WAIRARAPA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3189, 3 May 1871, Page 3

WAIRARAPA.

(From Our Own Coukesi?ond-e:s-t.) INQUEST. A coroner's inquest was held at the "Wharekaka Hotel, Waihenga, on Monday, touching the death of a new-born infant, to which I referred in my last. The evidence went to show that an attempt had been made to conceal, as far as possible, both the birth and the death of the child. A post mortem examination had been made the day before by Drs Smith and Spratt. The former ascribed the cause of death to a failuie of the respiratory organs ; and the latter thought that from the appearance of the child it had not been neglected. According to the mother's evidence it refused nourishment for three days before it died, nnd according to Dr Hi H. Sprat t's evidence it must have received food within 24 hours of death. It died at mid-day, and was buried the same night privately, without any ceremony. The jury returned the following verdict :— " Death from physical weakness ; the jury wish also to record their opinion that the mother and other relatives are greatly to blame for not having sent for proper attendance, and also that there are peculiarly suspicious circumstances regarding the attempted concealment of the birth." ZJOROA ROAD DISTRICT. At a meeting of the Moroa Road Board, held on Friday, the 28th April, it was moved by Mr Ivempton, seconded "by Mr Jones, and carried-—" That the Chairman be requested to bring under the attention of Mr Bunny the following facts relative to the allocation of sums out of the £5000 grant to the road boards in this vicinity. That no rates had been levied in this district during the past year, owing to the unsatisfactory state of the law ; and that neither in the Greytown nor Lownr Valley district had any rates been paid, either during the past or the present year, owing to the same cause. That to these two last-named districts large sums had been allocated out of the said grant ; but no sum had been allocated to this district, though it has to maintain the road' which unites one of these districts with the other, and upon which a larger traffic exists than upon any other district road in the Wairarapa. This proceeding of the Government, in the opinion of the board, is manifestly unfair and unjust, and Mr Bunny is, therefore, requested to bring the subject before the Provincial Council." " That a road connecting two or more important districts with each other should be maintained at the cost of the population scattered between them is obviously unjust . That such roads, in the opinion of the board, should be maintained by tolls, and that the best positron for the collection of such tolls in this district would be at the Moroa school-house." It was further resolved that the annual meeting of voters for fixing rates should be. held on Friday, May 10th, at six o'clock. TAKATAHI ROAD BOARD. This Board has divided the district into three subdivisions, comprising respectively 12,936 acres, 11,148 acres, 10,912 acres; making a total of 41,986 acres, which, at 2d an acre, amount to £349 17s sd. Though this district is scarcely half the size of that of the Lower Valley, it contains nearly five times as many landholders ; there being 30 in the one district and 140 in the ' other. LOWER VALLEY ROAD BOARD, This Board met on Monday last to hear objections to the assessment. The question of having a punt over the Ruamahunga river was discussed, and it was resolved to ask the Provincial Government for the £150 which had been voted session after session by the Provincial Council for the purpose. The cost is estimated at £240, and the board agree to find the balance. The objections to the assessment will be heard and soconded on Thursday, May % 11th. PENNY READINGS. The first of a series of readings will be given in the Town Hall, Greytown, on Thursday evening next. At the same time a Committee will be appointed whose duty it will be to provide the readers, and to arrange the programme for subsequent evenings, I trust that the movements will be successfully in augurated." It deserves the support of all favorable to the moral, intellectual, and social progress of the people.

MEAT PRESERVING. A public meeting is to be held this day (Monday), at the Rising Sun, Greytown, for the purpose of considering the question of forming a Meat Preserving Company in the Wairarapa, at which a large attendance is expected. THE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS. A meeting is to be held on Monday evening at M asterton of the rifles, cavalry, and militia, for the purpose of forming a shooting club. Some forty militiamec and volunteers at Carterton contemplate forming a cavalry troop. The Grey town troop has recently added a considerable number of volunteers to its ranks. According to Colonel Harrington the Wairarapa cavalry is the head troop of cavalry in the colony. The champion shooter of the province is Mr John Bassett. of the Carterton Volunteers. The number of rifle volunteers, in proportion to the population is, larger in this district than in any other in the province. THE MILITIA. The Militia in this district have to attend monthly drills, and it has been suggested that, if these duties are necessary, it would be much better, as saving a gieat deal of time and travelling expenses, if the duties for the year took place all at one time, as in the States of New York and Connecticut. The loss of time, and the expenses in travelling to and from the parade ground, together operates as a heavy tax en individuals, and as a serious obstruction to the productive industry in the Wairarapa. THE Hf'iV. J. A. CAWDELL. This gentleman, who until recently occupied the position of Wesloyan minister in this district, having had liis name removed from the list of officiating ministers of that church, ami being about to leave this neighborhood, a number of his friends invited him to a public meeting for the purpose of hearing his farewell address, and of presenting to him a purse of twenty sovereigns, which had been collected for that purpose. The meeting was held at the Town Hall on Wednesday evening last, and was well. attended. Mr Cawdcll entered into a long defence of himself entered into a long defence of himself, and replied to the charges and reports which had been made and circulated regarding his moral character, which, I am bound to say, were of v very grave description. To give his reply would necessitate my giving the reports in question, and for the present I shall decline to do either. A farewell tea meeting will be given to him by his friends at the Town Hall, Greytown, on Wednesday next. EASTER OFFERING. The sum of X'3B Gs has been presented to the Rev. A. Krul), as an Easter offering, by a number of the settlers resident in Mastertou and Greytown. Mr Krull ennsidcis this a very handsome gift, especially as it has been subscribed at a time of general depression. WALRARAPA TOWN LANDS. The Bill introduced into the Provincial Council with reference to the above has been considered by the present Trustees at a meeting held at Masterton on the 27th ultimo, when various amendments in it were suggested by the chairman. The Bill was drafted by MiBrandon, who understands more about its legal' ty than the trustees in question. Some of the changes they suggest would be improvements, and can be easily made when this Bill (or rather Bills, for there are two) is in committee.