HOKIANGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6824, 1 October 1883, Page 5

HOKIANGA.

It is much to be regretted that settlers or others living in isolated places cuntiguous to any of our ports, more especially such an one aa Hokiangs should endeavour to parauade, or give encouragement to, sailors to desert their ship. It is well known that few men, after' considering the probable hardships attending a journey through a dunee forest, would care to take the risk of starvation were they n.ot impressed with the belief, or had a knowledge of the fact, that they would be sheltered and fed by thoae requiring labour at a price which they consider an equivalent, i.e., a close mouth. Happily the connivance of Buch people is at time* frustrated by the vigilance ol the police. A case in point occurred lust week. It appears a sailor named Archibald Dawie, alias George Inglis, absented himself from hia ship, the Neidorhof, on tho night of the bachelors' ball at this place, to which the captain and officers were invited. On the hands being turnod out to work in the morning, Dowie was reported absent. The captain immediately telegraphed to the police at Herd's Point, stating the circumstances of the case. Constable Hughes' was quickly upon the sctnt. The journey, however, was tedious and difficult, many hours of toil being expended through taking wrong tracks; yet the persistence which ao characterises an intelligent police officer, and which was manifested in this case, was sufficient for the successful performance of his arduous duty, by finding the man in a dilapidated whare at midnight "in the heart of the forest. The circumstances surrounding this case point almost conclusively that the man was decoyed. however, sufficient evidence 13 not forthcoming wherewith to sheet home such a serious charge to the guilty party. The works undertaken by the County Council aro progressing satisfactorily. Cowper's embankment and the road at this place are finished, aa a'.so the most important repairs to the bridges injured during the winter. The members of the Rawene Cricket Club helda meeting at Herd's Point last Saturday evening, when some additions" were made to their number. Ths season's subscription was fixed at half a guinea, and several accounts wern passad for payment. Practice commences nexs Saturday. Our new' schoul-house is rapidly approaching completion, and a soiree to commemorate the opening is on the tapis. The Roman Catholic Church at Whakarapa is at last finished. This church has been built to the order of Heremia te Waki, whose efforts to raiae the funde necessary, to adorn and beautify this elegant sanctuary have been crowned with success.— [Own Correspondent, September 26.] At a sale of entire Clydesdale horses, held at Chrietchurch on Saturday last, the following prices were realised:—Pride of Scotland (imjorted), 180 guineas j Young Vanquisher (imported), 430 guineas; Ivanhoe, 55guineM;. Clydesdalle Hero, 27 J guineas.