NORMANBY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5798, 29 October 1879, Page 3

NORMANBY.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) October 27, 1879. That first ray of light, which we have been so long and anxiously waiting and watching for, reached here yesterday from Wellington, and was the occasion of intense delight. The ” glad tidings of great joy” that Mr. Reader Wood had exercised the moral courage to renounce the Greyites and all their works to join the Government, and that he was followed by several others, thereby securing a majority to the Constitutional party, has made the whole district jubilant. It was all along believed that the outcome of the deadlock would be that some one of the forty odd would break the spell, and to Mr. Reader Wood belongs the honor and credit of being the first to move in the right direction, and thereby to strengthen the hands of an honest Government, and to assist in retrieving the colony from tho disgrace and contempt into which it has been brought by the late Government. The colony is to be congratulated on the important event. It is too much to expect that the blind followers who shout “ Grey, and more power to him,” would do anything to assist. It is, therefore, very gratifying to find that “ the love of fair play ” which so generally animates tbo breast of an Englishman has come to the rescue, and that now we may look forward to a long period of good government, and reasonably hope for a return to our former prosperity. The Hawera Light Horse Volunteers have had a week’s drill under the immediate command of Major Noake, and I have no doubt that gentleman’s strong opinions, so clearly and forcibly expressed on the occasion of the opening of the Volunteer drill hall at Wanganui, will be further strengthened by the smart and soldier-like appearance which the corps presents. The Normanby Rifles were inspected yesterday by Major Lockington, and were put through a very long exercise, the movements and precision of the men eliciting much praise. I regret, however, to write that the numbers are not so large as could be wished, and this is entirely attributable to the great dissatisfaction that is daily expressed re the unjust apportionment of the recent pay. Numerous cases' are daily related of cruel injustice. Tho man acting as clerk to the captain gets £l7, while a mounted man (who risked his life four times in arresting prisoners, gets the paltry sum of 30s. Nature has now put on her beautiful garments, and the late brilliant weather has had the effect of showing them in every shade of color. Normanby now possesses an excellent nursery ground. An enterprising nurseryman six months ago purchased ten acres of dense bush go thick with timber and supplejacks that tho sun could not penetrate. Xu this short time it is cleared, and iu its centre is a rrood large house and other buildings, whilst vegetation, fruit trees, and flowers abound all around it. It may he truly said that what was a wilderness and a solitary place six months ago now “ rejoices and blossoms as the rose.” , That long talked of rifle match, Normanby Rifles versus A.C.’s, came off on Monday last, and proved very exciting, and notwithstanding the A.C.’s had been gaining time to ensure success, and that the team consisted of four sergeants and their best men, they just wou the match by one point. The sheeting, however, of the Normanby men was not their best; but it is highly commendable that Volunteers, who have mostly to “ earn their bread by the sweat ot their brow,” should be equal to the “ pick and flower ” of her Majesty’s army in New Zealand, and this, too, after a month’s special preparation by those who have nothing else to do. The men of Normanby are as irrepressible as the grasses, which seem to grow the more they are eaten off, and therefore are open to try conclusions with all comers.

Since the return of the Maoris from the last Parihaka meeting their conduct has been most

bounceahle and insulting. Europeans are called dogs and pigs, and 'le Whiti’s prophetic speeches and signs are retailed, showin'r that he is about to assume kingly power over all the colony, and annihilate all pakelms except those who hove possessed themselves of one or more of the “ dark beauties ” as life-long companions. As all this fanaticism is the result of Exeter Hah treachery, is it not time to give him a few lessons from the War Office ? The Jar"e provision contract works very badly. It°has two evils—the men are worse fell, and have to pay higher prices. It is not, therefore, surprising that loud complaints are made, and that redress is about to be solicited, Alen can scarcely be expected to take the front, and do their duty, with discontent rankling in their bosoms. Ibis is a fair specimen of the care and interest taken in the welfare of the public generally by the “ Great liberal Party.” In order to be kept in power they bestowed this gift on a person who would bo a Gi-evite, or any other “ ite,” to make a “ rise,” and the public suffer accordingly. Buildinq is again making great progress, and as civilisation has advanced to toe banks of this Jordan” (tho Waingongoro) and can see tho “ Promised Land,” the question remains— When shall we cross over and take possession ?