NOTES FROM WAIHI.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 468, 18 October 1879, Page 2

NOTES FROM WAIHI.

(mow ouk own correspondent.) The weather is always a safe topic to commence a conversation with an Englishman, and I could not at present find a better introduction to my “ notes” than commenting upon the sudden and violent change of weather which the last two days has witnessed. The genial warmth of the previous week gave place on Monday to light spring showers, but on Tuesday night a violent south-east gale, accompanied by heavy rains, set in, driving every living thing to seek shelter where it could; and to day the wind continues with unabated fury, making the canvuS houses in which we live appear to hold but a frail tenure of existence under its force, while the small amount of hair left on one’s head by the regulation clip has to be held tightly, lest Boreas should, appropriate it suddenly. The country is, however, looking well, and vegetation of all sorts looks healthy ; while stock is looking ripe for the butcher. This day inaugurates the contract of Mr McGuire, of Hawera, for supplying rations to the forces from here to Oakum. The change is not looked upon with favor, as the men have been messing themselves on a much more liberal scale than that supplied by the Government, for less money than is to be charged for the ration—and on some stations for nearly 50 per cent. less. This is not fair to the men, who have not too much money to spare out of their modest pay, after paying for uniform and the thousand and one etceteras which is thought necessary to encumber an A.O. man with, in order to improve, or disfigure as the case may be, his personal appearance. Had the contract been open for public tender, I believe better terms could have been obtained. From food bodily to food spiritual, I am glad to make public that the neglected interior souls, as well as exterior soles of the A.C.’s, have received some consideration at the hands of the Rev Mr Fairclongh, who kindly remained in the neighborhood over Monday to hold service on that evening. The Rev. gentleman preached an excellent discourse to a select and discriminating audience, which would have been more numerous but for the fact of the service being held on a week night, and the religious fervour having somewhat died out from lack of practice. Mr Fairclongh has kindly promised to come to Waihi on a Sunday morning if possible. At present we are thankful for small mercies. A match against the Patea Rifles ought to have come off ere this, but press of parades and drills have as yet pre-

rente 3 its consnmmatiori. Last week,two marching parados took place for some distance through the bush, and the men are now getting tolerably proficient; in their military duties, and the tray they can fall-ont on the bait for a “ rofivsher ” delights-'the sonls of the local Bonifaces. The instruments for the brass band! bare arrived, and orm's gentle noon-day nap is sure to be disturbed by the notes of some tremendous instrument like the fly wheel of an engine, vigorously hlowni by an aspirant bandsman. 1 guess among their other achiv-ments the A.C.’s will soon be able to Mow some, but we would rather the bugler did not practice so' very early in the morning, when one is just tnnifug over for the final dream,which is abruptly terminated by a roll (not that tvith colfee), but a call to' parade at 6 o’clock. As the early bird is' said to catch something, so surely will the A.C.’s catch'a morning cold. I am pleased to see that business is looking so lively in Nonnanby that Messrs Brett and Johnston are making a large addition to their hoi.-I, and several other buildings are in conrs"gka£^

erection.'. There'is some talk of a church being commenced. The Right Rev Bishop' Redwood,R.C., visited the district - last and celebrated mass to a large congregation at Hawera. He afterwards held art enquiry into a matter of difference Which arose some mouths ago* between the clergyman of the parish and one of his ; flock, which he decided, I am informed,in favor of the pastor. The Hawera Volunteers are not satisfied that their services during the nativedisturbance have not been recognised as were tftose of Xormanbj', and have petitioned for pay. The present state of the Treasury chest will surely warrant any reasonable claim being considered favourably, even if the service are not; but I understand the Cavalry which performed the escort duty to the Maori prisoners have been paid. At the same time, it does not speak well for the suppliants for Government pay, thattheir captain resigned because he could not get his company to attend drill parades with anything like regularity. L-iotn-GoIone! Roberts has returned to' head-quarters after a tour of inspection of the several stations in the division,which he found in first class order—the men in good health, discipline, and eager for the fray ; but as the new Premier in l his policy indicates a speedy reduction of the expenditure on the West Coast, accompanied by the appointment of a Commission to enquire into native claims, it may he that the A.C.’s will have no' opportunity of earning laurels, and like' Othello, their occupation will be gone. Warin’,- 15th October.