HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 524, 25 May 1880, Page 2

HAWERA.

[from our correspondent.] The Constabulary - shifted from their camp on Friday to a site some five miles nearer Parihaka. Messrs Quinlivan and Nathan started with their teams last Wednesday. I believe the Stoney river detachment will also shift early this week, which will bring the camps- to within about eight miles of each other, thus bringing either camp to about two or three miles from Parihaka. The Prophet has once more shifted his ground re the roads never meeting. He now says he did not mean the road upon which the Constabulary were working should never meet; that he wished to see it made and gravelled; but that the two points (Europeans and natives) could never; meet and : amicably settle their disputes. The natives are very reticent about what took place at the meeting. Some Natives are building whares at Maniai township. I believe it is: the intention of the Government, so soon as the roads meet, to station a detachment of the Constabulary near that township, and at once to push on the surveys on the plain, and put all the land they can in the market, in order to get settlers upon it. This will no doubt be the wisest course that can be adopted, as the Maoris do not seem to be all inclined to abide by the awards of the Commission. The Police Station, lock-up, and stables at Normanby are now finished, and a very respectable appearance they present; but the Hawera folk fail to see why their requirements should be neglected in the manner they have been in this matter, particularly when a hamlet like Manutahi has been given a similar class of buildings. The hovel that does duty at Hawera for a lock-up, constables’ sleeping and dining apartment, is about 10ft x 10. I hear that Mr Bullen has represented the matter strongly to the Government, pointing out that the accommodation at present is entirely inadequate.

THE ROAD BOARD. A special meeting of the Hawera Road Board was held on Thursday last. Present: Messrs Hunter, Robson, Gane, Morecroft, Morrison* and Riddiford. The Chairman stated he bad given to the Land Board all information he could re the Whakamara contract tenders, which are now out. . Proposed by Mr Gane, That the resolution re opening tenders for clerk,- be rescinded. Seconded by Mr Hunter, and carried. Proposed by Mr Gane, and seconded by Mr Morrison, That the- resolution passed last meeting for ploughing, sowing, &c., on Ingahape, Pain, and Wells’Road, be rescinded. Carried. Proposed by Mr Gane, That, the date for receiving tenders for clerk, &c., be the 29th instant,, and that advertisement bo altered to that date. Carried, on the understanding that the object was to give the new Board a choice of their officers. Proposed by Mr Gane, seconded by Mr Morccroft, That the balance-sheet of the Board bo advertised in the Star for two insertions. In answer to Mr Gane, the Chairman stated that he interviewed the Native minister re roads through the Maori reserves, but the Minister said that, under present circumstances, he did not wish to at all stir any of these matters with the Maoris. Proposed by Mr Gane, That the Chairman ask the Chief Surveyor to appoint a day and send a surveyor for marking off deviations on the Whakarnara Seconded by Mr Morecroft, and carried. Resolved,' That Mr Gane be empowered to buy cocksfoot, to sow Wells’ Road and O. Coughlan’s contract. Mr Gane pointed out that the contractors at Whakamara were not doing their work as quickly as possible. It was decided that the Secretary write urging them to complete their work at ah early date.

Mr Gane stated he and Mr Illston accepted Messrs Holgerson and Pearce’s tender for bush felling, &c., on West Road, for £4O 13s 6d, and had declined West’s, £56 11s 8d ; Hacker and Goodfinch’s, £57 lls ; and Williams and Foster’s, £4l 18s. Resolved, That Messrs Gone and Illston be empowered to get some bush felled and scrub cleared on the Wells and Ingahape Roads. Accounts passed for payment, Robson and Morrison, £2 ; G. Hutchinson, £3 Is 2d. An account £6 10s was put in by Mr Gane, for 13 attendances, at 10s per attendance. After a considerable discussion, it was proposed by Mr Robson, and seconded by Mr Hunter, That the account be passed. Proposed by Mr Biddiford, and seconded by Mr Morrison, That .£3 only be paid. A vote was then taken: for the amendment; Messrs Biddiford and Morrison; for the original motion, Messrs Gane, Hunter, and Robson. The motion was carried. , Mr Twigg stated that he had inspected the contracts on Wells and West Road, and had instructed the contractor to alter the grades. This concluded the business.