ON THE RUSH.

Patea Mail, 24 December 1880, Page 4

ON THE RUSH.

What a conglomeration of people you meet on a goldfield like Tc Aroha ! Men of all trades and professions under the sun are drawn together by the grand magnet of human nature—gold. Some with a lot of money, some with a little money, some with none at all. Speaking confidentially, I belong to the latter category, so when I arrived at the crowded landing one day last week, it was a case of turning into the first tent I came to. For several days I repeated the experiment and visited my friends with unfailing regularity. That game is played out now, however, and for my tucker I have to wield that instrument which, in the hand of man, supremely great, is mightier than the sword. “ Come and have a bath in the springs,” said a friend one morning, and 1 went. The bath was most enjoyable, but the myriads of mnsquitos, which had apparently caught the spirit of the times, carried on vigourons prospecting operations on my back, and made a geological survey on the nape of my back, exceedingly obnoxious. An itinerant minister comes up here sometimes, and preaches right amongst the drunken rowdies in front of O’Hal-

loran’s. Ido not profess to be exceedingly religious myself, but it appears to me to be hardly the place to hold forth on sacred subjects. A few nights ago a beery individual came up behind the reverend one—then in the midst of a prayer—and struck him on the head with Ids open hand, and several Maoris amused themselves by mimicking the gesticulations of the man of God. Religiously disposed men must have considered the scene most shameful.— <( Verdant ” in the Miner.