FROM THE COAST.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 9, 15 November 1883, Page 4

FROM THE COAST.

(Prom ovr owx Corbesfonoent.)

The pleasure a newspaper correspondent sometimes experiences in righting * wrong, or awarding to the deserving the meed of praise which may be their due (in print), is considerably modified when his quarters are situate among the “unco guid,” where every body does right, and laudation or the contrary degenerates into meaningless expressions. I am happy, therefore, to oe able to tell you in this, the first, probably, of a series “From the Coast,” that I labor under no such disability hereabouts. In fact, my friends and co-settlers, as a rule, are just lizarre and nonconformist enough to afford legitimate scope for yours truly, and though inevitable “ small beer " will doubtless at times obtrude, yet I hope tp furnish you with just enough literary pabulum weekly to satiate without cloying the mental appetite of your readers, and capable of digestion without much effort. As a commencement, therefore, I may state that the late heavy S.E. gales, succeeded by fine weather, have freshened up the country amazingly, hills and pastures in every direction assuming a verdancy which must be very gratifying to the possessor. At Uawa shearing has been initiated locally by Mr Beeves, Messrs Ormond (jun) and Macfarlane to follow, the former having arrived from Napier to superintend operations at the Uawa and Anaura runs.

Mr E. Kirk, our indefatigable ferryman, is hard at work at the approaches to the ferryage. The formation of these appears to entail a great deal of labor, and consequent expense, but the work is being well and substantially performed, as indeed Kirk’s work usually is. The notification of the postponement of the Land Court sittings at Uawa has been variously received, but generally, I think, with a feeling of disappointment, especially among local Bonifaces. Of a certainty what with the stringency of the Licensing Act, as regards sale of grog to Maoris, and other disabilities, the Coast publicans are by no means “ in clover. —Schooner Waiapu, Nicholas, arrived from Gisborne on the Ist ult. and the Gisborne, from Auckland, on the 3rd. The former, fortunate with fine weather, discharged her cargo without trouble, the latter, I regret to say, as usual of late, had a good deal of difficulty in landing a consignment of timber for Mr W. W. Brown. The punt containing it became unmanageable in the breakers, and the greater part of the loading was destroyed, or rendered useless. The damages are probably £3O. Some time ago, the local Maoris of Uawa founded, very enthusiastically, a Good Templars lodge, obtained scarves, regalia, &c. from somewhere, held meetings, and snubbed bibulous pakehas. Now they imbile freely (with one exception), are adepts at poker, and know bluff ; tio iiur adattra.

Hoads have not inaptly been termed the arteries of civilsation, pathways and tracks, the veins, and the telegraphic wire and apparatus nerves and ganglions respectively, These performing their functions properly, every facility is afforded for the free circulation of trade, and transmission of thought (the soul of trade) whereby far off constituents of the body polite are nourished physically and intel, lectually, and beneficial communication ensues between “ all sorts and conditions of men." But as arteries and veins are mere conduits j part of a system which derives its supply from a common energetic centre, and the subtle electric courier rests latent until speeded on its way by the irresistable mandate of tardy scientific humanity. You may perceive that we East Coasters naturally observe with apprehension the anomalous, intermittent, and feeble action of the organic centre of our roads, tracks, and pathways, viz., the Cook County Council, and trust that our members, Messrs Allanach and Milner, will endeavour, by any means short of violence, to revivify the dormant energies (usward) and restore to their wonted capability, the working parts of that extremely intricate combination.

It is said that a weak pulsation about a month a£o transmitted sufficient energy to L awa to form about a quarter of a mile of elaborate road way, which nobody seems to use, —but this was expended at once, while most of the bad places between Gisborne andTologa, and thence to Waiapu, remain in much the state as at the beginning of last winter. Truly winter may not be propitious on the Coast, but the difficulty is, that the fiat invariably goes forth (about October or November) “Well, its not worth doing any thing during the summer.” And the recurrence of this expression annually for the last three or four years becomes amusing, though monotonous. I don’t think its necessary to carry out my Electric Telegraph simile. Wisdom is not so superabundant at your town, that you require a wire in addition to lately established “ Telephone,” for the transmission and distribution of intellectual sustenance before alluded to. Besides the worthy people hereabouts are mostly solons, and the supply of extraordinary mental pabulum would probably be deemed very superfluous. More of roads in my next. Mr Pope, Inspector of Native Schools, from Auckland, via. the East Coast and visiting schools en route, is expected from Tokomaru to-morrow. I