OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SETTLERS.—No. 10.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 59, 6 February 1884, Page 2

OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SETTLERS.—No. 10.

A TRIP UP THE COAST. [BY OUS SBECIAI BEPOBTEB/ thu old riCAOBTirr. In my last I noted my arrival !rom Tuparoa at Messrs. Porter and Croft’s store, Mataahu. Riding to this spot gave me my first expert, enoe of what is implied in the term bad roads. The distance from my last halting-plaee to Mataahu is said to be five miles. It is con. siderably more in my opinion, but the tad track is somewhat compensated for when the beach is reached, what the state of the tracks must be in winter.time no pen qdii adequately describe. It is vfiry evident that the County Council pays little or no attention to read-works along the Coast. But, never, theless, the matter of tax-collecting is not lost sight of. It is not to be wondered at that ratepayers everywhere are loud in theit complaints of the bad treatment they receive, and claniom- for separation from Cook County; This idea may be pooh-poohed. That will not deter settlers from giving utterance to their grievances, and—- “ We muse not Stint Our necessary actions; in the fbir To cope malicious censurers. If we stand still, For fear oiir motion will be mocked or oarped We should take root here where we sit, or sit Stale statues only.” It is the duty of the Press to see that the people are justly dealt with, and, therefore, in the recent article on the question of neglect of the Coast districts by the County Council I deem It right to Stita thit thb utterances of the Telephone were very much appreciated, More anon On this question. On my way to this spot I passed through one of the prettiest little Maori villages I hid previously seen. This is called Whareponga, and the head-quarters oi a Native gentleirian well known in Gisborne—to quote his dwri utterances at the time of the visit of his Excellency the Governor to . Poverty Bay—- " the son of a great chief,” Who does not know Mr. Tuta Nihonihb ? He is as familiar to the people of Gisborne as the face of the Post Office clock. It does not take much time to reach Mataahu from this settlement. It is for the greater part a beach road. The first thing that catches the eye of the stranger is the flagstaff, erected there by Major Bopata. In another instant you turn a curve on the beach, and then a snug little group of buildings present themselves to tho gaze of the traveller. These are the office; store, and manager’s residence, Owfied by Messrs. Porter arid Croft, of Gisborne. The stdre, managed by Mr. Pook (who speakes the Maori language to perfection), is replete with all sorts of articles of commerce required by Natives and Europeans. The dwelling-house has recently been enlarged. A good water-supply is secured from a spring on the top of the hill, pipes bringing the water to the rear of the house: Sbmb very good paddocks ere feficed oft, but the area of lend held at this spot is not very larjjiii Altuutu. Half-a-mile further on along tho beach is the very old Maori settlement of Akuaku, bounded by a creek running into the sett; Facing this spot is a good landing:pUobj «nd is known as “Open Bay?' Writing ol the creek reminds nte that I promised in my last to tell What I heard about a society pall having been given in this particular locality a few evenings prior t.d my Visit. What a pity I did not arrlVd earlier. Now, the white aristocracy oi Mataahu and Akuaku can. at the outside, number very few, but the few took it into their heads to enjoy themselves. According to the information received by your special, there is Homebody living at thie spot who claims the honor of being the chief instrumentalist, and by dint of persevetance in his musical studies has become quite an adept in the manipulation of the fiddle afid concertina. A Native there sometimes jiWys secOndl on the Jews’ harp; The good riedplb were; therefore, well provided with music. The night for the ball arrived, and the schoolhouse presented quite a gay and . festive appearance. Merrily tripped the daneefi, and the enjoyment at midnight had arrived at its zenith; The company numbered six gentlemen and five ladies, and naturally, as time rolled on, and according to very ancient usage, dancing was suspended to partake of refreshments. The wine-basket—toll it not in Gath—only contained one bottle of 0010. nial liquor, and those who were very thirsty were compelled to adjourn to the creek cipse by and quench their thirst at the cooling stream. lam assured that when the party broke up that evening, or the next morning; every One was perfectly sober! Thd good people of this district know hdw to enjoy life,

It was at Akauku I found Mr. Hirtzel and his family. He is located there as the manager of Messrs. Porter & Croft's ruff, which comprises an area of 5,000 acres. Since the land has been acquired by those gentlemen, the Maoris appear to have adopted some of the modes of civilised, or European, life. They are erecting there some snug little wooden houses, and also a neat church, the gift, I was told by a resident there, of Messrs. Porter & Croft. On the run there are at present about 1,000 sheep, but these are to be supplemented immediately by about 2,000 more. A glance around the place at once tells that the work of improvement has made some headway, A substantial stock-yard has been erected, a sheep-dip constructed, and some of the land divided into paddocks. I must give a few particulars of this interesting district. For many years, Major Ropata resided at Mataahu. The flagstaff he erected there was a gift from the Government during the late Sir Donald McLean's term of office as Native Minister. Akuaku is named after a high hill, with a deep cavern in it. Tokateha is where the bones of many chiefs have been laid in times past, and is a spot teeming with Maori historical interest. Here, a Maori named Matohi was runangaed and sentenced to be crucified, and this decree was carried into effect in the presence of a great number of natives thirty years ago. Some witnesses of the transaction still survive there. The Native, whose name was Matohi, had killed a Native named Tukeke. and buried him on the site of the present stock-yards. On a mound opposite Mr. Hirtrell’s residence is a Native tomb, in which repose the bones of Te Wiremu and Te Owai, chiefs who once held high rank. Some day their bones are to be removed to the high hill Toketaha, and crumble to dust with those of their ancestors. I found a Native School had been established at Akuaku, and is presided over by Mr. Nicholls, who is a very efficient teacher, but I am sorry to record that, through the apathy

pf parents lie doe« not ieeeive the encouragehiUit lu. is emttled to. The b? icbolan >6 a *bUH£ of ftfltf diecouroge. tafcat io a Motor whose heart i» in hi« work, Thea is a itare 1 qrt here by Mr. Harding. Mat ahiia is the name of a block of land situated about twelve toiles inland, on the hank of the Mata River. It is a lovely piece bi country, comprising about 6,000 acres of freehold iar.d, the property of Captain Porter. It id approached by a newly-made road from the coast, commercing at Woipirc* Adjoining is Makarika, the property of Messrs. Somerville and Haig. On the road to Matahiia I passed the Pabii Block, 800 acres, belonging to Mr. Hirtzel, where there is some good flat land. Fencing work was being proceeded with, and other improvements being carried into effect. This spot, situated as it is in the heart of other slices of land, has, for reasons that can be imagined, been named ” Naboth’s Vineyard.” It is a little piece of land that more 'hii-i one person has coveted. This brings me within easy distance of Messrs. Somerville and Haig's station at Taoroa, a note on which will foim the subject of my next. (to be continued.)