WAIKARA.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 151, 24 June 1892, Page 2

WAIKARA.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.! This part of the district has been visited by some very heavy rains during the past week and they have caused very large freshes in the creeks and rivers, especially in the Waimamuku and Waipoua. The fresh in the former was I regn-t to say attended with the loss of hitman life. It appears, from what I can gather, that while the flood was at its highest two maories, who had some horses on the opposite side, entered the water intending to swim across and drive the animals from the brink of the stream up to the higher ground. Soon after starting one of the men, finding himself getting cramped, turned and struggled back to the bank ; the other kept on for a short distance when he was seen to throw up his hands and disappear. A careful search has been made for the body but up to the time of writing- it had not been recovered. On the Waipoua the maories suffered a rather heavy loss of a different description ; they had just dug-, piled and covered their crops of lcumeras when the fresh came and swept the whole lot away. This will prove a great loss to them as kumeras and potatoes are the principal articles of food among them up that way. Some of the natives around here have been trying- their hands during- the past week or two at pigeon shooting, but so far they have had poor bags ; it is rather early for pigeons at the Waikara, July and August are, I believe, batter months. The last high wind brought down a large tree right across the main road from Waikara to tbe Bluff. The maoris engaged in packing for the local storekeeper, have managed to break a way through the underscruh around the head of the fallen tree and have made a rough track to get the pack horses through : but I would advise any strangers coming along the road to be careful of this spot, as it is not very safe on account of roots etc., and if they do not come cautiously they may break their horses’ legs or get injured themselves. At all events under the circumstances, I think it only right to pen a word of warning.

It is with regret that I have to report the destruction, during a heavy fresh in the river of the suspension bridge at Opanake. It was only recently that the bridge was erected, the cost being paid by private individuals, audit was certainly a great convenience to intendingpassengers by X'aii and others. The Maories at the Opanake settlement now talk of erecting another and stronger bridge and charging all who go across it the sum of threepence each. By so charging they reckon to recoup themselves for their time, cost of material etc. That may be all fair and square, for the Maories but it will bring an extra lot of curses, loud and long, upon the Government. By the powers !it makes one wild to think that if it had notgbeen for a certain egotistical self-opiniated old party having the presumption to think that he could foist himself upon the electors we might have been represented by a good local inau who woul i have honestly looked after our interests and have done his utmost to have had the requirements of the district attended to.