NEW PLYMOUTH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VI, Issue 1856, 4 December 1884, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH.

(Ftora our own Correspondent.)'

Since ,iriy last letter, the weather has* upon the whole, been "very good, aad, beyond the fact" of it being rather warm and dusty, we have sufiered no inconvenience'.;. Should it continue, our local farmers will find it beneficial to their crops.

The Mayoral election took place on Wednesday last, over which very little interest appeared to be evinced. The candidates were Messrs Paul and Davidson. General opinion seemed in favor of Mr Paul, but the publio would not have been averse to either of the candidates being elected, both being considered capable wen, and well able to support the interests of the Borough. Shortly after six o'clock the Returning Officer declared the result of the poll as follows:—Paul 213, Davidson 57—majority for Paul, 156 There were 270 votes polled, not one of which was informal.

There was a large gathering -of natives it Parihaka on Sunday last (Nov. 16) when an interesting competition in haka's and war dances took place. The natives mustered between 1500 and 2000, and a large number of Europeans from the • surrounding districts were also present to witness the proceedings. The dancing' commenced about 2 p.m., and was continued with the utmost skill and endurance until about 4 p.m. The aged chief, Tito Kowaru, at the head of 100 warriors, carried 'off the palm, none of the other competitors making the least approach -to thorn. Befote the latter body concluded their performance, the old chief led 88 native maidens, all dressed in white, ■with ribbons aud rosettes, to joiu the dance; the effect is described as most imposing. : During an interval which occurred, tho natives - handed round eatables, in' the shape of cooked schnapper, several Europeans participating in the. general 'distribution',' ' I .'hear arrangements aro; being made' tb held aitother .competition at Taiappro•henui next.mqiitj], Since my last* letter, tWQ-more sections of the breakwater havo boeii completed, : I hear arrangements are beinj made by the Harbor Board for, carrying on the work-both day and night, so- that remarkable progress is : to be expected this summer, should the : weather be at all favorable, Last week the Boafd received'a valuable addition to their funds in tlje shape of a sum of £1749, being a fourth of the land revenue for the past quarter. Sir John Hall visited New Plymouth qn Monday last (November 17th) accompanied by Major Atkinson and Mr T, Kelly, JI,H,R s They were taken over the works at the break-, water by Mr Hhind, the engineer in : charge, and Sir John expressed himself as very favorably impressed wjth the work. The party afterwards proceeded to Waitara (a township about ten miles from New Plymouth) and inspected the river works there, also the site of the works of the Auckland Freezing Company. As I anticipated, Woodward's Japanese Circus did not meet with the success they deserved during their visit. The first evening they drew <t very good bouse, but for the remainder of the season the attendance was very poor, Webb's Marionette's are at present occupying the boards at the Alexandra Hall, and, being a really first-class troupe, are drawing fairly good: houses, Woodyear's Electric Circus is expected here next week. Great reductions and changes are now taking place at the various" Armed Constabulary Stations around New Plymouth. At the White Cliff eight or ten men have been ordered to the East Coast, and several discharged, ?nd at Manaia all but two of them have been removed to Opunake, The Tauranga and Opotiki stations will be entirely discontinued.' The Government steamer Stella is expeoted at Opunake during the week, and will take forty-two men from that place,

There will be but fifty men left at Opunake, thirty-five at Parihaka, and twenty at the White Cliffs, This will reduce the total number, stationed between the White Cliffs and Opunake tp about one hundred and sorty, 1 notice a slight mistake in a paragraph contained in my last letter: (probably made by the industrious •' ' type-snatchers') which maycause a mis* understanding with your readers. I. refer to the item re .the ironsawZ riot' ironware industry. ■ Our citizens have not yet arrived at that delightful stage / which would enable them to import j' ironware to; the Old Country, although they have bright.hopes of being yet able to accomplish that desired end.