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Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 40, 1 August 1872, Page 2

Rornoofthc Constabulary stationed at wahia are cngaj;e<l in reconstructing tlie monument over the of the late " Kiiik' , Potatou. If the i cinaina of his angust majesty still rested in the place first, selected for theni we could understand the step taken by the authorities ; it is a-mark o£ civilization r.o kcepiii rup'iir the graves of our eueiriics killed in battJo., The King's bones, however, were removed long since,. It, appears to us that the labour about to be expended on the repair of a monument over n'dlihuj would be much more judiciously expended in repairing the graveyards where those who fel) during trie late war wore interred. In nearly every instance a head-stone was erected by their mourning comrade?, and where a number were buried, which unfortunately was'too often, the case, a f ence _ was erected around their last resting-place. It is neither creditable to the settlera or the. Government thatmany of the''fences- round these 'burial places are in ; a ilisgracefid state of. decay; It matters little tof the pom- fello^v-s,who-fell'in tho performance of their duty, lmt the feelings oi those left behind them are entitled to-some consideration at the bands of tlie (lovernrn'jnt..

We have been- re(|ucstcd' to. call attention- to- an advertisement iu another column, announcing that Mr. Low,' photographer,, will leave Ngaruawahia on Monday. ' All who are desirous: of having their likenesses taken or purchasing local views must do so before Saturday next..

'i'he' anmial- meeting of the- Pirongia Higfovay District "was- held in- the Blockhouse, Harapipi, on Satuiilay, the 27th July ; Mr J. H.. Harper in the chair. The statement of accounts, laid before the meeting showed- the receipts for the past year'to have been r as 'follows :—Balance from last year. 02/ :5s 7d ; rates collected, 9V 0s lhl; from Provincial Govennnent,: S(M ;• from General Government, V 221 J.'te ; miscellaneous,. 21 9s ; total, 35& 0s (>d. The expenditure for the same period was as follows :-—Construction.- of roads, 180/ 16s 4d ; culverts, 09i/2s:; repairs, 1/ 15s ; cartage and freight, (U 7s 10d ;. purchase of materials, 17/ 10s 9d ; collection of rate, 9/ -2s ; salary of ferryman, 271 10s ; printing and advertising, bt 14s Gil ; miscellaneous,. 9/ 17s 6d, leaving a balance on hand of 30/ 10s 7d. The accounts having been passed, a rate o£ one penny per acru was levied for the current year, The following ratepayers were elected trustees : E. Gγ. McMinn, E. Garmonsway, H. Pohlen, A. S. Sherret, arid W. PL James. Messrs. J. H. Thompson and J. Sherret were elected auditors and votes of thanks conclnded the meeting. After the above meeting, a private meeting of the trus-' tees was held and JVlr E. G.. McMinn. wa& elected oli£vi'rm«an of board..

We-are glad'fco learn tliat the Ngaruawahia Chess Club is-making .considerable- progress. The attendance, at the-weekly meetings-is. good;.and.there is a marked improvement in the- play of tnany of the members... it is intended shortly to have a.toumatnieiit amongst the members of the club; We understand that before the close of the season it is- purposedl to- challenge the players- in the other settlements-of. the Waikato. We-trust that thiswiil act as an iitcentiVe to the formation of several clubs, There is no> game so well calculated, to improve the minds and morals- of the people.

The Waka Maori of the 3rd inst. says :— "We have received a letter from S.: Locke* Esq., E-.M., in Hawke's Bay. He says that some Europeans in Hawke's Bay are a:lvising their Maori friends to set themselves to the culture of hops—the thing out of which beer is made—during the ensuing year, and he asks us to point out .fco the natives the method of growing that crop. That is so.far right—hut the suhject is one with which .we are not acquainted.- We shall ask-some of those skilled in it. however, and will print more about it in a future issue. The. idea of the offspring of ; Kahurigunu working at this crop,is-au excellent one ; there is-.a great deal of money to-be made by it. It is a kind of work which is suitable to the Maoris. It is not a work which requires- to be repeated year after year. After the first ; year there is no more work to do, Picking the flowers is the only work to he done, afterwards, ench year, and that is a work , suitable for women and children ; it is not hard work. If the crop--is-properly looked after, the money will come in abundantly eaen year , ;-and shortly it may become a source of wealth- all the Maori tribes of the Island* It is & good article- to-export, so :as= tobring money into the country." We have to record the death of a- Maori chief who- is well known in this district, viz.. Eruere Te JJgahue-; a chief of the Ngatimaru tribe, of Hauraki; He died nt-ar to Whancinnata, whilst engaged with Mr O'Keeffe. in pointing out the boundaries ef some blocks of land. —''Guardian."