TE ARAI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3118, 15 July 1867, Page 4

TE ARAI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

OWING to the long-continued rains, there is an almost entire cessation from farm labour, the present winter being the most severe we have had for mmc yews. Cuttle, however, require more looking after, and several settlers have suffered from casualties ; and this must necessarily be the case until the country ia more extensively occupied, and the swamps, which will eventually be found to be the best land, drained. It would be difficult to particularise the material improvement in each individual case, but the settlers as a whole are increasing the quantity of land under cultivation, as also their stock. It cannot indeed be said they are getting rapidly rich, for, in a season of general depression, such cannot be the case. "When settler* oannot obtain a paying price for their produce in Auckland, it must necessarily affect their pockets ; yet, in this respect, they only suffer in common with other settlements. One thing here I think at least we can boast of— the superior character of our buildings. For this we have principally to thank the enterprise of the proprietor of the Woodside Saw Mills, who, if not enriched himself, has enabled many to ait down in comfort by their fireside through supplying them cheaply with timber. The mill is still in full work, and settlers from Poit Albert are being supplied from thence. The flax mill, made by the same proprietor, is at present in statu quo, it being found difficult to separate the gum from the flax at this time of the year ; but we expect operations will again 1 be commenced in the summer. There are many changes in our social position Bince I last wrote you. A medical man has established himself amongßt us, who, by his skill, urbanity of manner, and moderate charges, is gaining the goodwill of the settlers. A schoolmaster's home has also been erected at the junction of the three settlements, and Mr. and Mrs. Bird are ably fulfilling the duties of schoolmaster and schoolmistress. The Government grant for schools being no longer given, the onus of support rests with the settlers, who, no doubt, knowing the welfare of the settlements' institutions is identical with their own, will support them for their own as well as their ohildretfs sake. We are happy to say that the Hakaru district has joined us heartily in this matter, as Mr. Bird attends there to teach the children during a portion of the week. Among other changes, the Arai Post • office has been removed to the schoolmaster's house ; as also the library, which h»8 gone on steadily increasing its member*, and has doubled the number of its books, besides having a few pounds on hand for the purchase of more new books. From the removal to Auckland ,'of the Rev. S. Edger, the eaaay class was discontinued for a while, but this winter we have had several very interesting lectures. Amongst these we may notice two by Dr. Dalton on "The Digestive Organs," one also on "The Eye," and another on " Sleep and Dreams " ; and two by Mr. Bird— subject, "India, and What I Saw There." Our next promised lecture is one on Phrenology, by Mr. Penman, who, having a good knowledge of the subject, will no doubt handle it in a masterly manner, totally different from that of your Auckland phrenologist. Some settlers on the Te Arai road, East Mangawai, have been sinking for gold, allured by the £5,000 reward. They have put the hole down over 30 feet, and have found some likely quartz. They are now canvassing for funds to buy a pump to sink the hole some 60 feet, as they gay some chemist ia Auckland says they are not far off the precious metal. We hope this may be so, as it might enrich the owner of the land on which the hole is struck, though the benefit could not be very general, as the quantity of land held by Government is but small. We have also to notice that a smith has located himself on the North Oruawaharo, near the church, a boon which prevents our having to send to Auckland on every petty occasion. Owing to the state of the road, going from Pakiri to the Little Omaha, involving wading kneedeep in mud, the settlers have not been able, except in a few instances, to avail themselves of the privilege of a quick passage by steam to Auckland. Should the steamer continue to run in the summer months, we have no doubt settlers will largely patronise it, though our local boat will still continue to oarry all cargo going from here. Our mail here continues to be carried with the greatest regularity, and we have nothing to complain of in this respect, if we except our being charged occasionally extra postage on a letter or paper merely because Auckland and not Te Arai was marked thereon. We suppose, as is the case with the newspapers you forward us, we must pay extra postage for the privilege of liring out of town.