WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 6048, 18 August 1880, Page 3

WAIRARAPA.

(FROJI OUIi OWS COEKESPOSmENT.) August 16, ISBO. A'meeting of the Wairarapa West County Council was held at Carterton on Thursday. The vexed question of the ferries in the Fortymile Bush was again brought up, but it seems as far off settlement as ever. Some short time a<ro the Council, in consequence of the extortionate conduct of the natives in charge of these ferries p'aced a European named Carver in charge. Not seeing their _ way clear to .. lose these favorable positions for leyying black mail from all and sundry who pass their way, the untutored savage is now trying his best to retain the management; .They have even;gone so far as to stop Mr. Carver from ferrying passengers, and have made him give up to them the toll received from the mail coach. It appears that the Council, in the opinion of their solicitor, have no title to the ferry, and the only thing open for them to do' is ,to take it under the Public Works Act, unless they choose to comply with the extravagant idemands of the natives. The natives themselves wish for a conference with the Council to get the matter settled, and the manner in which they propose to have it settled may be' inferred from the factlthat Huru, the sable Charon, wishes to obtain a little sinecure from Government of £IOO per annum in lieu of his interest in the ferry. ‘ A resolution was carried at the Council meeting to the effect that as the Government had already entered into partial; arrangements with the natives for the road running through the Forty-mile Bush, the Council thinks it is the duty of the Government to complete that arrangement before the Council interferes; and that if Government will give the Council legal possession it will be prepared to take charge of the ferry at once, and that the chairman communicate this -to Government, requesting it to take immediate action It was also resolved that Mr.. Carver should he' informed that negotiations are proceeding with the natives, ■ which will probably bo successful ; that he is to do as he thinks best about-remaining at the ferry, and if he leaves is to send the boat to Mangatainoke or Woodvillel Also, that, as already agreed, the Council is not responsible to him for loss of time,' &c’., but as he has doUbtldss been put to some expense a sum of £5 be sent to him. ' O r generous and considerate, cbira-'. cillors ! Having placed, a man in charge of a ferry, they find themselves powerless to second i his efforts, and establish him in his position. The wits of a few half-naked savages are too much for their collective wisdom, to combat, so they sacrifice a fiver from their treasury, and tell their employee he can gq-or stay as he pleases. Bather rough on Mr. Carver, one would think, and pleasant for the travelling public also, to know that their representative ! body .has thrown the blame on other shoulders,

and again alldvrelT the ferry to'fall into the rapacious hands of the natives It is high time this main thoroughfare was cleared from impediments of this sort, and the natives taught the useful lesson that the public weal roust ever; be the first and foremost consideration, Tt is a glaring shame that in that miserable spot, so and yet fo fur from civilisation, these people should be allowed to fleece poor travellers of; their last shilling before they will pass him or alldwhina to pass; and such things have been done with perfect impunity, it seems. Failing other metallic substances, the ntuds from a man’s, shirt have even been' demanded and given. And’this state of things is to contii.ue, according to our councillors, until a somnolent Government

awakes to exertion. That exertion, if made at all, will doubtless take the form of negotiation with these petted pests, and will take months to conclude. In the meantime the public are the sufferers. The most recent items from the Mangatainoke ferry is that the rotten rope there broke while the coach, laden with passengers, was crossing. As luck would have it the punt had considerable way on it, and managed to reach the opposite aide without further disaster. The rope which gave way not having been replaced with a proper one, has since broken again, and this time the punt has been washed clean down the river. So are accidents invited and lives risked to uphold the dignity of red-tape. : At a meeting of ladies held on "Wednesday, it was resolved to hold a bazaar in aid of St. Matthew’s Church early in December, A strong committee of the fair sex was also appointed to carry out the undertaking. Mr. F. H. Wood, auctioneer, of Greytowu, is evidently well esteemed in his own country, as indeed his genial nature entitles him to be. On the recent occasion of his proving his belief in the scriptural injunction that it is not good for man to live alone, the newly joined couple were received on their entrance to the town by the Volunteer Band and a host of well-wishers. Hr. Wood acknowledged the compliment in his usual happy style, and threw the auction room open for all who desired to pledge success to the happy pair. On Thursday night a stack of hay at Te Ore Ore, belonging to Mr. J. Vile, was burned to the ground. It is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary, and a man named John Prior was arrested on Saturday on suspicion. The stack was valued at £32, and was uninsured. On Saturday night some excitement was caused in Masterton by the firebell ringing, but the alarm proved to be for nothing more than the ordinary chimney blaze. It would pay a good chimney-sweep to come up here and practice his vocation. To-day, the town was again disturbed by the fire-bell, when it was discovered that the Bank of New Zealand premises were on fire at the rear. Fortunately the fire was speedily got under, or the result would have been serious, as a brisk breeze was blowing at the time, and the bank is in the very centre of a cluster of large wooden buildings. A smart shock of earthquake was felt here this morning at about 9.30. I regret to say that scarlet fever has broken out in Masterton, It is a consequence only to be anticipated when we reflect that as yet the Borough Council hare taken no sanitary precautions whatever, except in the appointment of an officer to inspect nuisances. When summer comes round there will, probably, be something more serious to chronicle, unless preventive measures are adopted by those whose duty it is to take these matters into their earnest consideration. News from the Bast Coast states that at TJriti there will be a large amount of grain grown there in the coming season, some 12,000 or 14,000 acres having been sown, principally in wheat. For perseverance and foresight among clergymen, commend me to the Rev. Father Halbwachs, Catholic priest. By force of persuasion and sheer energy he has already erected a number of substantial churches in the district, and intends to accomplish more yet. His method of procedure offers a good example to other gentlemen of the cloth, who wish to draw large houses. Every now and again he advertises a special sermon, which, of course, attracts many, and the result is a good collection. On Sunday he held a special service for ladies, and advertised that they were almost the only ones invited. Of course, the men did not attend under the circumstances, as they rarely wish to know anything of matters which only concern ladies. The mortality amongst the rabbits must be rather heavy now that their pelts are a marketable commodity, for one purchaser alone in Masterton has bought nearly 600 dozen skins during the past fortnight. The main bridge and approaches over the Ruamahanga at Hurinuiorangi are now so far towards completion that horsemen can cross over in safety. Mr Buchanan, of Tupmupuru, was the first to cross on horseback, and with his usual liberality, made all bands drink success to the structure. Freemasonry is advancing rapidly in the Wairarapa, and we shall shortly have a fourth craft lodge in the district, which will be consecrated at Featherstou on Friday, the officers elect being : —W.M.,Bro. R. V. Smith ; S.W., Bro. W. Toogood; J.W., Bro. Williams; secretary, Bro. D. C. Keir. The new lodge will open under the English Constitution, and be named St. John’s. A large number of brethren from the various lodges will, doubtless, congregate at Featherston on the day named to bestow hearty good wishes on their new sister. • My attention has been directed to a paragraph in Saturday’s Standard, in which the editor denies that there is any truth, in the rumor that Sir George Grey is about to become proprietor of that ancient bi-weekly. I have every reason to believe that the rumor is founded upon fact, but, doubtless, Sir George considers it would not add to the weight of that journal’s'opinions if; it were known they were inspired. If the rumor is not borne out by facts, ! can only say many will be exceedingly sorry, for more reasons than one. i Mr. G. A. Johnson, Clerk of the Resident Magistrate’s Court here, was brought before the Court to-day on a charge of embezzling moneys belonging to the Court. The warrant for his apprehension not being to hand, he was ’ remanded, on bail.