WAIAPU LETTER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5437, 29 March 1889, Page 2

WAIAPU LETTER.

[FROM Ol'K OWN* CORKKsrOSnF.VT.] YVaiavi;, March 20. Thk weather, which was very warm, indeed oppressively hot, has now broken, and refreshing showers have been our portion for the past four nights. The crops are well in hand and potatoes are plentiful, being for sale for shipment at £o per ton. The Inspector of Native Schools has, since the 10t.ii instant, visited all the schools in Cook County, and is now on his route to (or has already reached) Opotiki. His progress is a much more wholesome one than that which lately alarmed Povu iy Bay resident?, but which (eutre noun) the foolhardy (?) Opotikians considered as good as a play, for which, however, they will have to pay their share of the piper and the pageantry. These schools in Cook County number eight, five being Jubilee schools, having been opened in 18S7. The other three aie of old establishment. All passed through the ordeal well, although the standards are being constantly increased in their requirements. The numbers presented at each school varied from ninety to forty. It would be difficult to point to another district where education amongst Maoris is so much pursued ns amongst the Ngatiporon tribe. Also no where else in the colony are native children so teeming in numbers and so healthful in both body and mind. In one valley 200 children attend schools within five miles die tancu of each other. As regards the heat of the late summer, it has on four several occasions been over 90 deg. Fahr. This seems to be higher than i« quoted by any public observer. On 23 Dec, Feb. 24, and March 1 it stood as high as 94 deg., and did not fall to below SOdeg. till 6 o'clock p.m. This coast is a most healthy district, but we are not, however, exempl from the degrees of heat and cold, as of a cold morning the glass falls to nearly 40deg, The Land Court has come and gone. Judgo Scanneland his staff sat at Waioamatatiui most patiently for two months. It docs seem strange that Maoris apply for cases to be heard, and when a Court is provided they are so slow of appearing that half the time of the officials is wasted, at a great cost to the public purse, without any benefit accruing, except an insight into that strange puzzle, the Native question. Many blocks of land on tlio list for hearing were not gone on with at all This is not the first time such a fiasco has been enacted here, and measures ought to be taken, by legisla. lion if necessary, to put the saddle of expenses on the back of the right horse.