OPUNAKE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 176, 23 November 1881, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

(FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Now that Mr. Bryce has restored oonfidence, and all Natives having returned to their peaceful occupations, we may anticipate resumed activity in progress and settlement on the West Coast generally. Unfortunately, the large tract of country comprising 44,000 acres, surrounding our township which was returned to the Natives by the Boyal Comission about twelve months ago, is still allowed to remain waste, and until this block is finally dealt with, population cannot increase to any extent in this district ; therefore it; is fervently hoped that the Government will, without) delay, throw open the country, and so encourage those people who have invested large capital here with the full hopes of seeing this done.

The Natiruanuis as they marched through Opunake yesterday, en route for Oeo, under an armed escort, looked very sullen and crest fallen.

A Native woman named Hokoka died afc Oeo on Thursday morning. She is the daughter of the civil chief Matiu. People say that she has been v makutu," or bewitched by the Ngatiawa tribe, and further say, that this is the third in this family who has been deprived of life in a similar way. A tangi ifc being held at the Waiana, and the body is to be interred to-day. I hear Mr. Slade's tender for the erection of new school building for Opunake, has been accepted; the contract price being £325. Mr. Courtney 'B new two -storey buildzag is nearly finished, and reflects great credit on both the architect and owner.

Several business places and private residences are to be commenced next week. So far, carpenters appear to have plenty to here. The Opunake Natives arrived under escort on Sunday. Amongst them are Tuhi's father and mother.

A meeting is called fpr Tuesday even-"lng"'iio«tjfWH;tl"a">ioTir-vfif<>rjj»ing.(i TfIWM Board. Z7uriug fast session, I believe, iq legislating on this matter, more facilities have been given, which many here are not acquainted with. I also see that people are moving towards getting up sports for New Year's Day.

The old loyal chief Wu*emu Kingi, I was glad to see, did not take any active part in this late movement of Natives. He has yemaitted peaceably &l home. H« informed roe that he thought the Government had taken his land away, as a surveyor was at work at his village, and placed a post or trig station there. I informed him that I considered the Government were doing this for his own good, which appeared to have satisfied him. He cannot relish tbe idea of troops ransacking his kaianga for arms. November 20th, 1881.