ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1814, 21 February 1884, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

The bachelors' ball given in return to the ladies of Alexandra came olf in the Public Hall on Friday last. The committee spared no trouble to make the affair a succe&s, and were well rewarded for their exertions. The room was most tastefully decorated with nikau ferns and flowers, and the iefre&hinents wore both plentiful and of excellent quality. The room was ju&t comfoitably filled, the only drawback being that the ladies were somewhat in the majority, which necessitated some few of them sitting down at times, when they would fain have been tripping it in the mazy. Me^rs Nicholls and Marshall were both at home in their duties as M.0., and to Mr Warner credit is due as lion. sec. for the committee. Mr Sibley and the Alexandra band provided the music, and dancing was kept up with spirit until early morning. The ladies were all dressed most charmingly, so to pick out the belle of the ball is, to me at least, an impossibility, when all looked so delightful. Tawhiao has not yet returned to What'whatihoe, so there is little native news. His people are still collecting and disposing of their cattle, &c, to defray the expenses of his proposed trip to Englai d. They appear to have no idea now of getting any justice from the present Government. I think, with a good many more, that Mr Bryce's action in stopping Rewi's allowance is a great mistake. Once granted, it should Have been continued to him. It must be remembered that at the time Rewi niet with the acpident that has crippled him for life, he was employed, iv what was then considered, rendering most valuable service to the Government. Now it looks as if the money wan given as a bribe, and so the natives consider it. The attempt by various Native Ministers to undermine the mana of powerful and obstructive chiefs, by favouring and supporting others more readily influenced by them, has often been tried before, with the same result as Mv Bryce has met with, in Ms attempt to putjßewi over TawhjaQ's > JieadJ whichi hta turned, out $ j most unnaistikeble failure,, , The. popping I of his pt»B9\w w not ym»)y w $$5 '

Native Minister wished. has,tosay theleast, a most undignified appearance. Old Manuhiri is also another victim of the econoniical administration of the Government. For some years past he h.is received a pension granted to him when Sir George Grey was Premier, of £150 per annum. With this sum the old man h.is supported hizr.self and a number of his young descendants, somewhat comfortably and economically, as he managed it hiniMslf. He has now received notice that for the future his pension will be reduced to the sum of £f!0 only. Now, as the old fellow cannot, in the couise of Natuie, hold out much longer, why debar him of the few comfoits he has grown accustomed to 'at the end of his life's journey? Manuhhi has been a good friend to the pakehas in the oldeu time when the natives were not only the owners, but the lords of the soil. Mr Hursthou^e is engaged on the survey of the Kawhia-Alexandraro.id, so that work will possibly commence in the formation eie long. — (Own Correspondent. )