LOCAL NEWS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 31, 5 August 1867, Page 3

LOCAL NEWS.

Floods. —More rain fell in this district during the whole of this week than was ever known before in the same period. Fortunately the wind has been from the S.E., or the damage that would have been done by floods would haye been very serious, as it was several families in different parts of the valley had to make their escape from their houses to those of their neighbors occupying more elevated sites. Tuesday’s coach from Wellington was delayed at Featherston until noon on Thursday owing to the floods, but the mail bags were forwarded on horseback, the mailman swimming the rivers. Since Tuesday there has been no communication with Wellington, the cause would he a mattef of conjecture. ' The down coach was unable to cross the Tauherinikau yesterday, and returned to Greytown in the evening. The mails were not forwarded as Mr. Rowe considered it would be madness to attempt to cross it in its flooded state.

Native Lands Codht. —This Court, the sittings of which have been so long delayed, will be opened on Wednesday next at Featherston, and will be immediately after adjourned to the Court-house, Greytown. A large numbsr of claims will be baought before the Court for adjudication, and if the Judge does not show he is ambitious of being another Lord Eldon, the Court will do more for the permament peace of the district than has been accomplished either by the “ flour and sugar,” or the “ war to the knife ” policy, and will throw at the same time open for settlement and cultivation some of the choicest land in the Province. The first step taken for the settlement of the Wairarapa was the extinguishment of the native title over that portion of the district which was the least valuable for agricultural purposes; the next step to be taken for the complete accomplishment of this most important end, will be the leasing or sale by the native owners of such portions of their land which they do not require for their own use and occupation. This was the object of the Native Land’s Act, and this object the Court should at its next sittings do its best to achieve.

Inquest. —An inquest Was held at Moiki, on Saturday the 27th ult., before Dr Spratt, the Coroner for the district, and a respectable jury on the body of Mary, the wife of the old chief Ngairo. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased had been tor some time suffering from mental ill-health, and on the 24th she left her home and went into , the bush. She was not heard of until the 26th, when her husband found her hanging from the branch of a tree. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide while in an unsound state of mind.

Castlb Point. Policeman. —We under stand that the appointment of constable, vice Hodges, dismissed, will not at present be filled up, as it is the intention to include that part of the Province in the Masterton police district, Wairarapa Volunteers,— The following appointments have been gazetted:—Greytown Rifle Volunteers—William Udy to be Lieutenant ; William Saywell to be Ensign. Carterton Rifle Volunteeis—Richard Fairbrother to be Captain; Thomas Hooker to be Lieutenant; James Leydon to be Ensign.

School-rate Collector.— A notification appears in the “Gazette” to the effect that Mr Thomas Braggins has been elected Collector to the Greytown Common School,