BAY F PLENTY TIMES “ The spirit of the times shall teach me speed" KING JIHN,ACT IV. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1873.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 83, 18 June 1873, Page 2

BAY F PLENTY TIMES “ The spirit of the times shall teach me speed" KING JIHN,ACT IV. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1873.

The ‘ Nelson Evening Mail” of jj av 26th contains a letter, signed “g ? Gapper ” describing the Waikato and lauranga districts as they appeared to I gentleman who visited the Waikato the benevolent purpose of aseertlini” “personally its requirements, before deciding to take machinery to assist the farmers m the profitable cultivation of their land. Mr Gapper describes his occupation in the Waimeas as “threshing by steam power.” He appears to have been anxious to thresh the Waikato but after careful inquiry aud observation he could find no land further out from Auckland than Otahuhu, except in the Te Awamutu district, that would grow anything threshable. He certainly some grass growing near Queen’s Redoubt and seems to have thought for a brief moment that grain would also grow there. He was, however, informed by a settler that ten bushels of bone dust were sown to the acre where that grass was growing. Mr Gap per is of opinion that, in the Te Awamutu district, “ there are hundreds of acres that, with proper cultivation might yield from 25 to 85 bushels per acre ; and, in all his journey from Auckland to Alexandra, that is the best prospect he saw after leaving Otahuhu. He advises those in bis own district who may have thought of removing to the Waikato, that “ unless you have means to support you for two or three years, until you get some returns, you had better stay in Nelson;” and says, “I saw many who had. spent their all, and expressed their desire to leave the country but could not.” Truly, if Mr Gapper’s judgment and disinterestedness are to be relied on, settlers in the Waikato must not be congratulated on their prospects; but after carefully reading the letter throughout, we cannot but feel that Mr Gapper writes with a prejudice in favour of the district in which he has lived and threshed for “ many years.” He can see no good thing out of Nelson. "We are not sufficiently acquainted with the Waikato to be in a position to speak positively for or against Mr G.’s assertions as to the poverty of the land there, although we have certainly been led to believe a very different state of things. When we come, however, to his description of Tauranga, our local knowledge enables us to see clearly that Mr G. has been pre-determined to see no inducement for settlement anywhere but in his beloved Whitneas. In order that our readers may see and judge for themselves, we print that part of the letter which refers to Tauranga:—

Before returning to Nelson I was persuaded to visit Tauranga on the East Coast. It is a pretty place, and in extent about the size of tbs Waicneas, but X saw nothing that would induce me to settle there, or advise others to do so. There were several hundred bushels of wheat grown in the district last season, but chiefly hy the natives. The land, on the whale, I consider better than the Waikato, but though sold for miles beyond the Gate Pa there is only one se.tler. South of it, towards Oropi, is a succession of hills* or downs, but more easily cultivated than the land at Te Awamutu, as the down* are not so steep, though the land is heavier, and more suitable for cereals. On my inquiring bow the people existed, I was told that Government kept the place going by the expenditure in connection with the Mounted Constabulary, other official*, and road making. On asking why so few settler* were located in the outlying districts, I was to. that no dependence could be placed on the friend* ship proiessed by the natives. In conclusion, sir, I believe there are thousands of acres of land 10 the two districts, suitable for general tanning purposes, but until settlers can feel perfectly secure in their holdings the capabilities of tn country will not be known, and I hope that ® Government will soon put a stop to t -

P t,lu 7 hi’b.'rfo pranosed towards the rjati*® race, and that the peace and security so often boasted of may be an accomplished fact. Some unpatriotic Tauranga settler appears to have done his best to feed Mr G.’s desire to see no good in Tauranga, and to have had no scruple as to the exact truth of his statements. Cert.only the person w ho led Mr G. to believe there was only one settler on the land about Tauranga does not deserve well of bis fellow townsmen ; and if bis capacity to do barm in a ny degree approached the falsehood of his" 7 statements, the matter would bo worth further inquiry. As, however, the fertile go il, the splendid facilities for settlement with the most magnificent agricultural prospects, the constantly increasing number of successful farmers, and the loyalty of the Maori natives in this district, are too evident to remain long concealed from anyone bat a prejudiced casual visitor, we may be content to leave Mr G.’s informant to his own reflections. Libels so preposterous as those offered to Mr G.’s eager ''cceptance are not worthy of serious denial. Had he remained with us long enough to observe for himself he would have seen how grossly be had been misled.

Mb John "William sok, M.H.R, will address tbe electors to-morrow (Thursday) ev.eaiog, at Harrison’s store. The friends of this candidate for Superintendental honours (and their name is legion) are losing no time in canvassing tbe district on his behalf, and we doubt not he will receive, as indeed he deserves, a hearty reception at tbe bands of settlers on the East Coast. Mr Warbrick informs us that he has, in accordance with instructions received by telegram, made arrangements for the Maoris to have a korero with Mr Williamson some time to-morrow.

We are enabled with pleasure to announce that the application to the Minister of Public Works, by the Chairman of the Highway District Board, to have tbe road formed f om tbe top of the Judea cutting to the int ersection of the Otamoetai with the Cambridge Eoad. has been granted. This extension will complete tbe road through to Otamoetai, and be a gre t boon to settlers. During this magnificent weather public works have been rapidly pushed ahead. The Omanawa bridge has been commenced. Ti.'un : , chief of Whanau, Oponui, has started the formation of a horse road between Mai-ainm and lekaba, on fie Cpotiki and Torere extension. Mr Joseph Thompson, of Opotiki, has also completed the truss bridge over the Waioeka, on the Opotiki and Maroeka road.

The aw ana! general meeting of the T'au>-ano'a Side Volunteers was held, at the Tauranga Hotel, on Saturday afternoon. Tuere was a good muster of members. Oapiain Nor- is occupied the chair The secretary delivered the f] iaocial statement, which showed the luvuls of the corns to be iu a fairly satisfactory state. Some discussion ensued upon the amount of salary in future to be piid to the secret ary and sergeant-major. Mr Bradley (secretary) liberally tendered bis services gratuitously, but his offer was not accepted. It was ultimately decided that the salary to each of these officers should be £6 per annum. The payment of capitation money brought the proceedings to a satisfactory term-nation. At the Court House yesterday a Revision Court, for perfecting the list of voters on the E-st Coast, was held before Mr Hopkins CL- _.e, i evising, and Mr E E Hamlin, Registration Officers Mr Bradley appeared to object to several c's-manis. The following are the names ordered to be expunged from the roll :—W D Bundle, A J Alloro, B B Atkinson, H H Bebe. veos, J Bridgman, T T Bennett, W Dalziell, J G W Cann, P Delaney, J Dennis, T Edmonds, E Glover, D G aham, J Sadder, J Harris, W ( 2: Havriso-i J Henry, b Horsborougb, W Maxwell, J St McCaw, D m C «r l^ane ’ Moore, C Moorsom, J McLean, f VV Osborne, W H Percival, H Quick, W fwebards, J S 1 idge, C Roy, x Bush, T Snowden, W Walter, J Young, J S Talbot. Major Roberts. A.C., is upon an inspeclion Tislt down the Coast, and may be expected to return to*morrow.

We were in error in stating Hurt Ibe brewery now in course of erection is being built to tbe order of Messrs Ellis Brothers. The fi in, we understand, will trade under the style of Messrs Eihs and Wrigley.

Oa Saturday last, at the Police Court, Tau*&Dga, a woman, tbe wife of a tradesman, and e mother of a large family, was charged with aving been drunk and disorderly on the previous opening. She was fined 5s and costs. We sincerely trust that it will not become our painful u fy to record a repetition of the offence.

n adjourned meeting of the Tauranga Light orse was held at tbe Tauranga Hotel on Satur- , a y eTo oiog last. Captain Chadwick, we ave glad o say, was sufficiently recovered to occupy the - a r and perform the not unpleasant duty of paying over the capitation money. Trooper M** nA 8 Wa3 elected Sub-Lieuteoaut vice r resigned. Trooper Salt was also Ppointed to the office of Farriery-Sergeant. the T SFe * D^ora,e d that the officers aud men of at FrzsJ?* w aTalr ? coc P* giving a ball, aser s Mall, upon an early date. *° aTI un f° v lunate accident, we are comto postoone the publication of Mr Lusk’s e^ec^or3 * R shall, however, appear

Beairf lePI e P? rt . BS ** wee Us proceedings in tha w, ‘ en ■‘^■ a S spirate’s 5 pirate’s Court, in the present issue, crowded out of our last.

rv? rr“, FI r i “ such a iioraA -tommy Dod, if indeed there be pen ‘ io P M® 0 ”B** 8 ** tb ° liv!n S’ not to take lbs M " ln trembling’ anv mom- it ~ d J however doubtful r-. I am, ioshmt wUe?her ,h« oCe . y ° Ur P f p<?r ° f ' ht ‘ ]lth of tbe ediloriaf h 1 ■ spbioerer is not a eolation not wu ,1 for I nave seen that you do from those Jho re,f * ad <0 * receive correspondence ia“X. p ""‘ ; bav ap d b t e f?°? th * C e eia ‘I ioJt e tMok° C T 2Z'd if f b b altetnpted inapos’tion though, desc -ibo the « 80 f absim,! .v P» r dcu!ar as to ‘ Lte -~af !n " Cre s tary of a cor P 5 of defunct as late —of course he would be late ! Who but a ■« man would be secretary to the defunct * and hon. secretary too ! !” anQ

‘ ■RoSJIr-? 0 ?! Tl ltes to a 3 : ~“On cM that bS “ bre ? hob-nobbing in anything l“* a , B f cluded B Pot (and was then and* therl r,?!I S^ Ulatcd U P° n h,s exemption from restraint) J ‘ “* ! °, writir, g to you and aspersing select pa rues of swine and goats,’ the property nil P °°ri V 0 ° P 6 ’ aOQ °y anyone, hence, I conclude, their immunity from destruction by the ever vigilant powers that be.* Also, that‘Bona Fide’made up the bakers dozen’ of young p Ups that sported with < ach other not far from the wharf, and being ‘under age’ were therefore unqualified to wear the insignia of registration, which * poor dog scratch is doubtless mighty proud of.”

The following is Tawbiao’s last proclamation : two the ye at 1863 the blood of the people and of the and has been shed in Waikato from them to tins year. In the month of March, 1873 it was said ; Ce' e, <« ase, you Maoris irom renting, nom selling land ; stop, stop, for ever, do not cor .eot you Ku .peans to tbe Maoris that want to rent or sell; stop, stop, for ever. The 28th was the division of bloodshed, the breath of heaver, the heart of heaven, and the heart of earth, Jb -om the heavens and the earth this is the word only upon these.” What is meant is hard to say m the latier part of the proclamation —the hrs| is plain enough. He s; ys in that both parties are to blame for the murder, so of course it is very unreasonable to ask for the surrender of Purukutu. r

A meeting of Master Masons was held at the Tauranga Hotel, on Thursday evening, on business connected with the establishment of a Lod»e m Tauranga. °

Mr Percy Smith and party arrived at Tauranga from Taupo on Monday last. Mr Smith reports the completion of the t liangalatiou survey from laumaga vo Well og*on. We learn that some dispute has arisen between two sections of tbe Awa respecting the right and title lo cer. in lands at Homboio, leased, or about to be leased to Europeans. Already a hapu is in a i ’ms. and evidently mean fighting. It is feared Hint serious consequences will ensue, unless indeed tbe matter csn’be amicably settled by tbe conediatury powers of our worthy Commissioner.

Bemg deayous o( affording the earliest information respect -ug lenders for the new mail service between Tm- a 'ga and Tango, we telegraphed to the Postmaster-General on the subject, who last n'gbt courteously forwarded the following reply : “ Will telegraph you result when decided.— Juf-ica Vogel,”

Mr Commissioner Clarke was engaged on Monday ami a portion of yesterday in holding an Investigation Lauds Court between the Ngaiteraugi and Ngatitemateifca hapus. The matter was adjourned from the 4th instant. A considerable amount of evidence on behalf of the Ngaiterajigi was taken.

Some Mao is from Obinemuta came into town yesterdav. They slate tbat a ’Waikato native recently arrived at ibe : r kaiuga, with the news t hat Tawb-ao had determined not to baud over Pu. uku.u to just ce at the hands of Europeans, but at i to same time be would not assist Puru* kotu in aoy way, and under no circumstances whatever would be permit the miscreant to remahi within the boundaries of the ‘King’ coum y. We give the report for wbat it is worth.

Coffee !—Brown, Barrett, and Co.’s Standard Coffee is both delicious and strong. Brown, Barrett, and Co.'s Excelsior Coffee deserves preference to any Coffee on account of purity and distinctness of flavour. Note the brands! Bold at almost every Grocery Establishment in Town and Province.—lAdvt.]