HARAPIPI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 847, 1 August 1866, Page 5

HARAPIPI.

(FHOM OVR OWN COEUESPONDENT.) A - ''""ty 28 ' Un tho 25th, we Wern favoured with a visit from Bishop Selwyn, who, I believe, hus been visiting all thesottloraontson tho Waikato. This is tho first timo we have mid tho pleasure of seeing hiui in this ; settlement,—in f !t ft, it, is tho first timo a ministor of any denomination has favoured us with a visit. We had divino service in the evening, in a krgo empty house that one of tho sotllora kindly placed ut Iho disposal of tile Bishop. The service was very numerously attended, but would have been more s'o, if we had had any previous knowledge of his coming, as ouch an event does not happen so often here, that when it does it should bo neglected. Tho Bishop preached a very impressive sormon, and one lhat the most simple mind could understand, —and I for one wieh we could see him much oftcner than once in twolve months, or a minister that can preach, as good a fermon, and many more in this settlement express the samo wish. Thoro is an old saying, that " it never rains but it pours," and this week it has been exemplified in the steamers, for wo have had no loss than four up, viz., the Waipa, Blaenose, Maori Chief, and the Pioneer. It ia a good sign, I think, for there must be something considerable coming up for so many boats to bo employed, as many times during tho winter we nave teen eight and ton days without a steamer. The wealhor is now very favourable to all sorts of farm and garden work ; rather cold at l.ight, hut fine dry, warm days ; and all tha soltlors round here are very busy at work, preparing grjund for their crop?,—ami from ,the extent of land which ia being ploughed, I should say we shall Jiavo plenty of greon food noxt season for horses and cattle, and also vegetables ; mid the next part of tho quostion will bo who.ro to find a market for all our surplus, for there is not the least doubt but that we shall have a groat deal moro than we shall consnmo ourselvos. Great dissatisfaction exists amongst the men of tho Ist Regiment of tho Waikato Mililia, stationed thoro, the way they aro being troated, their pay is iu arrears something like four months ; their timo of service, yiz., throe yoirs, is now almost in, in fact insome cases it " in, and uptD tho present time there is no signoftho Crovoi-nmcnfc settling them. 'I hoy have sent in reports about thoir pay until they aro all tired of doing so (whether they over reach head quarters no one knows), but whether they do or not no ono gets satisfaction, and tii add to all their other grievances they lnivo not a decent tent to sleep in at night, ami

now that they are expecting to be relievod every weot, and tho worst of the winter is over, they havo received an order to orect huts, to obtain the miteriiil for which thoy must go into swamps up to their midcllo in water : these aro some of tho pleasures of soldiering for tho coloninl Government, and after going through thrco years of it, it is not surprising I that thoy whh to g-1 done with it. 'I ho Mock-homo is going ahead fast, and there is a roport that as soon ns it is completed, the detachment of the Ist, stationed heie, are to bo removed, which, in the prosont state of affairs, will not, I think bo safe, unless they aro relieved by an equal quantity of regulars ; another rumour is, that all tho lflt l<e;;iment aro to remain in tho Wuii;ato district until the Ist of January 1867, but I cannot nußwer (or tho truth of cither report. Tho settlors at Raglan are getting up a petition to open up tho Raglan road, as it will be a great boon both to them, and also to us, in tact it wmilJ be tho making of tho Waikato country. Owing to tho high rato of freight on tho river, all sorts of provisions aro still dear up in this part, and as thoro seems no likelihood of freight being lowered, there is no prospect of provisions being any cheaper, and as a great many aro now off rations it cornos very hard on them, having to pay dear for common necessaries, and there is not niuoh employment to bo obtained at present.