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Waikato Times, Volume II, Issue 98, 14 December 1872, Page 2

The punt at Ngaruawahia is nearly completed, it is cxpi'ctcd that it will be in working order early next week. The oitractor, Mr Message, has carried out his agreement very satisfactorily; the work is both substantial and well finished. The. punt is wuHicicntly long to admit of a coach ami four horses being driven on to it, nnd the approaches being easy, it is nearly as useful as a bridge. We reeonimend tlk . Town Board to have- the stock-yards repaired at once in order that pei'soiu driving eattle may not be hindered as they have been hitherto. We regret to learn that the caterpillars are already making sad havoc with crops both north and south of Auckland, and many a fair field of oats has had to bo mown down to save eve:i:a remnant from destruction. The pheasants and insectivorous birds are doing rouio good to keep down the hordes of eifickels ::nd caterpillars with which this Northern Island abounds, but their numbers are quite insufficient to cope ■ with the armies of grubs swarming around. — JJ. i>. Cross. The Waikato Hail way is making good progress. Messrs Oivt'ii Jonc.-j anrl Co., iflio are contractors for miles of (he line from Otahuhu to Pukokoho East, are rapidly adviineing wilh the on hand. This firm is employing between 400 and 500 men indifferent gangs at certain points along the route. A portion in-ar Otahuhu, about four miles in extent, has not yet been commenced, owing lo there being some alteration from the original plan, which it is thought will be more advantageous and economical. Several stone culverts have been already erected across watercourses and swampy portions of the ground crossing the line, and occurring at frequent intervals. They are most substantially constructed of stone and Portland cement. The stone has been obtained from Lignr's reserve, and from the contiguity of the quarry to the line of rail it must prove of great value to the owners. Mr Breakcl is the engineer supervising the works under Messrs Jones and Co., and which, so far as they have done already, reflect every credit on the contractors, engineer, and workmen employed. On no line in I the old country could work, we should conceive, be better eiirricd out. I'Yom Pukckohe Mr C. O'Neill and Mr E. Thomas take up the contract for 8V miles towasds the Wai- [ kato, but work has not been started on this portion of the \ railway, and xov.-.o time may probably elapse before it is proi c edcil with. Mr Andrew Kay has a contract for H miles ttt Merei-r, nnd has a lot of Maoris at work on it. Of theproj ■rress ol' the works nearer Auckland we have spoken informer issues, anl every day it becomes more and more evident that we are fast approaching the time when the line will be completed—an event which is calculated to mark a hew and important era in the history of the province. With a raili way from Auckland to the Waikato, with an extension to i the Thames goldfieli by way of Ohincniuri and ! the valley of tho Upper Thames, which is j contemplated, a stimulus would be given to the settlement ' of one of the most fertile portions of the country, rich in j minerals, and with great pastoral and agricultural capabilities.' ' It requires no very sanguine prophet to predict that the depression at present existing will he of an ephemeral character, and will pass away when the country is* opened up by raihvav communication and immigrants of the right sort I -seUlid on the hind. — Cross.

?.Ir l'liilip Tupwll, son, wlio lias now reached the age of f!S Ai'.'irs. expressed u wish to the inhabitants of Malcotu to tin-following ell'eet, vi/., that till the cannons that could be for.nd sliould be brought to liis residence — he has not been well lately —and, in the event of his death, he .sliould like to have them placed aeross his grave. On Friday l»sfc a twclve-poumlei-was taken out o( a burial-ground to his residence, mid this morning (December 3) about 100 people w t .-nt to a place culled l;h« Tiimu, sitimted about iii miles from here on the i.-land track to to drive and drag for some more cannons that were thrown into the river l>y the Waikuto natives about 37 year* ago, at the time when they were at war with the Arawas. After about two hours hard swimming, diving, and polling, they at last succeed in finding a l'l-pounJer which with great dillieidry was put on board a canoe nnd taken to Maketu, amidst the shouts and er.cers of all who had been engaged in the work. On arriving at Miiket.u it wa,4 taken and put alongside of its fellow. Being h cold day the natives kept to the water well, being stimulated frequently to iVenh exertions by spirits, kindly subscribed by the inhabitants of Maketu. There are two^ still in the water, but, as the natives are not quite certain of the place where thev were thrown in, it w.ll take some little time to find them, and they intend soon to go and have another look. On Wednesday the soeond gun was fired here bv old Mr Tapsell, with a* cigar he was smoking.—i>. P. fivits.