WHAREAMA NEWS

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5117, 30 August 1895, Page 3

WHAREAMA NEWS

From Our Omi Correspondent. Wednesday. Our antarctic winter, which has latterly been of unusual severity, lias fairly broken up, and the grass is beginning to assume a bright green appearance on the sunny side of the hills. Thejwillows and other deciduous trees arc rapidly regaining their leaves.

Lambs are fast making their appearance in almost every Hock now, and the wool clip next season promises to be better than lastyear's. Our interminable little enemy, the rabbit, appears to have been bi ceding all the winter, as young ones of various sizes may be caught in large numbers at the present time. And in certain spots a fair number of large ones may be seen disporting themselves at all hours of the day. The poisoningwasforccd on too early this season, and consequently next summer settlers will have to suffer for the bungling of those who administer the liabbit Act.

A couple of iMormon missionaries have been converting the Maoris in this district and appear to have made a decent haul of souls. Previous to the advent of the Mormons, Sunday was the only day in which the Maoris worked, but now they spend Sunday in preaching and feeding; and - 1 liuve been told—don't work any day during the week. Xext time the propagandists of the doctrines held sacred by Joe Smith and Brigham ruling, enter this district, 1 recommend them to study the bodily besides (he spiritual welfare of their Hocks, by using a quantity of ii:.seetieidei:itbe baptismal waterholo, and (o see that they are i thoroughly submerged, as scabies or ' itch, ringworm and kindred diseases, also vermin, appear to be prevalent, amongst some of them. The following true story may be as old as the everlasting hills to some of your readers, Mr Editor, but tome it is a brand new yarn. Anyhow, I should like to embalm it in the Unity Timus. Here is the veracious anecdote ;-A Maori of gigantic stature appeared at an up-country store garbed apparently in Highland costume, or something appertaining to it, and stated that be desired to purchase a pair of those articles of clothing necessary to conserve the 'decency of his legs, providing lie could obtain a pair of sufficient calibre. Accordingly, the storekeeper procured the largest pair he had in stock, and suggested that his dusky customer should try them on, He did so, and although the lit was perfect, refused to take the breeks on thepleaoftheirboingloosmall. The store-keeper laughed at the idea, of such an assertion, and urged him to buy them, as the fit was excellent. ; " No," replied the Maori, " I cannot take them. No doubt they (it mo very well just at present, but wait until the new potatoes come in."