A TRIP TO ORAKAU. (By our Travelling Reporter. )

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 374, 6 October 1874, Page 2

A TRIP TO ORAKAU. (By our Travelling Reporter. )

In ft former letter I signified my intention of proceeding to Cambridge for the purpose of reporting upon the improvements that have lately been mndo in this go-a-head settlement-. T subsequently, however, found this course iinptncticablc, us it would haro precluded the possibility ol mv being present nt Iho banquot given by the settlers to the Wiukato member, Major Jackson, at Oluupo. 1 hope to be in Cambridge on Wednesday, and will send you something for Thursday's i«sue. As your reporter was present, I will omil to ir.ake uny mention of the preceding* at the Mijor's meeting, with the exception of remarking that thai gentleman's constituents seemed to possess a feeling of conlidence in his ability to act as their representative, that must have been exceedingly gratifying to him. From Ohaupo I procoeded on the evening of the day upon which the dinner was held to Te Awamutii. I have already made some remarks upon tbo prosperity of this little settlement, which, although eomenhut flattering, were by no means unw arrautable. Mr Slater is erecting a large building, at considerable expense, in which he intends to carry on the general storekeeping business This is another instance of the confidence reposed in the ultimate prosperity of the Waikato. There will, when Mr Slater commences business, be three largo stores in the village of To Awamutu. 1, how - ever, urn not surpirsed that this township should exorcise an attractive influence ovor those possessed of a little capital. The capabilities of the soil are now seen to advantage. Tne wholo of this portion of t Uo district is fast becoming denuded of us sombre covering of fern pnd ti-tree, and i« assuming an ns-pect of high cultivation, sufficient to engender feelings of envy on the part of ony but Wuikato settlers. The picture I h.ucju-t drawn has., howeier, a dark side. The winter which is now iast disappearing has been one of more than ordinary severity, and numbers of cattle have fallen a prey to its inhospitably. The immediate cause of the death of so many cattle during the past winter is, it appears, eushrouded in mastery. Perhaps some of your correspondents could throw some light upon the subject which might tend in future to avert such considerable loss to tho settlers. I have heard it hinted by more thnn one fanner that tho not unlikely cause is scarcity of food during winter. * The prolific telegraph agents of your contemporaries inform the inhabitants of the colony that tho return of Mr Cowan's cattle was duo to tbo interference of Mujor Te Whcoro. Tliis was not the case, as the Otawa natives returned them without aiiy remonstrance from the newly appointed dusky ]{.M. 1 was always under tho impression that the duty of a Kesident Magistrate was to try prisoners brought before- him. Who is the new official going to try ? certainly not any of the King natives, as tho Got eminent u particularly careful not to tread upon any of their toes. It appears thai they aro at hbn ty to commit any crime in cnlendar between murder and petty larceny with' impunity. When will there beano Government m this unfortunate colony is a question ajked wherever one rides. The railway is supposed to bo about to effect wouder.% I trust it may bo so ; but Isup po«c wo must wait. I visited Mr Kays farm at Ornknu, and was well pleased with what I saw t hero. This enterprising eel tier has had many difficulties to encounter, as i, the cuse with most frontier set tiers ; but I trust I hey will disappear effectually and for ever with the completion of tho railway. In spite of nil noliro obstacles the appeaumcc of the farms along the frontier is quite encouraging, and sluwswliat can be done by steady pel severance. 1 hear that iI, is the intention of the settlers of Cambridge and Hamilton to call a meeting for the purpose oi ugituting the conMnunon of a bridge over the

I'ivernt the latter touwJnp It is grntifun^ to ob^crvo tlmt Hipioii unanimity on tlm question between two of our largest st't I.lonipntd Of enn-so it is clenrublo that all the pies-ui-o possiblo sliouM be bi ought to bear upon (bu nmUer ; but 1 cannot -<c how the Government cm refuse t-o coufonn to tlio wish of (ho tctlleis on this scoro. Tlio work is admitted by all to be a moat necessary one.