POVERTY BAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3862, 3 July 1874, Page 3

POVERTY BAY.

(from our own coruespondent.) From'a variety of causes, I have been placed hors dc combat for a month, but I will endeavours'to let your readers have some knowledge of what has been passing during that period in this neglected region. What with bad weather, added to bad postal and steamboat arrangements, our communication with the South has existed only in imagination. Last week, I think it reached a climax, when, although we had the steamers from iNapier, we had no mails from the South, nor yet from Napier. The Pretty Jane, a sleamer belonging to the A.S.P.Company, and subsidised by the Government to carry mails between Auckland and* this port, sailed from Napier on Tuesday last, having given the usual notice at the Post Office there, but brought no mail. The liangatira, also a subsidised steamer . between Wellington, Napier, and here, ar rived at Napier on Wednesday evening, but owing to bad weather, had to put to sea without the mail; and, to make bad worse, the Poverty Bay portion of the Southern mails was (as is the ciisrom) put into the Napier bags, so that although our letters arrived he c, we could not get them, and. they went back to Napier, where they will have to remain for a week. Thtre can be no excuse for the Post-Master at Napier not making up and despatching a mail by the first 'steamer (the Pretty Jane) leaving there. I suppose he has bean brought up in the neverdo- to- day- what you - can-put-off till to-mor row school. But this not the worst. There has not been a postage stamp to be purchased here for a fortnight. We have lately had a visit from Mr Clapcott, the Government' Insurance agent, who was most indefat'g tble in recommending the Government office, and by an amount of touting, which ought to have satisfied the most exigeant Government,-succeeded in ob^ taining a large number of policies. His lecture was the best I have ever heard on the subject, and was followed by the reading of several pieces in that gentleman's best style. I should think to a person of Mr Clapcott's refinement, the amount of touting aad button-holing that he has to go through must; be anything'but congenial. ' ■ The petitioning the Government to create this town into a inunieipality has been long talked of, but lately it has assumed a more practical shapej; A large, and; influential meeting was held, and resolutions passed affirming the desirability of erecting the town and suburbs into a borough. A petition has been prepared, and jwhen duly signed, will be forwarded to the Governor. ,

You will have seen that the Auckland Provincial Council-are now in session, and that the Executive ha? 'placed sums pn the Estimates for a Pilot Service at this port, and also for a gaol; also, that the celebrated Patutaki block, is to be at once^sectionally surveyed, and sold as soon as practicable, and the proceeds divided. It isiestimated thab it will average £1 an acre, or^produee a total of £60,000. „, -:■■ -V,

The Manager of the Petroleum Company has not yet put in an ■ appearance. The advices are to hand two months ago of his having sailed.from America^ Alt the plant is on the ground, and nothing is wanting except hi 3 presence to .commence operations. S >tne of your readers who take an interest in acclimatisation;of game birds will be glad to hear that pheasants have made their appearance within two miles' of Gisborne, three broods of about fifteen each have been seen this last week by one' gentleman.