THE WAIMATE PLAINS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 5, 28 April 1880, Page 2

THE WAIMATE PLAINS.

There has been a good deal of speculation as to the reasons which induced the natives to build a whare between Taikatu and Otakeho. The Maoris have had a fishing station on that ground for a long number of years, and in consequence very little notice was taken of what they were doing. There can be no doubt, however, that the building of the whare is something more than a mc.c assertion of right to a particular spot, for we were intormed yesterday, on very good authority, that the natives contemplate building some more whares between the Kaipokonui and Waiokura, and that some of the timber for the framework is already on the ground. As we predicted in Saturday's issue, the large concessions given to the natives have only stimulated them to " make a try" (to use their own expressive phraseology) for more. The Commissioners meant well, and have worked with an honesty of purpose which has commanded the respect of even their foes ; but we are afraid that their good intentions are likely to be frustrated, to some extent, by their own generosity. The natives are not likely to gain much by their present course of procedure, and if they are acting on Ta Whiti's advice — ol which we have but little doubt — it would appear as if he wished to preserve his beloved Parihaka as long as possible irom the intrusion of the pakeha.

Whilst this has been taking place, the road works have been vigorously pushed ahead, and the gravelling is going on at a brisk pace. Mr. Hughes has been very lucky with No. 8 contract, for he found gravel quite close to his ground, and had not to go a distance for it, as he anticipated before commencing the work.

The A.C. camp at Oeo will probably shift to-day or to-morrow, about two or three miles beyond Opunake. It is understood that the camp will next be located at Umuroa. At the Werekino camp, near th" 1 Stony River, preparations are also going on for shifting camp, and it is likely that the next one will be formed near the Waiwerenui. This will bring the two camps within about twenty miles of each other. Te Whiti will, therefore, have to hit upon some new device if he wishes to prevent the roads meeting. Mr. C. W. Hursthouse, accompanied by his brother, Mr. Flinders Hursthouse, and a party of six men, has cut a track through from Stratford to the Mount, and from thence to Opunake. They were accompanied by a native called Waitara, from Mawhitiwhiti, who was taken as a guide. The country is, generally speaking, level, and but little of it is broken. The bush is patchy ; in some instances the growth is small, whilst in other places some of the largest rata trees found on this coast were passed on the journey. The land is of first-class quality, and there would be little or no difficulty in making a road right through Irom Stratford to Opunake. It took only about eight or nine days to finish this important exploration, and as the distance is over 20 miles, Mr. Hursthouse and his men must have worked very hard indeed. We shall look to his report with much interest, as goon, as it is published.