A Ramble Round Featherston.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2086, 29 June 1887, Page 2

A Ramble Round Featherston.

As perhaps a few notes in connection with a late visit of mine at Featherston may be of some interest, I take the opportunity to send yon this manuscript. On arrival in the town by rail I first met with a cheery boniface at the refreshment rooms, who I touch was prepared to crack a joke or speak ; pnn the topics ot the day with all and sundry .! bis casual or intimate customers. This gent e man whom I was informed was Mr B. Buckeridge, is evidently the "right man in the right place ” as be can entertain bis customers in a lively and pleasant manner and also gather opinions as to politics, horse racing, football, cricket, local matters, Ac., without delibor«te|y committing himself to aoy particular policy or potion. Jf fie met with a Masterton man be would endeavour in the most polished and delicate manner to elicit bis opinions as to the chances Mr Beetham would have at the forthcoming ( lection, also the number of supporters Mr MoCardlp or Mr Hawkins could respectively count upon. If on the other hand a resident i f Greytown or Carterton - appeared at the I'nr ” to invest in a sandwich and coffee, or something “ a wee bit stronger,’’ he would i ii dcatly enquire as to the relative positions d the two B's for the Wairarapa South at "10 coming struggle. lo reference to the virions manly and athletic sporte, races, Ac., I our friend would bo equally as solicitous and 1

communicative, and if he only would unbosom his mind of the many and varied shades ol opinions “ what a tale he could unfold. Bui the worthy dispenser of creature comforts at this important halting place on the Watrarupa line is, as the Scotchmen would say. ' “ far too canny ” to overstep the bounds ol I discretion and cheaply impart to others hts 1 gathered experience. After you have refreshed yourself and prepared to visit the town, you wiil most assuiedly at the present time be confronted by eome active and intelligent member ef a political circle, who will promptly enquire after your political health. He will delicately “ feel your pulse ” as to which candidate you intend to support in two mouths’ time. If you reply that yon bavi not made up your mind, he will whip out his pocket book and write you down “ doubtful,” with probably a cross, which meaos ” watch him ; ” he may he on the spy system. After disposing of your new found political brother we proceed onwards to the Empire Hotel, where we have the pleasure ol meeting with Mr Jamee Smith, who conducts a most exemplary hostelry, and does a very thriving and respectable trade. Mr Smith is not only an hotel keeper of good prestige, bat be is an artisan and general workman ol no mean order. If a clock requires to he repaired, and wanted in a burry Mr Smith would be only pleased to accommodate a neighbour, and eel it right. Suould vou die suddenly Mr Smith, to facilitate your obse* quies, would engrave your coffin plate and afterwards indent your name ou a tombstone ; he also does many of his own little repairs to the hotel, sod bis workshop is a marvel of industry and ingenuity. Mr Nichols, a gentleman long resident in the district, has built a most handsome residence on the same line of road with the Empire Hotel, and among the many handsome residences in this clean little town, this stands prominent. Then after crossing the railway line we have two banking establishmente in view, one on the right of us, the other on the left, and it speaks well for the stability of the district that in a town of such limited dimensions two branch banks have for so many years done a satisfactory trade. In taming to the left we find a very large and capacious general store some little distance down the road ; this is owned bv Mr Wm. Toogood, and this gentleman hae well stocked his large establishment with an excellent and varied supply fo drapery, clothing, sod general merchandise which he has himself indented direct from the London, Manchester, and Birmingham markets. Mr Toogood's dressmaking department has been placed under the superi nten dence of an experienced lady from Welling ton. who has been acknowledged by the fair sex in the district to be a splendid fitter and an elegant designer of fashionable apparel. I proceed further and take a lower road on my way by a connecting street called Wallace Street. 1 pass a neatly fitted chemist’s shop conducted by Mr Good (and since his residence in the town Mr Good has done a quiet little trade notwithstanding that an older resident, Mr File, still continues to make a fair competence in the same liue). On tbs lower road, at the corner of Waite and Bevans Streets, stands another well appointed and well fitted store. This is carried on by Mr J. D. Cox, who is a good and pushing business man and leaves nothing undone in the way of attending to his customers ; he has a bakery brunch attached to his business under the superintendence of an experienced i hand and his bread is sought for and delivered many miles round in the district. In returning from this extreme end of the town I came across Mr J T Fry and Sous’ i bootmakipg establishment. Mr Fry is an old aud respected tradesman in Featherstm and be. in connection with his sons, sustain two establishments in the place and are generally well supported with work, Mr J Tncker, the i other bootmaker, who also has been fur some time established having also his full share of the local trade. One of the moat surprising i features in the town is the extraordinary number of butchering establishments, all doing i fair trades and well established. Messrs Bale i and Barr have two ehops, Mr W Abbot one, i Mr F Everitt one (central), and Mr J Vilet, I an old identity, still supplies his patrons with i their requirements. Judging from this, the 1 sign is a most significant one, aud means that in this haven of health the butcher is more in request than the doctor, although Featherston boasts of a local medico, who has resided there for some years (Dr Hanratty). The local saddler, Mr R Barton, has generally a very fair ran of trade. One saddler in snob a district is amply sufficient, and one might live where two could not even exist; but Mr Barton is one of those use I fol men who are never above earning a honest , | peony, and when the leather is rather flat, he , | has a touch at the tousorial art and many a tangled wig has been reduced to a decent crop by the nimble manipulations ol Mr Barton’s scissors He is also the popular Secretary and Treasurer to the Racing Club, and the Secretary to the Volunteers; Featherston possesses a very creditable Volunteer Company composed of men ol excellent physique aud this company particularly distinguished themselves at the late review at Tarauakt. Mr Welborn, the fruiterer, has a nice and inviting establishment. He is also agent for the local paper, the Waibabafa Bta;»abi>, and several weekly papers- Mr Adam Donald is one of the builders, and Mr W Benton the other j these two gentlemen are officers in the rifle corps, so also is Mr D Smith the local cooper. Mr Gilpin conducts successfully an old established store in the Main Street, and Mr R Hunter owns an establishment of a similar character, and Mr W H Speakman is a baker renowned for his excellent bread and pastry. Tbs local Freemasons have a nice cosy little lodge room and many happy hours I hear have been spent within its walls by the members of the craft. The Loyal Unity Lodge M.U.I O O F., have a good ball which is used for all public nurpoaes and next to this building istbe Royal Hotel, an old established aud well-known hostelry which still keeps up its reputation under the geuial host Mr W Oraumer, who is one of the old fashioned good sort of landlords who are ever ready to grett you with a kind word, a smile, or a joke. Mr Cranmer is one of those warm-hearted and lively-spirited landlords of which alas, there are too few in this colony, but are to be found in legions in Old England. Having wandered all round the town and felt inclined for a refresher, we interview worthy host Cranmer and hence our experience. Alter taking a turn round the cemetery we naturally feel rather gloomy and depressed, consequently alter looking intq( tuepretty little church w'‘h the handsome memorial wi nlov nresen.ed by the Bidwill family r meraorium ol ,ueir late father, a respected arid very oU settlor in the Lower Valley, we turn into the remaining Hotel" the Victoria ” and here we find a brother of our friend at the railway station. Mi Wm Buokeridge, who has a very nice clean house, aud is very popular among a great number of settlers ; be telle yon that " Bunny is hi man ” and be nails bis colors to the mast; theta no mistaking his tone or bis principles. At any rate we take a cheery glass, and alter some lively conversation, a friendly leave of the worthy host and then repair to the station just in time to catch the 4 o'clock train to Wellington, leaving the town with regret, and trusting to he enabled to return to the district when “ the cherries are ripe.” A word more before we conclude. In reference to the public school, we were informed that the Featherston school, under ths charge ol Mr Bunling, is, iu every respect, a "pattern school,” a pride and honor to ths town. The Town Board is also au institution which, under the chairmanship of Mr J Reynolds and the clerkship of Mr 0 W Keys, i« a well conducted body. Featherston also possesses a Town Baud which has developed some very creditable musicians, and their performances have beep we)l spoken of. Taking the town, with all if) concomitant Acquisition! and surtouudings—not forgetting that a moat important body, tbe Featherston Road Board, the clerk to which is Mr W Bock, has its bead quarters here, and the B.M. sits in his court •monthly, if required, which is very seldom—'•’eatheraton is a very decent place and there are very lew of the kind better. There is a very fair public Library in Featherston under trte care of Mr D T Fry, and the book shelves are well filled; there Las been an agitation for some time for a leaning luom. A Dairy Factory Company has also iust been estab lished