KIHIKIHI.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1348, 19 February 1881, Page 3

KIHIKIHI.

OITS of our hdtelkeepers,"Mr Louis Ballin, hat a eoye grieT«nce against the Auckland police authorities. The cause is this: One fine mornings about a month ago, a fine, strapping, ' rufldy - coinploxioned, thirsty-looking fellow, 'with a good rotund corporation, which might be taken' as an index of a good driuking capacity, entered the bar of the " Alpha" and called for three bottles of spirits ; they -were to bs one of whiskey, one brandy, and one of ruin. JfoWy Mr Bulling firat impression was that), his/ new oustomef was no other than a Swamper, and so oar' Host, as indeed is bis wont," was most civil and accommodating. He asked if the Kquor was to be of dny particular brand, or of any given strength* a The bottles you nee on the shelf," he added, are drawn from the casks, and •• are toned down by the addition of pure water to the 'strength usual with the trade." The customer replied that he had no objection whatever to the aqua pura thing ; he could not think ■of going beyond it iv such weather ; so he was accordingly served with the bottles he wanted, as they sbood corked and capped on " the. runge, and they • were paid for promptly and cheerfully* This done, our Swamper became disagreeably communicative. He informed Mr Ballin that he was Sergeant Gamble, of the Auckland police, that the peculiar qualities of his spirituous drinks reached the rather long ears of his department, and that to this cause may be attributed his visit and his special patronage on this oocasion. Now, Mr Baltin'fl complaint is, that he considers all the hotels in the district and neighbourhood should beserved alike by the Sergeant, They were, to his mind, equally as deserving of Government patronage as he was ; and he arjrues, if the liquor was bad, why not haul him up before Mr ■ Northcrof t ? and if good, why not proclaim it to the world long before thjs, and compensate him for the loss and injury done to his business und character by such proceedings, and bo make' honourable restitution of his good name and that of his old-established hoUgo? — a house, let me add, thaty under the management of its former proprietor, was above suspicion, and second, to none in the province in neatness, cleanliness, aud order, and the excellence of its accommodation. In small communities like this it ii very easy to injure a man in Mr Ballin's situation. Already, I am glad to learn, a reaction of feeling is set in favourable to him, and much sympathy is felt by the settlers on account of the trouble and anxiety cavised to himself and family by the action of the authorities in his case. Our new School Committee mean hard work, they arc, they say, goiug in for a thorough radical reformation in school matter*. The number of meetings held nightly during the month exceed, conBideiably,- nil the meetings held during the last ten years. Four members of the original number nominated have broken down under the mental strain, and resigned ; their vacant places are tilled by four " just men." They have retaliated on the teacher for locking out the Rev. Mr Phillips by locking out his cow from grazing in the play ground. They are j zealous men, engaged in worthy cause, i according to their notions, and therefore should receive all reasonable consideration, but there should be no recriminations, the ochool. master should receive fair play, and every just allowance in all matters affecting his onerous duties*. — (Own Correspondent, Feb. 18.)