LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 9, 30 April 1845, Page 1

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

Wairarapa House of Entertainment. —The first station in the Wairarapa is known as Mr. Russell's. That gentleman has, however, recently left it and proceeded further inland. The house thereon is now occupied by Mr. James Grindall, who has made it a resting place to the great convenience of travellers desirous of not taxing the settlers of the district. The charge for a meal of pork, potatoes, and tea, is one shilling. Pigs Skins. —The Sydney Herald states that ten shillings each are paid for pigs skins at the Glenmore Tannery. The boiling down establishments only allow seven shillings for a bullocks hide. Ten shillings will buy a very fine pig in most parts of New Zealand. Hogs skins are stated to he greatly in demand in Sydney, as they are used for saddles, and when tanned sell now readily at twenty shillings each, and it is expected when the article is better known, there will be a material advance in their price; and that they will also find a ready sale in the London market. Tea Tree.—The New South' Wales tea tree is stated to yield the colourless tanning, which produces white and coloured leather. It is said that the colouring property of tanning can be got rid of by applying a solution

of chlorine. Has it yet been ascertained whether the tea tree of New Zealand has any tanning property?

Laed — The manufacturers of stearine in Sydney, complain tb.it they cannot get a sufficient supply of lard.

Sulphur.—New Zealand sulphur is now used very successfully in Sydney, for the purpose of obtaining the sulpheric acid required in making stear'me. Possessed as this colony therefore plainly is of all the elements necessary for producing in abundance, lard, hogs skins, stearine, and spermacitti candles, there can be no doubt in a few years, New Zealand will be found exporting all these articles in great quantities, with ample profit. Tinakori Road. —The bridge from the barracks known as Mr. Couper's brick house, to the Thorndon Flat stockade, is very difficult to find on a dark rainy night, and coukf only be very slowly passed. Should any alarm be given on a dark rainy night, it would be found very inconvenient to pass, and might perchance be found to have been cut away. We state therefore that the small piece of swamp which prevents persons from proceeding by the surveyed road, ought immediately to be made practicable. List of Stations in the Wairarapa.—■ 1. Mr. Russell's old station now unoccupied, and house used as an Inn. 2. Mr. Kelly's—occupied as a cattle station. 3. Messrs. Allom, Charlton, and Tnily, surveyors—intended to-be occupied by sheep. 4. Messrs. M'Masters and *Gillis—occupied as a cattle station. 5. Messrs. Clifford and Vavasour —sheep station. 6. Mr. Duke —unoccupied, fit for cattle. 7. Mr. Russell —sheep station. 8. Mr. Ingles—intended to be occupied by sheep expected from Sydney. 9. Mr. Bidwell —sheep, cattle and horses. 10. Capt. Smith —sheep and cattle. 11. Messrs. Tiffin and Northwood—to bib occupied by sheep expected shortly from Sydney. 12. Mr. Barton —round Palliser head, a sheep station. We have further been informed that the owner of the brig Bee, purposes sending one thousand ewes from Sydney, to be run in the Wairarapa on his own account. There are from forty to fifty Europeans now occupied in the Wairarapa.

On Monday evening, the Volunteers mustered on Te Aro Flat, to the number of one hundred and forty, well armed, and their appearance was really military. The body went through the evolutions with quickness and precision, and were examined by the commanding officer, Major Richmond. The Major paid particular attention to the muskets of the men, and expressed himself highly gratified at the cleanliness and order of the whole. Previous to the dismissal of the Corps, the iollowing notice was read : — Wellington, April 28,' 1845. Captain Ru-sell having kindly offered to drill the Wellington Volunteers with the regular Troops under his command —the Te Aro and Thcrndon Divisions will assemble at their private parades on Wednesday next, at such tune as will enable them to join the drill on Thorndon Flat, precisely a 5 o'clock p.m, M. Richmond. Commandant. We are sure the Volunteers will muster in goodly numbers this afternoon, and by so doing, express their seuse of the kindness of Captain Russejl.