HAWKE'S BAY.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 272, 29 May 1860, Page 2

HAWKE'S BAY.

(From the Herald.) Maomes.—ln connection with native affairs, tre learn that a monster- meeting of Chiefs is shortly to be held at Wairarapa—invitations to the pria. cipal men of all the southern tribes haying been issued to that effect. Tareha and the other chiefs in the neighborhood of Napier take tteir departure in the course of next week; and have them* selves given publicity to, their intentions in this respect, with the view of allaying any feeling of uneasiness which their unexplained absence might give rise to. The object of the meeting is said by theni'to be of a character the reverse of unfriendly to the Europeans—their desire, they say, being still, as before, that should live in peace.and harmony together. At the same time, they avow their adhesion to the king movement..' The conveners of the meeting would seem to have in view a " talk " upon the present aspect of affairs, more especially with regard to the; relative positions of the Governor and the tribes of the north.

Wages.—To the Editor—Will you allow me to inform the working men in Napier that the Government has, in more than one instance, reduced the wages of men working on the roads ftom six to five shillings a day. I will ask you— is it fair to. begin to economise the public expenditure in the working class? When the "nobs" talked of making Hawko's Bay a separate province they estimated that a thousand pounds would pay all salaries; now, Sir, two men receive that—the Superintendent, who pockets yearly £600, is trying to reduce the working man to ss. per day. "How is it possible for men to live on that when provisions are so dear ? Why, Sir, two wet days in a week will reduce the roadman's wages to £1 per week, and that he has to pay for board and lodging. Perhaps the progenitors of this scheme wish to give Mr. Curling some work; for; depend upon it, if ss. a day is to be the roadman's pay, there will be plenty of work for the magistrates. How is it that parties in head quarters could be so shortsighted as to induce hundreds of men to come

Irotni Auckland and Wellington; ; and give them a promise of six months' work on the roads and 6s. per day, and in less than half that time, they dismiss them from the roads, and try to reduce those that are left to ss. per day ? 1 aaVMr. Editor, is. that fair? * * * I shall not trespass on your space any longer than to say, that; every man must consider it very unjust^ when, a short time since, some of the men in office had an increase of £50 per year to their salaries, and -now talk of reducing the working men of Napier to 59. per day.~A Roadman.