WAIRERE NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5560, 16 February 1897, Page 3

WAIRERE NOTES.

fiVont Our Om Correspondent.)

« Saturday, ere are some who assert" that Now Zealand has no climate," and there w more than a grain of truth in the saying, for this time last year sheep or stock had to be driven to wboro tlicy could find water, and now .wo are just about submerged, for rain lias scarcely ceased for a fortnight. Tho sun veiling himself behind the clouds has driven the seed collectors desperate, for unless they have a bright day, the seed will not thresh f out. I regret to say many of them have lost through this unfavorable weather, the hard labour o," many days. One of the unfortunates informs me, lie will console himself by pawning his watch and getting very drunk. Out of evil cometh good, for this will briug joy to the pawnbroker and the publican! This excessive rain following, the sowing of rape and turnip on somewhat sleep hills is feared by some as likely to wash much of it away. The creeks are jnst now in high - flood, and at this momenta drowned horse is reported as floating past, which may bo only a slight indication of otto troubles not yet ascertained, equine will in time float its way down to Mastertou, where I recommend the County Council to look oyt for it and take possession, sis being the only asset I can offer them, in payment of the unfair rate they levy upon me as well as others jn this neighbourhood. I never have placed a vehicle on a County road, it .being some seven miles distant, and I do not now use it for any produce. liet those who abut on tho County road maintain it, the same as the back settler has to do with the road which passeihis own place. There should be at least a differential rate, so that the roan who has the full use of it, shall pay more than the far away back settler who cannot use it at nil. And now- we hear of a new system of swindling the back settler—by rating him on the unimproved value of his property. It is due in many cases to the fact that he is h back settler why his improvements are not more advanced and struMing single-handed with bad roaflind no capital, somo hoodlum wishes, to make this a reason why the poor man should pay the rates of ibis more wealthy neighbour. I hope every honest and; unselfish settler will vote against the new proposal, •which is' decidedly unsavoury to all vibo take i fair view of things. 'I ■ - '