OUR ALEXANDRA LETTER. October 25th, 1875

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 536, 26 October 1875, Page 2

OUR ALEXANDRA LETTER. October 25th, 1875

All are busy here putting in the main crop of potatoes. The natives have to give iap growing maize, or rather trying to. pheasants are so numerous and destructive, that sowing seeds of any description is labour in vain, A-t Hikurangi g-r-eat preparations are -still going On for Tawhiao's meeting. A large quantity ©f provisions are now stored there, a good deal of it consisting of the native food in days of yore, such as raamaku, fern root, eels, <fee. Of the latter, three large canoe Joads were taken up alive last week in -baskets, and several loads of prepared ones are coming up from, lower Waikato. Flour, ;pork, and bullocks are all abundantly provided for the great gorge. The appurtenances of the printing p^esa came up laatweek to Tahiao's place near Kaipiha. The heavy machinery of .the press is now some feet 'under the Waipa. It was landed •some time since and left on the bank, the several freshes in the fiver lately have completely covered, it, and it will •cost some trouble to recover. Tawhiao himself sets his face against the press. It was against hie wish it was sent up. He wished it to remain in Te Wheoro's charge, he says " the printing of anewspa,per will only catfse trouble between his people and -the j Pakeha's and he would rather not have it." Howana and Tahi, however, have brought it up, and it is now in their liands, a " White Elephant" theydo not know what , to do with. I fully expect it will be for sale ere long.