UPPER WAIKATO.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 31, 10 April 1866, Page 3

UPPER WAIKATO.

Kihikihi, April 2. The Upper Waikato has now reached its culminating, point, as regards the abject misery of those men who have had their rations stopped, for, with nothing to which they can turn their hands, for the purpose of earniug-their livelihood, their condition cau be better imagined than described ; and what was once thrown to the dogs is now harbored up to save them from starving, and the canine species has to find for once food wherever it is to be found. A case came under my own personal notice, where a tall, strong, and ablebodied. man was to be seen with a bag going round the soldier's whares at Te Awamutu, picking up scraps of hard bread aud biscuit, that at other times had j been put into the pig-stye, whilst the poor unfortunate seemed perfectly satisfied at what he had thus obtained. Many more cases of a similar nature are now of daily occurrence; but the question now arises, how long is such a. state of things going to continue ? The winter is now fast approaching, and yet the Government have not commenced anything in the shape of work ; but, no doubt, will, when the men are unable to earn two shillings a-week, when once the severe weather sets in. — S. Cross.