BAST COAST.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 910, 2 October 1879, Page 2

BAST COAST.

[FROM our own correspondent.] Like causes produce very unlike effects — a philosophical proposition to be deducted, inter alia, from the well-worn epigram on the convivial habits of two illustrious statesmen — Pitt, "I cannot see the Speaker, Hal, can you." Dundas, " Not see the Speaker, d — m'e, I see two. " I was forcibly reminded of the truth of the above a short time ago on seeing two persons leave a certain hostelry after having been worshiping at the shrine of Bacchus — quoth one, ' ' I cannot see my horse — can you." Quoth the other, "Not see your horse — why d — m'e, I see two." And he went to get the horses, but the dark object he had taken to be -the second horse was a small tree, which he attempted to catch but missed his footing, and rolled down the bank, on the edge of which the tree stood, amidst the laughter of those who witnessed it. There is still a great deal of sickness, and many deaths have taken place among the Maoris hereabouts, and there is also a very great scarcity of food, so much so that unless the European residents import potatoes from Auckland, or Gisborne, they will have to do without, as there is none to be got on the Coast. Such a state of things has not occurred for many years, if ever, and if there is a- season of drought this year, like last spring, the Natives will be 'next door to starvation. It is to be hoped now that the winter is over, and fine weather sitting in, that the County Council will be up and doing in the matter of the East Coast Road between Waiapu and Gisborne, as many portions of it are really in a deplorable plight, and some of the old bridges are so rotten and broken as to be very dangerous, and the limbs of both man and beast are in great peril when travelling over these bad places. It often happens that after a serious accident has occurred, an outcry is raised and these things are attended to, but it is to be hoped the County Council will not wait for such an untoward event to happen, but now that one winter is gone, the other winter will come to have the roads repaired by order of the Council, for if left till the next winter comes they will be impassable in places.