WAIRARAPA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3118, 8 February 1871, Page 2

WAIRARAPA.

♦■ [Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.] the smatl farm reserves. A meeting of the trustees of these reserves was held at Carterton on Wednesday last, for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken with reference flat -the Act, entitled "The Wairarapa Town Lands Act" passed in the last session of the General Assembly, which impowers the Provincial Council to make such regulations for the mangement of the lands and funds as it may deem expedient, and also for regulating the time for which the presont trustees and their successors shall* be elected or appointed, and the mode of such election or appointment, it will be seen, therefore, that, the act is simply an empowering act to enable the Provincial Council to deal with the matter, and looked at in this light, I cannot see what fault can be found with it. These lands were in the first instance conveyed to Mr C. K. Carter, in trust for the benefit of the Small Farm Association, and theabove act transfers the trust and management to Messrs Moles, Jackson, and Hirschborg.of Grey town ; and Messrs Musters, Renall, and Hare, of. Masterton, subject to such regulations and provisions as may be made relative to the same by the Superintendent arid Provincial Council, The property in question comprises about 60 acres of land in or adjoining Greytown, and about half that quantity at Masterton ; the annual income from the former being at present about £87, and from the latter about £38, and which property must eventually become exceedingly valuable. The balance in the hands of the trustees amounts to little short of £500. After some discussion, it was resolved that a meeting of the members of the Small Farm Association should be called at the Town Hall, Greytown, on Friday, the 10th instant, to tnke into consideration the position in which they are placed under the act ; the term " Association" to be understood to mean the original purchasers, their heirs and assigns. These town lands have caused much angry newspaper discussion owing to the very unsatisfactory position in which they were placed. It is to be sincerely hoped that no such discussion will be permitted by the chairman at the forthcoming meeting, and that the speeches and resolution? will be confined to the consideration of the provisions of the Town Lauds Management Act passed by the Assembly, and to those which it will be desirable to have inserted in the bill to be passed by the Provincial Council ; so that some satisfactory conclusion may be arrived at, which can never be the case if such personalities and abuse which were formerly imported into the discussion ol the subject, be once permitted by the chairman at the forthcoming meeiing at Greytown, The question is, how shall the trust be mannged, and to what purposes shall the funds be applied. BUSH FINES. During the early part of last week bush fires were seen raging on bill and dale in all directions throughout the district, and had not the S.E. gale which commenced blowing on Wednesday evening, been also accompanied by an occasional shower of rain, Greylown would have been in danger of being partly destroyed ; as, owing to the extremely hot weather we have had, almost everything was as dry as tinder, and could be almost as easily ignited. Not-, withstanding this, and regardless of the j

destruction (o their neighbours fences and crop>s which might result from their selfish conduct, there were some persong'Bo fool-hardy as to set fire to their felled bush, depending probably on having calm weather, and certainly not expect, ing a strong, cold, S.E. gale at this period of the year. As it happened more alarm was excited than there was damage done, though there was some fencing and mnch valuable timber destroyed. Mr H. Oleland, as representative of the Liverpool and London Insurance Company, remained at Greytown to take such precautionary rnea* sures as ihe circumstances might seem to warrant. On the telegraph line ovm: the Bimutaka, some damage was donfj both to the posts and wires; At this season of the year it cannot be too generally known that persons wilfully setting fire to their own bush on their own land, are liable for any damage that their 'neighbors may suffer in consequence. THE GRANT TO ROAD BOARDS. It is reported that the Provincial Government propose appropriating a portion of the grnnt made by the General Assembly to district roads for the repair of the trunk lines, and I have been informed that a meeting of the chairmen of the several road boards of the Wairarapa has been, or is to be held to consider that subject, and als.o the amendments it is desirable to make in the District Highways Act, so as to render its validation by the GeneralAssembly unnecessary, and its interference on such a matter uncalled for. I cannot think such a meet, ing has been held, as I know that the whole of the chainmen of the road boards in this district were not informed of the fact, and it would, besides, on matters of such public importance, he most desirable that the proceedings at such a meeting should be reported in the pnblic press. The settlers will neglect a duty they owe to themselves if they do not take up these matters, and come to some conclusion regarding them at a pifblic meeiing, to be held before the commencement of the present session of the Provincial Council. It would be also not beyond their province to discuss the question as to what form of local government should be established in lieu of the provincial system, which the working settlers are as anxious as our ultra centralists, sham aristocrats, parliamentary windbags, and colonial De , Loliues have always been to get rid of. I am aware that the majority think that the subject requires no discussion, but I am not aware whether it has yet received that impartial consideration which it merits. GREYTOWN RACES. The adjourned meeting of those desirous for the annual races for the Wairarapa being held this year, as heretofore, took place at the Rising Sun Hotel, Grejtown, on Thursday last, when the programme was discussed and decided on. 'i be races are to be held on the 9th and 10th March, and not on the 22nd and 23rd, as was a^|irst proposed, and. the rules or the Wellington Jockey Club are to be enforced. TjAsthe list of officers and the different events will be advertised, in the Independent, I need not mentioii them here ; but for the information of parties at a distance I may state that there will be substantial prizes, and that the entries must be made at Hammerick's Hotel, Greytown, before 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 4tb, THE BOILING-DOWN WORKS. The time for receiving tenders for the leasing o( the Boiling-down Company's establishment at Tauherenekau has been extended, as I believe no eligible offef. has yet been sent in, owing probably to the fact that the matter has not been sufficiently advertised.