NOTES FROM WAIHI.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 458, 13 September 1879, Page 2

NOTES FROM WAIHI.

(fKOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The event of the past week here, as elsewhere throughout the colony, has been tbo polling for the election of a member for Egmont, which elicited an unusual interest. The friends of both candidates worked with a will, and, in Hawcra particularly, every encouragement was offered the tree and independent to record their votes. So many free drinks iiad not been seen in the district since the night of the Waihi bad, and, if Atkinson’s supporters drank to bis success in Sherwood’s beer, and vice versa, it showed at least a due appreciation of the quality of the beer, if not of the person who was expected to pay for it, and that the aforesaid free and independent was not too proud to drink even with a political enemy, no matter his color. The r ‘suit oi the polling was just what was expected, although it is creditable to Mr Sherwood to have polled so many votes against so old a favorite as the Major. The election tended to throw a little life into the townships of Nonnanby and Hawera, as, since the Maori arrests, things have'been very quiet both_ in amusement and business, .and were it not for tne presence of so many A.C.’s, business people in the former town might take a long vacation.

This remark reminds me that a correspondent of a Wellington contemporary, writing from Normanhy, baa sadly endeavoured to traduce the character of the A.C. Force, by aspersions as silly as they are jmtine. Although not all Admirable (Jhritchtons, the members of the force in this district. are as well behaved ae any similar number of men in any community ; and while not in any way desirous of d-pre-eating the powers and gallantry of the volunteers, which the aforesaid writer so much lauds in his brilliant communication, the presence of the A.C.’s has at present saved them from any public display «f their gallantry, and restored a tranquility to the town and neighbourhood which it did not possess under the protection of the corps he so much lauds. I have no personal knowledge of the Wellington paper’s correspondent, but he evidently does not write as one having authority to express the opinions of the people of the town in which he is a dweller, and rumour hath it that the smiles of a certain fair one towards the A.C.’s are the caus* of his unfriendly critiques. Railway extension is progressing in Norma nby„ and adds to the amount of public expenditure with which its pitizens are enriching themselves. The work at present is very light, consisting principally of

levelling and clearing ; but why the line should be Carried parallel with, and close alongside the main road, unless it be to mase the road a matter of history, no one can understand. ‘ The present extension goes from Norraanhy towards Stratford, but no extension of any importance is going,-' on to connect the more thriving town o£ Hawera with New Plymouth. But no doubt its energetic citizens will see that they get their share of loaves and fishes out of the new loan, to carry the iron way onto Wanganui,

We are somewhat in the dark as to what is being done, or going to be done, about native affairs, but the general opinion is that nothing will.be.done by tin l present Goyernm-jiit until it is known whether they have a majority in the new Parliament. HovVever, as we have now got together a very considerable armed force of Constabulary, which, \vith tire gallant volunteers, ought to be of some use (as they aie certainly some expense to the country), it is naturally expected that something will be done to establish the Queen’s authority in the! district, and no longer permit the peace and welfare of the colonists to be imperilled by the changeful but dangerous utterances of the fanatic Te Whiti. present state of suspense is very prejudicial to the district, as it prevents settlers from increasing their improvements, and depreciates the value'of property as well as deterring investments. We have watched with much interest wiiat action the Government would take - with respect to the Northern, natives, who shot at tlie:snrvey party, as an indication of how they are likely to act here ; and great is the surprise and disgust to find that instead of acting by warrant, as would have been done had the offenders been Europeans, and immediately arresting them, the matter is to bo left in the hands of the tribe to give the offenders up—or what? Echo answers, Hiroki’s case again, and such another state of affairs as unfortunately exists in the Taranaki District. Rumour hath it that the survey of the Waimate Plains is to bo immediately resumed under n force of A.C. If so, the sooner the better, but let such a force be sent as shall be equal to any sudden surprise from Parihaka. Wailii is expected to have a field day on Saturday next with the Hawera Football Club, which numbers among its members the redoubtable player Mr Bayly, who achieved the laurel for Wellington in its matches against the South. We are also promised a visit from the Opnnake Minstrels, but while fairly supplied wit it things temporal and drinks spirituous, it has been a subject of inii-h comment that we are quite ignored in things spiritual. For the last three mouths there lias been an average of 200 men at VVaibi and neighl oring redoubts, and yet no clergyman of any denomination has thought proper to visit us. We hope those gentlemen whose profession it is to cure souls are not of the opinion of the writer before alluded to—that the members of the A.C. Force have neiilier bodies to be kicked, or souls to be damned, but that they will mercifully look upon our infirmities. I am sure that the occasional visit of a clergyman would be received with pleasure by officers and men ; as well a» by fann’ies living on the station. 1 am aware (hat every effort is made by the K. C. Priest, when be visits the neighborhood, to get the men of his persuasion to .attend service, bat only a limited number can do so. Wailii, September 9, 1879.