GOSSIPPY NOTES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 147, 14 December 1877, Page 2

GOSSIPPY NOTES.

I (tfROM OUR TIMARU GOSSIP.) No event in Oiur municipal history has causfed so and the use of such) stro«i'g ! fetd ! '-undignified- language as has ihe proposal made by our Borough : Council to borrow £40,000. to supply the towtj with, water, and on Wednesday everting later - the battle terminated in a ; victory for those who supported the pro- > posaJ—those who opposed it polling 93 j votes too few. Fully two-thirds of .the, ratepayers are disqualified from voting by j not having paid their rates in time, but j thi.Wonld not affect the result were the I

sees that the supply from the wells and cisterns is quite inadequate for the wants of the people, let alone what is requisite for fire protection. At the present time there are J not half a dozen tanks in the town-containing more than an hour's pumping of the fire engine would exhaust were a fije to occur. One amusing thing about the voting was that two individuals who had rendered themselves conspicuous by their opposition to the scheme went and voted directly for it—in their eagerness scratching out the wrong line on the ballot paper. The Timaru correspondent of the Christchurch Press states, in a letter which appeared in that paper on the 6th instant, 'that in consequence of Mr Stafford's projected retirement from political life, Mr E. Wakefield, the present member for Geraldine, and Mr R. Turnbull were likely to contest his seat for Timaru. I have asked the last-named gentleman if this is correct so far as he is concerned, and he assures me that there is no foundation-for naming him "in this connection." Mr Wakefield, we know, is an ambitious man and likely enough to aspire to Mr Stafford's shoes, and to represent a more important constituency than Geraldine. He would no doubt, make a good representative for us were his genius not somewhat erratic. I happen to know that he has worked hard for the district duringfthis past session of Parliament. It is roumoured that an effort will be made by the Waimateans to obtain a representative who will work more in acocrdance with their wishes than Mr Teschemaker has done, and one or two are spoken of as likely to enter the lists. During the past month Mr Henry Durand, one of our townsmen, who has a taste for curiosities, has unearthed two skeletons, evidently those of Maoris, on the sandhills between Saltwater Creek Lagoon and the sea. The first found was that of a woman, buried in a sitting posture, with the face towards, the sun's setr ting. The other was that of a man, evidently young, and nearly six feet six inches in height. He was buried about four feet underground, in a recumbent posture, with his head towards the southeast, and his feet towards the nor-west. The right hand, when uncovered, was clasping a greenstone implement, of peculiar shape, and which soma pronounce to have been used in canoe building. His head was of most peculiar shape, being well arched on top, yet very narrow over the eyes, and large and well developed at the back, just the sort of head that one would suppose would belong to a " medicine man." The jaws were remarkably narrow, yet deep and strong, and the teeth, which were in excellent preservation, were what are called " dog teeth," i.e. having no fangs. How was it that" this individual was interred in this manner, instead of in a sitting position, which is the usual Maori way ? Nearly every evening great quantities of fish are taken from the beach, with ordinary lines, yet groper, hapuka, kawai, and rock cod are scarcely outnumbered by sharks and dog-fish. lam told that plenty of herrings or mullet could be captured i with nets, were these voracious brutes not so plentiful. During the past week we have had a succession of nor'-westers. These and a plentiful warm rain in the hills, have caused the Rangitata to rise to such a height as has not been seen for years. Mr Carruther's vaunted bridge protective works are gone, and the approaches are washed away on both sides of the river. We had a fine shower of rain this afternoon (Saturday), and the evening seems inclined to set in wet, = but I am afraid that it has come almost too late for the crops on Waitohi Flat and Levels Plains. The hay crop will be very light. (To be continued.)