WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume IV, Issue 172, 5 January 1870, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington January 4. THE CALEDONIAN GAMES. Attempts were made to organize the annual Caledonian Gathering by two rival parties; the one headed by John Martin, Esq. put forth a programme of two dozen sports to take place in his paddocks in Taranaki-street, the other headed by G. and J. C. Crawford Esqrs. advertised a programme of 80 sports, to come off on the Cricket Eeserve Ground. The dissension that such rivalry created had the natural result, for however willing the citizens may be to encourage both, their means are so far limited in these hard times as lo render them unable to do so, and therefore, the prizes in each would have been comparatively minute. As the day, however, turned out to be thoroughly soaking wetthecommittee oftheoriginal games wisely decided to postpone the gathering until the arrival of the Flying Squadron. Apropos of the expected arrival of the representatives of the English navy Waring Taylor, Esq., Deputy Superintendent, called a meeting of the inhabitants to arrange about the manner of the reception. Eighteen persons attended the meeting at the Odd Fellows Hall in answer to the summons, J. C. Crawford R.M. in the chair. Mr. Taylor said the Provincial Government could not afford to give any money for such a purpose, and Mr. Gisbourne said ditto for the General Government, except that they •would give the Admiral the use of the Ministerial lesidence, and, I presume, Gubernatorial carriages. A committee •which comprised eight ninths of thos e present was appointed to consider the most suitable manner of receiving the Squadron, and Mr. Wright offered his grounds at Goathurst Farm for the inevitable picnic, which appears pretty certain to be the only kind of amusement Wellingtonians are capable of organizing. Captain Rhodes has offered to commence a subscription list with the sum of ten guineas, and if only two or three energetic collectors will take the matter up, the Empire City •will not be so behindhand as anticipated.

THE MANAWATO. When are the difficulties regarding this block to be surmounted ? One is almost sick of hearing the name, associated as it is with the memory of everlasting troubles and expenses. No sooner is one lot of malcontents put down than another appears in their place ; no sooner do we get rid of Mr. Miritana than Mr. McDonald appears on the scene, and when he is fined ■another telegram comes to tell us that the survey is again interrupted. The settlement of the block appears to be put off to the Greek Kalends, and Dr. Featherston’s pet scheme for replenishing the Provincial Treasury from the sale of the land, an idea never to be realised. TEE GAS COMPANY. A company with £IO,OOO capital lias been formed for the purpose of lighting Wellington with gas. Mr. J. E. George, agent for Messrs. Kennard, has been appointed manager, and Messrs. Pharazyn, Krull, Stuart, and Shodes, Directors. The state of the town after sunset has long been a standing disgrace to the inhabitants, and the company it is to be hoped will be successful. It is mainly due to Mr. George that it has been organized, and I have little hesitation in saying that if the settlers in your district had only •exhibited but a very slight interest when some seven months ago Mr. George advocated a railway to the Wairarapa, active steps would have before now been taken to get it in progress. I may mention that when Mr. George’s letter was read, asking permission to be allowed to lay mains through the streets, it met with great oppositionfrom various members of that lively stick-in-the-mud body, the Wellington “ Board of Works.” THE HALCIONE. Ths Halcione is expected to sail on the 6th. She takes a large cargo of wool, and a good deal of flax, which latter article is stowed close to the main hatch, so that in case of fire it can be easily removed. “ Give a dog a bad name &c.,” and certainly flax has gotthename of being adangerous cargo j but most unjustifiably in the opinion of many. The Halcione’s freight amounts to £5,000, so that Captain Bishop will make a good thing out of the first trip ot his new ship. The Wild Duck, now 93 days out; is expected to arrive this month; Mr.

and Mrs. Tollemaclie, and Mr, Jchn Collins, a resident in your district, are among the passengers. MB. FITZHEEBEET. It is stated that Mr. Fitzherhert will shortly leave the Colony for a two year’s visit to England. I need not say he will be missed, perhaps more so than any of those who have lately quitted our shores. Many members of the House of Representatives looked forward to him as the future Premier and it may not be generally known’ that only in the last session he wa 8 solicited by a very respectable number of the Opposition members to allow himself to be put forth as their Leader. Walking down the beach now one misses the faces of many of those who have been amongst us so long —Featherston, Knowles, and Levin are men without whom Wellington can hardly be said to be itself—the departure of each of our public men makes a gap not to be filled • up in a moment, and the loss of Mr. Fitzherhert will be severely felt by the Colony.