WAIAPU.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 153, 28 March 1874, Page 2

WAIAPU.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] March 21. Thi fine weather with which we were visited during the past month, and the month immediately preceding it, took a somewhat sudden change, a fortnight ago, when heavy westerly gales, accompanied with eppious falls of rain, set in. The rivers and creeks, without exception, have been so flooded as to preclude their ■frerng crossed for several days. Wells and springs, which were at a comparatively low ebb, from protraction of dry weather, have been amply replenished; whilst the grass has been surprisingly revived— giving the country the charming appearance peculiar to what might be termed a second spring. The WaiapU river—the largest of the streams — assumed very large proportions, within a short distance of its mouth, and washed away a considerable portion of the shingle embankment which stood between itself and the sea —thus making for itself a second entrance. During the severity of one of the gales, the steamer Murray put into our bay for shelter, for a few hours, on her passage to Auckland, whilst a sailing craft,-whose name ! have not been able to ascertain, took refuge in Hicks's Bay. Other vessels must have also experienced the fury of the tempest, somewhere northwards as far as Tauranga or Auckland, where they have been evidently detained for a few days at least; as, on Tuesday last, three steamers and four sailing vessels passed the East Cape Southwards —the wind on that day being unusually favorable. Weare slill visited with showers and violent gusts of wind, and the temperature indicates the approach of the cold season. We are, however, well prepared for the winter, as far as fuel is concerned —the beach at this place being strewn with drift wood of the best description of firewood. Here are thousands of tons of debris, consisting of huge trees, logs, and small timber, of miscellaneous sorts and sizes, borne down at flood tides, by the impetuous waters of the Waiapu, and generously placed at our disposal by that receiver-general—-tin* Ocean- —whose mighty surges impel the treasure ashore—for a treasure it is to us —immediately upon its being consigned to their power by the river current. It has often occurred to me that were this drift wood near a town one could make a little fortune thereby—it being admirably adapted for domestic use, not only from its having undergone a long process of seasoning by exposure to solar heat, but also from its being cut up into convenient lengths by the action of the water. When Waiapu becomes a populous township like Gisborne —as, I suppose it will, in process of time, when our attractive district is well settled by an industrious and progressive European population—the drift wood will, no doubt, be turned to the best advantage. We have territory enough for a large section of the redundant population of the mother country, of suitable colonizing qualifications. Here people might regard themselves ns little “ monarchs of all they I surveyed.” Dr. Hector arrived here, from Gisborne, | on Thursday last, in company with our Resident Magistrate, and started this morning on an exploring expedition, up the Waiapu Valley. He will, of course, visit the Oil Springs;—which, it is to be hoped, will be speedily utilized —as well as the locality where coal exists • and, above all, he will endeavor to solve the problem as to whether or not the regions of the Hikauranga Mountains —where the prospectors are still pursuing their researches —contain- gold. After his return hither, the Doctor, I understand, intends to visit Hicks’s Bay, Opotiki, Tauranga, and Tauj>o—returning" to the Empire City via Manawafu. In making this extensive tour our Government Geologist has, douL less, more than one object in view, and the result of his explorations may, therefore, be looked forward to with much interest. We are highly pleased with your leading article, anentthe postal anomalies of the East Coast, which must, sooner or later, be adjusted so as to keep us abreast of the advancing tendencies of the age. The plan you suggest is, I think, the best that could be adopted, and I feel certain there is, to use an Americanism, go-a-headitiveness enough in the district to carry it out. By-the-by, ought not the new Postal Inspector—who, according to the Hon. the Premier’s reply to a question put to him, in the House, during the last session of Parliament, was to be speedily imported from England—to be making his appearance soon? The services of such an officer are much required in the colony at the present time.

It has been lately rumoured, in this quarter,, that a Light House is to be erected at the East Cape, and that the telegraphic wires are also to be extended to that place, as at Castle Point. The shipping interest of the Coast urgently requires these concessions, and as the present Ministry are determined to keep pace with the times, there is little doubt of their being willingly made. The next move in the direction of civilization must be the improvement of our roads, and the establishment of settlements on the Coast. Some of our inhabitants are beginning to appreciate the comforts and conveniences that appertain to a residence at Gisborne, to such an extent, as to contemplate removal thither-'the Hon. W. Morgan being, it is said, one of them.