WAITARA NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 203, 20 October 1900, Page 2

WAITARA NOTES.

(From Our Osvn The Waitava Harbour Board held theii usual monthly gathering on Friday last. Mr. F. P. Oorkill wrote in reference to tho lease of the sections adjoining the Bridge Hoe', audit was decided to fix an upset rental of £IG for the inner section, and £2O for the corner one, buildings to be erected within six months of a value of not

less than £l5O, from plans to be approved by the Board. These are the sections which were held for several years by a late Chairman of the Board, (luring whioh period the secretary put it mildly that " the Board did not derive any revenue." The sections are now worth, at least, a total revenue of £36 per annum, and as much more as can be got. The question of Mr, March mi's visit

.'as then discussed, and the Board ranlot be congratulated on the way in] rhich they have dealt with this proessional gentleman. First they wrote nd told him that they did want him,] hen th' ee months afterwards tbey asked limtorome. Whentheygotareplyfrdm Vfr Marehant stating that he would >e in Waitara on a certain date, the 3oard then asked him to defer his visit intil he was coming to New Plymouth, uid at the last meeting they complained jacause he had cot yet arrived, and Mr. Ogle made an incorrect statement ihat Mr. Marchaot had lately been in New Plymouth. The Board recently spent £4O in putting up a telephone to the Harbourmaster's house. Heaven only knows what for ? and they also spent £OO in prosecuting an old lesi-i dent for removing a co'tage from a Harbour Hoard sect : on, during which) interesting proceeding the Board "fell in " badly ; but such a' common thing as "professional advice" they would like to obtain "on the cheap." By the way, what is the present total eosi of repairs to tho signalman's house ? Mr. Og'e also suggested that " Mr. Higuett should be written to and asked to lay his schemes for the improvement of the harbour before tho Bo.rd (this is spoke sarkastick)." Another member said that " they wero only bringing themsolves down to tho lovel of children," ivhishwasa very true remark." Mr. Oglo is really getting qui 1 * funny! But tho general i m p resg ; on fe tn&t he would not be quits fo funny if Mr. Hignett were on the Harbour Board to answer him. Tho presence of a father-in-law, combining the positions of I harbourmaster secretary. Customs < officer, pilot, and wharfinger, may ( pis-ibly bo co ducive to " scarcasm," j but it was recently made abundantly j o.itlofit at a public meeting h-ld in I Wail aiu that, under difl'e ent circum- ] stances, tho attempted sircasm, or wit, ] was not so successful.

Tho attituJo of the nominated Wai•■ara Harbour B.ard reminds mo of a (ortoiso which was sont to a friend of miuo from Franco. When tho tortoise urived he was asleep, and leaves of .'oltuco were spread around kirn as '■hiekly as loavo.s in v.illaaibrosa-but j'P slept! Tho only thing that aroused , ; nm was that ono day ho heard sonioono singing a dreamy German lullaby

that would make ovon a dog sit up and wring his hands, when he cautiously rolled up one baggy ponderous eye-lid, winked his visual organ with muol-ajj gravity and decorum, and then asleep again, and he has not bear ' awake since. He will not rush sweatingly to grasp golden berries on the on* liand nor to pluck laurels on the other. With consistent calmness and dignity lie will just go en sleeping, being lulled to perfect rest —like the Waiter* Harbour Board—by the "toe* tot** of the "Family Boat!"