DISCORD AT KAWHIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 185, 14 August 1901, Page 2

DISCORD AT KAWHIA.

The township of Kawhia, and the district generally, was un idenl place to live in up to about twelve months ago, but with the introduction of newcomers ohings havo been altered. Most of theso are men and women of good repute, but unforbiiuUoly one or two misfits. Men who have tried all provinces, and even other countries, but having retired, have managed to find their way here, only to find that even jin Kawhia there is no room for them 1 till they learn to mend their way*, and then possibly they may get a start in soma other place. In the meantime people are set by the ears, and matters are not as they ought to be, while the evildoers have been boycotted. By way of retaliation f*lse charges are concocted against persons of unblemished reputation, anonymous letters are sent trying to rouse quarrels between man and wife; anonymous and scurrilous notices are fixed up with forged signatures subscribed. The greitest evil doo« is perhaps the stopping of the steam hunch from running. The only means of transport for passengers and luggage is the steam launch Hauturu, which, by the enterprise of Messrs. A. S. Ormsby, Giay, Green, and another, has been placed upon these waters, and for months ran at a serious lo?s to the owners. The engineer, Mr Chalmers, is a man of known ability, and has certificate which the Auckland Customs considered sufficient to allow him in an emergency to sail as captain and engineer in deep water. The master of the lauuch has not the requited qualifications to satisfy a Marine Board, [but he was born in the place, and knows every channel and bay in the hai.'bour better than all the certificated captains in the world. Ooe of the means of retaliation has been to report that the launch was not properly officered, and the consequence is that we have now to revert to canoes or small sailing boats. An indignation meeting was held absut this and other scandalous proceedings, and it was determined to apply t j the Minister for Marine for special permission to allow the launch to be run by Mr Chambers and his assistant skipper. If this is not done it means that through spite and malice a great convenience to th j public, provided at an expense of over £6OO, will be done away with, as the owners cannot afford to run at any greater loss than they at present are | doing. This lauuch has also be<>n used to carry the mail from Opar.tu to Kawhia, and from Kawhia to Awaroa, and now this has to be done by boat This means a certain delay in the best of weather, and in stormy weather i makes hours' difference. Auckland Herald.