THE WAIKATO.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 270, 17 November 1869, Page 3

THE WAIKATO.

(From the Correspondent of the Southern Cross.") JSgahttawahia, November 4. The Hon. D. McLean, accompanied by Colonel Frazer, Major C. Heaphy, V. C, Mr. Manning, and Mr. Brown, arrived here last uight en route to Alexandra, on a visit of inspection of the several stations at which the Constabulary are posted. The Defence Minister inspected the redoubt which is being erected here uuder the direction of Captain Young, 18th Regiment, his Excellency's Military Secretary. The manner in which the men of the Constabulary are carrying out the design of Captain Young is highly creditable to the officers who have selected aud trained them. That work which would, under other circurastauces, have to be paid for as skilled artisans' labour, is here done by men who at the same time are charged with the defence of the district, or, rather, who are meant to serve as the nucleus on which, in the event of hostilities, the manhood of the scattered settlements would rally. The woi'ktnanship of this redoubt is of a much more finished character than that of the constructions that we are generally familiar with in the Waikato. The parapets are built with mathematical nicety, and, although the loose pumice soil does not afford good material for building, each turf is well and firmly laid in its place ; while the inner walling, or "revetment," is neatly made of punga or fern tree stems placed perpendicularly. For the loop-boles or embrazures, timber is being sawn at au adjacent pit, aud carpenters from amongst the force are working the boards up for the various fittiugs of the tower. The fort i£ meant to command a landing-place for a steamer, and, in order to level or break down the steep brink of the river to a uniform iuclice or glacis, a double tramway is being constructed the loaded cars to pull the empty ones up. In the body of the redoubt, which would pro. bably give shelter in emergency to near a thousand persons, there will be a brick tower dominating the place and covering a well of water. The Constabulary, fifty of whom work every day on the redoubt, have made a stack of about 20,000 bricks as material for the tower. No bricks have before been made in the Waikato, it having been thought that the clay found, as it is of decomposed pumice stone, was unsuitable. Bricks brought from Auckland cost £9 a-thousand ; if they can be made here or a serviceable nature, they need not cost more than £2 10s, or £3. Captin Young is in the hope of finding good limestone about 8 miles up the course of the Waipa. which, if realised, will much facilitate building here. There is known to be good fire-clay at the Kupakupa coalmines. AU these are most important matters, now, when steam flax mills are being built in all parts of the district.