PORT WAIKATO.

New Zealand Herald, Issue I, 1 April 1864, Page 4

PORT WAIKATO.

[FROM OOE OWN CORRESPONDENT.] March 30. The want of better ferry accommodation is beginning to be much felt here ; ttie present means might be adequate to the requirement* in (lays not long since past, before- this post was occupied, and when travellers were few and far between, but now the growing importance of the place demands increased accommodation. The fcrrv is in the hands of the Maoris, and done altogether by canoes; during the day they are generally on the alert, and rapidly answer to the " cooey but it is after nightfall that tlio weary traveller linds himself so much " dropped in," when depending on some ready means of transport across the river he arrives on the inhospitable beach, with the river before him and the dreamy white Kami hills behind, without a bush for shelter or water to drink, there to exert himself in making as much noise as ho can to attract attention on the other side, and fortunate he is if after a couple of hours he is answered, i t would be a great boon to passers by ii'soinu shed or other means of shelter was provided for protection against the weather while waiting at this dreary place. The steamer 'Shirt,' which arrived hero on Saturday last, lias hid her false keel removed, and is undergoing a thorough over-haul. Yesterday the s.s. ' Prince Alfred ' called in.here, bringing a large punt, she left again immediately. Another death by drowning occurred yesterday. A man named Lewis was going to Waiuku in a canoe in company with two other men, all of whom had been working here. They had got near the mouth of the Awaroa creek when the canoe capsized. Lewis being a good swimmer struck out for the shore, but being hindered by the weight of liis clothcs the unhappy man failed and wa.s never seen alter. The other men more wisely held on to the canoe, and succeeded in keeping themselves afloat until they hailed at a Maori woman coming down the river in a canoe ,

she quickly came to their :i : .d and rescued them frofri their perilous position ; by this time thoy were almost exhausted, for they had been a long time in the water, and fine was unable to swim at all. Thov had drifted down the river some miles. A boat's erew was immediately sent in search for the body but could find 110 traces of it. Lewis belonged to the "Wainku constables; he arrived in this country about seven months ago from South America. On Good Friday church service was held in one «.f the stores : the volunteers and murines from the 1 Kolipse" attended with their respective mlicers. Commander .Mayne, Lieut. Young, Ensign Turner. Archdeacon Miiuuscll oiliciated. The dead body of the man Lewis, who was drowned on Friilav last", was picked up yesterday by two of the Yofunters very near to the place where lie was drowned. They brought the body to the township, where it is now' laid out in a "NVlinre. There will be some difficulty about the inquest. R. O. Stewart. Ks(|., the Kesicdnt Magistrate for this place being in Auckland, while Major Speedy the Coroner, fertile district, is also tlinv incapaciatcd by sickness. The ' Sturt'started for tile iiluli' 011 Monday, we have no news of her progress. The 1 ]?angiriri' is fast beginning to look ship shape, and is expected to be launched in a fortnight. C'apt. l'arnell, complained that the land beacons, for marking the course of the channel are very indistinct and sometimes totally invisible when crossing the bar. A steamer is just iu sight, bearing up for the bar, supposed to be the ' Alexandra.' She has something in tow.