EAST COAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3987, 22 August 1874, Page 3

EAST COAST.

[FKO.M OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] THE HTCKS's BAY FKAST. —Sl'AllliY SHEEP. — OrOTIKI AND I'(IVi:HTY BAY ROAD.—THE STE;\MEi: TRADE.— SETTLEMENT PHOOKKSSES. Tiik Hicks's Bay feast, which was to have commenced on the Ist instant and to have lasted a week at least, has heen postponed till about the middle of next month, to enable Major Ropata, who for some months past has been absent from the district, to be present thereat. His arrival in Wellington is daily expected. This postponement has been a disappointment to some who travelled considerable distances to attend the banquet, not knowing till the eleventh hour that it was to be put off for a time. The weather having, however, been exceedingly inclement since the Ist, it would have been impossible to hold the feast with anything like comfort, and it is therefore well that it has been postponed for a few weeks, when more propitious weather may be expected, such weather, it is to be hoped, as will enable the people to assemble in larger numbers than it would have been possible for them to do had the "spread" taken place at the appointed time. It is announced that, in consequence of representations made to the Government of the ruinous consequences of the prevalence of scab inthisdistrict, early steps will betaken to eradicate the disease by destroying all the infected flocks, which arc principally owned by natives. The sheep will probably be purchased by the Government at a lair price, and boiled down—this being the most expeditious as well as the most effectual mode of suppressing the disease. Ihis will, no doubt, bo joyful news to the European runholders, whose sheep are, as yet, quite free from scab, but who, notwithstanding, are apprehensive that contagion may take place ere long from the contiguity of the distemper, unless it is speedily pi evented from spreading further. Much dissatisfaction is felt on the coast as to the delay as to the completion of the Opotiki and Poverty Bay Road; and no wonder, seeing that travelling in this quarter, where there is no made track is attended with the utmost inconvenience, and even danger. The Minister fer Public Works seems desirous of pushing on the work, but some of the contractors have thrown

obstacles in the way, -which has materially impeded the progrese of the undertaking. There is such a competition now-a-days for Government contracts that many of them are taken at very low prices, which render it impossible for those who do so to carry out the work in accordance with contracting conditions, hence the failures in this respect that are continually accruing. No tender, however low, should be accepted, except that of a thoroughly competent and responsible party, and were this principle strictly adhered to, neither the Government nor the public would be subjected to so many losses and inconveniences, arising from defaulting contractors as they are. The Forests Conservation Bill is a subject of much talk here at present, and amongst those who do not approve of it are some of the friends and admirers of the framer thereof—Mr. VogeL The measure is a most objectionable one in many respects, and should it become law —which it is to be hoped it will not, in its present form at least—universal dissatisfaction is sure to prevail, especially in the North Island. Really the Premier cannot be congratulated upon such a production. I hear that one of our local residents has lately received a letter from a friend of his at Oamani, Otago, making enquiry as to the suitability of this coast for a few industrious small farmers. A reply has been sent, stating that in many parts of the district such people could be comfortably located, provided the Government made the necessary arrangements for their settlement. The Bay of Plenty, in particular, was mentioned as containing abundance of land well-adapted for agricultural purposes, and so were other localities south of that bay. European population is what is imperatively needed here ; and we are glad to notice that the Hekald strenuously advocates the speedy occupation of our vast tracts of our cereal-producing lands. Complaints are made that some of the sailing vessels which trade between Auckland aud Hawke's Bay do not land cargo with anything like regularity at the various places they stipulate to do so. Owing to this remissness no small inconvenience is occasionally caused to the settlers, many of whom are consequently desirous that the coasting trade should be exclusively carried on by the steamers, in order to secure something like regularity as well as expedition. It is true that the unfavourable state of the weather not unfrequeiitly delays the vessels, but it is equally true that punctuality is not studied by their masters even when the elements do not throw any obstacle in the way. The number of accommodation houses, or inns, on the Coast is being increased, and two or three new commodious edilices of this description are now in course of erection. This is a desideratum that needed to be supplied, as the distances between some of the old houses are in several instances so great as to necessitate travellers encroaching upon private hospitality oftmier than they have any wish for. These additional houses are, without exception, in the hands of resjiectable persons, who will conduct them properly. Captain Porter, of the Native Department, accompanied by a number of the Armed Constabulary, is at present on an official visit to this district. He has inspected the arms and ammunition of the native militia, at the respective places at which they are deposited, and also transacted some other Government business.