HARAPEPE.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1271, 21 August 1880, Page 2

HARAPEPE.

Owing to the bad weather, and the bad state of the roads, the Rev Mr Bruce has not been able to get over here for some time. It is now five weeks since we had service here. Of oonrse the bad state of the ferry at Te Rore is the principal cause, the said ferry being now worked with a cauoe, and swimming horses in winter is not pleasant either for hoi'se or rider ; I hear that the job of putting the punt into working order is at last begun, and I am in hopes to see it in working order in a week or ten days. During the past week we have had some very rough weather, blowing almost a gale, and heavy squalls of rain and hail. One of the ancient unfortunates of this district, who has for some years been living in a state of single blessedness, has at last succeeded (tli rough that benefactor of the human race represented in the shape of bachelor farmers, Hannaford, of matrimonial agency celebrity) in obtaining a wife. It is to be hoped that the speculation may turn out a success, as I suppose Mr Hannaford deals on the same terms as the auctioneers, viz. to be taken with all fatilts, &c, and no returning the article. I hear that a good many of the old bachelors (for which this district is famous), are seriously thinking of trying Mr H's agency as a last resource. In connection with the above, I lately heard a very good thing (if worth inserting you can do sq, as it is a fact), an old man, not in this district, but not 100

miles from it, who obtained a wife through the kind offices of Mr H., discovered when too late that the speculation was a bad one, as she was too fond of stimulating liquids, and also owned a family of about six children, a fact that was quite unknown before the bargain was struck. The old party was telling his griefs to a neighbor, who said that perhaps she would turn out better. He said he was very doubtful on the subject, so far it had been all for the worse and no better, but he hoped for the best.