WAIAPU.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 251, 27 February 1875, Page 2

WAIAPU.

(from oub own correspondent.) February 20. A petition praying that the Government would grant a subsidy to the Auckland Steam Packet Company, for the purpose of enabling them to make arrangements for the calling of their steamers at Awanui, to land and receive mails, passengers, and cargo, on their passage from Gisborne to Auckland, and vice versa. has just been transmitted hence to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. The memorial — which is numerously and influentially signed — sets forth, comprehensively, the disadvantages under which the district is laboring from the want of steam communication, to connect it with Poverty Bay and Auckland, as well as the benefits that would accrue thereto by the establishment of such communication, and it is to be hoped that the prayer thereof will be granted. Now that a Native Lands Courtis to be holden here periodically, and that a detachment of the Armed Constabulary is stationed in the district, coupled with the prospect of the Petroleum Springs being worked at no distant day, the necessity for steam communication, in preference to the present slow and uncertain communication by sailing craft, is quite apparent. Mr. Skeet, C.E., has just completed the survey and plans of the land comprehending the Petroleum Springs, consisting of 3,787 acres. The plans—which I have seen —appear to have been prepared with great care, and are, I believe, to be produced at the sitting of the Native Lands Court here, next month. They have, in the meantime, been sent to Gisborne for inspection. Mr. Skeet has been requested by Major Ropata, and others, to become a resident surveyor in this district, and he is willing to consent to do so upon certain conditions, which are said to be reasonable enough. Should Mr. Skeet remain amongst us he will take up his abode at Awanui, where a house will have to be erected for him. There is abundance of work for a surveyor in this part of the coast, and Mr. Skeet need not entertain any misgivings as to his obtaining full employment. I understand that a meeting of the local chiefs will shortly be convened by our Resident Magistrate, to take into consideration the propriety of devising some means whereby the young men of the native race, in the district, could be employed, to save them from leading a life of indolence and uselessness, as they are doing. Scores of these youths almost wholly occupy themselves in riding about the country, like Arabian nomads, and are evidently under no parental control; but, on the contrary, at liberty to do as they like. Occasionally these fellows steal horses, or “ plant ” them until a reward is offered for their restoration, when they are “ turned up.” Although some of the offenders have been detected and punished, the same evil course is still pursued, more or less. Were the European settlers more numerous than they are, the Maori youths could be employed in cultivating land, fencing, and other useful works, and thus made to acquire habits of industry and self respect, which, in present circumstances, they are unable to do. Although employment of this kind is unavailable, there is no reason why the youths—who are strong and healthy, and as capable of doing a day’s work as the Europeans are —should not be employed in the making of roads, railways, and other public works, for which labor is constantly needed. Something must be done to rescue them from imminent ruin, consequent upon unrestrained indulgence in idleness and other improprieties. We are longing for the inauguration of the weekly mail service between here and Gisborne, by the alteration of the Armed Constabulary with our mailman, which will be a great boon to us. In order to carry out this arrangement efficiently, a trooper will be stationed at Tologa Bay, and another at Te Romani—the head quarters of the detachment being at Awanui. Of late the mails have been occasionally too heavy, from the communication being only once a fortnight, to be conveyed by one horse, with that expedition which is essential to postal regularity, and the proposed change is one that is undeniably needed, not only as regards relief to the mailman, but also as regards the accommodation of the public. The time for fortnightly mails has passed away, and it is likely that in a year or two hence the district will have made such progress as to require a bi-weekly mail. The Government Land Agent—Mr. Wilson — visited Tokomaru, and other parts of the coast, as far up as Waipiro, a few days ago, for the purpose of purchasing land and scabby sheep from the natives. He has, I hear, succeeded in securing one large block, for £1,250, which, it would appear, is the only one available at present. With regard to the infected sheep, the Maoris have thrown an obstacle in the way of their being bought by the Government, and Mr. Wilson, has not, consequently, succeeded in this part of his mission, which is to be regretted, considering that all the preliminary arrangements necessary to bring the long pending negotiations to a speedy and satisfactory termination, were matured last month. Some of the natives now object to sell their flocks at a lesser price than ten shillings each, and therefore, decline to accept the Government offer of five shillings, which is an unmitigated absurdity, as some of these wretched animals are not really worth half-a-crown each. Owing to this unexpected hitch in the affair the scab nuisance will have to be endured longer, to the loss and annoyance of the European runholders and others interested in the eradication of the disease. In a country like this where the maximum of civilisation is ostensibly professed to be aimed at, it does not exhibit consummate wisdom on the part of our legislature to allow the natives to rear so many scabby sheep as they like, whilst the Europeans are compelled under pains and penalties, to possess clean flocks only, and in the event of scab breaking out amongst them to have immediate recourse to the most effectual remedy for its extirpation. Mr. Surveyor Winter, and his successor, Mr. Lambert, are here at present, and the Hick’s Bay road will, I presume, be proceeded with soon. A deviation from the original line, to avoid the steep hills, and precipices at East Cape, has been suggested as a very desirable improvement, and this matter will probably be attended to before Mr. Winter leaves the district. .