WAIROA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4083, 22 August 1884, Page 4

WAIROA.

[fhosi ove own coreespoxdext.l August "IS. Mr C. P. Browne, a Gisboruo photographer, commences business here this month. Another draper has made his appearance —Garrett and M'Kenzie. There is great competition among the local merchants, and several are '' selling off at desperate prices." The -weather is remarkably good for this time of year, and agricultural operations arc well forward. Lambing (if the present -weather continues) -will show a very high percentage. The fruit crop this year promises to be exceptionally good, and if the deities that preside over tho winds are gracious to us •we shall reap a plentiful hervest. A native iimaed Tame Otoko was drowned while riding along the beach from Mohaka to Waikari, on the 9th instant. The body having been recovered, an inquest was held at Waikaro on the 12th, when a verdict of " Found dvowncd " was returned. The unfortunate man was in liquor at the time, he having taken a .bottle of gin with him on the road. A considerable number of oranges and lemons have been planted in the district this year, and it may be an encouragement for those who have but recently planted to learn that those already planted, and old enough to bc;tr, are doing well. Mr Mayo 1 s orange trees at Orere, and Messrs Clunio and Johnson's lemons at North Clyde and Clyde respectively, and Mr W. Glenny's citrons atTeMahiahave allheavy crops on them. We usually find that when a local body is about to go out of office the members are only too anxious to hold meetings and talk to the ratepayers in the direction of giving little votes that they have suddenly convinced themselves "are most urgently required to open up, Sec, and develop tho resources, &o." But this is not so with tho Wairoa County Council. For want of a quorum last week the meeting was adjourned to tho 13th, and on that date a quorum was still wanting. When the meeting will take place I am at a loss to say. Several very important matters await tho assembling of " the collective wisdom" to bo settled.

I hear that Mr S. Locke, M.H.R., has communicated with several people here, including, I buliovo, the county authorities, asking for a list of the most urgently needed works, so that lie may endeavor to obtain some concessions for us in Lho shape of public works. The sooner Mr Locke is armed with a formidable list of our wants and wishes the better

On Tuesday night last an old woman—a iuuvclcurvka— living at tho Wairoa Heads, was accidentally burned to death in her wltare, whero she lived with only herself for company. She had a fire burning, and doubtless a spark must have set fire to the flimsy structure. Toha made au effort to get the woman out, but was unable to reach her owing to tho flames. When tho roof collapsed the fire was put out, and tho body recovered. Deceased, who was aged 72, was vfiy much burned about tho upper and lower extremities.

As I have on frequent occasions alluded to tho uninhabitable state of the local policeman's quarters, and also of the lock-up, I am happy to state that there arc indications ■which lead mo to believe the Government are at last going to do something in tins direction. Constable Shaw- has received instructions to shift into now temporary quarters, which he has done. A rather interesting fact came to my kuowledge the other day, and though not recent, it will be news, as I do not think the matter was published. Last year Mr T. Clunie, when ploughing his land at North Clyde (Orangitirohia block), came across a large patch of burned wheat many feet in depth, and nearly a foot beneath tho level of the soil at, tho present time. Evidently tho patch of burned wheat was where a large heap of that gram was destroyed by fire, accidentally or otherwise. None of tho old settlors remember having soon wheat garnered in the spot in question, and the conclusion therefore is, that tho Maoris grew wheat on tho Wairoa flats at an earlier date than we generally give them credit for.