WAIRARAPA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3352, 22 November 1871, Page 3

WAIRARAPA.

(from: our own correspondent.) Now the session of Parliament is over you will have more space to devote to local matters than you before had at your disposal, and I shall, with your permission, take advantage of the circumstance to bring the affairs of this flourishing district more prominently under notice. I am persuaded, from the tone of the debates which took place in Parliament relative to the Mnsterton and Wairarapa railway, and that of the press of the other provinces on the same subject, that tho importance of this district is not generally known, and, in consequence, has been seriously and injuriously under-rated. In the first place, it contains more ca-Ule and sheep than any other electoral district of the province ; in the second place, it contains a larger number of small farmers than any other; in the third place there is no other district which contains so many large and thriving townships. The traffic between Wellington and the Wairarapa has also been much underrated. Some five or six heavily-laden waggons, besides drays and carts, will be engaged during the next three months in conveying this season's wool clip to Wellington. Last Thursday, no les3 than eleven timber waggons, each carrying two thousand feet of sawn timber, wore met on the Rimutaka, on their way to Wellington. At Featherston there 'are three large hotels, a Court House, Post Office, and Telegraph Station. In its vicinity there are flocks of the finest and largest-bred sheep, equal to any in the province, depasturing. There are also a number of large dairy farms, at some of which fifty cows and upwards are milked daily\ On the banks of the Tauherenikau river a large boiling-down establishment has been erected ; and on this side there are a number of large agricultural, sheep, and dairy farms, at one of the latter as fine cheese is produced as can be obtained in any other part of the colony. In the vicinity of Greytown stands the Woodside saw mill, which has turned out more telegraph poles than any other establishment of the kind in New Zealand. There is also another saw mill constantly engaged in cutting timber for the Hutt and other bridges. At Greytown there are four large hotels and six or seven stores, two of which are equal in size and , appearance to any in Wellington. There is a large public hall, nearly as large as the Odd Fellows' Hall, three churches, and the best fitted up and the best supplied reading room of any in New Zealand. This town is also well supplied with blacksmiths, wheelwrights, coopers, carpenters, cabinet makers, saddlers, shoemakers, and tailors ; it aloo contains a largo brewery and a soda-water manufactory. It has two resident clergymen, and two resident surgeons, a Court House, Telegraph, Money Order, and Post Office, the latter transacting more business than any other country office in the province. At Carterton there is also a town hall, several large stores and hotels, and a large number of thriving small farmers. Passing on to the Taratabi Plains, smiling homesteads are to be seen dotted about in all directions, where, only a few years ago, the fine cattle of Messrs Rhodes and Donald, in a semi-wild state, undisturbedly depastured. Arriving at Masterton, a fine town presents itself to the view, well supplied with all the requisites of a country town in the mother country. There are three fine churches here, several hotels and stores, and some i of the most persevering agriculturists to be found in the province. There arc here also flour, flax, and saw mills, in full operatiou. There are two saw i mills on the Taratahi, and two flour mills at Carterton. The Pioneer Saw Mill, belonging to Mr Hooker, turns out weekly a very large quantity of as fine timber as can be obtained anywhere in the country. Only last week a boiler came up from town for the use of the flax mill erected in the Lower Valley. Here also are to be found the largest and best stocked freehold estates, and pastoral runs, of any in the province ; without mentioning those situated on the East Coast, a large portion of the wool from which also passes through the valley to Wellington. From the foregoing it will be gathered that the Wairarapa is not so unimportant a district as many of the members ofParlia- j ment, and notably Mr Dunedin Rey . nolds, appeared to imagine. FATAL ACCIDENT. On Friday lust an inquest was held at Cadwallader's Hotel, Carterton, before Dr Spratt, the Coroner of the district, and a respectable jury, touching the cause of death of a boy about fifteen years of age, by the name of Frederick Wise, the son of Mr Alfred Wise, formerly of Gawith's Hotel, Wellington, who had been killed the preceding day by the falling of a tree, which one he had been felling had knocked down upon him, striking him behind the ear, and causing instant death. His dog was the means of discovering the accident, which set up a lamentable howl, and directed the friends of the deceased to the spot where the body was lyiug. After hearing the evidence, a verdict of accidental death was returned. NARROW F.SCAI'E. The other day a young man by the name of Robert Caruthcrs, formerly of Adelaide, had a narrowescape from being drowned in the Ruamahunga river. He had pulled offhis clothes with the intention of fording the river, and then fastened them on bis back in the swag he was carrying. The river was high and muddy at the time, and he was quickly taken off his legs by the strength of the current. After being taken down the stream several chains he managed to reach a snag, by which he held, and eventually succeeded in fastening his swag to a branch of a tree which was overhanging it. He then swam ashore, having nothing on but a Crimean shirt and his boots. In this state he was seen by Mr James, of Parkhill, who fetched him some clothes, and next day went

with him to the river, where his swag was found, and, after some difficulty, recovered. But the foolish fellow lost what little money he had, and also several small parcels he had with him. I soy foolish fellow, because no other would venture to ford the Ruamahungm when in a muddy state. It is seldom safe for horsemen when that is the case — v fact which should be known to all travellers passing through this district. THE IIATLWAY. This, of course, is the prominent topic of discussion here ; and it has been widely reported that Mr Brogden will at once commence the survey of the line. 1 should mention that the very opposite feeling was excited here to that whioh was exhibited at Wellington when his arrival in the province was first known. It is felt that if he commences his contract in this province it cannot but prove advantagous in many i ways, not the least of which would be j his making of Wellington his headquarters. He will be sure to give out small contracis, which will be the means of creating future local contractors. The fear is not that local men will not be employed, but that sufficient men will not be obtainable to push on the work fast enough, without raising wages, and disturbing the labor market. Small contracts, under a large contractor, will prove more beneficial to the country, than they would under a Government t which would be subjected to a thousand sinisters influences. I have not met a J man in the district who has any sym- I pathy with the promoters of the Wellington meeting ; though of course they see the advantages that would accrue to the colony if an arrangement could be made which would insure that all the railway carriages and trucks were constructed in New Zealand. As our railway will at once pay interest and working expenses, it should be proceeded with as fast as possible. There is another reason why this should be done, as the timber required for other railways can be supplied from this district at a much cheaper rate after the railway is opened than it could be under other circumstances. Besides the sooner the railway is opened the greater the saving of interest on the outlay. ROAD BOARD MEETINGS. This Board held a meeting on Friday last, when all the wardens were present. It was resolved to advertise for tenders for the formation of sixty chains of road on what is known as the back line, and for metalling ten chains on the road leading from Morrison's Bush towards Grey town. On the following day tho Greytown Road Board met to hear objections to the assessment, when it wus finally passed. THE WEATHEIt. The weather still continues unsettled. After two or three very hot days last week, the weather set in cold to the injury of vegetation and serious inconvenience of shearers. It is reported that Mr R. Baiion lost ten fine Leicester rams during the recent S.E. gale, and that the total loss of sheep and lambs exceeds 5,000 in all. This serious mortality has only occurred amongst the sbeep, and it will probably have the effect of postponing the shearing season to a later period of the year. PUBLIC LIBHABY. I have the best authority for stating that now the session is over the Hon Mr Water-house will be happy to attend the proposed meeting at Greytown for tha purpose of taking the necessary steps for the establishment of a Public Library. Since the preliminary committee was appointed no information has been afforded the public as to its proceedings. To render the movement a success a small working committee is indispensable, and I would suggest that this committee be formed in addition to the president, patrons, and vice-presi-dents. In other words that the patrons of the institute should not be placed on the managing committee, but be honored with the title of vice presidents. lam informed by Mr Barton that the very handsome donation he offered was expressly for the establishment of a Wairarapa Public Library, unconnected with the Greytown School. If only care be taken in haviug a good secretary or managing committee, the movement cannot fail to prove successful.