WAIPAU.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 15, Issue 2017, 27 December 1870, Page 2

WAIPAU.

(vsou oub oto cobbe3pohdbht.) December 20. I am sorry to inform "you that, on the night of the 21st November, the premises of Mr. James Green were totally destroyed by fife. There were between £600 and £700 worth of goods in it at the time, besides £70 in notes, gold, and silver.' ; Almost everything was lost, only, a quarter cask of rum and a few other things having been saved. The wind was blowing strong from north-west at the time, arid, everything being so very dry, the house was down in less than half an hour from the time it caught fire. The flames were first discovered at about 9 in the evening, and it is suspected to be the. act of an incendiary. Since my last letter to you things have been unusually quiet in this district, most of the natives being away at Turanga cutting grass. Major Ropata has, I believe, formed a guard of one hundred of the Ngatiporpu to protect the grass cutters, in case of a surprise from Te Kooti ; not at all a bad idea. It was rumoured a short time ago that the latter gentleman was seen with a considerable force in the ranges about thirty miles from here.; but it proved afterwards to be some natives getting some honey and pig hunting. I believe we are shortly to have the overland rond commenced from here to Turanga, a thing that is very much wanted ; indeed the natives are very eager that they should have the doing of it. 'Major St. John, accompanied by Mr. Goldsmith, were here last week. Their object was, I believe, to make preparations for the road being made. I understand that they will return in about a month or six weeks, when operations will be commenced. The schooner Tawera called here on her way to Auckland on Saturday last, and took on, board Mr. W. J. Green as passenger, who has been on a visit. The schooner Meteor passed here on Sunday on her way to Auckland ; wind blowing strong from the S. Some of the natives here are busy training horses for the Turanga races, which, I believe, are to come • off on the Ist February, 1871. The weather for the last month has been exceedingly hot and dry, the want of rain being very much felt; everything is drying up, and bush fires are to.be seen in every direction. Natives clearing and burning. .