THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. "The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KING JOHN, ACT IV." SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1874.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 197, 25 July 1874, Page 2

THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. "The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KING JOHN, ACT IV." SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1874.

The Election of Trustees of the Tauranga Highway Board for the ensuing year, takes place at the District School House on Monday evening next; at 7 p.rn. It is hardly necessary to state that we are interested in this election, it being a matter of vital importance to the community : anything affecting the district, must of necessity affect ourselves to a greater cr less degree. It is not our province to indicate what individuals should or should not represent the ratepayers, nor is it our intention to do so, or criticise the administration of the outgoing Board, we simply desire to state our views on what works should be undertaken as funds will admit of in the future. We cannot ignore the fact, that the settlement of Greerton has been much neglected in the past. We are informed on excellent authority that there is no single bye-road formed in this important suburb. We confess, that to us, this seems rather strange I When the amount of produce yearly grown in the neighbourhood of Greerton is taken into account, it will be found that the gross value is at least equal, if it does not exceed, the value of that raised in any other portion of the district. It may be argued that the General Government has formed and is maintaining the main road through the settlement; but such argument applies in no measure to the farms and holdings contiguous thereto : it is one thing to have a good main road, and j quite another thing to get on to it. We i can conceive no work of greater impor- j tauce to the country' district than the for- I mation of a thoroughfare, forming a/I' reticulation of roads through the settle-* • ment of Greerton. Of past works we| j have, as before stated, no intention of j speaking, though very much might bd said on the subject. The cuttings beyond Te Eanga also requires attention," and few men in the district should be encouraged before Mr James Campny, to whose farm they form a portion of the road. We might, if space point out many other works requiring; attention, but the enumeration of those already specified must suffice. In conclusion, wo urge on the ratepayers, the absolute necessity of appointing as their Trustees, settlers , who will "fearlessly, and without an eye to personal advantage, prosecute such works, and such works only as will conduce to to the advantage of the majority. We shall watch with much interest the result of Monday night’s election.

Captain Morris will .address the electors this evening at the Masonic Hotel. This is as it should be. We hope to see a large attendance to hear the account of Captain Morris’s stewardship on behalf of the people of Tauranga in the Provincial Council.

Wk take the following from a lute issue of the Grahamstown Star — Our Tauranga correspondent states that the Bay of Plehty Times has resuscitated the project of an overland mail from the Thames to Tauranga, and urges the

Government to start at onco a mail service to Katikati with a view to the ultimate through line

For the short time this service was in existence it was an undoubted convenience, but it was eo more because it facilitated communication with Southern towns (the telegraph hue not having been brought through) than from any hn mod into

advantage it was caculated to confer upon Tan. ranga and the Thames in affording frequent intercourse by mails with each other. Our contem-

porary should urge the construction of the road

about which there has been so much talk, which

would open up a good market for the settlers of Tauranga for their fab cattle and sheep and dairy produce, if they have any surplus above their own requirements. We should like to see this road completed, with a branch to a central position in

the Waikato district 5 mails would follow as a mat-

ter of course. Thames people would be able to obtain beef something cheaper than they do at present, and the Waikato and Tauranga settlors would soon discover that this offers a o oo i market for almost every descriptor:! of produce. In this case as in many others the Native diffi-

cuUy is the great unwieldly obstruction which

bars the way to progress.’*

The Tohuranga have promised to resume work on the Rotorua and Tauranga road on the Ist of August. It is probable that the road will be completed in six weeks, in time for the “Lake Season.” This road will bo a great boon totourists, as people will be able to drive from Tauranga to Wairoa, within a few miles of Rotomahana.

We publish the following recently printed report of the Native Officer, Tauraima, to the Under Secretary, Native Department Vellinaton :

Civil Commissioner’s Office, Tauranga, May Bth, 187 T

“Sir, tained in a circular received fro n your office dated 24’h day of April, IS7T, requesting me to make the usual annual report on the state of the Natives in Tauranga district, I have the honor to make the following remarks : It is now four yours since I undertook the immediate charge of the Natives in this district, under the supervision of the late Civil Commissioner, Henry T. Clarke, Esq. During tint period I have found the Ngaiterangi Tribe iova l well-behaved, and peacefully dispose I. Whan the Waikato war of 1863 broke out, they- were influenced by Tsmeluna Te Waharoa (the New Zealand king-maker) to take up arms against Her Majesty’s Government, in consequence of which a considerable portion of! heir land was eon sseated to the Crown. In 186 t they surrendered to certain terms made to them by the then Governor, Sir George Grey. From that time to the present they have borne the character of being the most easily managed, industrious, and best behaved Natives on the East Coast, and to which I can testify.

Hauhauism in this district may be looked udoq as a tiling of the past, existing only in name. Those that call themselves Hauhaus mis freely wish their European neighbours, and in no wavattempt to disturb the peace that both races are enjoying. When my other duties have allowed me time to visit them, I have done so, and found them very hospitable, and inclined to settle peacefully and cultivate their land. A portion of the Pirirakau hapu have made a periminent settlement at Te Puna, and only return to the edges of the bush to plant their crops of early potatoes.

It is with pleasure that I have to record the absence of any very serious crime among the natives during the past year, there having been only three cases of potty 1 moony, for which the prisoners were sentenced to imprisonment in the iauranga gaol. There were also a few cases of drunkenness.

r ~’ Intemperance is greatly on the decrease within the last few months, 'i here has been quite a reformation among the natives, which is attributed greatly to the example and influence of the chiefs Hori iSgatai and Enoka, who do not permit spirits of any sort to be brought to their settlement. If the rule is infringed on by natives of other hapus, they are strictly dealt with without regard to the offenders’ position or rank in the tribe. In consequence of spirits being forbidden, all the large" native meetings arc held there, and which invariably come to an orderly termination.

I am sorry to have to state that the potatoe crop has again failed in this district. There arc many instances where the produce has not ex“ ceeded the quantity that was planted. The wheat crop, 1 arn happy to say, has boon a great success, enabling natives to pay off debts that were contracted for food during the scarcity last winter. One of the htipus (L'e Materawaho), Uamiora lu’s parly, liave not only paid off all their debts, but have purchased a reaping, thrashing, and winnowing machine, as well as other implements required for farming purposes. Tuo amount of wheat grown and sold by the natives of this district was over 12,000 bushels, for which they have received money and goods to the amount of £3,300 sterling, the wheat having beets sold at the rule of 5s 6d. per bushel. If the Court under “Tauranga District Lands Act, I8G7” could bo continued, and the claims settled, I feel sure that the quantity of wheat grown in this district would be doubled ; for. as the planting season comes on, family disputes arise as to the ownership of the land. These disputes, I may say, are the only hindrances to the friendly feeling existing among the different sections" The natives are most anxious that the Court should be proceeded with at as early a date as possible. Ail decisions given as yet," by the said Court have been strictly adhered to, and are law among the Natives.

1 bo mortality among the natives for the past year is rather above the average, particularly

among the aged and very young children. It is often the case that the sick clo not get proper medical treatment, until the Maori doctor has exhausted his skill, and naturally enough, when brought to the hospital, are past, all hope. Iho Hauhaus often send their sick to the hospital for medical treatment. A little girl from one of their settlements met with a verv serious accident, from a thrashing machine : one arm was broken and the other dislocated. On being brought to the hospital she was promptly attended to by Dr Bell, who was in medical charge of the Constabulary and natives during Dr Armitage’s severe illness. The child is so far recovered that she will be able to return to her own home in a few days The Whareroa School is steadily progressing, and since the building of a weather board house for the accomodation of pupils cowing from a distance, the attendance has been greatly in creased. There are at present thirty-six scholars on the returns. The school is now under the charge of Major Wood, late master of trie Rotoiti School, he having succeeded Mr Oldfield, who resigned. During the summer vacation a certain number of the Makefu scholars came to Whareroa, by invitation of the scholars of that village, for tile purpose of trying their skill at the different English games, such us cricket, football, &c., which were well contested, and on the whole would have done credit to many of our English schools. T hope to be able to send in, shortly, a correct return of ail the natives in this district: the chiefs are making out lists of the names of every individual in their several hapus. I think, if I were supplied with a set of Registrar’s Books, I might induce them to register the births and deaths occurring among them. I regret that my m«ny duties prevent me from visiting the natives as often as 1 would wish. They like to be visited at their own villages, and shown that some interest is taken in their agricultural and other pursuits, W lien Ido visit them I always receive a very hearty welcome. During the past year no public work has been undertaken by the natives. Many have been employed, during the harvesting, by the settlors : they have given great satisfaction, and are considered very good workmen. In conclusion, I have much pleasure in stating that we in this district are living in a state of profound peace at present, the fruit of which is seen in the progress that is being made.”— I am, &c., Hopkins Clarke, Officer in Charge of Natives. The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington.