HAWKE’S BAY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 226, 28 November 1874, Page 2

HAWKE’S BAY.

(from a correspondent.)

On all sides one cannot fail to hear that Hawke’s Bay is a most prosperous province, anil a casual observer, like myself, is inclined to conclude that our prosperity, which perhaps is now at its zenith, generates the indifference we evince in matters political. However, we varied the programme during the visit of Sir Donaid M'Lean, and we became political to a degree that was almost painful, but it was only transient. Ou hie departure we subside, of course, into our usual lackadaisical indifference. However there is a prospect before us that will, perhaps, cause a healthier interest to be taken here in public matters. I allude to the coming election of Provincial Councillors, and also of a Mayor for this town. These elections will eventuate shortly. The electoral rolls are now being busily prepared. The “ knowing ones ” point to the man who is to be our future Mayor, but since the universal sell in the matter of the winner of the Melbourne Cup, one becomes sceptical as to public favorites. The Honorable the Native Minister who sojourned with us, for a little while, took his departure for Auckland in the Southern Cross on the 21st instant. Probably his visit there will be to take part in the ceremony of administering the customary oaths of office to the new gubernatorial dignitary, the Marquis of Normanby, who left Brisbane (via Sydney and Melbourne) for Now Zealand ’some time since.

Again the Fates have been propitious to Hawke’s Bay, in the matter of immigration. The good ship Bebington, which has been anxiously expected for some little time, (having left England same date as Queen Bee) arrived in the roadstead on Friday last. She brought with her 300 immigrants all in good health, of whom about 60 were single women in the bloom and beauty of youth. I think it was an Auckland paper that once twitted the Agent General in London, upon not having (inter alia) even an eye for the beautiful, in selecting female immigrants for the colony. As far as my knowledge extends at present, I can only say, that if such an imputation was cast upon the Agent General in the case of the Bebington immigrants, any Court of enquiry would completely exonerate him from the charge. Since writing the above some of the immigrants have preferred charges alleging cruelty against the Captain. The enquiry is now being proceeded with, hut as the presence of reporters is prohibited, there is nought more than rumour to depend upon. The definite nature of the complaints has not been made public, nevertheless it has transpired that one (perhaps all) of the charges consists in the Captain having placed a woman in irons and kept her there for some time while on the voyage out. As a matter of course, the sensa-tion-loving portion of the community are anxious to know the details of the why and wherefore of such strong measures having been resorted to by the Captain. Rumour likewise hath it, that the leading female witness, following the worthy advice of Captain Cuttie, kept a diary of the passing events and incidents, while on board, no doubt to while away the tedium of a protracted voyage. Perhaps to some t hese “ jottings by the way 1 ’ will add a piquancy to the investigation, which it might not otherwise possess. Colonel St. John mot with an accident the other day, that almost engendered an obituary notice. He was in the act of dismounting a somewhat skittish horse, opposite the Government Buildings, when, before he could extricate his foot from the stirrup, the animal bounded off like a flash of lightning, darted through the gate across the Government lawn, all the while kicking out furiously and dragging the gallant Colonel along the gravelly road. By tile merest chance the stirrup leather became disengaged from the saddle, and the Colonel was picked up, having fortunately sustained nothing worse than a severe shaking. At the Spit, Port Ahuriri, a firm, noted for its energy and enterprise has been most assiduous for some weeks past, in its boring operations for an Artesian well for that place. The men employed have now attained a depth of over 300 ft., but I am sorry to say without the desired result. On passing the place the other day, those beautiful lines of Mrs. Sigourney’s on the coral insects, were brought prominently to my mind. Slightly altered you might read them thus : — Boro on 1 Bore on 1 Ye Ephemeral train, With the Artesian rod, ye bore In vain. Aqua refuses to thy call To come, . For the very good reason— Perhaps there’s none. The new Court House which has been in course of construction for the last seven or eight months, has now so far approached completion as to be ready in about a week’s time for the carrying on of the Magisterial duties in it, instead of iu the Government Buildings, as at present.