WAIROA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 978, 27 March 1871, Page 2

WAIROA.

[from a. correspondent.] March 24, 1871. Nothing of much importance has transpired since I last wrote. The Ngatiporous are well on their journey inland by this time. They had pretty fine weather starting from hem —a good omen for them. News came down yesterday that they had captured a pa somewhere inland, but it was unfortunately empty. Perhaps we shall have better news next time. The ketch Mary Ann Hudson, from Napier, has just arrived, ami is now coming up the river. Our two flax-mills, belonging to Messrs. Burton and Cuff, are in full working order, and doing very well. Mr Burton's mill is at present worked principally by native labor, at least the out door portion of it; but I believe this arrangement is made to smooth difficulties with the lords of the soiL As Maoris are, however, notoriously fickle and changeable, an arrangement of this kind will soon tire them out, and give a chance of work to Europeans, many of whom would glarlv embrace the opportunity of getting settled employment of any kind. Mr Atward employs his spare time in making rope from flax cleaned at Mr Cuff's mill. I have seen several specimens extremely creditable to both the cleaner and the manufacturer; in fact, some specimens of flax produced by Mr Cuff, which I saw in town here a short time ago, were quite as good as any I saw in Auckland from the best mills in that district. We have had lovely weather here lately, and the place looks quite cheerful again af;er so much rain.