FROM THE COAST.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 11, 20 November 1883, Page 3

FROM THE COAST.

(From our own Correspondent.) By late arrivals from Waiapu l am informed that the bridle-track over Tawhiti Hill has become very dangerous during wet weather, water-worn furrows said to be from 2 to 4 feet deep, extending along the track, into which the horses of travellers are very liable to slip, there remaining but a comparatively narrow ridge of the original road in places. Also that a large tree has fallen across one of the cuttings on the Anaura Hill, completely barricading the track, over which unfortunate equestrians have to scramble to the imminent risk of their horses legs and their own necks. Surely these acute nuisances might in a measure be abated, although any number of chronic obstructions exist all along the coast road, which do not seem capable of being amended, inasmuch as they have remained unimproved for the last two or three years. Ngatiporou, as represented by some 70 or 80 native clients, were encountered by Mr Nicholl, the Waiapu mailman, on his last trip northward, on their way to the Tologa Bay Land Court. On being informed of its postponement they expressed their satisfaction, and right about faced at once. They are glad of the delay, as it will afford time to put in their second crop, the first having been mostly spoiled and rotted by inclement weather.

The schooner Waiapu, Nicholas, on her last voyage to Auckland via the Coast, appears to have experienced very heavy weather between this and Waiapu, having been blown off the Coast, and out of sight of land for four days, resighting Hikurangi on the 6th. From a passenger, I learn that for a time the vessel was in imminent peril, having been thrown on her beam-ends, and the ballast shifting. Happily, at this critical time a lull took place, and the schooner righted, afterwards making Awanui in due course, landing her passengers (among whom were Major Ropata and Rev Mohi Turei) and proceeding on to Auckland none the worse for rough experience of the briny, I observe in your report of County Council proceedings that L10 has been appropriated in aid of the formation of ferry approaches at Tologa Bay. From the magnitude of the

unfinished work and apparent difficulty of obtaining a solid and resisting medium to the powerful force of the tide, without considering what may occur during freshets, for which the Uawa is notorious, I should imagine this to be very small sum indeed, as compared with expected results, and should be glad to hear of an addition being made. A fatal accident to a Maori child occurred yesterday (15th ult) near the North-head of the bay, and a Coroner’s inquest, before Andrew Reeves, Esq., Acting Coroner, was held to-day at Finlay's Sea View Hotel. Mr. Stagpoole, A.C., conducted the enquiry on the part of the Government, and Mr W. F. Hales was appointed foreman of a respectable jury. It appears that the mother of the child (Harata Rangi, aged about 2 years) was engaged on the sea-beach gathering shell-fish, and previous to entering the water had laid the child down asleep in a sheltered place, and told the two children to look after it. These appear to have neglected their charge, as the mother, Ritihia Rangi, returning to the place where she had left the child, found it floating about, quite “dead and cold, though not stiff.” She seems to have tried the usual Maori means of resuscitation ineffectually, but the probability is that the child had been some time dead before she recovered the body. Ritihia Rangi (the mother) and Kupara Komaru, one of the children left in charge, having been examined by Mr. Stagpoole, and the foreman, and Dr. Scott by the former as to post mortem appearances of deceased, the following verdict was returned :—“ That the deceased Harata Rangi was found drowned in the sea on the 15th November, 1883, and that the said Harata Rangi has no marks of violence upon her body, but how, or by what means the said Harata Rangi became drowned no evidence did appear to the jurors.’ Weather still unsettled, and shearing in consequence getting on intermittently, Messrs. Ormond and Macfastand, of Paremata and Delta runs respectively, made a commencement yesterday.