PATEA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7823, 16 August 1887, Page 3

PATEA.

(FTiOM OUK OWN CORHKSPONI>KNT.) August 13, 18S7. A football match was played at the pa on the 6th instant, between the Mohonga and Public Works teams, which resulted

in a draw. Play commenced about 3 o'clock and was very good. The Mohonga team was captained by Mr Kroucher, and the Public Works by Mr Campbell. In the evening the teams and several visitors were entertained at a banquet at Mr Uattly's new accommodation house, The usual toasts were given ami responded to. Your correspondent bad been rehearsing for the previous fortnight a piece which he considered would have

lade his name famous as an orator about

the mighty power of the newspaper Press when a gentleman in response to some toast announced himself as the correspondent for two newspapers iv Jlawke'a Cay. Your correspondent has some vague recollection of thereupon retreating to an obscure corner to least his eyes on that great man, never having been previously in the presence of a double-barrelled newspaper man, and the fortnight's rehearsal vanished into thin air.

Mr Hattly's concert I have heard was a great success, but not having received an invitation I was not present. (My

modesty has been my rock ahead through life.) Thongh I expected to ieceive the compliment generally extended to the Press. I don't "suppose it matters much, as I am not a judge of music, never having got further than that popular son" " Fimiigan's Wake." The road works are making rapid progress, and would go on much faster hut that several men have been discharged lately, principally, it is said, through the natives putting obstacles in the way of obtaining timber to construct culverts, <&c., which is a. near-sighted policy on their part, as I believe the Government inspector, Mr Matehett, lias offered them a reasonable price tor tho trees, and as the road traverses all the way through their land it should be a great benefit to them. No doubt they are acting under the advice of that degraded white man, the " Pakftha-Maori," a race happily nearly extinct in Hawke's Bay ; but 1 suppose wherever the prey (Maori) is there this

human vnltnre will be found. It is to be hoped that wiser counsels will prevail.

There were no gronnds for saying that Mr Clias. Francis, of the Public Works Department, would contest the Hawke's

Hay seat against Captain Uussell, as reported in two newspapers. Perhaps they a»c the papers represented by that great man whq was so envied and admired at the

football banquet. I am sure Mr Francis wil| he heard of in the near future, as there is no doubt ho will adorn the popular

Jlminber of our Legislative Assembly ,-et.

The native visitors I mentioned in my last arc commencing to return to their homes, having eaton all the pork obtainable at the pa, and Maori visitors as a yule don't remain long when the ao-nshore is empty.

The contractors for felling and clearing Ijhsli on the road me making slow progress. It is thought that they will not make it pay, as their tender was conbideiaoly below the Government estimated cost. However, they are '"contractors," and that ought to he n great consolation in these degenerate days.

P.S. — Since writing tho aiiovc the mail from Napier has arrived, bringing news that the road works are to lie stopped. It is to be hopeil that Captain Russell and Mr Ormoml will u^e all their iulluence to prevent this most useful wink lj<:in<; stopped, as it connects Napier with the main trunk railway, fiinl onens up a very valuable tract of land. Resides it is a most cruel thing to turn ;i lot of nipn adrift at this season of the ypnr.