HARAPIPI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) July 21.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2807, 25 July 1866, Page 5

HARAPIPI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) July 21.

Anothek week has passed over in rather a monotonous manner, the only matter of any importance being a decided and energetic movement upon the part of all hands in the various Waikato settlements for the completion "of the Raglan Road. I forward to $you an appeal made to the settlers of the above townships by the inhabitants of Raglan, to facilitate the object in view. "Raglan Road. — Reasons for its immediate commencement : Ist. It will give the- Waipa settlers the advantage of one of the best ports on the. West Coast, and within five hours' ride of the township of Alexandra. 2nd. It will enable the settlers to load their own drays, and take them to the port of Raglan, which port commands not only the New Zealand but also the Australian markets. 3rd. -Upon completion of the road all land will increase in value at least 50 per cent., from the facilities it will give purchasers for the disposal of produce, and the decreased cost of stores and freight from Auckland. * 4th. As the General Government have granted £500,000 to the Provincial Council of Auckland for the settlement of the Waikato, &c, &c, the military settlers are entitled to have a portion of this money expended in providing an outlet for their productions. The proposed road from the Waikato to Auckland will be years before it ia finished, and, when completed, useless as an outlet for farm produce. sth. It is scarcely necessary to remind the Waipa settlers that in dry seasons the navigation of the Waikato is ckrasd; and then, if the Kaglan Road is not completed, it will cause inconceivable loss and annoyance. At the present time the whole transport of the district is delayed by the derangement of the machinery of a small steamer. Lastly. Ab it is of the utmost importance that the road it commenced as soon as possible, ifcas suggested that the settlers of Alexandra, Harapipi, &c., should form a Road Committee (whijh has already been done at Raglan), to petition the Provincial Government for the immediate commencement of the road." This appeal has met with the greatest sympathy, and at Alexandra, I hear, the petition has been most numerously signed. This is certainly a step in the right^direction — not only on account of the advantages accruing from the opening up of the road, but also as a matter of actual right to the military settlers (many of whom are now receiving not ouly no pay, but no rations), who ar« ready and willing to work, but cannot at present receive aDy employ of any kind ; and, their Crown grants being held back, they can neither sell nor mortgage their lands, as their period of service has not expiied ; consequently they have nothing but starvation staring them in the face. Tf true that the_Provincial Government of Auckland has had awarded to it the immense grant of half a million pounds sterling for the settlement of the Waikato, Ac, it is~ full time we had our share of it, and that some of the money began to circulate. There is a very strong feeling throughout the whole district —expressed and felt by- all classes upon the subject. Whilst speaking about Alexandra, allow me to say that, in these Upper Waikato districts, she has seta noble example to all her sister townships. A public meeting is to be held to gain subscriptions (many of which have already been promised) for the erection of a non-sectarian house of worship. Surely one could be erected here, if even of a humble character. However, it is only justice to say that Divine service for the different sects is read here every Sunday— either by a commissioned or competent non-commis-sioned officer — and that any other parties can attend. The ' Maori Chief ' arrived at Te Rori, and proceeded to Alexandra on Thursday last, only bringing up private stores and a few passengers. The • Pioneer ' arrived, with the mails, about 5 o'clock yesterday evening. Until to-day there has been one continual showerbath, and the river has, iv consequence, risen considerably, all the creeks being flooded ; but last evening, with the change of the moon, "came a ohange o'er the scene," a heavy frost setting in, and to-day being a lovely one. There is a vague report flying about that 100 cavalry — or defence corps men — are to be raised at Te Awamutu, Lut I put no reliance in the report. On Friday au order was read out to the men of the Ist Waikato Regiment stationed here, relative to their town acres. It was proposed, and accepted by many of the men, only to give them a quarter of an acre in the township of Tauranga proper, but an acre towards the Gate Pa. This seems scarcely fair, but the men have their option, which is similar to " Hobson's choice." The erection of Mr. Simpson's hotel (a rather barn like looking structure) is progressing rapidly at Te Ror.