WAIAPU.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 157, 8 April 1874, Page 2

WAIAPU.

[PROM OUR OWN COBBISPONDINT.] April 4. TnE weather haring been squally, rainy, untl altogether unsettled of late, few vessels passed either up or down the Coast, during that p iriod ; and traders have been consequently disappointed in the receipt of their supplies, as well as in the shipping of produce for the A uckland market. The schooner Rover, and one or two other coasters were expected here some days ago, but none of them have yet mode their appearance. I have been informed that overtures have been recently made to Captain Palmer, of the Pretty Jane, who is well acquainted with the Coast, besides being an old favorite with most of the inhabitants thereof, to call, either regularly or occasionally, at Awanui, to laud and receive pnssengeis and cargo, but that nothing definite has yet been done in the matter. The requirements of the district really demand that an arrangement- of this kind should be speedily made ; and ns a steamer is always preferable to a sailing vessel an opportunity now presents itself to the Pretty Jane to secure the trade of this part of the East Coast, which latter, at the present time, occupies a most anomalous position as regards communication with Auckland or Poverty Bay. Dr. Hector, after prosecuting his geographical and other researches in the district for ten days, took hie departure hence for Gisborne on Wednesday last. Short as his stay here was, he explored the Waiapu Valley and other localities north and south of East Cape, and was much gratified with the country —characterizing it, as I believe he did. as very suitable for settlement. He spoke of our Oil Springs as a source of wealth that might be turned to great advantage, and expressed surprise that this has not been yet done. The probability was that the Springs were more extensive than had been yet supposed, and as to the quality of the oil, it was, he had no doubt, of a superior description. Time not permitting him to explore the portions of the Hikauranga Mountains that are said to indicate auriferousness, the Doctor was not able to give any decided opinion as to the existence or non-existence of gold there. To the collection of fossils he devoted several days, and succeeded in discovering various new and interesting specimens, which will, I presume, be appropriated to the enrichment of the Wellington Museum. It is likely that the Government Geologist will visit these regions again next summer. The Native School at Aku Akn is about to be opened — the teacher appointed to take charge of it having arrived there a few days ago. There is likely to be a good attendance at this school, both parents and children being, I hear, solicitous to share the benefits of primary education. An application has, I understand, been lately made to the Native Department, through our Resident Magistrate, by the inhabitants of Tuparoa, for the establishment of a school there.

Captain Porter, accompanied by Major Pitt, visited these parts at the beginning of this week. The latter gentleman returned to Gisborne a day or two since, but the former has not yet taken his departure from amongst us. Yesterday Captain Porter held the Quarterly Native Militia Drill, in the immediate vicinity of the Waiapu Pa, and the uay being fine there was a good attendance. The Maoris acquitted themselves well in the exercise, and appeared to take a lively interest in the military art. The Captain visited the school here, and expressed himself very favorably in regard to the proficiency made by the pupils during the short period the means of instruction were placed at their disposal—proficiency which, he found, was gratefully acknowledged by the parents. A large number of natives left here this morning in boats for Poverty Bay, to attend the Maori gathering that is to take place there next week.

A case of cruelty to animals, which cannot be too strongly reprobated, occurred here a few days ago, when a valuable cow—the property of our Resident Magistrate — was seriously injured by being cut in the hip with an axe, whilst grazing out on the run. It is to be hoped that the wretched perpetrator of this dastardly act will be discovered and dealt with according to his deserts. Some time ago another of the Resident Magistrate’s cows was nearly destroyed by a stake being run into her near the shoulder blade.

The prospects of opening up the East Coast to Europeans for grazing purposes, are gradually increasing, and the natives generally ure desirous of furthering the object as much as possible—knowing, as they do, that the satisfactory accomplishment thereof must greatly conduce to their advantage. They have learnt that their brethren in the Waikato district derived no small benefits from the presence there of a European population, who by force of intelligence, friendliness, and industry, are rapidly transforming the natives into good, peaceful, and useful inhabitants; and they are consequently anxious to imitate them in these respects. Doubtless, it is by habitually mixing and dealing with the Europeans that the Maories can acquire a proper knowledge of those manners and customs that constitute civilised happiness, and they are not so obtusely minded as not to perceive this. In no wise are they second to the pakehas in matters in which the promotion of their own welfare is concurred ; but, unfortunately for themselves, they have long allowed prejudices towards the Europeans, coupled with over attachment to antiquated and superstitious notions, inherited from their forefathers, to thwart their better judgment—hence their somewhat anomalous position at the present day. The district continues to be visited by gentlemen in quest of sheep runs and I have been informed that some of these have spoken highly of its capabilities for either past oral or agricultural pursuits. Were it once proved to demonstration that a pavable goldfieid exists in this quarter, we should soon be favored with considerable accessions to our European settlers, come what might. We could not, of course, expect a rush similar to that which has lately taken place to the Palmer River, but that a fair sprinkling of gold seekers would find their way hither is a matter of certainty. The discovery of gold in any locality, however isolated or remote from any centre of population, has always proved an expeditious mode of peopling such locality; and although, upon its subsequent failure to yield the precious metal to a remunerative extent, it has been abandoned as an El dorado, yet many of those who have been attracted thither, and to whom further removals were repugnant, settled down there as small farmers and graziers, and prospered. In Australia there are innumerable instances of this kind. Noticing that considerable difficulty is experienced in raising the requisite funds I wherewith to defray the cost of building

churches at. Gisborne, I would respectfully suggest to the parties concerned the propriety of adopting a very convenient plan of muking up the deficiency, namely, Bruce Auctions. The term “ Bruce Auction,” is exclusively an Australian one—tile originator of it being a Mr. Bruce, a railway contractor, in Victoria who, at the completion of his contract, caused to be disposed of, by public auction, the whole of the tools and implements used in constructing the railway, together with some surplus stores, and handed the proceeds thereof, less the auctioneer’s commission, to the Managing Committee of the Church in which he worshipped, which was then in debt to the amount of £BOO. Bruce auctions, upon a different and more extensive scale, were afterwards successfully got up for the liquidation of similar liabilities, in other parts of Australia, and notably so in Queensland, where one sale of this description realized £5OO To these auctions free contributions of a very miscellaneous character are made by people of various religious persuasions, indiscriminately either voluntarily or through being solicited to that effect by a Committee of the particular church for whose benefit the auction is intended. At the sale which realized the £5OO the catalogue of articles to be submitted to the fiat of the hammer, comprised no less than 387 lots, amongst which were sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, rabbits, poultry, fruit trees farm and dairy produce, saddlery, groceries' ironmongery, clothing, toys, furniture crockery, boots and shoes, leather, guns and pistols, and a variety of other things too numerous to mention. One would imagine that in the present prosperous circumstances of Poverty Bay, there is wealth enough amongst the respective denominations there to meet the expenditure incurred in building the requisite number of churches for the district without aid from other quarters; and, undoubtedly, there is, if only Christian liberality were exercised as it ought to be. The rich seldom contribute towards ecclesiastical purposes according to their means; and as they do not, the burden of supporting publin worship chiefly falls upon the comparatively poor.