THE PELORUS SOUNDS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XVII, Issue 298, 21 December 1882, Page 2

THE PELORUS SOUNDS.

(Prom our own Correspondent.) We have had a long spell of fine weather down here, rather too much for our gardens, but, as I write, a warm gentle rain is falling, which will brighten up our somewhat parched herbage. The saw milla keep steadily at work and, though no actual riae has taken place m the timber market, white pine has assumed a much firmer position, m fact seems to have grown into general favor down south. We are likely to bare » native difficulty

oil a small scale among us. A party of j natives llavs taken possession of a portion. 1 of the Warwick Run, at present held < under lease by Messrs Harvey Bros. : The Maoris have given those gentlemen j notice to remove their cattle from the land they claim, if they do not want thetri shot. Moreover they declare they will' shoot stock of all descriptions that may trespass for the future— rather hot, ia'nt it? The land they claim- has been held under lease for over fourteen years, and it seems strange they should only now discover they have a claim to it. Messrs Harvey Bros have written to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and m reply he states he has no power to move m the matter, but advises them to write to head-qaarters m Wellington. I wonder if he expects those gentlemen to pay rent for land ■ they dara not use, or whether he will compensate them for the loss they must sustiin m over-crowding other portions of the rnn to please tho natives. It ia not known here where they came from, but they evidently mean to stay having planted extensive gardens. At Crail Bay there resides a man named Corless, better known as Jack the Pirate. This eccentric individual appears to be off his onion. Daring the time the mill worked he subsisted chiefly on the charity of the mill hands, for although an ablelooking man onough, he hag a mighty objection to work. I have known him, while doing a perish, to faint away m another man's hut from sheer hunger, at that very time he had been frequently requested to work, but always refused, for his soul utterly abhors active employment. Since the mill was closed he has lived mostly on water, and consequently appears rather Gne drawn. I saw him about a week ago, and he looked very bad indeed. The strangest part is that although he could catch enough fish m an hour to last him a week, he will not make the attempt, but if anyone else fishes he will greedily devour the small fish they throw away. I thought perhaps he had no hooks or line, but on entering his hnt I saw he was well supplied. He seldom leaves his bed before noon, but although he would sooner starve than work, without doubt his > inertness is caused through a mild sort of insanity, and therefore ' C4overnment should not let him starve to death. I believe that unless some steps are taken the Coroner's inquest is only a matter of time. I went to Havelock this morning, Dec. 10th, to 'attend the auotion sale in' Mills Bros.' estate. It rained heavily the whole way. On reaching that celebrated city I had the satisfaction to hear that the steamer Lady Barkly made an-, attempt yesterday to reaah Havelock, but failed most lamentably, and had to rnn back, consequently the auctioneer was unable to reach the field of action, to the great disappointment of buyers from all parts; ' • .. .- I left Havelock übont 3 p.m. and reached the mouth of Kenepuru (shortly after dusk. While slogging up that reach against wind and tide, I was agreeably surprised to be overtaken by the steamer Torea. The oaptain, a 'gentleman well known m your neighborhood, kindly gave me a tow as far as St Omers ; may he be repaid for his kindness. : After hearing of the futile attempts of the Nelsou steamer, it ia no wonder that I was surprised to behold the stanch little 1 Torea bowling along at tbe rate of nine ! knots an hour, mere especially as I knew 1 that she must have outridden a far ; heavier sea than that which frightened 1 the Lady Birkly ; but then there is i> lot of difference m captains, and the present 1 skipper of the Torea is known all round 'he New Zealand coast as an intrepid and 1 skilful sailor, moreover the yacht's owner was on board, and his abilities are not to be despised.