NORMANBY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 293, 28 August 1882, Page 2

NORMANBY.

(EBOII OUR OWN COR^ESIjONDE^T.) One of the signs of the termination of winter, and the approach of spring, is tho pleasant gathering whieili in each 'of the townships on the coast celebrates the close, of the dancing , parses, , winch ibave contributed' to the amusement 6t- the youmj of bQth sexes during the long evenings. Under the direction of Mr. W. Jenkins, the weekly, quadrille assembly, in the 1 Town Hallhere^' lias been a continued, sutoess throughput^ the season, and the final Sail, which was held on Friday last, has in no way detracted from the fame of the conductor 1 / or failed to crown with a brilliant climai 1 a ;succe«Bion; succe«Bion of reunions, which- (flaring the winter been productive of unalloyed enjoyment. No less than, thirty coupje^camq.ftom the nprth,, by railj., v returned' the ! following morning ;., and Mjeliall, without being inconveniently crowded, 'was .pom* fortftbly full, "^hihfV the 1 balance "ot the sexes was so ■ gobd tnot neither ladies nor gentlemen lacked partners When disposed to dance. The costumes of the ladies were tasteful, and had that gay appearance which befits B.ball room., >HacLyonr correspondent the facile pen of t£e; contributors to the sopiety papers, he .would endeavor to describe some of .the exceedingly beautiful dresses^ wnitfh 'enveloped still more beautiful ladies, present ; but ignorance of the name of the various choice fabrics of which they were^inade constrains him to silence, whilst the culty in making a choice „where all jwere pleasing, forms another' reason why he _ should refrain. Not a single hitch occurred to mar the harmony of the even- > ing, and dancing was kept up to so early an hour in the morning that there can be no doubt .^hat all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. , Daylight was struggling for the mastery with the illumination of the hall before all had left ;> and a wifth was universally expressed that next winter would witness the establishment of the I dancing parties under the Bame skilful | management. ■■ , • > / It is expected that' the coming! land tales will give renewed impetus to the trade of the district, which 1 is at present in a not very flourishing conditipn^owing in a great measure to the staW of the roads. It is hoped that' steps will be taken to open up for settlement the various larg&. native reserves irit the vicinity, and as Sir W. Fox has intimated that the Crown grants are ready for issue to the various tribal owners', there should be nothing to prevent their lease or sale should the natives be willing. As regards the latter it is thought that no difficulty will be experienced,, and it behaves the Government to place before settlers such data as will instruct them as to the proper mode of procedure in obtaining leases. At present no one appears to be at all well informed on the subject. The West Coast district is specially exempted irom [ the operations of the- Native Beserves Bill lately passed by the House, that district having been specially dealt with by the West Coast Settlement Beserves Act of last session, under whioh Mr. Mackay is appointed commissioner. As ' far as your correspondent is aware, the only communication received from that gentleman up to the present is a manifesto cautioning all lessees of native reserves against paying ttieir rent to any but himself, but containing no other information. From what we have experienced of the working of the Act at present, it would appear to be ingeniously contrived to retard rather than promote the settlement of the native reserves, or at all events the administration of it has that effect.