LOCAL & GENERAL

Wairarapa Standard, Volume 2, Issue 74, 14 May 1873, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL

Impeovements.— lf Q-reytoini can effoo no improvements in her footpaths, lighting drainage, she is constantly showing signs of improvements in the matter of buildings. Wo were shown the other flay the design of a large and handsome private residence which is shortly to be erected by onr enterpriziiw townsman, Mr Hastwell; which will be a decided ornament to the place, and one of the finest mansions in this part of the Wairarana. Mr J. E. I. Boys is the architect, and having said this we need not state that the plans have been drawn with consumate taste and skill.

English Malt— The mention of Mr Boys as an a-chitect reminds us that he is also one of our local brewers, though he has not done much kte'.y in the latter business owing to the difficulty experienced in obtain ing good malt, or good malting barley. H has now remedied this by having secured large supplies of English malt through Dunedin and Melbourne houses.

Waibabapa Institute.—A meeting of the committee wns held on Saturday afternoon last, Mr Haines sent in his resignation as a member of the committee, and Mr Payton was appointed to the vacancy. We were sorry to hear that a gentleman who from the first has taken so active a part in the management of the Institute ns Mr Haines has done, should have resigned,—still more Sorry to hear that failing health should hare caused the resignation. The committee, we believe, arranged to ascertain the cost of lining the Coffee Boom end also of completing the unfinished upper room, which if properly fitted up would be extremely valuable to oreytown for meetings, readings, and social entertainments. We trust the committee will be able I to find the means tor speedily making the Coffee and the proposed Lecture Boom available and comfortable for the public.

New Method of Cutting Timber.—Dr Cr. Eobinson, a British electrician, baa patented a new method of sawing timber. It consists in applying a platinum wire heated to redness or whiteness by an electric current to the trees or woods which are to be severed, much in the same manner as it has hitherto been employed on a smaller scale in surgery. By, fitting the wire with handles, so as to be able :to guide it in any direction, the most intricate fretwork,van he cut.

A Fat Wether.—Mr E. Newton, of Aylmer’s Valley, Akaroa, recently killed a two-toothed half-bred wether, which, when dressed, weighed Il6lbs.

Exodus of Magistrates.—Three of our local justices are now abs.mt in Wellington attending the sittings of the Provincial Council, and we now learn that Mr Warded has been called away to attend to native matters at Wellington and on the West Coast, and that ho is expected to be absent foiysome time. This must result in serious inconvenience to a portion of the settlers of this district.

New Pictorial Journal—By the last mail, we received a map of Central Asia and the first copy of the ‘ Australasian Sketeher,’ a new pictorial journal, published at Melbourne. The number, to hand contains several well executed engravings of much interest. while the literary portion is of a high order of merit. Tire ■ Sketeher’ should'command a wide eireulaticn in New Zealand. The map is a large colored one, and was prepared by Mr Stanford of Charing Cross, and is presented to the subscribers of the ‘Argus’ and 1 Australasian.’

C-reytown Telegeah Office,—A Bill is before the Council to authorize the Superintendent to convey to the Queen the acre on which the Post Office, Telegraph, and Court House are erected as a site for those offices and such other public buildings the General Government may require.

Greytown School.— We understand that the teacher of this school has been supplied by the Education Board with a full quantity of class books, black boards, and other requisites, including a handsome eight-day clock. The number of scholars now on the roll is I OS, being 74 boys and 34 girls. Early Closing. —We would be glad to see an early closing movement initiated in tlie Wairarapa. The usual time for closing is now eight o’clock. We think it might be altered to seven without any inconvenience to the public and with benefit to those who are thus employed. All that is wanted is for the shopkeepers themselves to come to a common agreement on the subject.

Loan and Investment Society.—A meeting of the above for the election of Directors, is called for this evening. We have reason to believe that a splendid business is awaiting the Association. Some vexatious clelaj has already oceured in getting the rules of the Association revised by the Revising Barrister in Wellington. Till they are certified to, no business can be done. We trust that the Certified Copy will be before the sharebo iders this evening, if so, there will be nothing to prevent operations being at once.commented.