WAIRARAPA

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3148, 15 March 1871, Page 3

WAIRARAPA

(From Our Own Correspondent.) the late floods. Not having seen a Wellington paper for the last eight or nine days, I am noc aware whether a full and accurate aci count of the damage done by the late I floods in the "Wairarapa and on the North-Eastern road has been published in the Independent. Knowing that you spare no trouble and expense to obtaiu such information, I take it for granted that you have done so in the present instance, though possibly T may be in possession of some details not previously known to you, and which may also be new to the majority of your readers. These I will now give so far as they relate to the Rimutaka road, and the Wairarapa district. As 1 have previously stated no extraordinary damage was done in the neighborhood of Grey town, either to roads, bridges, or private properly. At tho height of the storm people at Featherston were fearing that they should hear very bad news from Greytown, and were pleased to hear how well we bad escaped. At Featherston Mr Lucena sustained much injury,, most of his crops and fences having been swept into the Lake. A large quantity of fencing was seen floating down the Ruamahunga, but who were the sufferers has not at present been ascertained. The stream which comes from the Rimutaka forms the eastern boundary of Air Carkeek's garden. This rose so high as to Hood the house, in which there was at one time nearly three feet of water, and which left a deposit of more than one foot of mud. The slips on the Rimutaka rendered the flood water unusually thick, " as thick," so it was described, "as pea soup." Mr Carkeck had just had his observatory refitted, and shelves with valuable books raised from the floor, the outsides of which became covered with mud; but fortunately the insides are very little damaged. The garden has a great deal of mud left upon it, which has been the case with the gardens belonging to other persons at Featherston, but this will do no permanent injury. Mr Bidwell would have lost 100 head of valuable cattle, had they not had the good sense to swim for their lives, and thus escape to a more elevated position. Some culverts recently erected on the Lower Valley road have been much damaged, rendering cart tiaffic for the present difficult. But it is on the Rimutaka where the great damage has been dono. With scarcely any exception the whole of the culverts have been washed away ; as have been also the approaches to the bridge at the Pakuratahi. On that side the hill no less than twenty-fcur slips have occurred, while on this side there have been nearly thirty, including bridges. The cost of the repairs, and the time they will occupy, have been ridiculously over-estimated. If this were not the case, it would be better and cheaper to make a tramway by Mr Rochfort's line of acre at once ; lam not sure whether in any case this would not be the better course to adopt. We are a week without any mail from Wellington, though private parties had in the meantime come over the hill, and also by the coast line. There is talk here of £20 per ton being demanded for carriage until the Rimutaka road is again opened, and therefore it is no wonder that the report that only some twenty or thirty men are to be employed on that road has been received here with mingled astonishment and. indignation. INQUEST. An inquest was held on Thursday last touching the cause of death ofLydia, the wife of Mr George Wakelin, who had expired only that morning after an hour's illness. A post mortem examination had been made by Dr Spratt, jun, and from his evidence it was rendered dear that rupture of the heart had taken place, and that death must have been instantaneous. A verdict of " died from natural causes" was returned. The deceased was a most excellent mother and good wife, and much sympathy is felt for the family by the entire neighborhood. She has left six children, the youngest being only three years old. GREYTOWfc ROAD BOARD. The case of Lucas v Hirschberg comes on for hearing at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Featherston, on Tuesday. Mr Buckley will be engaged for the defence, and will argue that the rate is illegal. Whether judgment be given for the plaintiff or defendant, leave to appeal to the Supreme Court will be asked and granted. The board held a meeting on Saturday when, in case judgment is given against the board, it was resolved that Mr Allan should be engaged on its behalf. Two bills were paid, one for advertising, and the other for clerical assistance, Mr Tocker protesting, as he thought that debts ought to be paid out of rates, and that it would be wrong to devote any portion of the General Government grant for such a purpose. A balance of £10, due for making bridges on the road over Morrison's run, was also paid. On the subject of the allocation of the General Government grant some discussion ensued. Mr Tocker objected to any portion of such grant being expended on repairs. This objection was over-ruled, when it was resolved that the grant should be divided amongst the four sub-divisions of the district according to the amount of rates raised in each respectively. On the question of employing counsel in the road rate case, I Mr Braithwaite protested against any portion of the graut being thrown away in law expenses. The Chairman urged that it was the duty of the Board to en-

force payment of the rate, as it was on the ground that rates had been levied by the district that so large a contribution out of the £5000 grant had been made. ROAD BOARD ADVERTISING. f . The question as to the cost of advertising for tenders was discussed, wJjen it was resolved that the proprietors of the " Mercury" and the " New Zealand Mail" should be applied to for the purpose of ascertaining-'j'the charge they would make for in&ertirig Road District advertisements, the charge hith,erto made by the " Mercury" being deemed exorbitant, CONFIRMATION. There was to have been a confirmation at the Groytown Church on Sunday by the Bishop of Wellington, but owing to the state of the Rimntaka road it has been postponed for a month. the mail. ■ •• There was only one mail to and' from Wellington last week ; but I am informed by the Postmaster that mails will be made up as usual this week, and despatched from Grey town this (Mouday) morning. the races. The races will come off on Thursday and Friday next. Greytown appears to be full of racehorses, including old Volunteer, Balrownie, Little Wouder, and other favorites, all of which have been entered for one or other of the events, the principal of which are the Wi.irarapa Stakes, the Maiden. Plate, and the Handiciip Hurdle Race ; 3S entries have been already made. THE RAILWAY. The line will be still further off Greytown than the route T described in a preceding letter. Mr Skcet is surveying that poriion of the line leading from the hills near Lucas's to Featherston. It passes the latter place alongside the Telegraph office, thence it runs along the eastern side of Mr Bunny's property, and crosses the Tauherenikau below Jackson's Island. It then comes through Jackson's and Cotter's land on ihe Moroa- Plains, thence through Mr R,e vans' paddock at Woodside, 25 chains east of the house, crossing the river there, and passing within 5 chains of the Woodside Saw Mills. Mr Anderson is surveying this portion of the line. Mr Rochlbrt has gone forward exploring the Seventy Mile Bush. The plans are required to be sent in to the Public Works Department by the 31st March.