WAIROA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3037, 21 March 1881, Page 2

WAIROA.

(from otjr own correspondent.) March 19, 1881.

In my last letter there was a slight misprint Mr Thomson said in the Assessment Court that Mr Kinross' Kaubauroa property was not worth two shillings an acre rental, whereas in print it appears two pounds, which makes a vast difference. I can assure you very few properties in this County are worth latter figure. There are a thousand quarter-acre sections in our sweet briar and black-berry covered township, whose value (in the owners estimation only) is immense. Purchased sixteen years ago at most ridiculously high prices, and tea per cent added at compound interest ever since, makes (on paper) the cost of a quarter-acre in Clyde township about the same as one in the centre of Melbourne. In the meantime the unoccupied portion of the flat is rapidly assuming the appearance of a howling wilderness. Paying the County rates year after year has, however, begun to sicken more than'one absentee laud owner, and sections are now offered for five years, free of rent, provided the tenant clears them and pays the rates. I doubt if the Irish Land League would ask fairer terms than these.

It is pleasing to be able to chronicle that a new and most important industry has started in Wairoa. Mr Isaac Kent, of Maru Maru, has found limestone in inexhaustable quantities, plenty of firewood along side of it, and has commenced to burn lime, which he professes to be able to supply in any quantity and of firstclass quality. Mr J. H. Smyth has been to superintend blasting the limestone with dynamite. A chemist ha 6 opened a shop in this township, and I trust will find business remunerative enough to remain here. Cff and on we have been Badly in this district, and if our public meetings and subscription lists do not induce a real doctor to come and settle we must give all our support to the chemißt. I wonder if he knows how to make croton oil pills—l mean the sort that one. pill cures a broken rib, two an abcess on the liver, and three gives employment to the undertaker. If he does not know I can find a man here who can instruct him.

I was once a member ot the Armed Constabulary. When in the depot my duties were principally learning my drill, polishing my boots, and shaving my chin. After being six months in daily dread of cutting my throat, I was drafted away up the country, and told by a sergeant

that my new duties would be "to draw my pay every month, look pleasant, and do nothing." This was some years ago, and although the above duties are still strictly adhered to I find that the work of clerk of the court and interpreter has been added. About eight months ago this office was filled here by a civilian for £100 a year, and who had actually lived five years on this very liberal ealary. Jtt was too liberal ; he was retrenched put of it on the grounds of economy, arid a constable sent from Taupo to do the work for his A. C. pay and Is a day extra. He came in such a hurry that he left his arms and uniform behind him but to a man whose duties wete confined to the R fti.'s Court these, articles were of Bourse superfluous. He could tiot speak a word of Maori; bit, bless you, that was nothing ; an interpreter was engaged eveiv Cour day for a guinea, and a trifle now and then for making out summonses. The economy at last became too apparent to the Government, and that constable had to go, and another constable (a mounted one this time) sent here all the way from the Waimate Plains via Wellington, can talk Maori. He seems to

have come in a hurry too, and perhaps if he does not suit will be replaced by a constable from Waikato. All this passage money, of course, ain't counted ; it comes out of the defence vote, which is always passed in a lump. The Maoris are an imitative people, and quite a burlesque in tbe shape of horse-racing was got up near the Uwhi settlement on St. Patrick's Day. The coucse was circular, half a mile round, and more like a pig track thau anything else; an awkward gully crossed it in one place, and manuka stumps were plentiful. There was judge, starter, a clerk of the scales, or rather steelyards, and actually a few native bookmakers. In the intervals between the races there was the usual galloping about, and on one occasion two Maoris going round one way were met by another Maori (Paku) going round the other way. He tried to pass between, but collided with such force that not only all three riders but all three saddles were thrown off, and Mr Paku's neck was broken. He was carried to the creek in the orthodox manner, and not recovering was at last admitted to be dead and removed by his sorrowing relatives. Being a native there is not likely to be any inquest. Our local bank manager, Mr Porter, takes a great interest in this year's crop of hops. A draughr of porter, whether in or out of a bank, is a very pleasant thing, but an overdraft in a bad season is apt to make a piper play a note or two flat.

The proceedings of the Assessment Court were again rather amusing. The Judge asked the County Chairman to sit by him—it looked like sitting with him —and, you bet, he did so. Tbe propritoress of a quarter'acre section said she bad only leased half of it and a small cottage to a tenant who had hitherto been rated for tbe whole section. She applied to be put on the roll for half the section, on which she shortly meant to build another cottage. The acting assistant Judge looked grave, aDd said "it was a bad precedent." The Judge agreed with him, bo the tenant's name was struck off the roll, and the proprietress rated for the whole section instead. This eminently wise decision will lead to further litigation. Tbe Judge is paid by the day; the whole work took under an hour; but by having; adjourned the Court last week and made two sittings of it, he will doubtless get paid for two days instead of one.

That's tbe way the money goes, Pop goes the weazel. I want to know whether the cemetery

trustees have recommended the Government to appoint a gentleman on tbe Board in the place of the late Mr Carter? When the late Mr Burton's death caused a vacancy a gentleman representing the same denomination was gazetted with very little loss of time, and it would be interesting to know why a similar course has not been pursued in this instance. My own impression is that if an intelligent person were so appointed questions might be forthcoming as to accounts, whether chere is a banking account, and, if not, why not? Some time ago a balance-sheet was published showing £19 19s 9d as being "in hand," but as the said balauce-sheet was not authenticated by any one's signature, was not audited, and did not say in whose hands this nineteen pounds odd would be found, nor state if in the bank to the credit of the trustees, the balance did not appear available, especially as a grant of £25 was applied for and procured from the local body to carry on work that could easily have been done for the £ 19. There is a reserve of eighteen acres attached to the cemetery that if cleared could be leased fcr grazing purposes, and he the means of bringing in a revenue. I would also again suggest to the trustees that it is high time interment fees were charged, 80 that the cemetery should be in 'a measure self supporting. At the very least they should appoint a sexton, so that due regularity would be observed.