiand it strikes the eea const, miles south'of Flat During the last few'-'weera GS" r ) sheep have been driven along . it, a large portion being freezers and fat sheep from Flat Point and Glenburn atatioDß, and 3,000 owned by Mr W. 0, Buohanan, who intends in future to drive all bis stock by this route, from Tupurupuru to Waikaraka and vice versa. Speaking of the road generally, it is well graded, and reflects credit on Mr D. McLaucblan, who surveyed the line, and supervised the work of formation. In addition to tho Bheep traffic, numerous buggies and vehicles have ventured along, It may not be out of place to mention that Mr Alex. McKenzie, who is a veritable Jehu, drove through tho whole distance from Featherston to the Coast in sis hours. This beats the record, To Miss , Nellie Vennell, however, is due the i honour of being the first lady who ventured to drive through to the , Coast by this road, the journey being > performed last Saturday in about i three hours from Bank View.

"The swagger" is much, very much in evidence in this notwithstanding lady " Rquattoresa" of anarchist proclivities, who wished to blow them up with gunpowder,'still they come,' But, joking apart, the question " what to do with the swagger," is becoming a serious one. There is not employment for tho nuroberof men travelling, while Bottlers find it s most grevious burden to food from five to six hungry individuals night and morning. This average may eeem high, but the information is from personal observation, Settlers would not complain so muoh if it were not for the heavy " Poor Bute" they have to pay in addition. Tho ond, 1 beliovo, is npt far distant. Thero are sounds in the air that the patient squatter is getting tired of this dual tax, and ere long the swagger will be told to rajveon mm tucker, mm shakedown; with a polite hint to go to Mr Heddon and the Labor Department for solace.

While on this question 1 think Mr J, Martin iB to be commonded for his aotion in the South County Council, in drawing attention to the highly coloured reports sent in to tho Labour Department and made public, by tho local agents in the Wairawps,'Those reports aro generally qatte unreliable, niado out by persons who know nothing of tho state of the labour market in the out distriols, and in many instances their publication is a downright cruelty to the unemployed, who are misled by them.

Tou will probably bard heard boforo this reaches you of the wreck of tho 3.5. Kiwi, a vessel which has traded along this coast siuco 1875. It appears from reports to hand that she reached Glenburn on tho morning of the 11th, but owing to the southerly swell rolling in was unable to land goods there until the afternoon, Having some two. tons of stores for Mat Poi,nt she was proceeding there, and wss last Been by a rabbittor employed by. Mr Hales, who witnessed her strike on a rock about 6 p.m., Bituated a little north of the Maori Pah, at Waikikino, about mid way between Glonbum and Flat Point. This witness relates that immediately after she Btrnckehe turned round and disappeared in about Fortunately the boat s|f lowered With promptitude ahd'the Captain and ajl hands (some fourteen in number) wore landed in Bafely at Waikikino, from whence they proofed to Glenburn whereMr-aud kindly attended to their wants, It is stated that Capt. Campbell, who was well known to have a great affeotion fdv his old ship, refused to leave ber deoks, and wished to sink with her, and it was only through, the persistent efforts of tho mate that he left the sinking vessel. Very great and heartfelt sympathy is expressed towards Capt. Cnmpboll by all tho settlers on the coast who havo heard of the disaster, many of whom have sailed with him in safety limes out of number, and received many kihdnesses at his hands,