PAEROA JOTTINGS.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 382, 14 January 1899, Page 2

PAEROA JOTTINGS.

[By The Sentinel]

The dreaded silver blight has made its appearance iu the orchards of Messrs F. (Jock and Juo. Thorpe. At present only plums are affected, but I understand that all stone fruits are usually troubled. No cure is known for it, the cause being unknown. The only thing to do ia to destroy the affected parts as promptly as possible, as the blight spreads rapidly. The Ohinemuri Agricultural and Horticultural Show to be held on the 16th February will be the first one held for a number of years, but I sincerely hope not the last. I would like to see special inducements held out to young people to take part in these shows, and also for the best kept gardens ; then we would have a generation of practical gardeners growing up, and future shows would certainly be good, besides affording healthy recreation for the young ones.

Last year was a record one for the amount of gold won in the Ohiuemuri district, lii almost every instance the mines show an improvement. This year, iu addition to the present batteries, the Waitekauri Extended and Alpha should be heard from soon, and the Hikutaia Gold Syndicate and the Maratoto Company are each erecting 10 head, so that 1599 should be far ahead of the past year. I earnestly hope it may be so. If the County Councillors could be iu duccd to adjourn at one of their meeting, to insDect the Station Road and Water Channel, I am perfectly certain that they would feel so ashamed of it, that repairs would be done at once. It is simply abominable.

Paeioa can boast of having the most up-to-date gas phnt iu the eolo-.y, and can also boast of having the worst lighted Theatre in hew Zealand. The gas is nob yet laid on, and there are just sufficient lamps to make darkness visible, two only for a large building where six are required.

Holiday traffic has not been a good thing for the new line, as a matter of fact the line to the Thames will not be completed until March, and waa really not tit to bear in its unfinished state the exceptionally heavy loads that were carried on it, but pressure, etc brought to bear on the powers that be, are hard to overcome. "Napping" (not sleeping by any means) that is stone breaking is being carried on all over the district, making preparation for winter traffic ; men ac customed to the work earn upwards of 12s per day at it. A sample of the wedding epidemic occurred here lately. The Rev. Father was about to go on with the ceremony when the young lady said to the bridegroom elect, " I have misled you ; I am only 18." Here was a lix. The mother was wired to and her consent obtained, although not a written one, and the ceremony proceeded, not, however, before the lady had received a rebuke from the clergyman cu truthfulness. Eve over again. your Kihikihi correspondent is in error re Mr Paget. That gentleman is very much interested in Pacroa, and we happen to know that he is not leaving Kihikihi just yet. Unless some explosives come to hand promptly there will be considerable confusion, as the magazine is empty of the only kind used. The lady mentioned as having gone to Sydney is considerably under legal marrying age. Our streets will be watered now if storekeepers pay up, the Council having granted 'the necessary length of hose for the purpose to the turncock yesterday.