CARTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1291, 26 November 1896, Page 17

CARTERTON.

Our early settlers are gradually thinning out until they can in the Wairarapa almost be counted on the two hands. Yesterday was followed to his last resting place all that was mortal of Mr William Challis, who came to the Colony in 185 S, in the good ship Oliver Lang, and settled on a seventy-acre farm at Carterton immediately afLer landing. Mrs Challis died about three years ago at the age of 71 years, and Mr Challis died on Friday night last, having reached the good ripe age of 75 years. Close on 40 years ho lived in che Wairarapa and for the latter half of that time he was bedridden, with rheumatic gout. He leaves three sons and two daughters. His was one of the good old Wesleyan Methodist families, who give as much care for spiritual things as for the temporal affairs of this life, and have the respect of all with whom they came in contact.

A meeting of the Wairarapa Horticultural Committee was held on Saturday, when final arrangements were made for the Flower Show to be held in the Agricultural Hall on the show grounds, Carterton, next Saturday. Judges in the several classes were appointed, and also a ladies' sub-committee to arrange for afternoon tea. The season for fruits and vegetables has been a very backward one this year, and we do not expect the exhibits in these classes to be large. We hope to have a fair show of flowers, but it is to tho industrial class, homo work, &c, that we look for tho success of the show.

There ought to be a better system at the post offices than the one that now exists of permitting invoices and printed matter to pass at a minimum rate when put in unclosed envelopes. I hear of great complaints from business man that their customers complain of receiving accounts that have evidently been taken out of their envelopes and replaced. Post officials are probably only doing their duty in lookin .; nisid ,- oi an-eated communications to a-c :" tin. i f ih i 1 v has been complied with, •■!. , t,..,> '■'. i:- is altogether objectionable ; I ■] .--;:,jys the feeling of sacredness that ha:s surrounded the British post office as an institution, and smacks too much of the Continent. Lather than any man should have the right to open a letter addressed to another, ifc would be hotter to abolish the present so-called concession and substitute a rate on the weight of a letter, say any letter the weight of which does not exceed quarter of an ounce shall

be*delivered at one halfpenny or whatever the minimum rate is. I am convinced some such steps will have to be taken to put a check to the growing dissatisfaction with the present system. A pretty wedding took place at the i Weslflyan Church, Carterton, on Wednesdry last at 2.30, the contracting parties beiftg Mr William John Hob man, of Greytown, and Miss Rose Waters, eldest daughter of Mr H. Waters, a respected townsman of Carterton. The blushing bride, who was prettily dressed in grey tweed, with hat to match, and wore the l i usually orange blossoms, was given away by her father. The bridesmaids were Misses Lizzie and Ada Waters, sisters of the bride, dressed in fawn silk, trimmed with green, with hats to match. Mr W. Millar was best man. Afterwards afternoon tea was laid at the home of the j bride's parents, of which many friends partook. The happy couple departed for Greytown amid showers of rice, and the good wishes of their friends. At night a j ball in honour of the happy event took j place at the Lyceum Hall, forty ccuples I occupying the floor. The presents were costly and numerous.