WAIPAWA AND WAIPUKURAU.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 19, 16 November 1878, Page 3

WAIPAWA AND WAIPUKURAU.

A correspondent of the Hawke’s Bay Herald, who visited Waipawa and Waipukurau in the beginning of the week, thus records his impressions of the two places Not having seen the above places for several years, I determined on Monday last, it being a holiday, to visit them and satisfy myself as to the progress they were making. I will not stop to notice the country between Napier and Waipawa, only simply to say that all along the line there. appears one unbroken march of prosperity, with 6iniling homesteads and cultivated fields, together with innumerable herds of sheep and cattle, luxuriating on the verdant pastures, clearly denoting the true wealth of Hawke’s Bay, which lies in the richness of the soil of its fertile valleys and hills, and which in my opinion is not to be surpassed by any place in New Zealand. Having reached Waipawa, I wandered through the town, and cannot refrain from expressing my astonishment as well as my delight at the progress it has made since my last visit. Its private residences, its shops, stores, and other business places the highest credit upon the people, who appear to have spared neither money nor labor in making Waipawa a place of importance. There are four hotels in the town, all of which appear to be doing remarkably well. I stopped at Mr Kelly’s Imperial Hotel, and for comfort and convenience, together with civility, there is nothing out of Napier to surpass it. It is situate close to the railway station, and therefore is a great convenience to the travelling community both by road and rail. Waipawa’s churches and chapels are substantially and tastefully erected, and are conspicuous from their positions. There are several private schools as well as a public one, all of which are well attended, and at which I am given to understand the pupils are making fair progress. I noticed among its other industries it possesses a brewery, and from what I hear the beer is of an excellent quality, and this local industry is weH patronised by the inhabitants as well as by the surrounding districts. Mr Rathbone lias a saw-mill, which gives employment to a number of hands. This no doubt is a source of wealth to the proprietor, as well as a great benefit to the town. There are a number of tastefully laid out gardeus all round Waipawa, which gives the place a very pretty and homely appearance. It also possesses a newspaper which I consider a very good specimen of journalism, and will bear favorable comparison with other journals. This iT itself speaks well for the progress the pUce has made and 13 making. The Courthouse is a respectable building, but the post-office is scarcely in keeping with the other bufid.ugs, and I think the authorities shculd at least do something towards renovating it. It also possesses a public news-room, with library attached, which is well tilled with works from the best authors ; both historical and standard works. However, viewing Waipawa as a whole, I may safely 6ay that that prosperity reigns supreme, and that as time progresses it will become one of the most leading places in Hawke’s Bay. From here I rode across to Waipukurau. Between the rwo places filer*- nothing

woitby of remark, with the exception of the two bridges, which are certainly two splendid pieces of workmanship. Waipukurau itself forms a sort of natural amphitheatre. It has a decidedly picturesque appearance, and is doubtless fertile in the extreme. It is well laid out, and possesses some very fine buildings, such as stores, banks, an hotel, and all the other necessaries of a large town. There cannot be two opinions as to the beauty of the place, and I can fancy that in the not very remote future it will become a great resort for pleasure-seekers from Napier and other places. When I vistied it there was a cricket match between the Kopua and Waipawa Clubs being played. The ground is a remarkably good one, but has been sadly neglected, the grass being very high except immediately between the wickets, which had only been cut that morning. The batting, bowling, and fielding of both teams were good, but the Waipawa team proved victorious, virtually beating their opponents in one innings. There was a fair share of visitors to witness the game, among whom were a number of ladies as well as holiday-makers from Napier. I rode leisurely round Mr Henry Russell’s estate, and was highly gratified with my visit. In fact, enterprise and ornamentation here go hand in hand, and reflect the highest credit upon the owner of the domain. Before leaving Waipukurau, I must not omit to mention the new hospital which is in course of erection, and which within a short time will be completed. It stands on an elevated position, which must be of necessity very healthy, and will afford a fine retreat for the sick, injured, or maimed, of the surrounding districts. I may say that Miss Herbert has been indefatigable in her exertions in raising subscriptions and donations for this building, and to her exertions is mainly attributable this good and noble structure, which will doubtless prove a blessing to many an unfortunate, who, by injury may have to seek the shelter of this hospital building, and will then remember the exertions of this truly good woman, to whom the community are under a deep debt of gratitude, and to whom I am sure they feel grateful for her disinterested labors. I must now say farewell to Waipukurau, and feeliug well pleased with my tour, I return to the Imperial Hotel and jot down these rambling notes, which will, I hope, prove interesting to many of your readers.