WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 116, 5 July 1873, Page 4

WAIRARAPA.

(from our own correspondent.)

Within a few weeks we have experienced not a few changes in the weather. Up to last week the month had been extremely mild. Winter in all its vigour then set in, and has continued invariably uj> to the present time. The Waihenga bridge is now available for horse traffic, though the contract time will not be up for another month. The road formation of the approach over the Wharekaka side has been let to Mr Case, and the bridges to Mr Petherick. The ■whole will be completed by the time allowed for the marginal contract. I suppose the will earn something considerable as bonus for completion before the contract time.

There is now a great and increasing demand for land, fitted for grazing purposes. I hear several contiguous properties on the Upper Taueru have been purchased by some gentleman whose name I have not heard.

While such properties find ready sale, land in the vicinity of the townships realise fabulous prices. I know instances in which double the money paid for land not ten years ago has been offered and refused. Not a week passes but some one is seen on the outlook for a run or a farm.

The Featlierstone Highway Board met on Saturday. A striking contrast to the Masterton Board, this one has got well through its work, and has given unfailing satisfaction. Once only there was not sufficient to form a quorum. To give some idea how the assessment has been conducted in the Masterton Board at least, I will give the particulars of one case well known to me. Particulars were in the first instance given to the assessor, and if I mistake not, a tracing was shown him. At all events, t the numbers of the sections were given. Guess the surprise of the assessed party to find himself rated for the larger portion of his neighbour’s property. He then gives all the information necessary to the senator, even offers to point out his property on the map, yet at the next meeting of the Board he is accused of quibbling. If the officials of the Boardfdo not avail themselves of information thus gratuitously tendered, let them be the last to accuse of quibbling. No one, cares about paying another’s bills, and I cannot see why they should pay another’s rates.

Mr F. Harrison had one of his little fingers completely severed by the circular saw at the Manaia saw mills a few days ago. His hand narrowly escaped being entirely lost.