WAIAPU.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 220, 7 November 1874, Page 2

WAIAPU.

(from our own correspondent.)

October 31. The stationing of a detachment of the Armed Constabulary here, sometime next month, is gratifying new’s to us. It is the dawning of a new era upon this longforgotten part of the East Coast, and, therefore, a matter of congratulation to all the rightly disposed portion of the inhabitants thereof. I advisedly use the words,‘•rightly disposed,” because lam cognisant of the fact that there are certain parties in the district who are decidedly averse to the introduction of European conservators of the peace —preferring, as fhey do —that the present effete native police managements should neither be disturbed nor superseded. The old regime —which has ever been a most objectionable one—is, however, about to be done away with, and it is high time it was. Hitherto the whole of the police duty has been performed by individuals totally unacquainted with the English language, and, indeed, with the ordinary duties of a Constable — an anomaly which does uot, perhaps, exist anywhere else in I the Colony. With such a staff of officers to execute his mandates, without a Court-house, a clerk, or a lock-up, it may easily be imagined that our Resident Magistrate’s position, as regards the maintenance of law and order, during the past eight or nine years, has not been an enviable one. Taking these serious drawbacks into account, ofie wonders how he has succeeded in discharging his onerous duties, and keeping the district in a tranquil state, for so long a period, so well as he has done, The police duty will now, happily, devolve upon the Armed Constabulary, and greater security to life and property than hasbeen yet experienced, may be anticipated. It is very probable that a mail will be shortly establised between here and Opotiki, for the accommodation of the Europeans and Natives- resident in that extensive part of the country; and if so letter bags will have to be conveyed by the troopers, which will entail additional work upon them. It is not unlikely that arrangements will also be' made for establishing a weekly instead of a fortnightly postal communication between Gisborne and Waiapu, and that the Constabulary will be called upon to alternate with the present mailman in performing the service. The redoubt for the men will, I bolitvo, be erected at Awanui, where Govern tient land is available, in an eligible situal oi. It has not been yet decided where the Court-house is to be b lilt—whether at Waiapu or at Awanui. Considering, however, that the river separates these two places, and that Awanui is contiguous to the Oil Springs, and also possesses comparatively g'od facilities for landing, it is not improbable that the edifice will be erected there.

Notwithstanding the number of vessels that are trading on this coast, between Auckland and Napier, we are in a sad plight with respect to the conveyance of

supplies hither. The inhabitants of the Chatham Islandscan scarcely be wore off than we are. The Pretty Jane ceased touching here long ago, and during the past month no sailing craft has given us a call, and starvation well nigh looks us in the face. Since the middle of September stores for Mr. Campbell R.M. have been lying at Gisborne, awaiting an opportunity of being forwarded to their destination, which opportunity has not yet offered. The Pretty Jane is earning too much money to trouble herself about small intermediate coast trade, and the Rover, the Effie Meikle, and other local traders arc so frequently detained by contrary winds, that there is no dependence them. Fortunately for us the storekeepers at Awanui have been yet able to supply us with flour, but as their stock is limited, and as potatoes are now unprocurable in this quarter, I fear we shall soon be compelled to substitute kumera or fern-root for bread. A short time ago £1 had to be paid to a Native for carrying n small bag of flour from here to the north side of East Cape a distance of about six miles. This is one of the untoward consequences of living in a sequestered part of the Colony like this. Some cases of petty theft and cruelty to animals were disposed of at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, a few days ago. A Maori, named Warilii—an old offender, whose incarceration in Mount Eden jail, a year or two ago, has not produced any reformation in him, and against whom there was a hostof charges—was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in the same place of confinement, and is to be forwarded, under escort, to Auckland by way of Gisborne. His thieving and oilier evil propensities have lately had full swing, and everybody is glad that he has been consigned to condign punishment. Another Native was fined £5, or the usual alternative for wilfully killing a horse, by beating him with a huge sapling. On this occasion Major Ropata, and Assessor Hotini sat on the Bench with Mr. Campbell. Arrangements are about to be made for holding the annual races here next January. Tho race course — which is already a good one—is to be considerably improved, and it is prognosticated that the ensuing meet will be a more successful affair than any that has hitherto taken place in the district. Mr. Walker of the Coaster’s Homo, Awanui. is making arrangements for sending another shipment of horses to Auckland. He has just completed the additions to his house, which is now a very comfortable one, and which additional accommodation will, doubtless, be duly appreciated by travellers.