WAIAPU.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 235, 2 January 1875, Page 2

WAIAPU.

(from OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) December 28. We have been visited with a copious fall of rain within the last few days, and the crops, which were previously in a very languishing state, now present appearance which indicates vigorous resuscitation. The wheat, in particular, looks remarkably well, and hopes of obtaining a good crop are entertained. This cereal —even the early sown portion of it—is not, however, so far forward as it was at this time last year, owing, no doubt, to the unusually inclement state of the weather for upwards of two months after the the seed was put into the ground. Fruit and vegetables seem to be more abundant than they were last year, especially the latter. The road between Waiapu and Awanui has been lately repaired by Mr. Walker of the latter place, whom the District Surveyor, Mr. Winter, appointed to execute such work, from time to time, when here about six months ago, at a moderate allowance per annum. A similar arrangement has, I understand, been made with several other persons, down the coast, so that the track might be kept in constant repair, without h i ving recourse to the circumlocutionary routine of calling for tenders for these minor works —an improvemont which will be a ■saving to the Government, and a convenience to the public. Some of Major Bopa fa’s sheep having mysteriously disappeared of late, suspicion fell upon certain natives in the immediate neighborhood, including a young female ; and a watch was set upon them with the view of discovering their guilt or innocence in the matter. Last week such clue to the thefts was obtained as to have clearly led to the implication of the suspected parties, who were brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday week last, when sufficient evidence was adduced to warrant their conviction. The ease was remanded till next Court day, for the attendance of the District Assessors, who, with Mr. Campbell will decide as to the penalty to which these violators of the law are to be subjected. The usual course is, I believe, to fine the delinquents to the amount of four times the value of the property stolen, and in default of paymant to commit them to jail for a specified time. This is the only sheep stealing case of any magnitude that has occurred here for some considerable time past, and has consequently caused a little sensation. Had the district been adequately supplied with police protection thefts of this kind would be rarely perpetrated. No wonder, then, that the long promised detachment of the Armed Constabulary are anxiously looked for.

The good old custom of observing Christmas has, by no means, become obsolete in this part of the world, and the present season is one of joyous recognif ion amongst us. The natives thoroughly understand the philosophy of merrymaking at Christmas, and are not a whit behind the Europeans in this respect. They keep, however, within the bounds of propriety, and so far they are to be commended. Outdoor amusements were, on Boxing Day (last Saturday) wholly confined to horse racing, in which many took part with all the eagerness of professed sportsmen. The scabby sheep nuisance has not been yet abated, notwithstanding what has been done to induce the Government to take effective steps for the immediate repression of the disease. This portion of the East Coast has been long enough kept as a quarantine ground for sheep, but it appears there is a disposition on the part of our rulers to keep it longer for that reprehensible purpose. Those who have lately leased runs in certain parts of the district cannot stock them with sheep until scab is eradicated; and thus inconvenience and loss are unnecessarily incurred. Proper legislation would have alienated the evil, and to our collective wisdom must be attributed the blame of neglecting to introduce a measure that would bring the natives under the operations of the Scab Act, the same as the Europeans. Common sense dictates that no distinction whatever should be made between these two sections of the community in so important a matter. The Maories are just as capable of complying with that Act as the Europeans are, and had the law confirmed it they would have done so, and the natives themselves would have reaped the benefit of such observance. Their being permitted to rear scabby flocks has greatly militated against their own welfare, as some of them candidly acknowledge. The absence of restrictions has led to a depreciation of their sheep to such an extent as to render them unsaleable, and as for the little wool they yield, it has to be disposed of at a sacrifice owing to its inferiority. It is, therefore, quite plain that the existence of scab is not only a source of loss to those whose flocks are infected, but also to the colony at large. How long, then, is such an undesirable state of affairs to be tolerated ? The remedy is simple enough, but if not applied it cannot produce any salutary effect. The total destruction of the sheep is, in the first place, essential to the extirpation of the disease ; and, in the second place, it is necessary,to, pass a law for its future prevention in native districts. In short, there must be one law, and only one, for Europeans and natives on the subject—a consolidation which is urgently needed. One. of cur oldest European residents — Mrs. Dun an, wife of Capt. Duncan, Onarnuka —' a passed away from amongst us at the ripe age of sixty-five. She had been in a somewhat indifferent state of health for several months past, but her last illness was, I believe, of a comparatively short duration. Mrs. Dunean — who was a native of Glasgow —was one of those kind, social, and genial beings whose good qualities seldom fail to secure to their possessors the lasting esteem and warm friendship of all who came in Ire-

quent contact with them, as was notably the case with the diseased, and her demise, is, therefore, the more regretted. Her remains were interred in a spot selected by herself for her grave, near her house, which is also not unlikely to become the last resting place of her survived husband, who is well advancedin years —bordering, as he is, upon, if not past, the period of earthly sojourn generally alloted to man —“three score years and ten.” Capt. Duncan was, in his younger days, and until he emigrated to New Zealand, engaged in the British and North American trade. For many years he commanded a coasting vessel trading between Auckland and Poverty Bay. Mr. Sheet is busily employed surveying our oil springs, and we trust something further will be done towards their utilisation soon.