WEST CLIVE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3909, 8 May 1877, Page 4

WEST CLIVE.

(from our own correspondent.) May 4, 1877. The weather is particularly dull, and business is exceedingly ' ' flat, stale, and iinprontable," much to the disgust of those engaged in supplying consumers with the essential necessaries of life. But, notwithstanding the dulncss of the weather and the flatness of trade, the shooting season has commenced in good earnest, the discharge of firearms being heard from before sunrise until he has sunk to rest, when a short interval takes place until the moon makes her appearance, when sport is resumed and carried on throughout the greater portion of the night ; but I am under the impression that the game is not so plentiful as it was last season, or, if it is as plentiful, the birds have become more shy, or the sportsmen less expert. I say this from the experience of a number of gentlemen who have tried their hands among our imported and natural game since the opening of the season without, I might almost saj', the slightest success. True, it may be urged that the powder was damp, the caps bad, and the gentlemen alluded to amateur sportsmen. Of this 1 know nothing, but simply state the facts as they have been related to me. Feed is very plentiful, and the pastures are excellent in every direction, and the cattle and sheep grazing in the various paddocks are in splendid condition. Speaking of sheep, the "war news" has caused the possessors of boiling-down establishments to become quite jxibilant at the prospect of there being a greater demand for tallow, and of higher prices being realised for that commodity, while, on the other hand, the sheepfanners are somewhat depressed in consequence of the probability of a depreciation in the price of wool. If the depreciation anticipated does take place, it is a matter of serious moment not only to shoopowners, but to the whole of Hawke's Bay, and I might say the whole of New Zealand. But speaking of HaAvke's Bay, I am of opinion that out of this dreaded evil, good will arise, inasmuch as it will compel the sheepfarmer of the present to turn his attention to agriculture, and not devote the whole of his estate to pastoral pursuits, and it may be the means of causing the owners of those vast properties now in the hands of a few individuals to cut them up into small farms, thereby rendering us independent of other places for flour, oats, &c. , &v. 1 f this should be the case, then the dreaded evil will prove a positive blessing to the community. Everything at present betokens a very hard time for the working classes during the ensuing winter, and there cannot be a doubt that unless some imforseon event takes place to ameliorate their condition, they will have to endure great privations both in town and country. County Councils and Road Boards appear to make a grand muddle of affairs either through the misconstruction of the powers vested in them, or through the thorough incompetence of the gentlemen elected to fill the prominent positions they now hold. Our own road board, it appears, has come in for its share of general muddle ; but as there are two cases pending the decision of a court of law, I must refrain from expressing an opinion as to the merits of the cases. 1 notice that a correspondent complains through youv columns of the conduct of horsey men, and the dangerous practice of driving infuriated cattle through the " village." Now, while endorsing the greatoi" portion of what is contained in that communication, still I am under the impression that at present little danger is to be apprehended, for the streets of the " village," I will not say are quite deserted, but at no hour of the day, from "early mom till dewy eve," are they overburdened with either men, women or children ; consequently there is not much to be dreaded. Plowever, perhaps, it would be judicious that some bye-law should be passed, fixing certain hours for the driving of stock ; this certainly would

be the means of reducing the chances of accidents, and if such law was infringed a heavy penalty should be inflicted. Mr M'Glashan has just erected a commodious dwellinghouse for his own occupation; it is in close proximity to Mr Orr's flour mill. I understand that Mr M'Glashen intends erecting a number of concrete cottage residences upon a portion of the same block of ground. Mr Thomas Eden, an old resident of Clive, has taken his departure from amongst us for fresh fields and pastures neAV in the vicinity of "Wairoa." Mr Eden carries with him the best wishes of the community, and it is to be hoped that he will be successful in his new field of enterprise.