WAIROA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 967, 14 March 1871, Page 2

WAIROA.

[from a cokresbonbent.] March 10, 1871. I am sorry to inform you that the little steamer Napier is now lying high and dry on the south side of the Wairoa heads. She was entering the river yesterday morning at about half past six, it being then high water, when she was struck by three or four heavy rollers in succession. Her stem being lifted completely out of the water, she lost steerage way, and came on shore. She is not damaged in any way, and J think they will gex, her off by this evening's tide. Major dimming, with his usual kindness, sent all the assistance he was able, and everything was safely landed undamaged. The passengers walked or were carried ashore after a pretty considerable fright.

The body of the missing man (Jones) has just been found close to where he was supposed to have been drowned. He was picked up by Mr Down, who was looking after firewood. An inquest will be held to-day. The nomination of candidates to represent this district in the Provincial Council took place at noon to-day, when Mr J. G. Kinross, was proposed by Mr Finlayson, seconded by Mr Prentice, and, there being no opposition, declared duly elected. The weather still continues unsettled, and if we have an early winter I fear it will damp the spirits of our friends, the Kgatiporous. The provisions landed from the Napier are on their way up to them.

I suppose by the time one or more people are drowned or frightened out of their lives something will be done by the Provincial Government towards making a passable bridle track over the cliffs under which poor Tait was drowned. At the present time travellers passing that dangerous spot are either obliged to risk their lives or else clamber over a tolerably high and very steep hill, covered with thistles, in many places up to the horses' heads, and no track. A few nights ago an orderly was knocked off his horse and very near drowned. The same thing happened to me a few months back, and no later than the night before last a Maori who was passing was all but drowned, only saving his life by clambering up a portion of ihe cliff, where, fortunately for him, a slip had lately taken place. The poor fellow lost his blankets and several other things, and arrived late at night, drenched to the skin, and nearly dead with cold, at Mr Watt's station at Whakamahia. It is really shameful that such a state of things is -allowed to continue uncared o for.