GREYTOWN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1095, 24 February 1893, Page 18

GREYTOWN.

Fire, water, earth, and air have been combining against us of late. The earth shook us up, as you know; the water—an overflow from the Waiohine river—came across our roads and paddocks; the clear-ing-fires started by our settlers have overleapt their due bounds and destroyed other people’s property ; and furious winds have done their part in helping this last calamity to run its course. There have been more burns this year than for two or three years past, because it has been a very good season for the operation ; at the same°time, the list of casualties has been a long one. Last week a settler his bush at Papawai, after notice duly given in the local newspaper, but in consequence of the strong wind aforesaid the dairy of his next neighbour was destroyed, cattle were roasted to death, and other settlers were up all night beating back the fire from their homesteads. - These elementary visitations seem to be governed by mere caprice, for it is only a few days, after all, since Mr AV. C. Buchanan’s crop at Aikouka was washed about by the violent rain while it was in stook. Yet now the weather is so dry that feed everywhere is parched, and the fruit is suffering too. If we don’t get rain soon there will be precious _ little winter feed, and if we do get rain the harvest; which is in full swing, will, be injured. It is a funny world—an original observation which may fitly conclude my dissertation upon the weather. The Horticultural Show of last week was a comparative failure, the interest taken by the public being small, and the exhibits fewer in number than usual. It is difficult to assign the true cause, but for one thing there has been a feeling that the committee did wrong in raising the entrance fee to exhibitors from sixpence to one shilling. It may be added, however, that as far as flowers are concerned, this is not a good time for them. On Thursday evening there is to be a big gathering of Presbyterian ministers to make speeches to the faithful in the Foresters’Hall—after first drinking tea, you may be sure. The head and front of the evening’s attraction is the Yery Rev the Moderator of the General Assembly; and ever since I saw the advertisement I have been wondering how long it is . since Presbyterian ministers started taking to themselves a designation which has from time immemorial belonged to the Roman Catholic and Anglican deans. I really don’t know why they shouldn’t call themselves what they like, only it sounds funny at first, you know, and smacks of prelacy —which is abomination. We suffer from the nightly hoodlum. He is gregarious, and a gang of his kind may be found (except when the moon, shines), outside one or two shops in this town, - .armed with rank language and a two-cattle-fish spitting power, waiting to insult persons who may happen to be walking alone. What do you suggest ? . Our excellent policeman is limited in his usefulness by the conditions which environ these mortal bodies of ours —he can, for instance, only bo in one place at a time. Last Saturday the Greytown first eleven journeyed to Carterton for the purpose of showing the Cartertonians how the game of cricket should be played. Grey, town won (that of course), by 66 runs on the first innings. But there is no animosity. Trout shooting goes on in this district on the banks of the Ruamahunga. It has now been arranged to set a watch, but I am not going to make public the names of the sportsmen composing the Vigilance Committee. Queensland will probably get something solid out of us presently, for a monster concert is being promoted, with a. very strong committee to work it up. This is a more likely means of raising. tangible assistance than formally inviting welldisposed persons to send contributions to the Town Clerk’s office. Next week I shall be able to tell you of a bumper house. The sons of the late Mr Peter Hume have combined to buy the landed property left by their father, and everyone is glad that these popular young settlers are remaining with us instead of giving place to strangers. The yaluabk. horses on the run

will shortly be submitted to auction in Featherston.

It was noticed at the big Martinborough stock sale last week, held by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., that the Lower Valley settlers were imperfectly acquainted with the present price of sheep. As a consequence of this, owners’ reserves were too high, and the bulk of the 10,000 sheep submitted to the hammer by Mr Foster, the auctioneer, were passed in—to be purchased later on by private treaty. It is this perpetual private treaty which does the mischief. Settlers have got into the way of it, and they rarely attend an auction sale. It would be good all round if these breeders would arrange for regular auction sales in their neighbourhood, and they would get better prices in most cases. Mr W. F. Roydhouse, the new proprietor of the AVairarapa Standard, arrives in Greytown this week. He has inaugurated the new management by imitating the New Zealand Mail in Missing AVord competition. This is the highest .compliment, I suppose, that he has it in his power to pay you. Our fire brigade announces sports for St Patrick’s Day in aid of the engine fund, which is an object which should commend itself to all residents. Californian quail are numerous here this season. Last Saturday a resident came across a brood of no less than twelve.