WAIROA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1292, 8 April 1872, Page 2

WAIROA.

("FBOM OUa OWN OOBBESPoiffTDENT ] Clyde, April 4, 1871. T regret exceedingly to have to report the total loss of the Mahia, cutter, on Saturday evening last. Arriving off the mouth of the river on Saturday afternoon, from Napier, the wind blowing from the southward, and every appearance of a dirty night setting in, Capt. Hamilton determined to take the bar. Unfortunately, after having crossed the bar, the vessel grounded on the right, or north, beach of the entrance. There not being much sea on at the time, the passengers were landed, and not much apprehension was felt either for vessel or cargo ; but in the morning the sea increased, the vessel became a total wreck, and of her large and valuable cargo but a moiety was saved, and that in a very damaged state. Great excitement prevailed at Clyde, most of the settlers proceeding to the beach to render what assistance fcUev could—necessarily little after the break-up. The wreck was sold on Monday to Down Brothers for £7 15s. Messrs. Carter anil Burton, the former of Clyde, and the latter of Whakaki, appear to be among the heaviest losers by the lamentable affair, but there is scarcely a person in business here who has not sua tained loss, njoie or less. Some steps are about to be taken 1 believe for the reinstation or appoint merit of a pilot. This situation was formerly held by a native (Toha), who appeared for a time to discharge Ins duty satisfactorily, but he resigned, in consequence (as he states) of the total inadequacy of the pay tor the requirements of ihe station ; and the pilot reserve has remained without an acting occupant ever since. I have often been astonished at the apparent apathy displayed by the people here in a matter of such vital importance to the place Year after year wrecks occur, sometimes attended with loss of life fe.g, the Gravhng), and always of valuable property ; yet, beyond a sensation at the time, nothing has been done to obviate, or at least render less likely, a recurrence of such calamities, by the appointment of a qualified person to hold the office of pilot. Under the head of u Native Intelligence " I have but little to communicate, 'and that little unsatisfactory as far as regards the probability of Te Kooli's capture. He pas-ed the crossing of the Hangaroa—the Wairoa is so named above the Beinga fall—last week evading the detachments on the look out for him, and is now in all pro liability deep in his old Uriwera fastnesses again, or at Waioeka, A petition almost unanimously signed by the inhabitants has been addressed from Clyde to the Minister for Public Works for the extension of the line of electric telegraph via Wairoa and Turanga. As the Poverty Bay people have done likewise, we remain in rea sonable hope of the prayer of ouv petition being acceded tu.