MAKURI WILDS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5087, 26 July 1895, Page 3

MAKURI WILDS.

"AFTERNOON TEA IN THE

BUSH," t • From Our Own Correspondent. [ It was tlio first invitation of the ' kind tlmt had been issued in Makuri 1 since the world began, and we were rather elated at the prospect That 1 one of us should be ablo to give an "At Homo" raised our opinion of bush settlement, We felt we should not bo invited to drink tea out of tin pannikins, and that, henceforth, we should be compelled to indulge in rather more of the elegancies of life. Tin plates and pannikins have been growing into disfavour for some time and enamel mugs coming into favour. However we looked forward to drinking onr tea out of China-egg-shell China—cups on this afternoon. Our host lias lately built for himself a handsome residence, anil furnished it in a most artistic style, putting all our cottages and wliares quite into the shade. At half-past two a bullock-dray, which, was fitted up most luxuriously with a mattrass and blankets, was driven round for the ladies and we felt nervous about our ties, and wished our boots had taken a better polish; but wo were magnificently attired in comparison to our usual style, so after surreptitiously smoothing our hair, we rode up to tho dray, chatted pleasantly to (the ladies and tried to appear as if we were used to being ilsked out to afternoon tea every day in the week. When we arrived we were ushered into a truly lovely dining-rooin. The walls were papered with a pale rosetinted paper, and at one end of the room was a large window of rosetinted glass, throwing a delightful shade on everything. The chairs and sofa were just things to dream in, and on the walls were two very ' tine engravings, < besides several photographs of celebrated pictures, 1 little chairs and tables, and palm 1 stands were dotted about in a most 1 effective way. .Altogether we decided ' that the house—surrounded as it is 1 by magnificent scenery—is a home to 1 delight in. Then the dainty tea- 1 service of lovely rose-tinted egg-shell ' China, and the sumptuous tea to ' which we did full justice, passing ' our cup up to be refilled again and ' again, it being a point of bush etiquette tc drink at least a pint of tea J on the smallest provocation, and we ' wished to show our appreciation of ' our host's kindness and hoped he ' would ask us again! f

Inspector Welch is at Makuri mixing poisoned grain for the use of settlers; lioalso intends poisoning the reserves around the township.

Settlers express warm approval of the Premier's interest in the rabbit nuisance, and hope steps will bo taken at once to clear Government lands between the Makuri and Alfredton districts, which are said to be overrun with these pests,

Ou Saturday the coach from Paliiatua to Makuri was detained all night in the Gorge. One of the wheels dislodged a stone which caused a slip of limestone boulders to fall on to the coach and road, completely blocking the way, fortunately tho driver and horses escaped without injury and after some delay proceeded to Makuri with the niaii.