WAIRARAPA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3239, 30 June 1871, Page 2

WAIRARAPA.

(From Our Own Cohrespondent.) Public meeting. A meeting of the electors of Carterton was held at the Town Hall, on Friday last, in order to express their opinions on the Highways Bill. About forty-five persons were present. The speakers condemned the rating clauses of the bill, and expressed the opinion that the machinery would render it unworkable. There was not a person who had a word to say in faver of the bill, or those who supported it; and a resolution was passed unanimously to that effect, the meeting pledging themselves to use every constitutional means in their power to prevent it from becoming law. The great objection entertained by those preseut was the substitution of a valuation for an acreage rating. The measure will at least have the effect of disturbing that apathy on public questions which has been too much exhibited in this province. The Education Bill has not met with any violent opposition in this district at present. I should not be doing. my duty if I did riot state that a strong feeling is expressed against the course adopted by Mr Bunny with refer» ence to the Highways Bill, but these important improvements in the old law are totally overlooked by those who wished to represent it in an unfavorable light to the small farmer : the one is the abolition of plural voting ; the next is the rating of lands for roads which, have hitherto paid nothing for these purposes; and the third is the rating of town pro-' perty, which also escaped under an acreago rate from contributing scarcely anything to works which tended greatly to enhance the value of such property. EIFLE WATCH The return rifle match between Masterton and Carterton clubs came off on the 26th inst., at the former place, which resulted iv a victory for the former by 18 poiuts. The total scoro for the Carterton club being 343, and for Masterton, 395. The ranges were 400, 500, and 600 yards. Tho highest score obtained by the Masterton club was 40, which was secured by H. Eenall ; bat two of the Carterton club made still higher scores, J. Owen getting 42, and J. M'Kenzie 44 points. After the match, 1 a dinner came off at Jones' Hotel, Major Smith occupying the chair, and Dr Boor tho vice-chair; W. H. Donald, Esq., and R. Collins, Esq., were also present. Toasts, speaches, and songs followed, the company not separating until a late hour. AGRICULTURAL MEETING, On the 20th inst,, a meeting was held at Mrs Jones' Hotel, Masterton, to take into consideration the advisability of establishing in the Wairarapa an agricultural, horticultural, and pastoral association. A resolution in favor of a public meeting being convened at Grey- , town for this object was carried, and a provisional committee appointed. Several meetings have been previously held for this object, but the promoters did not meet with any support ; but it is to be hoped that their successors will prove more successful. NATIVE MEETING. A meeting of natives was held at Te Ore Ore last week, relative to the ownership of a block of land which is to be brought into the Native Lands Court at its next sitting. The, proceeding^, were ' conducted in the most. orderly manner.. The Court will sit in August . at Greytcfvn. , , THE FORESTERS 1 . ANNIVJSRSARJ. .- ; I have been today to see the decorations which have been made at the; Town Hall, in preparation for the' Foresters' ball, . which, is to. come off to-morrow evening Nothing so; tasteful, or on so large a scale, has ever

before been attempted in the Wairarapa. An arch of ferns is made at the entrance of the Hall, and the latter is decorated with flags, flowers, devices, evergreens, &c. A very # large number of persons visited the Hall for the purpose of seeing the decorations during the aftomoon and evening, and they all expressed their admiration at the display. The preparations for the dinner, which is to take place at Hirschberg's new store, are on quite as grand a scale.