WATAPU.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 270, 8 May 1875, Page 2

WATAPU.

(from our own correspondent.) The drought has, at last, been broken up by the copious fall of rain with which we have been just visited. The salutary effects of this providential visitation are already perceptible in the resuscitation of every description of vegetation, and the verdant appearance of the pastures. The beasts "of the field —who, during the past two months, have suffered greatly from lack of feed, consequent upon the parchbd up state as well as the scantiness of the grass —appear to be jubilant over the change. Rivers, creeks, mills, and springs have been amply replenished, and there is little fear of any scarcity of water, for domestic or other purposes, for many months hence. The further prolongatoin of the drought would, doubtless, be attended with disastrous results, not only Io a part, but to the whole of the colony ; and there is much reason for gratitude that it has terminated. Hundreds of cattle and sheep have already perished in various districts in the North Island, from the effects of the drought, and it is probable that we have not yet heard the worst of it.

I stated in my last communication that Mr. Berry had completed our Court-house, at Awanui, and that it was a neat little temple of justice, and so it is. I must, nowever, supplement that brief notice of the building. It is about thirty feet in length, and fifteen in breadth ; with two doors, six windows,’and the usual internal fittings. The Bench —which can accommodate three or four Magistrates, and to which there is a private entrance—is railed off in a style similar to that generally adopted in country Court-houses—access to it, from the body of the building, being had at either end of the railing. The Court-house is built of excellent timber, and the workmanship is admirable, being, as it is, infinitely superior to that of other Government buildings in this district. Mr. Berry has done such ample justice to the work, that he will, I have no doubt, be employed to construct such buildings as the Government or private parties may have occasion to erect in this quarter hence forward. He is at present engaged in building a store at Tologa Bay, for Mr. Henare Potae, who, with characteristic enterprise, seems to be desirous of extending his business far and near. With the addition of the Court-house, Awanui now presents the appearance of a small country township, and when the quarters for the armed constabulary are put up, it will, of course, have assumed larger dimensions. In the colonies, an inn, a store, a post office, and a blacksmith’s shop constitute a township, and it is more than probable that Awanui, will, ere long, be the scene of all these significant indications of civilisation. It has already two inns, and three or four stores; and a post office, and a blacksmith’s shop are sure to be added when the requirements of the locality demand such.

1 quite agree with your correspondent, “ Elector,” that the holders of the franchise in the Poverty District, including this

part of the East Coast, should be prepared with an eligible candidate for the next general election —one, who would efficiently represent them in the new Parliament. Past experience has, it is to be hoped, taught the electors to look well to their own interests in this respect, and not suffer themselves to be trifled with for the future as they have been in the past. The matter is entirely in their own hands, and they can deal with it as they like. Some there are, however, who seem to regard politics with tho utmost indifference, from a strange apprehension that such things concern not many but the few — a delusion, which, even in these enlightened days, is difficult to dispel. The meaning of the term, “ Politics,” as defined by the best authorities on the subject, is the well being of the people, and every individual in the community, however humble his position may be, should take a deep interest in promoting the general weal, by aiding the establishment of good Government. This popular definition is based upon the doctrine that all men are endowed by. their Creator with certain unalienable rights amongst which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. According to this doctrine there ought to be universal suffrage ; and as the tendencies of the age are decidedly towards the extension of the franchise to every person —male and female who has attained his or her majority, the accomplishment of the object may not be far distant. Our own Premier is strongly in favor of it, and who knows how soon a measure to that effect may be adopted in New Zealand, where the suffrage is more restricted than it is in the other colonies of Australasia. What the electors of Poverty Bay, and, indeed, all other electors should do is to choose a meniber simply and solely upon his individual merits —one in whose qualifications and integrity they can place implicit confidence,—and if this principle is strictly adhered to, we may safely anticipate better representation and legislation in the next Parliament than we have yet had. What is most urgently needed throughout the country are men of capacity —men with talent, tongue and energy, who will discharge their duties, in our National Council, fearlessly and impartially, and whose election shall in no wise be sought to be compassed through the sinister instrumentalities of cliques, coteries, or political intrigues ; nor yet by metallic, or ministerial influences. I hear that we are to be accommodated with a ferry at the mouth of the Waiapu river at last. We expected this boon eighteen months ago, so that the prospect of its being acceded to us as soou as certain arrangements concerning it are matured does not take us by surprise. Now that the winter is setting in, and that we are likely to have floods and freshets, it would be well to lose no time in establishing the ferry, and provide a longer punt than the one originally built for it. What is wanted is a decked punt, with proper propelling appliances, on the windlass principle, that can ferry horses, &c.

I hear that the appointment of Captain Porter, as commissioner for the East Coast, is hailed with much satisfaction amongst the Ngatiporous, who, at the public meeting held at Hick’s Bay, in September last, expressed a desire that he should be their commissioner. Doubtless, matters will now go on smoother than they did during the short commisionership of Mr. Wilson, and both the Goverment and the natives will be benefited by the change. I have read the Premier’s reply to Mr. Charles Fellows’ strictures on the Financial policy of New Zealand, in Fraser’s Magazine of January last. These strictures do not appear to me to require any reply ; but, perhaps, it is just as well that they have been answered. Mr. Fellows' seems to be a grievance monger of no ordinary type, and this may account for his very extrordinary production, which, notwithstanding its containing occasional semblances of truth, bears abundant internal evidence that what he advances in condemnation of the manner in which public monetary affairs are managed by the present Government, are utter fallacies. Mr. Vogel deals with the manifesto in his usual masterly way, and no one, I think, can rise from a perusal of the reply without being convinced of the truthfulness and ingenuousness of the lucid statements he makes therein, in refutation of Mr. Fellows’ scandalously unfounded attack upon the foundations of our prosperity.