LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wellington Independent, Issue 3, 9 April 1845, Page 1

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wellington Volunteers. —The Te Aro and Thorndon Divisions of the Wellington Volunteers, assembled on Thorndon Flat, on Monday evening, agreeable to notice issued by his Honor the Superintendent. Shortly after five o'clock, the Te Aro Division preceded by the Wellington Band, arrived at Thorndon Flat, and having formed into line were joined on the left by the Thorndon Division ; the men were then formed into square, and the following memorandum was read: — Memorandum. Wellington, 7th April, 1345. The Alarm will be a gun fired in the enclosure adjoining Major Richmond's residence ; and at the Barracks, Te Aro. Fifty m«n of each division, who are reported efficient, will be supplied with arms forthwith. On the Alarm being given, the Thorndon Division will for the present assemble at Major Richmond's, the Te Aro Division, at the Barrack's, Te Aro, to receive orders. M. Richmonp, Commandant Welli igton Volunteers. The two Divisions amounted in number to 229 men, and it is but justice to them to state that from the regularity of their marching and evolutions, they appear to have made considerable progress in their drills. The rapid progress made in so short a time is highly creditable to the sergeant and corporals kindly furnished to the Volunteers by Captain '

Prodigious Industry; Superhuman Exertiok.—The Wairarapa valley has been occupied now for more than twelve months. There are about a dozen stations, employing ab<ut forty white people, in it; at which there are some hundreds of cattle and thousands of sheep. Will it be believed bj the New Zealand Company, we doubt if it will, nevertheless we will assert it, as we can prove it to be true» Colonel Wakefield, the New Zealand Company's Prinpipal Agent, after having resided nearly six years in New Zealand, positively reached the Wairarapa District about a fortnight since. He is reported to be highly delighte I with its capability. Note.—The Wairarapa valley is about a day and a hall's walk from Wellington.

Roads.—The want of roads, has been a serious drawback to -the progress of this settlement ; and the non-existence of any fund for the formation of lines of communication, has been felt a great evil since tbe arrival of the first settlers in Port Nicholsois. The question of how this difficulty is to be obviated, should be discussed as often, and as freely, as possible. Whilst tbe colonists themselves, are unable to subscribe such a sum as would be required to employ free labour in the conj struction of roads, and from the absence of convicts, which by some is considered a blessing, and by others an evil, parties may well imagine that the error- caasot be cured, and that we shall still have to jog on, as we have done, till at some future date, the Government •itself may be in a position to form that, without whicb, we cannot reasonably expect to progress in any rapid degree. But to wait for such time as the Local Government will be enabled to make roads, is to look forward to too distant a date to' be pleasing, and we therefore purpose showing how good roads may be formed, and at a comparatively trifling outlay, which outlay, the settlers themselves will be enabled to afford. Owing to circumstances, too well known to need mentioning, a large military force will have, for some time at least, to be stationed in New and a portion of that force will be placed in our own district. Now the soldiers wou'.d eagerly grasp at the opportunity, if it were afforded them, cf earning a little extra money, and we have no doubt but that the authorities here would permit a portion of the military to employ themselves at the usual rates paid to soldiers, that is one shilling per day for each man. By such means, excellent roads might be carried to Porirua, Wairarapa, Karori, Makara, and Ohariu, and thus opea immense districts of excellent and fertile land. We know i that a deal of money has been subscribed from time to time, which has been expended in repairing the lines which at present exist, but these sums have been in a manner thrown away, from the expense incurred in employing men on the repairs. Had the colonists been allowed to employ the military, the repairs would have been lasting, and the expense trifling. The working men may think that snch a plan would prove inimical to them, but it would have a contrary tendency. When our districts are opened, numbers who have been waiting the opportunity, will proceed to the bush ; their labour will be removed from the market, thus lessening the competition, and the parties so proceeding to the bush, will eventually require labour themselves. It would take no great space to prove the benefit of such a plan, but we think all classes will admit it, and we trust that when the military do arrive, that a memorial will be addressed to the authorities here, requesting that when repairs are needed, or new lines required, that a portion of the military may be employed in making or repairing them.

It will be seen by an advertisement in this day's paper, that the brigantine Hannah is to be sold by Auction, by Messrs. Bethune and Hunter, on the 24th instaut. The Hannah has been long known to the settlers of Port Nicholson, and from her fast sailing qualities is well worthy the attention of the capitalists,