WAIAPU.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 141, 28 February 1874, Page 2

WAIAPU.

[from our own couhrbpondent.] February 22. The weather during the past fortnight, with the exception of two or three days’ has been everything that could be desired, and the cereal crops have been wholly secured to the great gratification of their owners. The potatoe and other crops, which are yet in a state of growth, look remarkably well, so that this season may be legitimately characterized as one of plenty in this quarter. We have been anxiously looking for a visit from the Superintendent on his return from Poverty Bay, but, to our no small disappointment, lie passed without giving us a call. It is to be hoped, however, that his own observations of this and the adjoining portions of the East Coast which have been hitherto neglected as a territory scarcely worthy of recognition, may take such a practical turn as will induce our Provincial Government to put forth strenuous efforts for the settlement of the vast tracts of fertile land that are lying waste between Tologa Bay and Opotiki. The Native School here was opened on Monday, the 9th instant, and the day being fine, a large number of the parents of the children in the district assembled to welcome the teacher, according to Maori custom, as well as to partake of a feast Sovided for the occasion. The Resident agistrate—Mr. Campbell—and several of the local Chiefs, were also present, ami the proceedings were conducted in the most satisfactory manner possible. Suitable addresses were delivered by the Resident Magistrate, the tqaolter, and others. Seventy-four pupilk have been already enrolled at (hq scliooj, and it is expected that by the Ist prOyuio the attendance will not fall * ntuch’’ short of ninety. The children, are exceedingly desirous of acquiring’ ai\ elementary English education, at least, mid the progress they are making, notwithstanding the difficulties they have to contend with, is truly surprising. Steps are, it is said, about to be taken for the establishment of a Nalive School at Tuparoa, where there is a large number of Maori settlers, who, in common with all the other aboriginals in these regions, arc solicitous that their little ones should be instructed in the language of the Pakeha. The erection of a school-house and teacher’s residence at Kawa Kawa is being proceeded with; so that in a short, time lienee ignorance will be compelled to hide its ugly head, even in these secluded parts, and it is high time it should. Many there are, however, who imagine that the acquisition of a smattering of learning in juvenile days is all that is necessary; but this is a delusive idea which ought not to be entertained for a moment; for he who does not add daily to his stock of information is, as a popular writer of the present day quaintly remarks, “ an indolent and unproductive trader in knowledge.” The great Cicero says, and says truthfully, that education begins at the cradle, and only ends at the grave. The existence of gold in the Hikauranga Mountains being strongly suspected, an exploring party, consisting of about fifty of our stalwart natives mustered courage to start in search of the precious metal, nearly three weeks ago, and they are still pursuing their prospecting work. A rumour is afloat that a piece of quartz —slightly impregnated with gold—was recently found somewhere in the upper part of the Waiapu Valley, but grave doubts are entertained as to the authenticity of the report. The explorers are determined to test the auriferousness or otherwise of the respective localities which exhibit the least indications of their containing gold, and this being so, the result of their labors is looked forward to with intense interest. The survey of the bridle track between Waiapu and Hicks’s Bay is on the eve of completion by Mr. Winter, who is here at present for that purpose. He is also under instructions from the General Government to select an eligible site for a ferry punt at the Waiapu river, within a short distance of where it discharges its waters into the sea —a boon for which the public are mainly indebted to our Resident Magistrate. Freshets and floods have hitherto caused detentions to travellers, and to the mail at this river, but these inconveniences will be obviated -by the ferry which is to be established as soon as possible. By-the-bye, it may be mentioned here that the Waiapu is admirably adapted for the breeding of the British salmon, and the Acclimatization Society at Auckland would do well to take effective steps for stocking it with that fish. Salmon has been lately introduced into the Hawke’s Bay rivers from Otago; and there would not, of course, be any difficulty in introducing it into the Waiapu, which possesses greater ichthyological advantages than any stream in Otago does. But, unfortunately for us, apathy reigns supreme in this province, whilst progressive energy, in the best sense of the term, is the order of the day in the Southermost province. As stated in my last communication, our postal arrangements are everything but satisfactory, and the consequent inconvenience we have to put up with is what should not be tolerated in this age of enlightenment and advancement. The English mail—which arrived at Gisborne on the 29th ultimo—has not yet reached us, a grievance of no small magnitude. The Postmaster of Gisborne very obligingly made up and sent a mail for Waiapu by the Murray on that date, with instructions to land it at its proper destination, but the steamer being unable to do so, owing to the unfavorable state of the weather, it was taken on to Tauranga or Auckland, and how it was disposed of there I know not. It has probably come back to Gisborne by this time, and it will, I suppose, find its way hither after it has completed its circumlocutionary route. It would appear that

there are but few of Howland Hill’s disciples amongst our postal authorities, or this anomalous state of affairs would not be permitted to exist long. A weekly mail must be speedily established between Gisborne and Waiapu, for it would be the height of absurdity to imagine that the people concerned —who occupy an ex Sent of country of not less than 120 miles, and whose correspondence is now Very considerable—should remain contented with less accommodation, The sporting propensities of our natives are, apparently, in the ascendancy, and they seem determined not to be bebehind their European brethren in these matters. Races came off at Manutahi on Tuesday last —the attendance being upwards of 300. A jollification, in which the bounds of propriety were not at all exceeded, took place on the occasion. The neighboring settlers supplied the eatables, whilst a European provided a moderate quantity of beer. Waiapu is spoken of as likely to be the scene of the next meet.