THE STARTING OF THE Te Aroha Battery.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1375, 26 April 1881, Page 2

THE STARTING OF THE Te Aroha Battery.

The starting of the battery here to-day, was made the occwon of a pleasant little di-play of public spirit that will confer its own reward upon all interested, and one of those rod letter days of general festivity that break the monotony of work in our rising young towns with all the merriment and enjoyment of a pionio holiday. John Bull, ast a rule, can only take a pleasure sadly, and any attempt at rejoicing is but a more crushing display of melancholy, anything that tends therefore to promote cheerfulness in public , communities is a something to be glad of, and it was hailed as a healthy sign that Te Aroha saw an opportunity for a little relaxation in the starting of the important operations of the battery company, and when one member of the community or another contributed something towards the general interest of the town or the general jollification. It was announced that Mr P. Quinlan of the British Hotel would contribute the beer required by the many headed one, the ham was given by Mrs Moore, the beef by Mr Stafford, the bread by Messrs Allen aud H. Whitaker, the oheeae by Mr Caldwell, the butter by Mr Bullook, and the mustard by Mr T. ! Craig, while Mr G. O'Halloran of the Hot Springs Hotel provided a luncheon for the directors and shareholderd of the company, Tho Patiki came in about half-past eleven, and brought Mr A. Price, Mr C, Gould, of Waitoa, Major Murray, Mr Wilkinson, of the Thames Advertiser, Mr Hay, Bank of New Zealand, C. Henneley, G-. Symington, Mr Purchas, and a number of ladies who honoured Te Aroha with their presence. At 12 o'clock the connecting gear was attached, and a bottle of champagne vras duly suspended from the fly-wheel, amidst the cheers of the spectators, and the wheels began to revolve, the stampers to rise and fall with heavy thuds, and the bedans to spin round thier crushers, as Mrs C. Gould, of Waitoa, named the battery the Te Aroha After a liberal distribution of the good cheer provided, about twenty guests repaired to the dining-room of the Hot Springs Hotel, where a capital and substantial luncheon had been spread by Mr O'Halloran, the head of the table being taken by Mr C Gould, one of the principal land-owners in the district, and the foot by Major Murray, of the Thames Volunteers, and manager of the Bank of New Zealand. After the good things provided had been done full justice to by the guests assembled, the toasts of " The Queen," "The Governor of New Zealand," "The Army and Navy and Volunteers" were duly proposed and responded to with loyal cheers, and the well-known old honours of " He's a jolly good fellow," &c. Captain Taipairi, of the Thames Native Volunteers, in replying to the toast, expressed a decided opinion that the Queen's writ ought to run through every part of New Zealand. "Success to the Te Aroha Battery" was then drunk with three cheers, and after several other toasts, including that of Messrs Price and Patterson, the builders of the battery, and the Patiki steamboat now running regularly from Grahamstown to Te Arohn, — Major Murray expressed the satisfaction of the visitors with the capital spread provided by Mr G. O'Halloran, and proposed "The health of their indefatiguable secretary, Mr H. Whittaker, who returned thanks with considerable humour, and hoped that Te Aroha was only commencing a career of success. The Chairman then proposed "The health of their Host and Hostess, Mr and Mrs O'Halloran," reminding the guests that this was the second time Te Aroha had to thank their entertainers for their hospitality, the occasion of tho starting of the punt across the river having been celebrated in a similar manner. The toast of "The Agricultural and Mining Interests," coupled with the names of Mr Adam Porter and Mr Ticklepenny were then proposed and responded to. After the visitors from the Thames and other places had been done full honour to, and the chairman thanked for the manner in which he had performed his duties, the pleasant afternoon's proceedings were brought to a conclusion as gratifying to all present as it would be possible to imagine. Among the most popular men present was Mr G. Symington Quarter- Master Sergeant of the Thames Scottish Volunteers of the Governor Bowon Hotel, Grahamstown, and " Geordie " seemed to have more than enough to do to shake hands with his frionda. In the evening 1 there was a meeting of the shareholders of the Smile of Fortune and Morning Star claims, at which it was j agreed that all shares on which calls should not be paid up on the 26th instant should be forfeited. Mr John Moore was appointed manager for the two claims, and a call of 3d per share was passed, each company jointly contributing towards the making of a road and laying down a tramway and shoot. It was reported that the two claims have about 70 tons of quartz roady for crushing at the present moment. Mr Porter (Chair) Mr Stafford' and Mr McSweney were present. Should Te Aroha receive any impetus from the progress of the goldfields there is none to whose exertions it will be more indebted than those of Mr H. Whitaker and Messrs Pries Bros. Fatal Gun Accident. There is reported to day a fatal gun accident at Paeroa, whereby a lad of about 15 years of age named Kiohey lost his life, at the hand of another lad named Lipsey, the son Mr F. Lipsey of that place. It appears that the boys were shooting together in a swamp, and by pure misfortune the barrel of Lipsey's gun was discharged on the brain of Kichey. The jnry returned a verdict of accidental death, I am informed. The Vivid left for the Thames yesterday morning, and the Patiki, this morning with passengers and cargo.

The Western Star says that in the Chinese quarter in that town it is no unusual thing to see two or three girls and a similar number of boys about ten or twelve years of age prowling aboat the residences of Chinese with the greatest familiarity, encouraged thereto by friendly attentions of the inmates. The Star cautions the parents, and advises them to take greater care of their children. • t It seems that Captain Raymond is not to be allowed to unsurp the whole credit of introducing the phosphorus rabbit remedy in Victoria, as he has done in Southland, where the original introducers i (Messrs Bailey and Boyes) ar* quite ! overshadowed. We notice that one of our Victorian contemporaries asserts that the use of phosphorus as a poison for rabbits was known and experimented with, in that colony some years before it was tried by Captain Bayraond in 1 Southland. \i\> At the last meeting of that lively body, i the Inveroargill branch of the Irish Land League, Mr Joyce is reported to have said thatirom investigations he had, ;,mada he found that rent for land was simply black mail'; and the man who held, the soil was a robber , or respectable thief. He held that thftw aftould bp no landlord' /bnfc the i State, '»•■■■,