NOTES OF A TRIP TO TOWN.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 43, 28 October 1867, Page 3

NOTES OF A TRIP TO TOWN.

Waited at the “ Rising- Sun” for Cobb's coach on Friday morning', and had a conversation with a worthy Greytown settler on the subject of the “ reserves.” Found that this gentleman was liimsel'f a forcible illustration of the truth of the remark that school instruction constitutes, after all, but a small part of real education. His school instruction must have been very limited, but it ■would be a mistake to say that he was an uneducated man. More valuable information could be obtained from him •in an hour’s conversation than could be obtained by a life-time perusal of the trashv literature of the day. Found here, and also at the Tauherenikau and “ Golden Fleece Hotels, ■cattle-buyers for the West Coast market, and was informed that the price of cattle, though it has risen considerably, has not readied its maximum. Here we have another illustration of the truth of the remark that the prosperity of one part of the colony 'will sooner or later he felt ■over the whole. The gold discovered on the West Coast is now being circulated, in the shape of bank notes, in the M airarapa, which is reaping a considerable share of the fruits of the discovery without being subjected to any of the manj ■evils with which it is sometimes accompanied. From Tnuhercnikau to Featherston the same fern-clad plain still stretches itself before vou, relieved occasionally with apa tdi* cf stunted grass. No improvements are visible. The town of Featherstonitselfis improving rapidly,and the recently elected telegrap'h Office will prove an acquisition. The telegraph wires we found had been stretched, with a few slight exceptions, all the way from Wellington to Greytown. The new bridge over the Mungaroa river is now completed, and will soon be ■open for traffic. When painted it will •prove a rather pretty structure, but it is pity that it was not made with a view to the formation of a tramway which must soon be constructed whatever sceptics may say to the contrary. The tipper Hutt exhibits none of those signs of life and prosperity which formerly met the eye when totara was in the ascendant. The poverty of the soil in this district will always render it an undesirable “location”* for a go-a-head population. The Lower Hutt, as regards crops, is in advance of the Wairarapa, and Wellington will be always able to furnish n ready-money market for her produce. We were glad to see that by the application of a simple process the ravages of the ,Hutt river near the gorges were likelv to be stayed, but the “ Aglionby Arm’s” at the* Hutt Bridge is being gradually but surely undermined, and will soon be numbered amongst the things that have been. On arriving in Wellington we saw that shops and public houses were being erected everywhere, and was sorry to find so much money thrown away which would have been more advantageously devoted in developing the resources of the Province and in thus furnishing customers to the houses and stores which have been already erected. We were not surprised to hear on all sides that times were dull, and we are quite sure they will continue to he so under the circumstances.

Found that thorn worn no amusements in town, the Caramlinis having- gone to Wanganui, and Osgood’s dramatic company having 1 migrated to Nelson. Paid a visit to the celebrated American Coach Factorv, hut was sorry to find that the proprietor was at the time absent. Judging from the large number of vehicles of all descriptions that were in the establishment for repair f came to the conclusion that Mr Black received that extensive patronage which his genius entitled him to anticipate. Went next to Dixon's Te Aro brewery which, by being situated at a distance from the street, is a much larger and more extensive establishment than any stranger,would credit. The tun-room holds 70 hogsheads. The marsh tub

will bold 18 hogsheads, and the boiler holds 540 gallons. The malt-house is an important part of the establishment, and comprises so many compartments that there is danger of losing oneself within them. The whole of the barley comes from either Canterbury or Otago, and costs £ISOO per annum. During the last nine years the proprietor has expended on barley, imported from the Middle Island, little short of £15,000 The average price for grain has been 6s per bushels. The whole of this money, if we had had a tramway to Wellington, might have been paid to the farmers of the Wairarapa. Kextvisited Edmead’s Albion Brewery, the tun room of which holds 56 hogsheads. The marsh-tub and copper each holds 600 gallons. The malt-house, which consists of two stories, is 90 feet long. Forty-five bushels of malt are brewed every four da\ r s, and the ba.xley required amounts to 5000 bushels per annum, which at 6s per bushel will be no less than £ISOO for the year. The bottling department is supplied with all the latest improvements including a bottling and corking machine, the latter of which is capable of corking 25 dozen bottles per hour, Mr Edmeads states that the demand for Kelson Ale has rather had the effect of increasing the consumption of Wellington Beer, which he accounts for by an increased taste for malt liquor, in preference to ardent spirits, having been engendered by this demand. He has no doubt whatever that the establishment of a brewery would prove a profitable speculation in the Wairarapa.

Looked into that splendid piece of ornamental architecture known as the ‘•'Market Hall,” one portion of which is now turned into a shed for breaking stones by one of the hard-labor gangs, and another portion affords a shelter for three Armstrongs guns which have been placed by the General Government under the charge of the Volunteer Artillery Company, which has been recently organized under most favorable auspices.

Besides cabs, cars, and busses, Wellington can now boast of two “Hansoms,” and those who have not seen the town for some years past would not know it now, so many and various are the improvements which have been effected.