ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1134, 30 September 1879, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

September 23bd. Since the elections, we have been fairly dull here, and expectation is rife as to what our New Member intends to do for us. One great desideratum I would call his atteution to through your columns, and which is of great importance to this part of tlie district, is, the completion of the Harapepe and Alexandra road from the Mangakara Creek to the township on the west side of the river. At the Mangakara Creek, near Mr Livingstone's farm, any quantity of road metal could be obtained, "and the opening of the road would greatly increase the value of the Pirongia lands m the hands of the Gdvernment, and lead to the settlement of the lands now lying useless. The road would also be of great benefit to all the settlers on that side of tho river between here and Whatawhata, there is no native difficulty m the way and the sum required would not be a large one, the distance being only some three miles. In my schooldays, boys used to look upon thoir schoolmasters and teachers generally, as their natural enemies, but that it is not so, m these days, or m this part of the country,, was pleasingly exemplified here on Thursday last, when our school children by a voluntary subscription presented a very handsome present of a silver-plated teapot, butter cooler, cruetstand and meerschaum pipe, to their teachers Colonel and Mrs Rookes, prior to their departure from the charge of the Alexandra >'chool to Ngaruawahia, where they are about to be transferred m a similar capacity. Our mail contractor between here and Oliaupo, Mv Slyvester McGwire of the " Kuickerboker Line of Coaches," has gained golden opinions for the regular manner the 'mails arrived, and for his obliging disposition and general bqh Jtommic. The news of Mr!P. Edgecombe's survey being stopped, at Waikare Lake, has caused no little surprise amongst us, the obstructive natives being Sir George Grey's particular protegees, who have accompanied him as body guard, en r/ranil tome, m their war canoes, on his visit to the King natives. On the other hand, the Hauhau's appear not at all surprised. One of Tawhiao'B principal adviser,, re- J

| marked ] ere, yesterday, "It is the Government's fault, all the same as Wainmte, Uhinemuri and Hokianga." That there is no^ great dissatifation, more than has been for years past, is undisputable, the name of fairly stinking m their nostrils. Notwithstanding this, great preparations m planting food, at Hikurangi, for the usual March meeting, is going on. Tawhiao has had pieces of ground marked off for all the various hapu's around the district, to plant wii,h potatoes. Already, a good number from Xopua and other settlements are there, getting their respective lots iv crop. , r