NEW PLYMOUTH.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 411, 26 March 1879, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH.

(from a con res pond pint.) March 17. Patea- will soon be nearer to ns than it ever was ; at least, when the Mountain Road has been finished, it won’t bo considered very hard travelling to Patea in a day. Every summer more persons travel down your way, and I don’t think they all come back here again. I expect that before six months the gas works will be close on completion. The house, for the manufactory is nearly finished, and 1 hope soon to hear of the arrival of the pipes. • The contract is also out for the waterworks, but I doubt whether anyone will take it on the system of part “ tick," as the Council will not be able to guarantee the money. The railway to the Sugar Loaves is also under survey by the Harbor Engineer, but when it will be completed is quite another question. The Parihaka meeting is now being talked of, as a topic of conversation, but except as regards the eating, 1 don’t think it will end in much. A Maori bo}’ said to me—“ Plenty kaikai, go to Parihaka; kapai te kai.” Several parties of white Maoris have gone to the meeting, hut I don’t envy their lot, as the rain is now coming down, slow but sure. The regatta and races are the next on the tapis, but I hoar very little of either in the way of betting. Times are not very brisk here, except in the bankruptcy line, several having gone smash with tidy liabilities. March 19. Several parties returned from Parihaka yesterday, and report that Hiroki, the murderer, was showing himself off to advantage on Sunday last, marching in front of several of the whites with only a small piece of a mat around him, and a doublebarrelled gun, gesticulating, and putting out his tongue at them in bravado. Not bad that, for one who, if white, would have been bunted to the death, but, as black, is allowed to show himself in pride in front of white men, in a mojiancing manner. I heard that the taunts and insults offered by him, showed that he is not at all frightened at what he has done, and would no doubt, if he has the chance, do again. Several Maoris have come from the Parihaka meeting, as feed for horses was scarce there. Our nesv Inspector of Police, is playing havoc with some parties here, especially the keeping of the footpath free from boxes, and the hursts from wandering in the streets.