PIAKO. (By our Special Reporter.)

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 677, 14 October 1876, Page 2

PIAKO. (By our Special Reporter.)

It is pleasant to turn from the contemplation of the ceaseless turmuil of'rir*l politicians and constitution mongers in Wellington and note tho steady iucrease of improvements au'i Ihe development of tbe substantial wealth of the country. Pcihaps this is more marked in Waitoa ttud Pmko district than in any other in the Piovince of Auckland. "Far from tho ti, advening crowd s ignoble strifo" tho inhabitants ot these localities, undeterred by the warnings of the certain rum impending orer Few Zealand, and regirlless of the threatened "danger of destruoton bj " tier Muje»ty's ships of, war" have been steadily aud resolutely winning the wastes and swamps to r cultivation, and building up a'pumanent prosperity foe themselves and thoir children wilh a rapidity which is certuinJy almost marTellous. iSot more than three years have t-lapsed since the country was fairly setled and already who c, tracts hare been laid in grass and are carrying large beids of cattle. The first sign of improTemcnt I fell in with after leaving the fettled country round Humiltoa East, was the kome station of the Swamp Company. I had not teen this district for more than a 3 ear, and was httl# prepared (or such marked improvement as I met with. The bills bave been cleared and pat under gMis whtoh is taking well. Drain* hare been cut in every direction, and probub.y some 5,000 aoies of swamp are ready for burning and sowing, Handoome and commodious farm buildings have been erected and the whole pic ure forma a striking instance of the power of capital in eonqnering the apparently iusuperable obstacles which nature sometimes seems to offer to tue reclumation of her wilds. Fasting from hero towards the Pinko, I camu upon tbe patch of swamp lately purchased by Mr Jenkins of Canterbury". Many persons were under the impression that the bargain made by that gentleman would prove a bad one. But these prophets of evil omen are destined to disappointment. About 700 acres have been, well drained and tko land shows of first-rate quality. The reclaimed portion will belaid down in grass as soon as possible. Mr Morrin has executed marvels of improvement on his block* Nearly 3,000 acres bare been turned up , and grassed. This year alone from 600 to 700 acres hare been brought under tbo plough, and (he place is beginning to assume tbe appearance of a prosperous English farm. A. house on the site of the building wh ; ch was recently de»troyed by fire is rai>idlv approaching completion. The farms on the further side of Mr Morrin's are in splendid order, and should produce any quantity of beef during the ensuing sum<ncr and autumn. Further on, Mr Taylors holding is being ra idly put under grass, and from its undulating character, will in time, make one of the prettiest places in the Province. Mr Gubbmt is doing a lot of steady htrd work on his estate situated under Maungakawa. I had not time to reach Waitoa, but intend paying it a visit shortly, when I shill convey to you my impressions of that pro* mising district. Oi.e of the best features t»h»ut this part of the country is the . unanimity with which the settlers work together. It was quite touching to sco the consternation with which the local board viewed the proposal of Messrs Grey and Bowe to divide the highway district and attaoh half to the Thames and the balance to Waikato County. Joia us they cried to Waikato, or join us to the Thames, or leave us a county to ourselves, but don't seoar^ate us. Seriously apeak ing the utmost cordiality prevail* amongst ibe so' Hers, and this feeling tends more than nnylhing c Be to promote tbe interests of a corununity. Would that this foeliny prevailed to a greater extont in older and more populous Waikato. - The aborigines in the olden time hare gat oredit for being a passably ferooious set, and la^geiy addicted to war. Judgiug by the number of little pahs and fortifications poeping from the top of any eminence more than six feec high along ;

theunrtulatinggrouQd under Muungakawa I thmk they mast bave^wiit -earned heir reputation But eridene.s of a cLrker and more revolting custom are not wanting, Within the lust month' a settler ploughed up a complete act of human bones, and close beside them were the remains of a Mauri oven. lam informed that it is a very common t'dng to me -it with human bones of every description when turning up these lands. When a man is in love he generally does remarkably foolish things. Those who hw« for the time escaped the iufl ction look wouderingly on at • staid sensible man suddenly -transformed into the next thing to a fool. Jju,t the cl m\x has be n rescind in Puko. - A couple of steady hardworking swtins became enah rnoured of the same goddeat, -Th»y I ond hit upon the same system of wooing, atentcred into a contract for fencing or ploughiug with the father of the objecb of thti* adoration in order to be near her and get a fair show of winniug her affections. The contract was finished and neither h^d succeeded. Bat b>th still lingered near the spot. One found that (his job the other that that required attending to, and they gave the patent the benefit ol their labour gratuitously. Each. | procured a tent and pitching it in fioat of the main qntranoe to the paterntl mansion, sat down to a regular tfeig** determined not to abandon this position until the fortress capitulated. /lav« I left them. One of them having a Blight discoloration of the left eye, the cause of which I could not definitely ascertain, If the " governor" is w*se he will keep both on a itring, go on with his improvements, and wl-en the.p«ven vear*,a.r,e. up. Gif » hi» Rachel to the more lavb'urad of the rival