HAMILTON.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 271, 16 May 1874, Page 3

HAMILTON.

(From a correspondent) May 11th. Hamilton is certainly growing dissipated : another supper and ball came off in the Court House on Tuesday last—not a larewell, bub a wadding supper—Mr* Henry Loader, of Spwbnrn, being the happy man. Everyone, I believe, both here and at Sow.burn : were invited, and nearly all were there. The spread was everything that could be desired, and abundance of it, and ladies mustered in strong force. They will no doubt think me.a' brute when I say that, from my point of view, I thought them overdressed tor-their station and circumstances, as working men's wives and daughters ;. and I mentally thanked Heaven that I had remained an old bachelor. There was the usual tinkettling, when the bride came i out, and dispensed smiles and thanks, . ■when they sang the very appropriate song " For he's a jolly good fellow, &c." One great drawback to the entertainment was that no tiddle could be had. A concertina is but a poor substitute, but all appeared to thoroughly enjoy themselves with that. Songs were sung during the night. We missed our old friend :Vlr. T. Bailey's voice—in losing him we have lost our best singer. Everyone did his best; they could do no more. There was open house at the Union Hotel, including all manner of drinks, and champagne. It was a digger's wedding of the old style—the coach and four alone being wanting.' Dancing, singirig, and drinking were kept at with spirit-, until about 6 o'clock next morning. Mr. and Mrs. Loader have the best wishes of all for their future happiness. Our Sowburn friends are in a better position to marry than ourselves, as regards worldly prospects —they having a better water supply ; and they are not idle six or eight months a year. There has been but one race of water coming in here since before Christmas, and that goes out to the Shepherd's Hut, consequently all who work in and about the Main Gully arc at a standstill. We shall have eventually to turn settlers when the Maniototo Plains are thrown open, and that long dreary ride from hence to Naseby will then be enlivened by an occasional homestead. We are missing our best friend, Captain Hamilton, greatly already. When he was here he allowed the married people to keep one cow for 3s. 6d, and 13s. 6d. each for all over. I hear they have now to pay 13s 6d. all round —it. seems a hardship. The squatter will grind down the working man. From my own knowledge of their earnings, I am sure, were it not for their cows .and'gardens, the married people (all of whom have; families) would not be able, with the strictest economy, to make both ends meet..' We are all wishing for a good fall of show on the mountains, which would increase our water supply considerably.