COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 889, 15 March 1889, Page 14

COUNTRY NEWS.

MASTERTON. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) March 7. The opening of the Lower Whareamaroad at Eparaima on Tuesday appears to have been a highly amusing affair. When the settlers, who were headed by Mr R. R. Meredith and Mr Carswell, approached the spot, they found, first of all, a ditch about four feet wide and four feet deep. This they jumped with their horses. On the other side they found two Maoris, one of whom is known as the talking man of the pa, while the other looked a veritable Ajax. The fence previously mentioned was close behind this couple. After some preliminary talk Mr Meredith read the resolution of the Whareama Road Board on the subject of opening the road. Mr George Moore, who had, at his own request, been appointed a member of the Committee of the Board to deal A?ith the matter, and who had up to this point sat quietly on a fence st the head of a number of Native women and children, came forward when Mr Meredith commenced to read, and, producing a quantity of correspondence, 3et .up opposition. Several speeches were then made, one?of them being by Mr Moore, who urged that the Natives were in the right and acting in a civilised manner, which was more than the Europeans were doing. This being over, Mr Meredith cut the top wire of the fence, and was immediately hustled away by the Maoris. Several. Europeans joined in the affray, and the whole lot were soon to be see** rolling over and over on the ground, the end being that they tumbled into the beforementioned ditch, from which they emerged covered with clay, but with good humour stamped on every face. The remaining wires were quickly cut, but the Maori women resisted their removal for a long time. Ultimately, however, they gave way ; both sides shook hands, the Maoris promised to cause no further trouble, and the mailman went his way toward the coast. When he returned he found that tbe fence had been put up again. The Road Board has now instructed its Wellington solicitors (Messrs Chapman and

Fitz Gerald) to take proceedings in the Supreme Court.

[By Telegraph.] Masterton, March 11. A stable and granary on the southern outskirts of the town, owned by .Ttobert Johnston, were totally destroyed by lire this afternoon. The buildings were insured for £SO, but the contents, which consisted of £2OO worth of grain and some machinery, all of which was totally lost, were not x insured. Bull particulars are not yet to hand. Masterton, March 12. The traffic bridge over the Waingawa, on the road between Masterton and Carterton, caught lire this afternoon. Fortunately the flames were discovered in time, and several men with buckets put them out before much damage was done. A fire was burning in a swamp about a quarter of a mite to the windward, and a spark carried over probably caught the structure.