RUAPUKE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1557, 27 June 1882, Page 2

RUAPUKE.

Tiik change for the better which ha? taken place in the weather during the past week, has allowed agricullui al opiHcitions to be again proceeded with. The success which has hithci to been attendant npon the sui face sowing of giass in this district, hao been the means of inducing the settlers to lay down a considciable area in that manner tins autumn. Gieat difficulty has, however, been experienced in getting the fern burned oIF, owing to the dampness of the .season. On the farms of Messrs Thompson and Duncan, I notice that their surface sown grabf.es of last autumn look extremely well, and they ha\e supplemented the quantity ot land thus laid down, considerably dlus season. Gonerally the pastuie here looks well and plentiful foi this time of the year, and its ippearance just now, would contiast UvouiAbly with that in moie pretentious and asMinunu parts of the counti y. On the f.um ot Mi Thompson I notice men at work planting hakea, with the object of growing into a hedge. Tt is being planted m the side of a soil -bank, and as it is of great consequence to farmei& to know what will grow most rapidly into an impenetrable and permanent fence, the experiment now being made by Mi Thompson, will no doubt be keenly watched by all those interested in thi* direction. Some extensive improvements, are being made in a block of land in this disti ie which belongs to the Maories of the tribe Ngatitiwehe. They intend settling npon it, and a portion of it, which is to be used for cultivation, has been fenced in by European labour. It may seem strange to hear of Maories employing Europeans to do their work. Such is, however, often the case here, for in a pecuniary sense several of the natives, aie in a superior position to a large number oi their white brethern. Wharoroa, the chief of this tribe, is a man of considerable influence amongst them, is very intelligent, and having for many years been a steadfast fnencl to the white man, has consequently gained their confidence and respect. Writing on Maoii matters. I may mention that an impression is prevalent in the native mind at present, that it will not be long before the harbours of Kawhia and Votea are thrown open for Europeon traffic. I have heard this from several native chiefs, as well as from white men, whom I know to be good authorities upon such matters. Although the meeting at Whatiwhatihoe, did not at the time appear to have been productive of much practical benefit to either of the two races, I have been led to imagine, since I last wrote on the subject, jthat some good is still likely to result from it. In matters politic Maori opinion seems in a very disturbed state, and before it again becomes settled, there is every probability that some change, fraught with profit to all classes, will come to pass. The proceedings at Whatiwhatihoe evidently taught them to realise the fact that, after all, the power which King Tawhiao exercises is not so absolute as at first they imagined. This of itself may lead to good. That this may be the climax of all , the existing disorder in Maori Government, isaconsumation devoutly to be hoped for, and then we may expect to see this district become more prosperous and progressive. In relative to what I have just written, I may mention that a native meeting has been convened by the Maori King to b*e held on the sth prox. at Kawhia for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability of permitting European settlements within the country, in which they are prohibited at present. I trust that such a result may prove to be the outcome of their deliberations. A comet baa been visible here for the last few nights. It has not appeared very clearly, but is likely to show more brilliant in the course of a night or two. — (Own Correspondent.)

The Kavioi District Board propose stopping a roa.d in that district. A general meeting of- the creditors in the estate of Arthur Graham, of Cambridge; will be held at the Court-house, Hamilton, on Mon-^ day next. , - ",The annual meeting of thre .Cambridge 'Highway pistrict will be held -at Haufapu'on 'Wednesday next, at 2 o'clock p.m. ' <.\ ,< ', -; Mrf/William A.^Graham -calls' for tenders'for, the making-. of a ditch and bank on the jTamahere e?tate., v * -' - v -^}:r: r ~1 ,- > I "SMr^O'Brien: of Te, Rapa.'. offers £1 '^wwdjfoFtbrce cattle lots r^o^-h& *.* ' %* % *