WAIROA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 184, 4 July 1874, Page 2

WAIROA.

(from our own correspondent.) Is it not the people of Siam, who, when they get a white elephant are sadly nt a loss to know on whom to bestow it ? Wo have our punt now, and great is the battle as to where it is to be placed. Every storekeeper, i.e., every other inhabitant, wants the ferry directly opposite his shop. The natural site, as well as the one easiest constructed, and the safest in case of freshets, is at the end of the Kapu road : but as this benefits only one end of the town, the other is, of course, at daggers drawn about it, and have petitioned the Council accordingly. Up country settlers, who are by far the most interested, do not appear to have any say in the matter at all, aud it would seem they are lhe people chiefly for whose convenience the ferry is made. An indignation meeting was held lately to protest against the proposed re-distribution of seats for the council, as by it, Wairoa and Moliaka only get one member ; this is justly felt to be a great hardship as we have difficulty enough in getting the small amount we do in ihr shape of grants for roads, &c., and if we had a member less, the estimates might be reduced in lhe same ratio. It seems to be the rule in Napier to sneer at the land in this district, but let the gentry who do so take a ride over the inland Poverty Bay road, and some of the finest, and most suitable country for sheep runs, together with ready-made orchards, will delight their eyes. The want of a post office at Frasertown is, 1 am,informed, greatly felt; such a small boon would be doubtless granted on application. A pound is to be shortly starfeJ al Clyde, in order to encourage neighbourly feeling, &e Cattle and working bullocks are in great demand here for Poverty Bay. Mr. Allan Jl'Donald and Mr. Kelly of the “Shamrock” are often this way buying stock. I think there is more traffic in* that line with the Bay than with Napier; our interests are more identical with yours. A musical and dramatic entertainment is promised al the opening'oT the new Government school -building—a welcome addition to the few amusements procurable here, to do away with the ennui of the long winter nights. The weather until lately has been unprecedentedly bad. There is a great, gathering of Wairoa natives at Te Reinga to celArate the deposit, of some bones in the caves there, said bones having been removed from the Kopaue, in the Waikaromoana country. The great excitement lately has been a political one, we have all turned politicians for the nonce, and nearly every other man is a newspaper correspondent. Telegrams are posted up telling us what we are to get from the generosity of the Napier Council (these telegrams are very few) as well ns those measures that are not calculated for our benefit (these are, by far, the more numerous.) Public meetings have been held ; speeches have been made; and great indignation expressed. We are cooler now, and in another week or two, our bosom will be unruffled ; but still the fact remains that we are far from satisfied with Mr. Ormond. He wants to knock off a member from the Northern district.; ha laughs at the Volunteer petition ; he does not immediately discharge the Provincial Engineer, when requested—l may say, ordered-, and he does not place £20,000 or 30,000 on the estimates for a dray road to Napier. Now can human emluranco stand much more of t his ? Why not form ourselves into a county! Or electa Superintendent of ourown !! Or else march to Napier and enforce our own terms at the point of Ihe bayonet I! I I can assure you that in the present state of popular effervescence, it would be hard to predict what we will not do. At a late meeting a speaker proposed t.|iat the ratio of freight and passage, by the ss. Fairy be cut down by the Council; lie omitted to state Aom, and unhappily, as no seconder could be found for" such a benevolent (imposition, it. fell to the ground. With regard to the draw road, if il ever is made (which is doubtful —more than doubtful) deuced little dray traffic could take place along it; the expense of cartage would be four or five times as great as shipboard ; but. we want something to figlit about, and the inland road is as good a subject to fall foul of as any other. You Yangs.