Kaiwarawara (corrupted to “Kaiwarra”) is the most important of the townships of the Borough of Onslow. It may be said to adjoin Wellington at the northern boundary of the City, though the contiunity of buildings is broken by a few hundred yards. The distance from the Wellington Post-office to the cluster of houses, shops, and hotels forming the township of Kaiwarra, is about two miles. The communication is principally by rail, though it has been computed that 1200 vehicles cross the Kaiwarra Bridge, on the Hutt Road, every twenty-four hours. Kaiwarra cannot fairly be called progressive. The industries—principally soap and candle manufacture, tanning and fellmongering—are increasing, and the population is consequently making some headway, though it is probable that the manufactures of the township are somewhat of the nature of a deterrent. Probably, as science discovers better methods of dealing with waste animal products in their conversion from the raw state to the marketable articles, Kaiwarra may become the popular suburb it really ought to be. The township occupies the flat ground on the margin of the harbour, and, practically, at the sea level; but the lofty hills round about command splendid views of the harbour and city. Landowners are holding tenaciously in the certain hope of a rise in values, and, meanwhile, some of them are engaged in dairying and sheepfarming operations.

The Onslow Borough Council has its office in Kaiwarra, and is bestirring itself to improve the roads of the district. The stream is beautifully clear and pure above the fellmongeries; and very pretty scenery photographs have been taken.

From an eminence near the town, Fort Buckley, in charge of Mr. A. Duff, commands a fine stretch of Port, Nicholson, its two “sixty-four pounders” suggesting possible “defence, not defiance.” The City powder magazine—consisting of two capacious stone buildings with slate roofs—occupies a secluded spot about half-a-mile up the Gorge, and for the last fourteen years has been in the careful charge of Mr. John May.

A short distance above the powder magazine are many beautiful spots possessing all the advantages usually in demand by picnickers—natural bush, very dense for so near town, pure water, and some reasonably flat and open ground. Difficulty of access is the only drawback; and that is by no means insurmountable. There seems to be no sufficient reason why Upper Kaiwarra has not long ago grown into a flourishing suburb. There is no more beautiful part anywhere near the City.

There are no churches in Kaiwarra; but the school building is used regularly as a temporary substitute.

The post and money order office and the telephone bureau are in charge of the postmaster, Mr. William Bowden, the manager of Mr. W. Cook's store. The letters, etc., are delivered by carriers; and mails for Kaiwarra close daily at Wellington at 6.45 a.m. and 2.50 p.m., the return mail closing at Kaiwarra at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The business places, which are not very numerous, are described in the following pages.

A word needs to be said about the corrupted name of this suburb. The word “Kaiwarra” is an offence to all who rejoice in the admirable simplicity of Maori spelling. Properly speaking, there are no double consonants in the language; no consonants ever appear together excepting the “diphthongal” consonants “wh” and “ng,” and no word ends with a consonant. Why the second “r” was inserted as an apology for the last two syllables of the original word is too difficult to say; but, by common if not unanimous consent it is there; and to avoid confusion the error is herein perpetuated.