Waimate Plains.

Patea Mail, 17 February 1882, Page 3

Waimate Plains.

(from our corresponded t.)

Mannia.

Although (he coach now runs daily, there are complaints that mails for the Booth do not go beyond Hawera until the day following arrival there. As the Opnnako coach invariably makes good time, the mail service should bo more complete in this particular. Business people find this delay inconvenient and annoying, and look to the Post Office authorities for better management in the future. It is high time the management of the streets about here was in the hands of a Town Board. Just opposite Lloyd’s hotel there is a regular trap for unwary horsemen in the shape of a deep drain cut some months ago by the A.C’s. A number of accidents have taken place in consequence of the existence of this nuisance, and unless something is done to remedy the matter I shall probably soon have to report that some unfortunate has broken a limb. The drain is completely hidden by high grass and weeds growing over it.

On Saturday night last a meeting was held at Mcßae’s Auction Mart—• which by the way is a fine structure, and very suitable for public meetings &c. —for the purpose of forming a building society. Mr William Cowern, who was present from Paten, explained the working of Building Societies, and dealt very fully with the subject. At the close of the meeting nearly 100 shares were applied for. A provisional committee, secretary and treasurer, and solicitor were appointed to act until next meeting, which takes place shortly. I hear that there are plenty of promises of support, and I have not the slightest doubt but that a society of this kind well managed will prove beneficial to a large number of the residents, and profitable alike to investing shareholders. The natives are now selling peaches and apples in large quantities. A number of Otakeho natives went in on Sunday to Hawera with several cart-loads, the contents of which they disposed of in their usual way, by hawking the fruit about in small kits.

The Manaia natives are now busy fencing-in part of their reserves, in order that their horses and cattle may not ‘go astray. It would have been much more profitable to them had they done this before instead of paying so much attention to Te Whiti.

Several contracts for metalling were let on Monday last by the Waimate Road Board. The principal jobs fell to the tenders of Kearns & Co., Manaia. The formation of several roads in the vicinity of Manaia has been completed and the work taken over. The low prices per chain at which some of the work was done prevented several contractors’ from tendering for the last contracts; but one well known on the coast, who for a long time has been tendering for work without success, managed to get a job at last. He had made a mistake in his calculations and put in for the work at about half what the others did. Whether he will go on with the work or not I have not heard. The agricultural statistics are now being taken on the Waimate Plains, which are included in the Wanganui Agricultural District,

l£opun or Kuamne, near Alexandra. Probably the latter will be decided upon, as more suitable for the European visitors. Tawhiao is issuing invitations and making preparations for the native meeting, which will be held next mouth. The meeting will be held at Kopua or Ruahino—probably the latter settlement. It is reported that a large number of Auckland citizens propose to proceed to the meeting. Their motives are varied.