WAIRERE NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5562, 18 February 1897, Page 3

WAIRERE NOTES.

I From Our Own Correspondent.) Wednesday

" Good wine needs no bush." However, we in the bush need good wine, which is mote to the point, as we deserve some small solatium for our extreme hardships, Moreover, there is authority for saying that a little is good for the stomach's sake, and after a hard day's toil there is often a depression in that locality, which the juice of the grape mny tend to restore.

It is pleasing to nolo, therefore, that there is a disposition on the part of some settlers here to grow the vine, and test the capabilities of this district as to whether thegrapecan ripen in the open. Situated on one of the water-sheds of the North Island, we are necessarily at a high elevation aud tho general temperature is much below that of Masterton, It has on a small scale already been tried by a settler with some degree of success; but this is no proof that, if tried on a larger scale, it would be attended with satisfactory results. Orchards in this locality are small and far-between and tracks bad and if the codlin moth is fastidious it may explain why it is not here, but we now hear that be is en ronk, for be has just paid a surprise visit to an orchard not very distant—so I presume, after he has refreshed and looked around, he will continue bis march in this direction.

Fortune's favours aro not equally distributed, at least so thinks a settler, who in vain has scanned Ilia garden for a single plum, whilst a neighbour had no difficulty in collecting four cwt. off one tree. There has, however, been much loss in connectiou with both damsons and plums from the excessive rain causing them to split and falj off.

The school-house so much needed hero shows no signs of being erected and if the present, weather continues much longer nothing will bo done, as the condition of the road is such that carting in the building materials would be almost an impossibility.

Many slips have occurred on the various roads and much inconvenience is caused thereby, as stores cannot be got up and all are anxious to take advantage of the present suitable weather to sow their grass seeds which, in many instances have to be imported from town, their own having been destroyed by the late rains.

If there have been shortcomings in many respects of late, it has not been so in the matter of rate notices, which seem to come merely to disturb the even tenor of our ways, but not to meet them,

Tho timber 1 for the Muiigerai Bridge is not yet on the ground and Mr' Spelman, tho contractor, is uiginfc tho Mauriceville Koad Board to make the road passable, by the removal of slips, etc,, not an easy matter, where the hill sides seem to bave lost their tenacity and are more disposed to slide into the roadway or valleys below, . . . "Wo, aro not despondent, however, as the Ma uriceville Road Board holds the premier position as a just, effective, and zealous public body, and the excellent condition of its roads th roughput the year is the,heat practical illustration pf how the respected chairman 'and' warden? ; fulfi| their jiublioduties''' .