POKINOE, MANGATAHAUKI.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1650, 8 February 1862, Page 4

POKINOE, MANGATAHAUKI.

(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) It affords me infinite pleasure to be in a position to place the numerous readers of your journal in possession of the few local and military events that have transpired since the arrival of Her Majesty’s troops to the immediate vicinity of the Waikato River (Pokinoe). On the 26th Dec. last, Colonel Sir Janies Alexander, K.C.8., pitched his camp on the estate of Mr. Austin, known as Cranbourn Farm, and on the Ist of the succeeding month commenced the formation of a line of rout or road, which, when completed, will be indeed a credit to the gallant colonel as well as to those hardy and daring veterans under his command, as already they can beast of having conquered their sable brethren by the shovel and hammer alone, as the honourable and friendly intercourse between the troops and the Natives has accomplished more beneficial results than all the powder and ammunition in her Majesty’s Magazine, Albert Barracks. The Pokinoe, Waikato, Paparoa, and even Taranaki tribes, are to be seen daily in converse with the troops, and disposing of their goods to them, aud the most rebellious ot their chiefs now honestly admit that Sir George Grey’s intentions towards them are, and have been, of an honorable nature. The general good conduct of the whole of the troops in this district should be recorded in the annals of Australian history, and has to my knowledge gained the confidence and esteem of the Maori population.

An amusing event has taken place in the camp the 14th. A few days since, an heroic and noblelooking Maori chief, named Hiram Grey, of the Upper Waikato, challenged one of the officers of the 14th to cut a totara tree of equal width with him for the sum of .£2O: after a sharp and well contested contest of one hour and thirty minutes the former succeeded in felling the forest monster, thereby conquering the gallant officer, an event which greatly amused the whole of the military officers then present, including the noble scion of the house of “ Sterling.” The weather has not been very favourable of late, notwithstanding which the road parties are prosecuting their work with zeal and dispatch, much to the satisfaction of the proprietors of landed estates, as the properties of Messrs. Austin, Weeks, Rhodes, Hallimore, Siggs> Rutherford, Martin, Williamson, and Selby, are a lready enhanced three hundred and fifty per cent, in value.

A report has been foully circulated through the various camps to the effect that the Government authorities had contemplated the reduction of the Colonial allowance from, the whole of the Military employed in the formation of the roads; and if such a course be carried inio effect, our Legislature will not be studying the true interests of the Colon/, as it is impossible for a soldier to exist in the interior of New Zealand bush on the paltry amount awarded him by the Imperial authorities, owing to the exorbitant charge of provisions and other necessaries. Already I; am informed the Commissary officers have been deprived of the paltry sura which they were in receipt of and justly entitled to. Dr. Neill, I am glad to inform you, is convalescent, and is expected to be able to resume his official duties in a few days’ time. Numerous stores have been erected along the line of road between here and Auckland, including those of Messrs, Street, Young, Simpson, Rutherford, King, and Fitzherbert; provisions exceedingly high, &c.; flour, 4d. per pound; salt, 2d. per do.; tobacco, ss.per do.; maize, Cs. 6d. per bushel; oats, do.; soap, 7d. per pound; potatoes, Id. per do.; sugar, 7d. per do. These exorbitant prices are chiefly owing to the high rate of carriage demanded. An immense quantity of land is in course of preparation for agricultural purposes, and both Natives and Europeans are more lucratively and busily employed in this portion of the Province than hitherto. F. J, H. 4th February, 1862.