FROM THE COAST.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 10, 17 November 1883, Page 3

FROM THE COAST.

(From our own Correspondent,)

As notified in my last Mr and Mrs Pope, Inspector of Native schools, and lady, arrived at Uawa via the coast from Tauranga, on the Bth ult. and our local school children were examined on the Sth. They appear to have passed the ordeal very fairly—all except one, of the first class, attaining to the first standard ; while increased proficiency was manifest in all. Mr Pope is said to have been fully satisfied, and the teacher (Miss Gilman) certainly deserves any amount of credit for the aptitude, patience, and perseverance which have brought about so desirable a state of things. Mr W. Harding arrived at Tologa Bay from Open Bay (Aku Aku) oft tbe Bth ult. He describes the state of the road over Tawhiti and Anaura hills as bad in the extreme, deep and dangerous furrows having been excavated by the late rains—bridges broken down, and indeed the whole track in a disgraceful state of disrepair. This is corroborated by another gentleman who, journeying southward fromTauranga, significantly enough observes that the bad roads begin at Hicks' Bay, or in other words that the bridle tracks are in a better state beyond the district, where there are no rates paid, no County Council to expend them, and no engineer to recommend repairs, and supervise such expenditure than within it. With the exception of a single bridge near Tuparoa, and the isolated bit of road at Uawa, there have been no repairs of importance effected on the Coast during last winter, and indeed many winters preceding—while summer has always been deemed unfavourable season for road work—why, nobody seems to know. This sort of thing occurring with unfailing regularity year after year, rates, Ac., increasing in amount all the time, and elaborate improvements being carried out in other parts of the district; appears at length to have woke up the Coast settlers to the necessity of some concerted action, and in consequence I am not at all surprised to hear that it is contemplated to convene a public meeting at some central settlement (Tokomaru is named), for discussion of the subject, and adoption of such means as may secure a fairer distribution of public money that at pfesent. It is rumored that Sir Geo. Whitmore wbc sympathises with the movement, and has been for some time resident on the coast, and therefore personally aware of coastal requirements, will be asked to preside on the occasion, With the commencement of shearing by Mr Reeves, very unsettled and rainy weather has set in, and a good deal or delay is the consequence. All the runholders hereabouts are anxiously awaiting a favourable change. Our local Native minister, orator, and general administrator Mr John Bryce (known in unofficial circles as Fletcher), has assumed the blue ribbon, and deeorated his famous white horse with rosettes of the same significant hue. Mr Bryce was last seen in company with our leading boniface, en route for his latest field of operations, and some two hours afterwards was still getting under way. While I write a heavy gale from the N.E. is blowing with rain, barometer 30T0 falling tendency.