WAIMATE PLAINS.

Patea Mail, 5 October 1880, Page 3

WAIMATE PLAINS.

i [prom our correspondent.J

Hawera, Monday,

A detachment of the constabulary consisting of about 70 loft the Pungarehu camp Friday morning at 7 o’clock and arrived at Opunake about 5 o’clock after a heavy march of some 25 miles. Most of the men were pretty well wet as the rivers were up in consequence of the heavy rain that had fallen previously. Two bullock drays and about half a dozen horse drays brought up the rear. At about 9 next morning they were again on the road inarching to Manaia where they arrived about 5 in the evening, well fagged after two days’ march. They will proceed at once erecting a redoubt on the township. Some 90 men will be stationed there. I believe another detachment will be sent from Cape Egmont in about a month to Okaiawa township, where there will also be built a redoubt.

The Public Works contingent are still forming the road from Manaia to Novmanby, and are making rapid progress. In one or two cases the surveyors might have laid off better lines of road but as a rule they are pretty good. The Plains have had many visitors of late interviewing the long promised land and somewhat disturbing the porkers, of which there are thousands.

The contractors for gravelling will again be at work during the month. When the present contracts are completed there will be a good road to 000, but about four miles the other side ot that place requires some metal badly being very heavy and boggy, particularly after rain. Mr W. R. Prosser took his coach for the first time on Friday, returning on Saturday. It is his intention to start every Monday from Hawera, at 9 o’clock arriving at Opunake at about 1 o’clock, returning next day at same time, and so on during each week. He changes horses at Oeo. The coach was built by Mr Cookburn, ably assisted by his foreman Mr J. Hood, and is highly creditable to their workmanship. It will seat 6 inside and three outside. It runs easy and light though thoroughly strong. The business-men and the settlers of Opunake and Hawera should try and get Mr Prosser the subsidy for mail contract, as the running of a regular coach should prove a great boon to them-