SHORT TOWN BY NIGHT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 562, 23 March 1868, Page 3

SHORT TOWN BY NIGHT.

j [Evculusr News CorrospomluntJ jI'vEP.YBouT (that is everybody in Auckland) has heard of Sliortland Town. Has (everybody seen it? As the latter is (not at all likely may I attempt a description ? The " dinning:-,” despite their richness and despite their business —which does not. appear to me to be slack —would not, of course be oi paTiiiuouiiu importance elsoj where. But as they are undoubtedly of |sufficient extent to revive, in a measure, the j falling fortunes of the Province, they should possess a certain amount of interest here. jVvhat business is done in the township is mostly done at night, and the manner in (which capital is interchanged about the j present time deserves notice. Four diggers | —improved by a little liquor —taking tha I air in a trsp about Auckland on Monday, | did seem to augur favorably of the chances on the goldfields. The appearance of Shortlaud town itself, however, in sober earnest, argues much more. In the words of most hotel and storekeepers “ things are quiet.” As a tolerably old hand on rushes,” I may express an opinion to the etl'ect that things are much more brisk than they have been in Auckland for many a Jay. The streets are a vast improvement on the streets of some months ago. W here 1 breakfasted economically on a box of sardines and a pint of bser, I can now dine well and cheaply on 11ic food of civilisation. Jim hails Joe a'couple of hundred yards oil', and insists —despite the protestations of Joe “ that h- has had a skinful”—on his taking another drink. Bell-men parade the thoroughfares and announce various entertainments, from a public meeting to a theatrical performance. Asl write, tour mates, decent fellows, come in for a feed, and hospitably invite the various friends who shako hands with them to “ peg away.” And yet there is no rowdiness. There may he tha exuberance of spirits which naturally affects a man when he is making a very good living for the first time perhaps for a lung period. idut drunkards are few and tar between—all things considered —and manifold temptations taken into account, every one is very steady. The storekeepers are not as busy as the people who drive a single trade. Once a week is the time for going to the grocers, and, therefore, they may do enough on Saturdays for the rest |of the week. But bools wear out, meat is eaten, the hair grows long, hats fill with (holes, and a bottle comes to an end every May. Therefore, I suppose it is that the ■ i bootmakers are in excruciating attitudes, i tilling endless strings, that the butchers, “ each the people’s friend” are performing j anatomical feats in steak cutting, that, the ; barbers are doing wonders in the way ot I I easy shaving and genteel hair-cutting, that ; n its of various shapes are purchased, and . ibat black bottles are taken to the tent, • : afiVotionately, under the arm. The stall of life has been omitted —labelled every- ■ | where “ five pence the loaf” but oven tins |sccms to be in snilicient demand. Tha ■I sound of the harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulaimer, and all kinds of music is prevalent. That is to say—fiddlers, cornet-a-pistons, : and trombones are performing lively airs in dancing saloons. Ou the authority of i the bellman, I may state that there is a • really magnificent performance at the theal tre ; the privileges of the Press not being ' recognised, I cannot speak from experience on this matter, it would be gr ss exagei ration t o assert that the Maoris are reduced to poverty in this portion of New Zealand. In a state of sobriety they offer many arti- , cies of food for sale. Yielding a little to . the seductions of waipiro, they indulge in . occasional playful through frantic gestures, . and in untranslatcable language. We > cannot expect all Maoris to be patterns ; . and the vast majority are driving a s'oady i trade, making the living of the pukeba , cheap, and are themselves behaving, quite ; us well as, if not better than, many Kura--1 perns, there need be no doubt on the matter ; most people in business are doing ■ more tin n well in tshorlland Town. \\ hen . two or three hotels are overcrowded, when ;' most shops are getting along steadily, trade must be prettv lively. All cannot do well. Counters out of tWthick of the township •will not have an overplus of customers ; f j every (linger does not hit gold. Inat there (are plenty of shop-keepers making money la; ibe Thames, j hmty of miners making

• ore than “ tucker,” any one one wao sees 't he streets by night, and watches money : changing hands will alilmt. There is a j briskness and an am..'lint of ready cash, to j which tlie dulne-s a.id ” tick of Aneidaiid |pre:e t a stro g contrast, la tueinom:iu.,t two or tiiiae places of worship shine conspicuously, iiio -bank of Aew /.calami, has a uooo. looking building 101 its branch, and g id is coining in to it lively. <Hid corners of stores arc boarded oil - , and labelled with iho nam; s of solicitors; mi ing agencu s arc carried ou in ext; cincly inniicd si r I-. Of the large number of people in I lie streets tew, comparative!.', wear the aspect of “ loafers , ' many silver i”. their truestrs pockets. One very goo,, ;i:i! of the limes is, that already all here have an absolutely direct interest in the success at the miners. Employers and employed have shires m claims; proprietors and potboys in diiicrcnt aegreos arc contributing to the won king ot some claims, winds they expect will produce them fortunes, or arc drawing dividends from good “ crushing?” Altogether, the place is a vast relief Irom the “ gene.al depression ’ ■of Auckland —which, however, must aocrt i icel the heiuiieiam tieets of its proximity j to thi- thriving goi.iiieid.