ALEXANDRA. (From our own Correspondent.) THE PUBLIC HALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 491, Issue VIII, 13 July 1875, Page 2

ALEXANDRA. (From our own Correspondent.) THE PUBLIC HALL.

July, 10. There has been a meeting of the Public Hall </Omraittee, at which it was decided to finish it, nnd the con ir net or has oommenced work. Th© hindrance to this oudirtaktng was that which is affecting the whole of the Province in all useful undertakings — want of funds. The origin of tlfe structure goes bao'i to the time when the Defence Minister first Tisited Alexandra * He then promised as a site, an old Go eminent building, thirty pounds, and constatuluty labour to split a sufficient number of shingles. Ail has been supplied except the shingles, and as no satisfactory account could be given why the latter were not forthcoming, it wa* proposed to write to Sir Donald on the subject. There can be no doubt but that the Hall will be a great acquisition to Mhs ''sleepy hollow" of Wa»kato. [It will be seen from our telegrams that the'ball was blown down last right — til). W. T.]

THE PRICE OF BREAI>. When I tell jou that bread 1? selling at sixpence per two lb loaf, with flour at fourteen slul I inns per cwt, you will say that the people must be sleeps who submit to it r x>r hay» more money than the> know widely how to spend.

THE STEAMER 'I hAFFIC Great indignation was expre&aed by some passengers bj last steumer who had been lour nights and four days on board coming from B4ercer to^eiandra. They CBine from Nelson, andic h«d ta^en thesa^ibe time from there to Auckland as frvJn^M&rfcer lr^reO<s'"^£ w^° eonaplain of slow steamers to'^aJ^ltcm aneW U&pibiWge sliould try oura. Few natives. N «nd little produce hare been the order here for more than a week, with continuous beavj rain, u aking ihe roadsto the cpper settlements almost, impassible. Wereyou to see the places over which coach, waggons, and dray* have to pass, you would wonder how the journeys wereaccomplished ; and should it be your misfbitune to travel over them, it would be an event to he remembered* as long as memory lasts.

BOYAti BQT7ALOB. Last year a number of natives camefiom Nelson to pee the Maori King and his country. I saw one of them who was here on business a few day* since. I asked him how he liked living under the King. ".Oh," said he, " it's hoirible, no houses, such dfvt, such living, it's dreadful. Tbr first time I went to the place a mat was pnt on the dirty fl or of the w li are, and meat and potatoes thrown u on it. All gathered round to eat, when, just as we commenced, in raa a dog and bolted with the largest piece of pork. Away started the Maoris to take it from him. As they left, in rushed a lot of pigs and nearly devoured what remained." — A beautiful picture of a King and hw Court. Such things, be said, were of common occarrence and thought nothing of "As soon as 1 can get money enough."' *ai d he, " to take me to Nelson, I shall go, never to retui ato th« KuitL" V V