PROGRESS OF THE PATEA DISTRICT.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 220, 19 May 1877, Page 2

PROGRESS OF THE PATEA DISTRICT.

[from THE TARANAKI HERALD.] ( H aw era— Continued.') In 1872 it was a rare thing to see natives about the town, but now they are there in large numbers, and seem to be well supplied with money, which they spend freely. I was told by a shopkeeper that in New Plymouth it was reckoned to get Maori trade one day in the week, but at Hawera it was the same good trade every day. Mr Civil Commissioner Brown seems to be very popular in this district, not only with the Natives, but with the Europeans likewise. He is very outspoken, it is said, with the former, and social with the latter, and is generally liked. The Waimate Plains are looked upon in this district as likely soon to be in the hands of the Government to operate upon. The Civil Commissioner has put on a bold front, and is having the land surveyed. He has, I hear, had a line cut, marking the boundary of the confiscated land, which was done unknown to the natives. It is said that a Native in argument with the Civil Commissioner, asked him how he knew which was the confiscated land, and where it commenced? to which the Commissioner replied that if the Native went and looked, he would see it marked out, and a line cut showing the boundary. The Native went and looked, and the question seems to be settled with him. There are three or four survey parties at work on the plains, I believe, each of which are visited occasionally by the Natives, who order the surveyors to desist from their work. They do so for a time, and when the natives leave to go and tell the other parties to drop what they are doing, they go on again with their work. The

rough survey for the Land Purchase Department is proceeding very rapidly, and the public may expect to hear in a very short time, if the work goes on as it has boon doing, that the valuable territory so ranch coveted for settlement, has at last been acquired. There is a large trade being done in the Hawera District, and all the goods coma by way of Wanganui. The cost of the land carriage, the expense of transhipment at Wanganui, the charge of wharfage, &c,, are very heavy, which being added on to the goods makes things considerably dearer at Hawera than at Now Plymouth. If once the Mountain Road was open for cart traffic, Hawera word I be supplied by Taranaki, for they would not only be able to get their goods cheaper but quicker also. By opening the Mountain Road we should tap a wealthy district, and the comparatively small sum required to do it would more than pay the tradesmen in New Plymouth by the extra amount of business they would do, if they undertook it themselves. Once open communication by that road and we should bo able to participate in some of the advantages our neighbours are enjoying down south. Whilst Nature has done so much for this district, it is impossible not to recognise* what increased skill and appliances may yet do towards assisting the reproduction of the soil; but whilst grazing pays so well, I do not suppose the settlers at Patoa will feel inclined to go in for husbandry at present. Strangers passing through the district do not fail to notice the enormous area of ground allowed to remain only in grass, and it does seem a pity that land so luxuriant should remain untillcd. When the cattle and sheep have eaten all the good out of the land, then we may expect to hear of the settlers beginning to plough it up, and if the soil does not yield as they consider it should do, it will be said it has been over-rated. Bctvraen Hawera and Carlyle there is a good road, and the rivers bridged. The latter cross the rivers at right angles, but have no doubt been placed so as to save expense in their construction.

Strangers and country settlers coining to Carlyle, are very often at a loss to know which is the best and cheapest General Deanery and Clothing Establishment in the ‘ district. XL A. Adams’ Cardigan House, offers special advantages that can be met with nowhere else in the district. He keeps the largest and best assorted stock of every description of drapery goods, imported direct —and from the best colonial houses ; which, being bought on the most advantageous terms, and havingthorough knowledge of the business, enables him to offer goods of sterling quality at juices that cannot be improved on by any other house in New Zealand. Every article, is marked in plain figures, from which there is no deviation ; so that inexperienced people are as well served as the best judges, the terms being net cash, without rebate or abatement of any kind. Note the address —It. A. Adams ; Cardigan House, nearly opposite Town Hall, Carlyle.— advt. JlolloKay's Ointment and Pills—Rheumatism, Neuralgia.—lt is sometimes difficult to determine which of these diseases is afliicling the sufferer, but such uncertainty is immaterial if Holloway 7 ’s remedies be used. They alleviate and cure all muscular and nervous pains. In hereditary rheumatism, after bathing the affected ' parts witii warm salt water, Holloway’s Ointment should be well rubbed upon the spot, that it may penetrate and exert its soothing and regulating properties on the deeper vessels and nerves which being unduly excited, cause both pain and swelling. Holloway’s treatment has the merit of removing the disease without debilitating the constitution, which was the inevitable result of the bleeding, mercury, and colchicum practice formerly adopted in these complaints.