MATAKANA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4061, 27 August 1870, Page 3

MATAKANA.

i\ T our issue of yesterday we made some re. marks relative to the circumstances of the Matakana iistnet, and we now purpose to supplement them by a few additional facts. "We spoke of the anxiety of the settlers for regular steam communication, and stated that some dissatisfaction exists, because the fares charged are double those by Failing vessels. We learn also that the day of, sailing (Saturday) is found to be mo-t inconvenient. The produce sent to market remains in town until AJoodny, when not only is its value deteriorated, but it is disposed of m an indif ferent maiket. Weie the day of sailing altered to Friday the settlers would be enabled to biing their produce to Saturday's market, and to obtain a better price for it. Our informant says that an excellent landing might be made at Pakarakaßav, where 1 here is a deep-water landing-place, [f a bridge were constructed at the Point, towards the Sandspit, there would be a road through from Mahurangi. Mr. Buchanan has 'already granted a right of road through his property on the other side ; and, should the plan here proposed be carried out, steamers from the North, would be able to call in direct, instead of landing passengers and goods fourteen miles away ; and passengers might go to the Point at Greenways, with whom, w e believe, arrangements are now being made. Our informant further states that coal has been found in the Matakaua district, and he believes that more determined efforts should have been made to open it up. Dr. Taylor found indications of gold within 100 yards of the proposed landing. The settlers are also anxious to have the extensive block of land known as Dacre's claim opened up, ■which is now we believe in the hands of the General Government. The natives are at present, we learn, cutting timber off the block, and it is rapidly becoming overgrown with thistles. .The settlers desire to have the block out up into small sections and offered for sale, so as to attiact population to the place. It 13 supposed to contain about two thousand acres. Considerable dissatisfaction is felt as regards the existing Highways Act. , Mmh inconvenience has been experienced owing to the absence of any provision in the Act enabling trustees to cut drains through private property. In one case the trustees had drains cut at great expense, and were obliged to cut tmough a hill m order to nnd an outlet ; whereas, had they been empowered to do so, it would have been easy to dram through private property, and without injury to it. The trustees are desirous that a provision should be inserted in the Act empowering Highway Boards to clear and deepen natural watercourses running through private property. — Some indignation has been excited amongst the settlers by certain allegations a3 to cattle-stealing. They deny most emphatically that anything of the kind has been practised, and they believe that the missing cattle have either strayed or been driven into the bush by dogs. The above. matters we have given some prominence to, as our informant is a respectable settler in the district ; and we may add that we shall be glad to receive hmts and information respecting tne circu instances and requirements of the out districts, and the general grievances of the settlers, so far as it is proper for a newspaper to deal with them.