WAIAPU.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 199, 26 August 1874, Page 2

WAIAPU.

(FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) August 22. The Bay of Plenty is to be provided with an additional Native School, at a locality North of Cape Runaway, where there is a considerable Native population. A carpenter named Buchanan has contracted for the erection of the necessary buildings, and the work is to be completed within a specified time. Tliis will make the fifth school in the Bay of Plenty, and it is said that even this number is not adequate to the requirements of the district ; and that application will,, therefore, be made for more. J The GqVernor,'in his replytoan address presented to him during his recent visit to Taupo, counselled the Natives to ask the Government to establish schools wherever required, in order that they might be placed upon a level with Europeans as regards educational facilities ; and it would appear that His Excellency’s advice is not to be lost sight of in Maoridom.

Death has lately removed one of the Bay of Plenty chiefs, whose name was Martin, and who is spoken of as an estimable man in all the relations of life. Both Natives and Europeans , highly esteemed him, and such was the confidence placed in him that his advice was greatly sought and invariably taken in the district in which he resided. His funeral was the largest that took place in the district for many years past. Inquiry has lately been made, by letter, by a gentleman who resides in the Northern part of the province.of Otago, as to whether or not the land situated in the East Coast peninsula is suitable for small farmers ; and if so, upon what terms it could be so occupied. The communication was addressed to a gentleman on this coast who has replied to it—giving the desired information as fully as possible ; but at same time stating. that nothing practicable could be done in the matter unless the Government made the requisite arrangements for the settlement of the land in question. The land laws of Otago having been framed with an especial view to the encouragement and benefit of capitalists and runholders ; small settlers experience no small difficulty in locating themselves in that province, and at rhuch inconvenience and sacrifice; and they would, therefore, gladly avail themselves of an opening elsewhere which would offer greater inducements to them than Otago does. There is unfortunately a most remarkable disparity of classes in New Zealand, and the baneful effects of this anomaly are being, gradually felt, and will, in process of time, operate prejudicially to the best .interests of the country. We have too many pastoralists and too few agriculturists ; but now that immigration is pouring in upon us with no ordinary rapidity, and likely to do so for years hence we shall ere long, have a preponderance of the tillers of the soil, for whose pernian ent settlement amongst us we must make provision, to prevent them from removing to the free selection colonies of Australia, where they can be readily suited with land in sections varying from 40 to 300 acres upon the easiest terms.

The Tologa Bay postal petition has not yet reached us, although it was stated to nave been on its way hither two months ago. What lias become of it, I know not, and cannot, therefore, give any account of it. ■ It does not seem to have been forwarded to the proper quarter, or something would have been heard of it by this time. There is no difficulty in obtaining the required postal accommodation if the affair is gone about methodically and energetically; but unless "this course is strictly followed failure must be the inevitable result. Tne petition—if ever such a document was prepared—was the emanation of a public meeting, at which our postal grievance appeared to have been well discussed and such relations passed upon the subject as were deemed necessary ; but if these resolutions have not been practically carried out, their effect must have been neutralised, and the matter will require to be’fftken up de novo.