RANDOM THOUGHTS

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 184, 17 August 1871, Page 5

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Tt must be a source of gratification to those amongst us who have the advancement of this district at heart to observe the progress which is steadily and surely going on around us. A year or two ago it was a rarety to see a few acres of cultivated land ; now the case is reversed, and it is just as rare to see a few acres of virgin sod in the immediate vicinity of Lawrence. We are are now surrounded by neat farms, well cultivated and fenced, with substantial dwellings and out-build-ings thereon ; and every season adds to the area of ploughed land. This settled appearance betokens a prosperous and hopeful future. Advance, Tuapeka !

What is to be the result of the present influx of the "Heathen Chinee?" For some time past ship after ship has deposited its living freight direct from the land of tea and tails on our shores, and the cry is ' ' still they come. " Our miners are becoming dissatisfied, and everybody admits that the question is assuming a serious aspect. I will tell you how all this will end if the powers that be do not immediately and earnestly take the matter in hand. The turbid stream of Mongolian .immigration will grow vaster and more vast. Instead of hundreds, thousands at a time will pour down upon us, and the European population will slowly but surely be driven out of the country, Avhile our Government and institutions will be swept away. Thus things will go on until at last there will only be one white man left in this once flourishing province. Perhaps that unfortunate individual will be myself. I can picture to myself a deputation of half a dozen or more irrepressible Johns waiting on me and putting the question, " How muchee you take to clear out?" My answer, without hesitation, would be, "For heaven's sake, give me half-a-crown, and a glass of P. 8., and I'm. off!" Is this not a sad piciure ? Think o£ itj 0 ye rulers of the land, and remember that " Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie." — (Shakspeare.)

I observe that the "Evening Post," speaking of Te Kooti, says :— " Many of our neighbours in Australia and elsewhere regard this rebel as a myth — a fantastic creation of the Maori brain, who never had a real existence ; but they go to extrenus." There seems to be little doubt that the individual in question is a disagreeable reality, and withal an extraordinary being. It is recorded that he was actually killed and buried out at sea, his body washed up on the beach, and interred in earth ; but, alas, shortly after his funeral, he appeared with a small army at his back as fresh and lively as if he had been taking a three months' spell in the country ; and no doubt Many a wicked smile he smolo, And many a wink he wunk when thinking of the many wild goose chases he had led the Ornamental Constabulary, the Militia, and the rest of his enemies.

Fiji haa been described as a -terrestrial paradise. It may be so, but the natives at any rate do not seem to partake of the nature of angels. A planter out thejre lately had two labourers, who we;re dubbed Tommy and Jemmy, one of wlicim acted as cook. Tummy being missed for some days, Jemmy was asked what had become of his friend, when the amiable' savage put on a grin which extended frqm ear to ear, but made" no reply. On! the question being repeated, the interea.tingcreature found a tongue, and pointirig ito a protuberance iphicli might be dignjtied by the name of stomach, he exclaimed 1 — " Him here ; me ate him !" It does; not transpire whether ' any portion of poor Tommy, disguised by native culinaryfart, had been served' up in the • planter's fnid•'day meal. { |

It. is not often that I am guilty cf. tnrfeing out of bed before the mid-sday sun! lias warmed the earth and ; made everything jolly .and i comfortable for, my reception, and it frequently happens' when s the' sun does not choose to show himself and raise the mercury above 50 deg. in the shade that I don't choose to leave my warm bed at all. But one day this week, by some unaccountable mistake, I got up fully half

= _ — , an hour before, my usual iime. Blessed mistake ! T shall never regret thy occurrence. Thou Avert the cause of my passing three seconds of time in rapturous ecstasy in gazing on a mysterious and soul-stirring something, which, once seen now-a-days, is not likely to be forgotten, and had I renamed in bed another minute that glorious sight in all probability Avould have been lost to me for ever. I saAv a sovereign ! I won't say in what part of Lawrence it was, for I don't Avish to cause a rush. I could have wept over that sovereign, only the sight Avas too sternly metallic for tears. O that that precious, golden, and confoundedly scarce image of her Majesty Avere mine! I could then do what I have for some time wished to do, but can't for lack of funds, namely, to ask the belle of Lawrence to accompany me to the next ball. Of course she Avould turn up her pretty nose and refuse me ; but then I should* have the . proud satisfaction of having asked her, knowing that for the first time in my life I was in a position to purchase a double ticket. Alas ! these are idle dreams, for I haven't got the sovereign. Heighho ! I once had half-a-crown of my own, but those days of affluence and luxury aie numbered with the past. FITZSMYTHE.