WAIRARAPA AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 40, 28 October 1871, Page 15

WAIRARAPA AFFAIRS.

. WAIRARAPA RACES. Under this comprehensive title two race meetings are to be held, one at Greytown on the 26th and 27th December, and the other at Manaia on the Ist and 2nd of January. As between the two meetings the Pastoral Exhibition is to take place, the Wairarapa people will have the opportunity of enjoying their Christmas holidays.

A meeting of the committee of the Wairarapa Agricultural Association was held at the British Volunteer Hotel, Greytown, on Saturday afternoon, C. Pharazyn, Esq, in the chair. It was announced that the amount of donations and subscriptions, already promised, reached nearly £l5O. The following gentlemen were appointed receivers, viz: —Messrs W. H. Donald, H. Bannister, Mr Hirsehberg, J. Cox, A. K. Arnot, J. Gilligan, and C. Pharazyn. Receipt books and rules were ordered to be printed. It was resolved that the first pastoral exhibition should be held at Masterton on the 28th December next. The stewards and judges were appointed, and it is expected that this stock exhibition, which is to include horses, cattle, and sheep, will be the means of fairly bringing the Association before the public. On Saturday last a meeting was held in the British Volunteer Hotel, to take into consideration a letter from the Hon Mr Waterhouse relative to the establishment of a public library at the Town Hall, Greytown. lu this letter Mr Waterhouse, in referring to the honorarium given to members of both Houses for attending the sittings of the Assembly, says :—“ In the peculiar circumstances of New Zealand, this practice, however objectionable in principle, appears almost essential to enabling constituencies to secure in the House of Representatives the services of members alike acquainted with the wants of the various districts, and able and desirous to serve their fellow-settlers. But in the case of the Legislative Council, no such necessity exists; its members are not elected but nominated, and that from a class which as a whole does not require, and in my opinion ought not to receive the honorarium paid to the elective members of Parliament. I believe the usefulness of the Legislative Council would be increased, and its dignity would be promoted by the withdrawal of the honorarium ; but so long as it continues to be paid, and I continue to receive it, 1 am determined to appropriate it to purposes of public utility.” He then observes that he has noticed with.regret the total absence in the Wairarapa of all means of intellectual recreation, and consequently that youths and others are driven to haunts and amusements not

favorable to the healthy development of character. He expresses the opinion that it will be a great attraction to Greytown, and supply an obvious existing want, were the present Town Hall utilised by the establishment of an institute and the formation of a public library. To secure the attainment of so desirable an object he makes the munifieient offer of £IOO, with a furthei annual subscription of £lO 10s. It appears that on the recommendation of Mr G. Beetham he made this offer to the inhabitants of Greytown and its neighborhood, through the proprietor of the “ Mercury” ; Greytown not having yet any Town Council or Board to whom such ©ffers could be addressed. Inconsequence of no definite hour having been fixed for holding the meeting, many persons who desired to be present left before the proceedings commenced. Eventually the Rev A. Knell was voted to the chair, who observed that it would be a disgrace to Greytown to allow such a munificent offer as that made by the Hon Mr Waterhouse to fall through. Though Mr Waterhouse had expressed his desire to utilise the Town Hall by the establishment of an Institute and Library, an attempt had been made to establish them in connection with a public school and teacher’s residence, which it is proposed to build at some future date, and Mr Hirsehberg and Mr Barton had actually offered handsome donations for this object. After much discussion, in which Messrs Moles, Beetham, Arnot, Pharazyn, Vakelin, the Chairman, and several others took part, and after several resolutions and amendments had been proposed, it was eventually resolved that a provisional committee of seven should be appointed to take preliminary steps to carry out Mr Waterhouse's suggestions, and to convene a public meeting at a time when that gentleman could be present. A vote of thanks to Mr Waterhouse concluded the proceedings.

One of the heaviest floods which has taken place for some years at Greytown occurred on Tuesday evening last, but fortunately the damage done to private property was very slight. A man who was driving a horse and cart had a narrow escape from being drowned, having been washed a considerable distance away from the road by the flood ; but he was ultimately rescued from his perilous position. Shearing commenced at several stations during the week, but had to be suspended on account of the rain. Mr J. Martin voluntarily offered his shearers an advance of 2s 6d per 100, on the condition that they used extra care in shearing clean. lam told he will lose nothing by his generosity, as the additional wool will compensate him for this additional cost.