NEW PLYMOUTH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2031, 2 July 1885, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH.

[from our own correspondent.] The natives have apparently ceased their pranks in the .way of interfering with Europeans since the appointment of Police Inspector Pardy to the charge of the district. ' Since I last wrote I have heard no complaints from the settlers. How long this will last remains to be seen, but there is certainly a great change in the demeanour of all the ,Maories towards their European brethren. A big meeting J is at present being held at Parihaka; the 1 object of which lam not aware, but it is m reported to have been organised with' fl peaceful motives. It is said there are fully.2ooo natives present. To-morrow * (Sunday) a grand Iwh is to be held, after,which the Wanganui and Parihaka , natives try conclusions in a "tug of war." Inspector Pardy,, and the constable at present stationed at Pungarehu, paid Parihaka a visit during the week, with the view of quieting , tho fears of the - Europeans as to such a large body,of natives being in the district. Everything' was found to be quiet and orderly, and' the Maories appeared .very friendly. While returning from the latter village,' Inspector Pardy met with what might have proved a fatal accident. -The late rains experienced here • have flooded nearly all the rivers in the district,' and while crossing the Kaiapoi river by the usual ford, the two were washed from ■ their horses by the swiftly running • current. Mr Pardy was dashed against a rock, to which he clung, while ,the constable,. after being carried some distance down stream, succeeded in catching hold,of a protuding_ bough of a tree; and pulling himself ashore. Having divested himself of some of his clothing, he called to Mr Pardy to let go his hold ) of the rock, and float down to liini.' The Inspector did so, and was promptly ' caught, and dragged on to the bank.' The dripping pair then proceeded to >Pungarehu, which station they reached after a tedious walk. ■ The contractor for the extension of the railway line to Moturoa has been seriously annoyed lately by some mischievous persons tampering with the pegs, and breaking the drain-pipes on the new railway route. The matter was placed in the hands of the police, who, I hear, have succeeded in tracing the offenders. It has turned out to be youths, and it, is understood an example will be made of the perpetrators of such wanton destruotiou.

That public body—the Salvation Army—continue their nightly r tions uiiinterrmited. It lias been tained fronv authorities on the subject, that it would require the sanction of some higher authority than that of the Borough Council to bring such a by-law 33 that recently passed hy the latter body into effect. This is to be regretted, as we were in hopes of having a little peace and quietness of an evening, which, at present, is interrupted by the musical ('l)'strains of the Army Band.

A silver medal, presented by one of the citizens of this town, is to be fired for by our local Volunteers shortly. It is to be fired for by second-class. shots only. At a recent meeting of the corps it was decided to shift the range nearer town, and I hear a suitable one has since been obtained within easy distance. After much agitation, a direct steam service between this port and Sydney, is at last to be established. This' arrange*, ment will furnish in luturo, means of exporting our produce to a safe and reliable market. The running is not to be taken up until the completion of the railway line to the port, whicli work will not be finished till some timo in spring. We have, therefore, plenty of time to contemplate as to what articles of produce would find the most ready demand'in the Australian markets.

The musical public have surely been amply satisfied during the present week. On Wednesday evening, the Ne,v PlymouthPlnlharmonic Society produced, to a splendid house, Balfe's " Mazeppa." This being the first time this piece has ever been' placed before a New Plymouth audience, it .of course proved an immense success;' '' • •" A start will shortly be made towards f the erection of buildings on the, Bite pi the late firo. Plans of several structures—some' of architects' hands, and a. fe\v mouths will, doubtless, see wtat is at present an un- 1 seemly gap, filled with presentable edifices. ,