EAST COAST LETTER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 277, 4 November 1884, Page 2

EAST COAST LETTER.

[Own Correspondent.] The Coast has assumed quite a busy aspect. Almost every bay one enters is full of life and activity. Works of all kinds are in progress, from tilling the soil to shearing sheep. Natives can be seen planting, ploughing, and fencing . all anxious to make the most of the fine weather. Again, they may be seen in the several wool sheds, eager to out-shear their lighter complexioned brothers, in the art of shearing. Everywhere you turn, improvements meet the view. At Tokomaru, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Arthur’s manager, has several men engaged fencing and subdividing the run, whilst at Tawhiti, Waipiro, and other of Mr. Williams’ stations, I should be afraid to state the number of hands Mr. Wallace has employed. Nearly every hotel north of Tologa is building to meet the increasing demands. Mr. White, of Waipiro, is making large additions, and Mr. Milner has also built a cottage. Along the Tuparoa beach there are stacks of timber for the Oil Spring Co’s, works. They intend building a new derrick to replace the old one, blown down some months ago. Bad luck seems to attach itself to this company. I hear from a person just returned from there that another difficulty has arisen in boring, and that the casing pipes have met with some impediment, through which it is almost impossible to drive. This is a great pity, as the indications of oil &c., arc very good. Tenders are out I see for fencing in eighty acres of land for this Company, and Mr. Stubbs the general manager is employed repairing the road from the springs to the beach. I think if other people were to take a lesson from him and instead of waiting for winter to start forming roads &c., were to expend a few pounds now when the ground is dry and the foundation solid, it would be a saving of a considerable amount of money and give far more satisfaction. Surely the ratepayers should inquire into these matters, they have at all events a right to see that their money is properly expended. The all absorbing topic lately has been the coming County Council election. The candidates from what we can learn arc Captain Porter and Mr. J. Trimmer for cer-

tain| and perhaps our old member Mr. Milner. Betting seems to be slightly in favour of the first of the former gentleman, the Captain having a large interest on the Coast, whereas Mr. Trimmer from what we can learn, has no interest whatever. We certainly do want representing, as the Coast is becoming a place of considerable importance and will before long, carry a very large population. We have the land, the timber, ana the climate, roads are promised, and also a harbor at Gisborne, an outlet for our produce. Surely the spirit of emigration cannot have reached home, or people are not aware of the many advantages this coast offers to small farmers, or, long ere this it would have been the homes of hundreds of prosperous and happy families.

Great regret, I might almost say Indignation, is felt by the Natives owing td the N, L. Court being continually put off. They seem to have given up all hopes of a Court being granted them. This is certainly retarding the progress of the country by keeping tens of thousands of acres of land shut up which might otherwise bring in considerable amounts to the revenue, thereby benefiting everyone. I hear that there are upwards of 1,490 claims for hearing, at Waiomatatini, at present In the hands of the Registrar, comprising some of the choicest lands on the East Coast;

I am glad to see our member, Mr. Locke, has used his best endeavours to bring this matter in a proper light before the “ powers that be; ” but what is one against a multitude. He has done his best, and therefore deserves our hearty thanks. This district has been visited lately by the Mormons, who have been trying to make converts of the Maoris, who, while differing from Solomon as to the number of helpmates convenient to support, were quite as wise in seeing the object of their visit. It is supposed that in addition to seeking converts, the Mormons are hankering after some of the unoccupied territory hereabouts.