NOTES FROM THE LAKE DISTRICT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 200, 5 August 1874, Page 3

NOTES FROM THE LAKE DISTRICT.

(FEO3I a COHBESFOSDKN'T.) Rotohua, August 3, Titß tnincia of the Am was are deeply absorbed with numerous surrounding changes, The Ngaiterangi, or Tauranga tribe, are very busy parting with all their spare lands on lease, and deriving small revenues therefrom. But this is not all ; the lands are being improved, and the owners are looking forward with hopeful" expectations at a future day of re-entering these farms, or otherwise again renting them at advanced rates, which will place them or their children in respectable circumstances. This fact has somewhat aroused the attention of the Arawas, who hitherto have been, as a people, resolute not to sell their lands Government of late anxious to acQuire, in a legitimate manner, all wsste unoccupied lards, have, through their egonts, amidst the powerful opposition of inter*

e-.ti>d individuals, broken the spell exiitinij amongst this brave and loyal tribe, and by small m ans began to acquire several valuable tracts oi ivmitrv along the coast of the Ifuy of Plenty, and more recently in the heart of bo'orua. I h.-se lands are, With-mt exception, of first class qu-diij, and wi | command the immediate Htten* 'ion o< Government and enlc prising bona Jtde settlers. The change [ am alluding to is beeomtng so great ami *o general throughout the whole trios that it is more 11 an mooted that the hapus at present, occupying Maketu iu.il Matata are eonlempiating disp >s ng of those sett '.cutouts, and falling back upon Tm-awera and Houx-ua, their old tribal abodes. Of late years good dray roads have been nade fr et) Makclu to Ho:(mm, and from HolO'tia to Tmirimgii, and a line of road will m a few weeks be completed from Mat at a to larawcra, thus atlurdieg great advantages which in former yc*rs they did not, possess. This they would appear to be appear to he sensible of, hetteo the great i radio which happily exists between i ulorua and Taupe, ami which so soon as the road becomes more consolidated, will bo more used. At present it is dangerous in some places, and requires expert drivers and teams.

A drav last week, returning from Tauranga loaned with stores, got too near the sideling and rolled over and over a considerable dept h, l u’, fortunately, no serious damage wag done cither to t he horse or cart.

The struggle to part with Maketu will bo severe, but still they are preparing for it, and the first step is now being taken, which is a sure sign of the *• change. ” AH the bones of the principal chiefs who have died at Maketu during the last half century are at this moment being removed to Koto rua—great (eastings and lamentations being the order of the day. The remains of these important personages are carefully covered with costly shawls, and after a considerable amount of tangi and kor&ro, are deposited in the mausoleums of their ancestors.

Rotorua of iato has not been much visited by s ight-seekera, but tho hotel proprietors are making great preparations this season to make the Lakes more attractive and pleasant, which will undoubtedly tend to wipe away tho unfriendly iamressions of last roar.

Last week tho whole Hvso of mountains was all covered with snow, presenting a most picturesque appearance. The nights were unusually cold, but the calm, sunny, beautiful days which followed more than recompensed for the frosts.

The better disposed and intelligent, natives freely express their regret at tho removal of Sergeant Nadon from the district, and predict another reign of crime, which he had raoac assiduousiy restrained and put down.

Last weeks native named Kihorene was apprehended for horse stealing, and on his way to Tauranga the Maori sympathising police encamped at the edge of tho bush, where there were some huts, and at night were engaged playing cards in place of watching their prisoner when, to their dismay, they found the bird had escaped, and has not since been heard of, nor is it likely that he will; the Arawaa say, and with great truth, that had Sergeant Naden been doing duty this would never have occurred, because, in place of trusting to others he would have mounted bia horse ami taken his prisoner himself to town. In this I join issue most sincerely.