WAIRERE NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXX, Issue 8492, 3 July 1906, Page 2

WAIRERE NOTES.

{Special to Daily Times.) It is regrettable that, in many directions, in this district, the last vestige of native bush, so impossible to replace, is in process of being levelled, and afterwards to be torched and reduced to ashes. The scenic beauty of its foliage—the home and shelter of the fast-disappearing native birds—and its other utilitarian purposes, all appeal in vain, when the hand of the destroyer is swayed by greed of gold, or who, having no sense of the beautiful in Nature, thinks not of the crime he is committing on future generations by its destruction. To such, it would be in vain to quote those pathetic words : " Oh ! woodman spare that tree ; touch' not a single bow. In youth itsheltered me—and I'll protect it now, etc." It is conceivable that sometimes its elfacementcannot be avoided; but, for climaticjlfl reasons, and as shelter for stock, ently of the aesthetic view, such beauty spots should be reserved —if possible. It is also a question whether the mere addition of a few score sheep to their flocks would, in the end, be more profitable to settlers generally than a determination to preserve some conspicuous and attractive feature in their landscape or immediate surroundings. Nothing impresses the tourist, or the denizen of the city more than lovely rural scenery, and all should lend their aid to make it so.

At the risk of trespassing on already much beaten ground, I shall refer briefly to the demise of the late Premier, whose tragic end was no less felt here than elsewhere. A settler's wife, in sending her condolence to the member of the district in the loss of his friend and leader of his party, received the following response: " Dear Mrs Your letter in which you express your great appreciation of our late leader, gives me much pleasure. How feiv take the trouble or have the courage to acknowledge, as you have done, the advantages arising from wise and beneficient legislation. When highly-intelligent settlers, like yourself and others, I might mention, proclaim the practicability of measures that have been passed in the face of persistent opposition fierce denunciation, it makes one feel after all the arduous task of the reformer ™ is not unrewarded. Mr Seddon would probably have lived to a much greater age had he not been such an incessant worker; but day and night his active brain knew little or no rest. That he made mistakes is undeniable ; but the able way in which he piloted measures of an important character, through good and evil report, and placed them on the Statute Book, assigns him a foremost place among colonial statesmen. Kindly assure your husband that I value the few lines he has added to your very kind and estimable letter very much."

Heavy rain fell on Thursday night, thereby increasing our road troubles. We are in the unfortunate position of being on the confines of two counties —Mauriceville and Masterton— and, therefore, apt to be forgotten from our remoteness. Our position is consequently between His Satan tic Majesty and the deep blue sea, and, which is which, is a matter of indifference to the exasperated traveller. Vehicular traffic is impossible, and, to the man on horseback, uncertain or dangerous; but this is the v.-vial consideration shown to pioneers.