HARAPIPI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 871, 29 August 1866, Page 4

HARAPIPI.

(prom our own cobrespondest.) ■ , August 25. Very little worth writing about has happened for this last, week or two.. The block-house is.nearly ■finished, but. .when finished whether it'is to be inhabited pr . shut up. is not yet known, most probably the latter. ■ I- hear that the Maoris over at Kawhia are all reiy busy at their cultivations, and show anything but a ■ friendly ppirit to white visitors.; This I had from a 'person who-was over there last week trjing to bay soine cattle, which he was unable to do, and they i. told .him that they should ;not allow him to drive ■them through their land; This doo3 rot look like peace. ■ The men of the Ist Regiment WaikatoMilitiaat this place are being ptit through a course of position drill and rifle practice, and are. making some very . good shooting.. : jN'cws lias come up that any inan . that wishes can obtain hij free discharge froin the regiment j-butthe Government are not able .to put them on their land yet, so that the twelve months' rations will not commence until they go on their land, or they can remain on pay until the land is ready for them. It is not at all probable that many will accept these;terms, as several that have obtained their discharge by providing a substitute some months since hare not yet obtained their arrears of pay then due to . them, and there is now.:about fir® months pay duo to the' men,here. ( , - : Wo have had some-very'roughs unsettled breather tiiis last week or two, but I am glad to. say it hs» now.changed, and is at present very fair, but cold and . froßty at night. The settlers rt>und ; here _are all very busy preparing land and getting in their crops for the ensuing season; : . The p,s. Bluenose' was up: at Te Eori on;the, ;r Srd, returning on the 24th; the Government steamer, -with the mail, on the 24th, returning on the 26th. "Visitors to the Waitato have now every facihty offered them of viewing the country, as there .are four or five steamboats, on the river constantly up and dewn, andyery good accommodation on besrd for passengers.