WAIPAWA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3074, 4 May 1881, Page 2

WAIPAWA.

(from our own correspondent.; May 3, 1881. Jupiter Pluvius reigneth! Many a beast was made glad in the neighborhood of Waipawa on Sunday night as the the welcome showers, which have continued to visit us ever eince, much to the benefit of agriculturists and others; began to descend from a leaden eky. ■*'Xhe rain came not. one day too soon " is the universal opinion down here, and, judging from the appearance ■' of the country generally as it looked a few daye since, I Bhould be inclined to acquiesce in the sentiment.

More robbery and housebreaking! This time at Te Aute. On Friday night last the refreibment room at Te Auteriil-

way station, leased by Mr M'Kenzie, was broken open and a few bottles of drink abstracted. On the forenoon of the same day several bottles of grog were also stolen from the same party, out of 4u his hotel at Te Aute township. Acting upon "information received," Constable Strudwick, of our local police force, proceeded on Sunday to the scene of action, and the result of this visit was the arrest of two men named Collins and Whittingham (alias Wilson) and a Maori named Hapuka Puka. All three prisoners were brought up subsequently to Waipawa in custody of the police, and arraigned before A. St. C. Inglis, Esq., J.P. to-day. The two pakehas were charged with the double offence of theft and housebreaking, and the Maori (who has turned witness far the Crown in the housebreaking affair) with larceny only. The bench remanded - the prisoners to Tuesday morning, Hapuka Puka being allowed out on bail. The County Ploughing Match Association held a meeting to-nigbt in the Oddfellows' Hall, when a committee consisting of the following was appointed :— Messrs Lawrence, Bowden, Watts, A. Jones, Gow, Oorskie, McGreey, Peebles, and White.. It was also arranged to hold the annual ploughing meeting on June 15th on a piece of land offered by im Mr Watts of Kaikora. There ia every } prospect of the. coming meeting being a most successful one. Improvements are the whole rage in Waipawa at present. After a long r ,, hold •out," the local Road Board have actually got to see the necessity of doing something to Rose-street, and tenders are let, and in hand, for the work of repairs. The Rechabite Society has also done* a generous thing in buildiDg a very decent eet ot steps leading to the hall owned by them on land adjoining the main street. An alleged case of cruelty to animals is at present engaging the attention of Sergeant Kidd. The cruelty complained of is as follows:—A cattle driver, who was taking some animals through Waipawa on Saturday, left one beast, which had wrenched its shoulder and became crippled, lying on the bare river bed from Saturday to Sunday evening, without food or drink. On a representation of the matter being made to Sergeant Kidd the animal wae shot by him on Sunday evening. A Court case is likely to ensue. I observe by flaming posters, which are displayed in all parts of the township this evening, that the Confederate diorama will visit us to-morrow (Wednesday) and Thursday evenings.