NATIVE NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2234, 2 November 1886, Page 2

NATIVE NEWS.

[rilOM OUK OWN' C'ORKi:M'OXI)EXT.J Alia an dba, No\ ember 1. Thk proceedings of the Native Land Court at Otorohauga have for soirip time past entuely engrossed tin 1 native mind and all their money, as far ab this place is concerned. Never, our storekeepers and others declare, was business so dull. Now that the Court is over, or near it, better times are expected. The death of Puke Te Ao, the native member for this district, will cause a vacancy which, I believe, will bring out many candidates, anxious to sacrifice themselves for the benefit ©f their race— and tho £200 per annum attached to it. I hear already of several candidate- for the position. Major Te Wheoro will, I am told, come forward to regain his old seat in the House, which he would no doubt have held uj» to the present time but for his visit to England with Tawhiao. Mr Georcre Brown, well-known and favourably to ail when in the (Tovernment service, is another. Henry Kaihau is sure to make a try, and Wetere Te Reienga will al-o again come forward. Mita Kar.vka is another spoken of, and several others who are speaking of themselves. I would not be at all surprised if a dozen were to g° t» the poll. In electioneering matters native- are not so crafty as their pakeha friends and will split their votes, so an outsider has a good chance. The election will come ofF shortly, as the returning officer, Mr (t. T. Wilkinson, has received in.-ti actions from Wellington to prepare lists of polling places, some of which will b<; m the King Country a-, far as Mokau. Who would ha\e belie\ed thisa few short years ago '! Tawhiao is at Whathvhatihoe quietly in attendance on his sick son, Tv Tawhiao, who is very bad indeed. Will tlje county equnul, wljich is lesponsible, get something done to the Ale\andr.iTe Awamutu road, now the fine mother is coming on ? In wet weather it is somewhat fiightful. The hole-, are so numerous that it is a wonder how the traffic has been done without some .serious accident. The strain on the poor animals worked on the road is very great. Travellers often ask if there is a county engineer, and if so did ho ever travel thid way*'