LOCAL NEWS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 12, 23 March 1867, Page 3

LOCAL NEWS.

The Electoral Roll.— Qualified persons whose names are not at present on the Electoral Roll for the district of Wairarapa and who desire to be registered must send in their claims to the Registration Officer before the expiration of the present month. In order to enable them to do so we have printed the form required; which can be had at the Mercury Office, at the Moroa Stores, or of any of our local agents, where the form will be filled up and signed for any persons who personally apply for that purpose. The writer is tired of persuading, or rather of endeavoring to persuade, men to register themselves as freemen; but he believes that those who place any value on their civil rights and political privileges, and who are not at present on the Electoral Roll, will lose no time in sending in their claims according to the prescribed form.

Resident Magistrates’ Court Greytown. —The usual monthly sittings of this Court were held on Thursday last. The only case of any public interest for hearing was Gillard v Thomas Ray, sen., being a claim for £lo, the value of a cow audj calf. The evidence went to prove that the defendant had branded and had in his possession a heifer which belonged to the plaintiff, and which the latter had previously branded with his own brand. Several witnesses were called on both sides, but the evidence was to the effect above stated. Judgment was given for the plaintiff with costs. The adjourned case with reference to the Carterton School rate was settled by the defendant paying the amount claimed into court.

Serious Accident. — We regret to learn that on Monday afternoon, between five and six o’clock, a child nine years of age, daughter of Mr Anketell, of Masterton, was playing near her father, who was weighing something with the steelyards at the time, when she unfortunately jumped on one of the hooks causing a frightful wound in the abdomen of four inches in length from which the bowels protruded. Dx Smith was immediately sent for who sewed up the wound and we are happy to learn that under his skilful management’ the poor child is recovering.

Featherston Road District.— A meeting was held at the Court-house, Featherston, on Saturday last, which was well attended, for the purpose of fixing the rate for the ensuing year, and other business, including which was a proposition from Messrs Smith aud Revans to extend the district so as to include a portion of the Moroa plain. 11. Bunny, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Wardens, presided. The meeting having decided that they should first discuss what rate and roads should be in the district, it was proposed by Mr. Wardell, — “That the rate to be levied he Is per acre, coupled with a request through the Chairman to the Board, that the minimum be 4d., to be exercised at their discretion.” After a very animated discussion, Mr. S. Carkeek proposed as an amendment, and Mr Donald seconded,— “ That a uniform rate of sixpence per acre be levied on lands in the district,” which on heinoput was carried. Mr Revans then laid his proprosition before the meeting, stating that the particular portion of the Moroa, which he wished to have included in the district, which he termed “ no man’s land” had scarcely sufficient settlers to form a separate board; that he had at present no right of road to his property at Woodside, and that such annexation would be beneficial not only to himself, but to the other residents as enhancing the value of their lands, and concluded by proposing;—“That the portion of the Moroa Plain as shewn upon the plan now on the table he annexed to the Featherston District.” Messrs. H. Jackson and J. Getter, opposed the proposition on the grounds that the settlers on that block did not wish to be annexed to the Featherston district, but that they looked to Greytown as their natural centre; and further, that if the residents of that district wished for roads, that there was a sufficient number nf residents, naming ten or eleven, who were sufficient to have a hoard of their own, if they required one. After some further discussion, on a show !

of hands being taken the resolution was negatived. Mr Wilkinson proposed:—“ That the Superintendent toe requested to detach the Western Lake Block from the Featherston district,” and stated that his reason for making the proposition was that the block had been joined without the knowledge or consent of the residents, and that they did not wish to be included in it. Mr Matthews seconded the proposition. Mr C, Gundy proposed and Mr Welby Jackson seconded as an amendment, — “ That no alteration be made in the Peatherston district.” The amendment was carried. The meeting then after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, separated.

Albatross,—On the 20th March, a fine albatross was found in a paddock at Woodside, which is distant in a direct line about twenty miles distant from the sea. This bird having been found so far inland is a proof of the strength of the south-east gale, which only terminated on the previous day to the discovery of the bird. There is also a sea gull at Woodside found a few months ago not far from the bouse.

Morrison’s Bush.—We are requested to state that a meeting of the land owners, and others, interested in the drainage of the land on the north side of Morrison’s Bush road, will be held at the Moroa School Room, on Monday evening, at 6 o’clock.

East Wairarapa Election.—The nomination of a candidate for the vacant seat for the East Wairarapa district took place at the Court House Masterton, on Monday last. The weather was was fearfully wet, and the consequence was that only Mr. Andrew, his proposer and seconder were present, besides the Returning Officer. Joseph Bennett Esq., proposed and J. B. Collins Esq., seconded the nomination of Mr. Andrew, who was of course duly returned. Mr. Masters was not present. An address from Mr. Andrew appears in our advertising columns, from which we gather that he will pull with the Wast Wairarapa members in an endeavour to secure justice for this district. The Race Stewards.—We have received a letter relative to what the ivriter considers the absence of any recognition of the services of the Stewards at the late Race Meeting by our reporter. We regret the circumstance as w r e are personally cognizant of the exertions made by the Stewards, Messrs. Humphrey and Lucena, previous to the meeting, to secure its success; and we agree with our correspondent that those who devote ungrudgingly their time and money for a public object ought to have their services publicly recognised.

Wairarapa Market. —We have received a letter from Mr C H Maxfield, of the “ Greytown Anns’ Hotel, in which he says he shall have much pleasure in allowing the use of his stockyards free of charge for the purpose of sale yards on market days. We have also received a letter from Mr Fuller, of the “ Rising Sun” on the same subject, in which he says, he will furnish paddock accommodation, and everything requisite for the holding of a market free of charge. We have suggested elsewhere the holding of a public meeting at an early date, when this subject can be taken into consideration, and the time and place for the holding of the market he decided upon.

Opening of Mastebton Church. —We referred briefly in a previous issue to this important public want, but having since received fuller information on the subject, we have no hesitation in laying it once before our readers. It appears that before the Church was opened, the amount owing was £ 150, which has since been reduced to £ll3. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge contributed £2O, and the remainder was collected at the three services as before noticed. Our esteemed correspondent asks, “ may it not he said that the building of a Church is a sign that the people of the district are desirous of making “ real ” progress; that they consider no amount of progress in the way of opening up the country, making roads and securing means of transit to he of any lasting benefit to them, unless it be accompanied by the moral of religious progress of man himself ?” The writer concludes by expressing an earnest hope that it will not be long ere the report of the opening of a Church in this central town (Greytown) of the valley may claim a space in the columns of this paper.

Mb. Renael’s Resignation. —Speaking of the Wairarapa election, the “ Advertiser ” says; —It is not known yet whether Mr. Renall will resign his seat in the Council, in accordance with the pledge he gave the electors when they last honored him with their confidence “ for one session, in order to enable him to achieve a particular object.” There appears to he a strange unanimity of feeling at present existing between the leaders of political parties in Wairarapa—old sores have been healed, and differences hurried for the time—the object being to send a “ united team” to Wellington, to wring from the Government “ justice for the Wairarapa.” And the “ Independent” of Tuesday last, referring to the same subject, observes: —“lt seems likely there will shortly be another vacancy in the representation of the Wairarapa in the Provincial Council, as the electors have unmistakeably hinted to Mr. Renall that he had better resign. Indeed, as he says that he can’t do any good, the people are quite willing to try somebody else who can.”