Our Carterton Letter.

Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 125, 29 May 1888, Page 3

Our Carterton Letter.

[Ottr Own Corretfxmdmt.) Cjlrtirton, 28th May. The principal industry of this distriofcTthe sawmill trade— is, lam sorry to say, in a very depressed state. One mill that used to find employment for a number of hands is dosed, and there has been a general reduction of wages *t the mills which are working. Mr. T. Price's men hare struok against the reduction, but there is little likelihood of the master giving way in the face of the present limited demand for sawn timber. The recent fire has proved a godsend for the builders, carpenters, painters, ko. The whole of the buildings destroyed were insured, and are being rapidly rebuilt. So far no steps havo been taken to re-erect Hie Town Hall, on account of a dispute existing between the trustees and a solicitor to whom -the fire insuraaoo money was paid over. As

this matter will bo tried at tho Wellington Supreme Court at the next aitting, I shall not say anything more on tho subject. The Queen's Birthday was celebrated by a general review of the Wairarapa volunteers. There was a very good muster , a and as the day was fine, a lurge number of visitors wore present to witness the manajuvres. The volunteors gave n ball in the evening at tho Lyceum II»U, which was largely attended and thoroughly enjoyed. M. Solomon Gaijltor pot with rather a curious accident on Friday last. He was engaged in mustering some young bullocks in the yards of Messrs. Booth and Co., when ono of them let fly with both hind logs, striking him on tho ohest and seriously injuring him. He is confined to bis bed, and is under medical treatment, but there is no cause for anxiety. The weather has been very changeable dnring the week. On Monday we had a violent gale of wind and rain from the north-west, and during the latter part of the week we have experienced bard frosts, the mornings and evenings being bitterly cold. Inspector Lee has completed his tonr of examining the Wairarapa schools. In every instance his report is satisfactory, and in some schools no failures whatever are reported, a fact that speaks well for the care and diligence exercised by the teachers. The Taratahi Dairy Factory is in the market. The directors wish to lease it. There was a meeting of the farmers who used to supply the milk the other night, and it was unanimously rdsolved that they would havo nothing to do with it unless they got the coneorn into their own handa. A breach has long existed between the directors and the milk suppliers of this faotory, and this is tbe upshot of it. • Notwithstanding the narrow esoape of the whole town from destruction during the recent fire, Carterton is without a fire brigade. We poesosß a fire engine, hose, Ac, but no organised brigade to work it. This state of affairs is caused through existing differences of opinion and petty jealousy. Why the Borough Counoil don't take tho matter up is a mystery to me, which I cannot solve. Perhaps the insurance companieß will bring a little pressuro to boar by refusing to renow the riakH until these obdurate individuals come to their senses. Mr. Ahem, tho representative of the Referee, is making a tour of the racing stables in the Wairarapa, for the purpose of looking over tho young stock. Tbe fanners here don't think much of Mr. Buchanan's scheme of importing a travelling dairy into the district, to teaoh their womenfolk how to make butter. There are hundredweights of excellent butter made, but what we reqnire is a profitable market. The White Hart Hotel has changed hands, and tho present occupier, Mr. Charlie Giles, is no novice at the business, his parents having kept the Marquis of Normanby for a number of yeara. Tho baok settlers have a grievance which might catch the oyo of the authorities if mentioned in your columns. They complain that when the Railway Department run excursion trains to Wellington, they neglcot to advertise them in the local paper in timo for persons living at the back to avail themselves of the concession. As a rule theso baok settlers only receive their papers once or twice a week, and very often too late to participate in the trip. Last week the advertisement was so meagre that it did not even stato the faros to be charged— it simply notified " low rates."