WAIRAKAPA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2051, 21 April 1864, Page 3

WAIRAKAPA.

(feom our own coreespondent.) Carter ton, 12th April, i The past week has been equally interesting and exciting amongst jthe Volunteers. The rifle shooting has taken* place, and the G-rey-town company consider themselves as conquerers, young Mr Bassett having made 31 points ; several got 26 points so that the second and third prizes will require to be further contested for. A jovial meeting of the Grreytown competitors took place after the shooting, when each gallant fellow took in a great quantity of AUsopp's pale ale and G-uinness's bottled stout, with sundry epicurean comestibles. The evening passed away merrily and the company broke up in high spirits, and performed ere going home a number of practical jokes in the Tom and Jerry fashion. Agriculture is a subject that now occupies the general attention' of the settlers in this district. Flour may be quoted 36s at Greytown, 343 at Carterton,and 30s atMasterton, by which it is seen that Masterton profits by the growing of wheat and having a mill in the village. It is said that want ot water prevents the miller from progressing with grinding just now, and it is also said that the stream of the Waipoi might with little trouble be made available to increase the ■water power of the mill and at this, the driest season, of the year, it is to be hoped that no impediment will be thrown in the way of such an important acquisition. There is a considerable amount of land, on the Wharakaka plain and lower part of the valley, also in theFeatherston, Grey town, and Masterton districts that is from its even surface at once capable of being worked with a steam plough, and by the introduction of improved agricultural implements this district will soon be able to send flour to Wellington. Carterton, 18th April, 18G4 I had not closed my yesterday's letter long, before I learnt that Henry Hayward the son of Mr Arthur Hayward, had by some accident shot himself dead, the charge having penetrated the chest. He was a fine promising young man, and his untimely death is deeply regretted by all who knew him. An inquest will be held to-day. • I am' -sorry to say that I was amongst a great many others disappointed yesterday at not receiving the mail as usual, since the bi-weekly mail has started, and what is worse, we are now given to understand, that Messrs Walker and Hay are not bound to deliver the Carterton and Masterton mail, until Wednesday next ; if this is the case we shall not derive any benefit from the second mail as our letters and papers will be locked up at Grreytown, from Saturday night until Wednesday, and we are almost certain to get the mail brought by Mr Hastwell about il a.m. on Thursday. We cannot help thinking but that there is some mistake, surely the mail — • rather second mail cannot have been intended for the exclusive benefit of Featherston and Greytown, and the Postmaster it is to be hoped will instruct the mail contractors to forward the mail at once to Masterton. The M. R. Volunteers are about to give to their Captain, V. Smith, a return complimentary dinner on Wednesday next, great preparations are being made for the banquet. The other morning when Mrßraggins was giving a look round for stray bipeds, he observed a horse saddled, and from the peculiar position of one stirrup, judged that it had spilled its rider. Mr Braggins made search and found in a bed of thistles over six feet of a snoring trooper; the kind policeman roused the sleeper from anything but a bed of roses, and aided him in extracting the little daggers with which Mr Thistle probes its friends. The drowsy trooper mounted and wended his way for the camp, but it does not appear that he had been thoroughly awakened, for no sooner had he arrived, at the camp than he began a long cock and bull story, about having been attacked by " seven maoris." The doctor was immediately sent for to examine the trooper's wounds. The medical gentleman after extracting a few more thistle spears, pronounced the gallant trooper free from wounds and bruises, and .observed that it waa fortunate that such a length of man had fallen even amongst a bed of thistles as he might have spoilt the contour of • his nose had he came in contact with the " hard" ; and strongly recommended the valiant fellow, to try Fry's cocoa or diamond chocolate, in preference to Hennessy's B. or L. L. whiskey, the next time he took a cruise after the " wild ducks," it being the doctor's opinion that the former class of beverage would be less likely to give the muddled trooper the imagi-nativ'es.