CARTERTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 2747, 19 February 1896, Page 1

CARTERTON.

From Our Own Correspondent, Carterton, February 17. There was a loud poal on the Carterton firebell on Sunday, the cause being’ a fire at Dalefield, which destroyed four or five large stacks of hay, the property of Mr T. Price, and a small cottage. The Wairarapa South County Council have struck a poor rate over the whole county of one-tenth of a penny in the pound on the ratable value. The Bishop] of Wellington closed his pastoral visit to the Wairarapa with a confirmation service at Greytown on Sunday, night. The Eev P. W. Fairclough gave a very interesting lecture on “ Earthquakes ” the other evening. The annual match between Forty-mile Bush and Wairarapa representative cricket teams was played at Greytown on Saturday, and resulted in a wm for the latter.

The Earn Pair under the auspices of the Wairarapa Pastoral and Agricultural Society on Friday last was well attended, and 800 lots were submitted. Messrs Lowes and loms and Mr P. 11. Wood were the auctioneers. The Hon M. Holmea’ Lincoln stud rams averaged Bgs, and flock rams 3lgs. Mr A. Matthews' Eomney Marsh averaged IJgs, Mr E. W. Dorset’s the same rate, and Messrs Gray Bros." 2gs. In Lincolns, Mr Buchanan’s fetched liga; Mr P. C. Threlkeld’s, IJgs; Mr J. Eayner’s, 21ga; Mr D. McMaster’s, 34gs j Mr W. Barton’s, Ig. Mr Buchanan’s Southdowns brought lags,and Mr D. McMaster’s Shropshire Downs, Ig. The Autumn and Chrysanthemum Show of the Wairarapa Horticultural Society will be held at Carterton one week later than the Wellington’show. The programme, just drawn up, gives prizes up to .£SO. A strong committee has been formed with representatives in each township, and the members’ roll already numbers 150. A sub-committee of ladies has been formed to help with the work. This is the first United Wairarapa Horticultural Show, and if it proves a success there is a prospect of a building being specially erected for future exhibitions. The present show will be held in Mr F. H.Wood’s commodious auction rooms, supplemented with a marquee at the back of the building. The proposed road across the ranges from the Wairarapa to Otaki is likely to become an established fact, as the matter is being taken up by the settlers on both side the ranges with spirit. Mr A. H. Murray, who was appointed by the Greytown committee, has taken a preliminary survey of the route. He started from the Otaki side, and after a three days’ tramp reached Greytown last Friday. He brought with him the Otaki Postmaster and three gentlemen who had been appointed by the Otaki committee to traverse a line from Otaki to Masterton, which they found impracticable. Mr Murray surveyed three routes, one of which he pronounces practicable for wheel traffic, the distance being 40 miles, with fair grades. Four Carterton lads made an ascent of Mount Holdsworth yesterday, and had a capital view of the Valley. A party of ladies were botanising on the ranges, and they came across the camp where the lads had left their tent, blankets and cooking utensils. The spirit of mischief took possession of the girls, and they put in half an hour arranging things for the boys’ return. They spread the blankets on bushes, hung the cooking utensils in the trees, stuffed a pair of socks they found full of sand, made a dummy man lying on the ground, covered over with a mg and the feet sticking out. Then they went away rejoicing. The lads, when they reached camp, were a little bit scared at first, but soon “ tumbled ” to the joke, and, as they passed half a dozen demnrelookiug lasses on the road home, they gave a pretty good guess as to who the culprits were.