WAIAPU.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 247, 13 February 1875, Page 2

WAIAPU.

(from our own correspondent.) February 6. The erection of our court house—the timber for which has been already ordered —is to be proceeded with as speedily as possible, by Mr. Berry, of Gisborne, with whom arrangements to that effect have been n ade. The edifice is to be built at Waiapu, and not at' Awanui, as was at one time contemplated. It is to serve the double purpose of a Resident Magistrate’s and a N ative Lands Court, and to have a lock-up attached to it. The redoubt for the Armed Constabulary is also to be erected at Waiapu—it being deemed desirable that all the local Government buildings should be in one place, and as near the residence of the R.M. as possible. Mr. Berry has also to make additions to the residences of the native teachers at Aku Aku, and Kawa Kawa, and to put up the redoubt; and having all this work to perform within a specified time, he is expected here shortly. From what I hear Mr. Berny is an eligible tradesman, and will, no doubt, do ample justice to what he has undertaken to do —an improvement much needed in the execution of Government contracts, of a similar description, iu this part of the country. Another runanga was held by the Ngatiporous, last week, respecting the disposal of their land. There was a good attendance, and the subject was discussed at considerable length. Chiefs, Assessors, and other leading natives, including the Rev. Molii Turei, and Major Ropata, addressed the assemblage, and wore heard with attention. The respective speakers gave it as their decided opinions that the land should be retained in the possession of its owners, and not sold to the Governmen, aud a resolution to that effect was adopted by the meeting. The Ngatiporous are, of course, at liberty to do as they please with their own property, but if they only consulted their own interest better than they apparently do, they would at once agree to alienate their land to the Government, and thus allow a large and fertile territory to bo opened up for European settlement, as in other parts of the East Coast, where native land has been acquired by the Government. The Maories neither cultivate nor otherwise utilise their possessions, and yet they are averse to parting with them to those who would turn them to good account—a change which would materially benefit the owners themselves as well as the purchasers. It is a delusion on the part of many of the natives that if they can succeed in keeping the district locked up as it is, that they will fare better. Nothing of the kind. They would fare much better than they do if it was adequately peopled by Agriculturists, as on the Waikato, and in other localities, where native industry is in an advanced state as compared to what it is iu exclusively Maori settlements. If native districts are ever to be improved it is chiefly by Europeans it must be done. The Bay of Plenty natives look forward with pleasure to the settlement there of Mr. Vesey Stewart’s North of Ireland immigrants, but a different feeling evidently obtains amongst their brethren here. It is satisfactory to notice that the authorities are, at last, taking steps to prevent the overcrowding of steamers with passengers —an evil that has been often pointed out by the press; but too long tolerated by those who ought to repress it. Passengers are frequently subjected to intolerable inconvenience on board some of our colonial steamers, and in instances where this hardship has been complained of, redress was found to be unobtainable ; on the contrary, the height of insolence is known to have been given as the only compensation to which, it was thought, the parlies complaining were entitled to. Notwithstanding the exorbitantly high fares that are exacted by the New Zealand Steam Companies, the comfort of passengers seems to be very little studied, when we occasionally hear of as many as twenty, thirty, and forty persons being conveyed in excess of the number allowed by law. And although this overcrowding is well known to be not only a violation of the Passengers Act, but a fertile source of sea sickness and other discomforts, there still appears

o be a desire on the part of these companies to pursue the same objectionable course, notwithstanding the risk they run in doing so. If, in consideration of inconvenience arising front overcrowding, some reduction were to be made in the fares, people would be less disposed to grumble, but when “ the uttermost farthing ” has to be paid, without reference to comfort, dissatisfaction is the natural outcome of such treatment. As to the fares, they are higher in New Zealand than anywhere else, and ought to bo reduced. Just fancy £2 being paid for a passage from Poverty Bay to Napier, when the Atlantic can be crossed between Liverpool and New York for £3 I You would oblige your subscribers between Tologa Bay and East Cape, by publishing the the time table of the English and New Zealand mails, via San Francisco, for the current year —showing the dates of their arrival and departure at Auckland, Napier, and Gisborne, that it may be known when to post for, or expect correspondence from the mother 'I country. As a mail service is about to bo established between Waiapu and Opotiki, the circula'ion of the Standard will, doubtless, be extended in that direction, where the inhabitants may be expected to regard information respecting the English mails with as much concern as those for whose benefit lam making this request. The first sitting of the Native Lands Court is to be held here next month, and a very largo gathering of the East Coast natives is expected ou the occasion. There are many disputed land claims to be adjudicated upon, and as some of them are said to be of a complicated nalure, the proceedings will probably occupy two or three weeks.

It has just transpired that a most unwarantable attempt was made, a few days ago, to bribe certain natives who have recently leased a large block of land, for a sheep run, at Hikaurangi, to a European gentleman resident in the district, to cancel the lease thereof after the document had been duly executed. Much indignation is felt at such reprehensible conduct —the more so because of the positions occupied by the parties implicated in the affair. It would appear that largo sums of money were offered for the accomplishment of the object, which, however, has been happily frustrated. Mr. Locke aud Captain Porter have, I believe, been made aware of this audacious case of attempted bribery, and Major Ropata, has, with characteristic promptitude, rendered good service in preventing so flagrant a breach of agreement, which, if perpetuated would lead to serious consequences. Moro anon.