Te Aroha News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 29, 22 December 1883, Page 2

Te Aroha News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

'This above all — to thino own-self bo true And it must follow as the night the day, Thou ctiust not then be false to any man.' — Shakespeare

SATURDAY, DECEMHEK. 22, 1883

Anyone that has seen that delightful comedy, " Caste," performed, will remember that near the end of the last act, and when all the characters are being disposed of, there is one customer hard to settle — a kind of square peg in a round hole. This man, Eceles, likes it "hot, with sugar, please," and is always in the way, and a nuisance. Eventually, to settle him, he is asked whether he could manage to drink himself to death quickly if allowed a certain sum of money per week and sent to a country wi lere liquor is cheap. And answers, " dunno, but I'll try." Something of the same feeling appears to prompt the powers that be, with regard to the natives of New Zealand, and we must do justice to the Maori by admitting that he, Eceleslike, is always ready to back up the business by swallowing as much grog as he can get. Now, we have not" the slightest wish to rob the poor man of hi beer, at any rate if he can take it in moderation and be decent. But we do nio->t strongly object to the custom that now prevails, by which the natives, ignorant, of the result, are quickly drinking themselves o(T the fa 'c of the earth. Take the Maoris in and aroun I our own towinlnp. They come in two or three times a-woek, and always by some means or other got sufficient liquor to make them nearly all drunk, some of them disgustingly so. Then follow rows and lights ami other glorious exhibitions. The long ami short of it is, the Maoris cannot, a^ a rule, stand beer and spirit^, and if the svay we pat ourselves on the backs, for having civilized and hnpro\ed one of t\n> finest savage races that ever lived, is not humbug, and we do not want them to drop off like rotten pears, something must be done to limit their drinking. Prohibition orders should be issued and mo^t vigorously enforced, the fullest penalty being extracted in the event of such ordeis being broken. The police should be kept well up to their business, and spare no offender. By thus adopting strict measures some of them may be rescued from the fate that now appears to await them, viz., becoming a drunken and lazy lot of public-house loafers, useless to themselves and to everybody else, and a monument of the thoughtful Government they live under.

It is, we understand, the intention of the Warden, as soon as work starts after the holidays, to make a most searching examination of our mines with a view of altering the present, wav of " working " some oi them. There are enough claims pegged off and licensed, to keep some 2000 men al work, if the number employed at each working was in accordance with the Act, instead of which we have about 250. Surely it is not fair that two or i three men shall peg off a claim, register it, and then leave it perfectly still, unlil something turns up through which they may reap an advautage by selling out their interest, and thus making a good haul without risking a cent outside survey and registration fees. We think that this " dog in the manger " principle cannot be destroyed too quickly, and that if companies will not work their ground fairly and within the stipulated time, they should stand aside and make room for others that will. The excuse generally pleaded is " what's the good of getting out quarts:, there's no crushing power available." Now we think it is rather too much to expect capitalists to lay out a lot of money on balteiies, until they have sufficient inducement held out to them in the shape of plenty of stone to smash. Let all the piopent un worked claims follow the example set thorn by a number of oilier mines which hare been steadily worked and a goodly quantity of stuff got out, with the result that, before many weeks are over our heads we shall have at least two new batteries at work and then perservanca will moot, its reward o t e ihing is certain and tiuifc in, if the mines will only show

'■esutts good enough to wan-ant the wection of more machinery, tlioro are 'tlenty of men with money, who are looking out for investments and who will quickly seize the opportunity if it is good enough. Taking these things into consideration we are inclined to think that the contemplated move of of our "Warden, is one of the very best thing's that can happen to this field.

The following i.s tin ox tract from a letter received from a W.titoa correspondent: — "I have just finished cutting a paddock of grass, for Messrs Campbell Brow, which is the heaviest I ever saw. In one side oC the paddock the cocksfoot was touching Hie horse's hips, and with a thick nudei mat of mi\ed clover. If the Messrs Campbell would publish, in your paper, how they treated this land th y would be conferring a great benefit to the district., as there are hundreds of ncres of the same quality land in this neighourhood, which at present is only fit to grow dandelion." A meeting of the Waitoa School Committee was hold at MofTat's Hotel on the 18th, inst. Present— Messrs Seddon (in the chair), Smith, Pair and ttowc. A petition was received from Morrinsville, praying for a full time school instead of the halt' time school that at present ex'sts. The Chairman was instructed to forward the petition to the Education Board at Aiukl.md and to recommend the same be granted if the Board can make other arrangements for the half time school at Waihou. An advertisement in another column will bo found that deals with the amended hours set apart for the use of the hot baths by ladies. The liin? leserved in future, lor the gentler sex, will be fiom 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and from 7. to 8 in the evening. The above anangement will be btiietly enforced from the 22nd inst. Mr David Philp, formerly of the Thame>, died at Auckland on Saturday last after ;i very short illness. The deceased gentleman had for many years been known and steady respected by a largo circle of friend*, and much. sympathy is felt for Mrs Philp and her family in their misfortune. The forthcoming sports on Boxing Day bids fair to be very 'successful. Money is coining in vety lapidly, and judging from the number of "puds" to be seen nightly taking their canters and evidently doing their best to get into good form, there i>* every chance of having some very good races. Tho To Aroha branch of the Rand of Hope held their usual fortnightly meeting on Monday evening last, Mr H. Buttle in the chair. There was a very good attendance, and some very nice songs and readings were given. Altogether, a very enjoyable evening was spent. The report current during the past week that the Ausii,diiM-$ contemplate a visit to Te Aroha shoitly, to in eel oiic local champions of the willow, is altogether without foundation. llmj entire, however, held onfc that matcii s with Tauranga 'md the Thames will shorth take place. Fiist, a t>amc -hou'd !» • played between To Aiolia ami W'iorongomai, aid an eleven picked fiom tin two teams. Jf this is* {}one ai'.l -i" tlu men cm pi ly, there i^ no doubt it will take a "hot "lot" to bjat them. In th meantime pi ictiee is going on steidi'v every afternoon on the ground near the laeecourso under (lie eye ot Mr C. S Stair'oid, and some "veiy fair foiui i being shown. No doubt is as easy to mnko a fish live out of. water, as to keep M nris from drinking grog ; at any rate they always manage to u,ct it somehow when in town. Tjist Saturday was no exception to the general rule, and for a time things were veiy lively. On one side of the road could be seen two of the gentler sex in close, but not loving, embrace. Near them a hard fight was going on between a couple of nubs — father and son — each of whom Ind hold of the bridle of a horse about which they were disputing. The agility th". youm; mm displayed, as he tilt'd to pi. ice his foot on the fourth button of his pa's waistcoat, should have been ,sen to be understood. ]n the end, one of the onlooking Maoris — who was also "not well," but who had little to do with the row — was run in, whilst the man who was at the bottom of the whole business rode quietly away on the '" bone of contention," nnd onco more theie was a deal of peace. Applications for licenses for the Dundcj <.n\d Pinko cl thus were both granted on Tuesday last. Licenses for twelve resident and two business .sites were also granted. The next mail to Europe via San Francisco, will close at Te Aroha nn Saturday, the sth January, 1884, at 8.30 a.m. Piapid strides are being made with the R.M. Court fittings, which when finished will add considerably to the beauty of the building. The bench was far enough advanced for the Warden to use whilst transacting the business on Tuesday last. When the fence, that is to enclose tho Court and station in one section, i.s finished, the whole will present a very taking appearance. It will be seen by advertisement in another column, thnt tho Warden has granted protection over all claims, rights and privileges in the Te Aroha Goldmining District, from 22nd Dcccmboi until the 3rd January, 1884. .The Resident Magistrate and Warden's office will be closed on tbe 24th, 25th and 26th December ; also, on the Ist and 2nd of January next foi the Christmas vacation. The Post and Telegraph offices will be closed on Christmas and Boxing Day, the 25th and 20th inst. Private box lobby will however be open as on Sunday. It is rumoured at the Thames that Colonel Fraser intends standing* against all comers for tho constituency, at tho next general election. Recently in Victoria, to earn a wage a man skinned 438 rabbits in sixty minutes. If this artist can only catch half the number in the .sain* 1 time it would pay some of our Southern runholders to import him. That icrrible bane to Society — the larrikin — of which pest New Zealand appears to have more than its fair quantity, has been having very high jinks in Lytlelton (Canterbury). A number of: individuals that come under the above category, made a most savage attack upon « a body of Salvationists, but very much to

their surprise -a lot of the townspeople, who hmi evidently made up their minds to deal summarily with the ruffians, checkmated their little game, and with the assistance of the police, about a dozen of the ringleaders were run in, and when brought up before the bench charged with rioting they had ti tune played to them that they oould not dance to. If these gentry wore always met with determination and a fey of them flogged, no donbt the breed would soon die out and the atmosphere would be a good deal clearer. By-the-bye, it is not generally known that the term larrikin arose from the attempt of an Irish policeman in Melbourne to use the word larking, whilst giving evidence in the Magistrate's Court. When asked by the R.M. what the prisoner was doing when arrested, he said " he was alarrikin', ycr honor. An accident of a very serious nature happened on Tuesday last to a lad named William Webb, son of Mr W. Webb, Waitoa. The unfortunate fellow whilst working on Mr J. P. Campbells farm, was run over by a harrow he was using, the back of his right thigh being cut very badly, and a portion of his right knee-cap cut away. The boy, who is only 13 years old, rode some' two miles after the accident towards his homo, but could only get within smno 300 yards of it, when he fell off his horse through faintness, and rein lined on the ground until soineborhrfffptieed that the borne was covered with «ir>od, and after a search bo was found conscious but very weak. A doctor was got as soon as possible, and considering the nature of the hurt the patient is progressing favorably, and will, it is hoped, owing to his good "health and strength, be able to pull through. All who keep bees, or even those that merely indulge in the sweet produce of that busy insect, will no doubt bo surprised at the following which is taken from an exchange :— " Tho bee has long been a typo of the industrious worker, but there arc few people who know how much labor the sweet hoard of the hivo represents. Each he.id of clover contains about sixty distinct flower tubes, each of which contains a poi tion of sugar not exceeding the five-hundredth part of a grain. Some patient apiarian enthusiast, who has watched their movements, concludes that the proboscis of the bee must, therefore, be inserted into 500 clover tubes before one grain of sugar can be obtained. There are 7000 grains in a pound, and as honey contains three fourths ot its weight of dry snsrar, each pound of honey represents 2,500,000 clover tubes sucked by bees. Our hot springs are quickly gaining favor with the public cvon outside this province. During the past month wo have had visitors from Christchurch, Gisburne and other places in the colony, who have come here only on account of the buths. There is no doubt that when Te A v oha gets better known as a place where oh «ap liviru, combined \\ ,ih good b-M'n.ig, and a healthy locality can be obtnino'd, we shall have a continual string ot newco'iicrs. By advertisem-'ut in another column it will U'suen t'mt the admirable coaching plant, together with bosses, &c, l.itoly being run by Ujsm-.s Br.idl<n and (Jo., i* to be M>Ul at V< 1 A;oii,i mi Mon-lav n.'Xt. tie iMiii m-t , In Mr J. H. B tcki.uul. It U a matter oi" .cgi.-l tint fie p'ivate affairs «if t.ie ;jrcs>'nt pioprictors necessitate then 1 : t'nni; friufli<> Inisines-;, ;iwl it is co be hopi'.i f- i j .vt tb"ir succu,-^or-> wiii ix' as hippy ia tluir effort , f> please the tiavolliug public s the) have hoen. A meeting oi ibo To Aro'm Church of England Vv>-t.y took pl.u j in the Pm!>H'I[«dl on TueMl.y evening, tho Rev. Mr Davis presiding. It was lesolvod to open sub,ciiption lists to cover deficiency oJ' the wherewithal to meet debts due" It was also resolved to start a school foi children in the neighbourhood, to be. held in the Public Hall every Sunday afternoon. The road between To Aroha and Waiorongomai is still in the deplorable condition in which il has existed ro long. It seems a pity th;<t the County Council will not have it made at least passable. During the earlier part of the past week the weather being line, with the exception of a few cieeks ,md ponds to jump over, or swim ihiong'i, the :-rack was noL so bad, but lo ! it rained for a couple of hours on Wednesday night, and things were worse than ever. Surely with heaps of stones which may easily bo broken up into very fair road metal, so near at hand, a very small expense would be necessary to put tho road in thorough rep lir. The traffic between the two townships is becoming .so consistent and impoit;mt that something should be done at once, as the longer the business is put oil the worse for ths district. No doubt our energetic member, Mr 11. E. Whitaker, will use his best endeavours, and by constantly keeping t.'ie matter before the notice of the Council, will succeed in getting the necessary work done at once. The new shops now in course of erection in Whitaker-stroct for Mr Geo liobson, chemist, and Mr Me Lemon, watchmaker, arc rapidly drawing near completion, and will add considerably to the general appearance of our main street. During the past week a most careful canvass of our town was made by Mr Dobson, the energetic honorary secretary of the public library, assisted by MiHannah. These gentleman did their work so thoroughly that they succeeded in obtaining some fifty new member::, which, added to the existing subscribers, will make a most respectable total, and their part of the £b'o')o subsidy granted during the past session by the Government (to be divided pro rata amongst the libraries in the colony) will be considerable. It is proposed to purchase a lot of j good novels, besides historical' and scientific books, and judging from the list of that has baen prapired, there is every reason to suppose that our locil library will soon afford reading matter to all sorts and conditions of men. Mr David S unpson, one of tho "gangers" on the tramway, had a bit of bad luck to commence his holidays with. Whilst riding clown to town f r^m the hill on Friday his horse slipped and threw him out of the saddle. Dr. Buckby was consulted as soon as possible and found that the unfortunate's right iinn w.is dislocated, he, with his usual skill, made the limb as comf oi table as possible, and the patient is progressing favorable. On yesterday tho school children assembled ul the Bohooi-lioiuse, Te Aroha,

for the purpose of presenting Miss LYnseutt, late pupil toncher, with a very 'landsome album, as a token of their esteem. Miss Truscott, who is now ••stationed at the Thames, was unable to be oresent, find therefore the gift wis duly forwarded lo her addross. It is very nleasant, and as it should be, to see kindly feeling's like this exist between the teacher and the taught. This in the last day on which tickote can be obtained available fof the drawing ot prizes given by Messrs Wlutehonse and Cocks, to-night. Anyone purchasing 10s worth of goods at cither place becomes possessor of a chance. Wo refer our readars to our advertising columns for particulars.