HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 544, 10 July 1880, Page 3

HAWERA.

BRANCH OFFICE OF THE MAIL: Munof/rr, Mr G. 1~. Bate. We have experienced fearful weather lately, the wind and rain being, as everybody says, the heaviest known for some years. The country roads are quagmires, and the town street are in such a state that members of the Town Board have been bashful of walking out of late for fear that they might be seen blushing at the largo amount of money expended with such distressing results. This City of the Plains, as a Taranaki wag once called it, has become somewhat of a digging township, particularly as regards billiard handicaps and tournaments, which are all the go ; but the table, as usual, is the best player so far as tho Zees aro concerned. Our new population is largely made up of West Coast diggers, who cannot forget the good old days of an ounce to the dish, and having got into the habits of those days, find it hard to settle down to the hum-drum life of a rural district. There have been enquiries in the House at Wellington about the petition resulting from the meeting we had here a little time ago. If it has not already gone it will bo there in a few days, and New Plymouth will then find that our “ puny efforts ” were rather under-esti-mated by 6nr “ Maiden Aunt.” There is no doubt that many of the writers in tho Now. Plymouth papers can view matters only from one point, and that

is their clearly beloved “Taranaki.” And we, should sympathise with them so far, and ought to be able to laugh at their egotism in speaking about this part of the colony as a cypher, seeing (hat they hare mostly been bred and brought up in that delightful “Brighton,” where one can be so easily lulled to sleep by the wash of the never ceasing waves. But we would be so rude as to ask Miss Taranaki to travel somewhat and got at least a few new ideas; probably Arthur will be able to educate them (particularly the Harbour Board) since liis recent trip to Australia, up to some more extended views than they have at present —let us fervently hope so. Thu Maouis have kept the town lively of late, whilst passing through to attend the Lund Court to be held in Pa tea, and have been particularly friendly with those from whom they thought they might borrow a pound or so on the security of what they hope to get after the Court awards.