NAPIER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 20, 22 January 1873, Page 2

NAPIER.

(from our own correspondent.) Thb want of regular steam communication with the various settlements on the East Coast is a matter of general complaint here at present. The Star of the South although regularly trading between Port Ahuriri and Auckland seldom diills either at Poverty Bay or Tauranga. Ten years ago the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company were compelled to have more boats on the Coast than they have now running. It has beeen mooted amongst a few of our traders whether it would not be desirable to form a company, purchase a boat suitable to the trade, and thus remedy the evils complained of, but the general public here have a great horror of companies, having been bitten so often by those who have promoted similar undertakings, to speak of a company is looked upon as another swindle, and therefore many projects fall to the ground simply on this account. In my previous letter I mentioned that a hitch had occurred between the Trustees of the land on which the Grammar School is erected and the directors of the. school. I hear and regret to state that this disagreement has caused a feud between one of the highest dignatarics of the Church and the local clergyman and his friends. The whole matter will be made public and fought out on the return of Mr. Ormond from Porangahau ; a meeting of the directors will then be called, and if they are unable to come to terms with the Trustees, the shareholders will have to be consulted as to whether it will be necessary to wind up or otherwise. It is to be regretted that just when the school is being placed on a sound footing, and becoming under the management of its Head Master (the Rev. J. M. Irvine) justly popular, that difficulties of such a nature should have arisen, and more especially that they should have emanated from such a quarter as they are stated to have done. It has not yet been officially gazetted, yet I hear that some 25 cases are set down for hearing before tho commission which is to sit here on the 3rd of February, and that now there is a probability of double that number of cases being placed on record. The first cases sent in were those of Tareha's with respect to the Little Bush, purchase. Karaitaina hearing the steps Tareha had taken, has, in self-defence brought other cases forward. Interpreters and agents are busy on their side hunting up evidence, and no doubt the Commissioners will be treated to a long list of wrongs done, what is to be tho final result, or what benefit will accrue from this Commission puzzles many. Tho majority of the public look upon it as a great farce and a waste of time and public monies. There is a rumour afloat that the Government has resolved to recall the Agent-General from England and to substitute in his place, the Hon. J. Hall, the present Colonial Secretary. Should this rumour turn out true it will be a sad blow to one or two of the members of the General Assembly, whose votes so long trembled in the balance during the last session, as they fully expected to be provided for ere this. Dr. Featherston is very unpopular in the colony just now, and in his new position has not realised the expectations of some of his former admirers. It is, however, but fair to mention that his friends in the colony state in defence of him that his unpopularity has been in a great measure caused by his refusing to appoint as emigration agents the poor relations of members of the Assembly who considered they had a prior right to billets, whether they were fit or otherwise for the position. There is no doubt, that from some cause matters are not working so smoothly as those who originated and supported the policy of 1870 would desire. I believe that Dr. Featherston throws the blame on those. who were formerly in office, and has written some pretty stiff despatches asking what minister he is supposed to be under, as by each mail he receives contradictory instructions, and being therefore unable to carry them out, he has had to follow the bent of his own inclinations, a course which those who know him best, thinks he would in any case follow. We have late had two bankruptcy meetings both Maori cases which have been the topic of conversation at the “ Corner ” during the present week. The first meeting had reference to Te Hapuku. A week or so back a notice appeared in the local papers in which it was stated that parties to whom he was indebted, would receive the amount of their respective accounts provided those accounts were sent in to his solicitor Mr. Lascelles, some of these accounts were sent in in due form, but owing as yet to some unexplained cause, there was no money forthcoming. The Trustees of the estate then called a meeting x of creditors to which Mr. Lascelles was invited. In reply to queries put at the meeting Mr. Lascelles stated that his client would not pay interest on the accounts so long overdue, nor -would accounts in which spirits formed an item be recognised. A stormy discussion arose, and

a resolution was ultimately agreed upon in which Hapuku was strongly recommended to “ stump up ”at the earliest opportunity as he is now considered to be in a position to do so Tho chiefs reply has not yet been received, but if be, his adviser, and the man with the iron mask work wisely, they will speedily act upon the advice so kindly given. H The other meeting had reference to a chief resident at \\ aipukurau named Uripeni Pukara. He is stated to be possessed of lands, which are leased to a gentleman who takes an active interest in. the welfare of the native race, and more especially in those natives who have lands to Kase. Knowing the greedy propensities of the Napier traders, when he finds his native friends in difficulties lie throws his protecting arm around them, and uses his utmost efforts to save them from their clutches. In this case Mr. Russell appears as a creditor to the no small amount of £6OO odd. As a matter of courtesy under the circumstances, I need scarcely mention that Mr. Lascelles was Uripeni s solicitor. It was found necessary to carry out the views of certain parties that this native should go through the whitewashing process. A meeting of his creditors was called, whieh took place in the Court-house on Tuesday last. The creditors made a stand against the proceedings and called the attention of the Registrar to the fact that the affirmation repaired by law had not been made within tho specified period.* The Registrar thereupon being in doubt as to whether he could act as Trustee refused to proceed further; a warm discussion ensued between the solicitor and the creditors, but ho could not shake their determination ; since then, however, the Registrar has consented to act, and the creditors are waiting to see the next act in this burlesque. .The annual rifle match between the Napier Rifle Club and Wellington Volunteers came off this week, when tho former were again vic* torions beating their opponents bv six points. The Wellingtonians, I am informed, take their whipping with anything but good grace. Although our shots this year have had no rifle range, worth calling the name, and therefore little or no practice, yet they have managed to be the victors in every contest, which is greatly to their credit. Nearly all the navvies who arrived by the Chile have been set to work ou tho railway works at M aitangi. They aro a fine strong body of men, but our colonial beer appears to upset their equilibrium. The late heavy rains have caused considerable damage to the farmers residing on the low lands surrounding Napier. In the upland districts it has done on the other hand great good. The ship Robert Henderson sailed for London last evening with a cargo valued at £57,250, she was in good trim, and it is expected will make a capital run home.