NORTHERN WAIROA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3915, 30 May 1874, Page 1 (Supplement)

NORTHERN WAIROA.

A meeting of chiefs of this anil the Hokianga districts was held at Mangawhare on Friday last, the business being to consider ■what steps should be taken to open the road from here to Hokianga, particularly the cutting of a road over the Mongonui Bluff, ?, distance of ten miles. The great interest which the natives take in this -matter was shewn by the large attendance of chiefs and others concerned. There were present :— Parore te Awha, Te Rore Taohe, Pairama Ngutahi, Pirika Ngai, Tamati Wakatara, Paratene Tokakuku, Tiwhu Moetara, Wiremu Moetara, Winiata Tomairangi, and others. Winiata, Te Rore, and other speakers urged the necessity of a road. It was much needed, and would be of great benefit both to Europeans and natives at either end thereof. It was proposed that the Government be applied to for assistance in making the road. Parore objected to a road being made. He thought it would be but a preliminary step towards inviting alienation of the land in the district from the Maori to the European. Pairama tried hard to enlighten him to the fact that it was not a question of land or of rights, but that of a road which would be a great public benefit to everybody in general and the Maori in particular, but the old man would not give in; he said the road should not be made 'with his consent. The majoiity present were all for a road, and it was determined to take immediate steps towards making it, and also to apply to the Government for assistance. There 13 no doubt about the usefulness aud conrenience of such a road as that abovementioned. The journey from here to Hokianga, or vice versa, is at present a most formidable undertaking. Somo of the Hokianga natives brought over a small drove of fat cattle last week and were, I understand, about .1 fortnight on the way; these cattlo were, upon arrival here, at once pounced upon by eager buyers and at once sold. I hear that there is a plethora of fat cattle at Hokianga, but no outlet, no convenient market ; here there is a ready market but no fat cattle, hence the necessity of opening up communication with other districts.

I am happy to be able to give a much more favourable report this week as to the sanitary state of this district. I have not heard of auy fresh cases of illness, and those who have been ill are now coming round nicely. We are a. healthy people upon the whole, but sickness havuig been prevalent in all other parts of the province, we could scarcely expect this district to be unvisited. The weather is something dreadful. Gales (hurricanes we may truly call them) from N. and X. W. since Saturday, with rain, hail, sleet, thunder, and lightning accompaniments ; it is now blowing strongly from the south, and so cold ! Augh I it makes me shiver to write about it. The little steamer Lily had a rough time of it coming across the Heads from Helensville here to-day ; on her beam ends, I hear, with her hold nearly full of water, cargo consequently much damaged. Improvements are the order of the day, new buildings going up in all directions. Commencing at Te Kopuru I find a manager's residence, liospital, and other buildings nearly finished. At Aratapu preparations been made for erecting a new saw-uiill by the Union Sash and Door Company, of Auckland, where sashes, doors, mouldings, 4.C., will be manufactured as in Auckland.- Piles are being driven for a new wharf, and the old mill is to be refitted with new boilers, &e. At Kaihu there is a new hotel, containing about twenty rooms, nearly finished, several new private buildings under way, and old ones to be renovated. Altogether, things seem to be lively. I wonder some of the Banks do not establish, a branch or agency here. There is a great want of the circulating medium in the shape of notes and gold— captains of vessels, storekeepers, millmanagers, and employees, settlers, bushnicn, and others, all feel the want. One of the poets has written "change is our portion here." He would not have written it (financially speaking) had he resided at Northern Wairoa. There is nothing new in shipping. No arrivals since my last. The Mary Webster and Wild Duck are lying windbound iu harbour. The cutter Hero, brig Thomas and Henry, and schooner Amaranthe, have completed their cargo, and remain safe and comfortable at Te Kopuru, awaiting favorable weather. The brig Albion, lately stranded in the Kaipara river, is expected at Te Kopuru, from which place she will take a cargo of timber round to Auckland.—[Correspondent, May 26.].