LOWER WHAREAMA

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 293, 18 October 1879, Page 2

LOWER WHAREAMA

[from our own correspondent] October 11th. . A meeting of the Highway Board was held at Tonui to-day. Mr Stillborn's was the only tender for the metalling on the Castlepoint road, at the rate of £3lßs per chain, I understand this was not accepted by the Board, There are rumors of a change in the overseership of the roads by combining the duties of surveyor and engineer to the Board with it. Whether or not this will be a wise step, if decided on, remains to be seen. It appears to have some objections, one of which is that an individual cannot be in two places at once, viz.. he could not be surveying say at Akiteo and overlooking road work in the Mungapakeha at the same time. Probably it might work to advantage and money be saved in the end by having an under or working overseer to do the actual looking after men employed on road work, his superior giving him instructions and'

professional advice when necessary. It seems very essential that a road overseer should have a considerable amount of professional knowledge to enable him to perform his duties efficiently and economically. Considering the large amount spent on surveys in the district under the present plan of working, it certainly appears that it would be cheaper to pay a competent surveyor a fair remuneration, the Board getting the whole of his services and advice, say in surveying lines of road, making out estimates and specifications for work, and passing contracts when completed, In accordance with a notice previously given, a meeting was held at the Public Hall, Tenui, to take into consideration the desirability of securing apiece of land for a public Cemetery. This being an object in which all residents should be moro or less'interested, I was surprised to see so small an attendance. The result, however, is that a committee consisting of Messrs Maunsell, Groves, Langdon,sen., Mackay, Bellis, Perry, Nicholls, Bennett, Whishaw, and Greenland were appointed to take the necessary steps towards securing the object in view. Messrs Maunsell, Whishaw, and Mackay were chosen a sub-committee to negotiate with Mr Bennett re acquiring a piece of land from him situated on the Uriti-Tinui road at its junction with the road to Mr J. Whishaw's residence.

The next meeting is fixed for October 25th, to be held at the Public Hall at 3 p.m. Some people have expressed an opinion that this is to be a cemetery for only one denomination. This is an error; it is to be" pur et simple" a public burial ground in which all may receive the rites of sepulture—no distinction being made between Protestant and Catholic, Jew and Gentile, stranger and resident. Messrs Maunsell and Langdon, in their capacity of justices, had some work to-day. Daniel Kirby, an old offender, charged with vagrancy, was sentenced by them to two months' imprisonment, Remarks were passed by the public rather freely re the severity of this punishment, October 16, Shearing commenced at Langdale Station (Messrs Elder & Oo.'s) on the 13th inst., with about thirteen hands. The proprietors of this property have nearly completed a large sheep dip, which, to all •appearance, will be very perfect when finished. Sheep farmers here would do well to tako example in this matter, for there is little or no doubt that the small make-shift dips existing on most stations do not tend to the cheap, speedy, and effectual eradication of scab.

The Hall Ministry, in their programme propose a readjustment of representation for the Colony. This is a question the out-districts should take cognizance of. Many of them, and particularly this one, stand in an unfair position re proper representation. It is mooted here that steps should-be taken to obtain a member for the district east of the thickly settled portions of the Wairarapa. This would comprise principally the East Coast in its entire length from Akiteo to the Lake. If this idea is to take tangible form, now is the time action should be taken. " Delays are dangerous" even in things political. In your contemporary, the Standard's issue of the 11th inst., I see stated " For our part we can see nothing in the state of the Colonial Finances, the state of trade, or the state of the natives, to make any Ministry anxious just now to take office." This, no doubt, is all very fine; but it seems strange that the Standard, of all papers, should admit it so readily ; when it is recollected that that acme of perfection, and the beau ideal of the Standard, the Grey Ministry, have ruled the country for some time, and to whom, in consequence, must be largely attributed this depresssed and unsatisfactory state of the colony.