ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1145, 28 October 1879, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

OOXOBER 23. Tiieee has been little stirring' here latoly, hut storekeepers appear to be doing a fair, cjuiet business, natives continually arriving froin tj-proountry -vpifch their wheat, oats, &c, for sale. Mr J. 3}. Hill, since resuming- his business here, ia lust rq-

covering the trade of his old native customers, and has had to engage fresh assistance in his business Mr Aubin is kept fully omployed in his dispensary, &s there is still a great amount of sickness prevalent, and from his successful treatment of several severe cases, ho has the entire confidence of the natives, and patients are- continually brought to hint from long distances. Tawhiao and his poople have not yet finished their planting at Hikuvangi, but will have done so in a day or two, when' ho will return to Kawhia. He and his people are just now taking great interest in the political proceedings at Wellington. Messengers are continually coming down for news, as to when and to whom the government of the country will finally be entrusted, they, of course, hoping it will not bo Sir George Grey. Tho Government agents' situations here are, and have been so for some tioie past, me e sinecures, with the exception of replying to the very earnest inquiries of Government creditors, many of whom have accounts still unsettled, due ten months ago. These unf oi'tunatcs are in deep study as to what has become of all tho Government money that has been expended by our lato Ministry, as stated by Messrs Atkinson and B yce. All the negotiation accounts in this pari of tho district are still unsettled. Tawhiao and his Ministers have consistently kept their words, as promised by Manuhiri, on the dismissal of Major Mair, and have Kept aloof from all the Government officers, ever since declining discussion of any bind with the late Premier at Kopua or any one under his authority up to the present time.

There was a little bit of a stir here on Tuesday last, the occasion being the natives of Te Wheoro's tribe, some forty of them receiving their pay for the making of the road between here and the Puniu. As they have been anxiously waiting for the event for some time past, there was naturally a little rejoicing, but no drunkenness.

Amongst the up-country natives there is a great scarcity of food just now, caused by their improvidence at the late useless meeting, viie effect of this has been, a good deal of local crime amongst themselves, in the way of horse and cattle stealing, in which some of the aristocracy are said to bo implicated. To stop this, it is determined to erect a pound on the west side of the river, near the boundary of the township, and no cattle allowed to corns in until full inquiries are made as to ownership, &c. The horse stolen from Mr Finch, and detaiued by a native over the Puniu some time ago, employed ploughing Rcwi's land, has not yet finished apparently, or ttewi's authority is set at naught, who

was to obtain restitution of the animal. So much for ttewi's mfluonco, of which so much political capital has been attempted to bo made. — Verb sup. —'Jwn UOXUtESPONDENX.