RAGLAN. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1436, 15 September 1881, Page 2

RAGLAN. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Since my last, grim death has twice made its appearance among us, and' has seized two members of the community. The first was Mr Viggers, of Te Mata, who came hither only a few years since. He had nearly completed the tale of years allotted to mortals^ and therefore could not expect to stay here much longer. The second was Mr Robert Millar, also of Te Mata, who died September Bth, at the age of 41. He came hither a few years since and took uphomestead land. He had cleared about 40 of t the 60 acres necessary before he could obtain his title ■when sickness overtook him. That was at thp beginning of the year, and from that time until the ( day, of his death he may be said to have never risen from his bed. Amid much' pain he was wonderfully cheerful, and five days before he died talked about getting well, ' It is generally thought a ' good leap from death £o birth ; nevertheless I make the leap. On Tuesday last Mrs Millar, wife of the above deceased, became the mother of triplets— two masculine and one feminine species of the genus homo. The latter, however, Was dead ; the former are doing well. ' We have had our share of storm. A /fortnight since the Hannah Mokau put in here for shelter and stayed four days. She seems to be too small a vessel to battle with the breakers and bar harbors on the West Coast. ' The stone trade promises to be a success. Messrs Ellis have received several orders, an earnest, it is hoped, of a coming deluge. At the present time the ketch Wild Duck is taking in a cargo of stone for Auckland Messrs Ellis are about to construct a tramway and a wharf, and will be able to accept large orders. The Weekly Neios correspondent at Te Awamutu (or Hamilton ?) must surely be dreaming. The week before last he informed the public that King Tawhiao was at Raglan, holding a meeting at which was being discussed the opening of Kawhia Harbour. Truly we must go from home to learn what is going on there. We have seen and heard nothing of Tawhiao at Raglan< ' It may be there is another Raglan and so I will not presume to say the Te Awamutu correspondent has not told the truth. lam told by the natives that there is to be a meeting at Kawhia relative io the of the" harbour, but that does not take place "before next week. ' ' ' On Saturday, last the Te Mata settlers held a meeting to talk about a cemetery for that district. It is very inconvenient to have no cemetery in a country district. Mr Millar was carried to Raglan on a sledge, a distance of over ten miles. Mr Pain generously offered an acre of land to the Te Mata settlers for a cemetery ; his offer was gratefully accepted, and trustees, we're 'appointed 'to 'make the requisite' legal arrangements. Wo have had a visit from Major Jackeon, who asks dur suffrages at the coming general election.' ,<He did not speechify, but<came\mer.ely ( to, / eee / andbe aqen. „ He reserves the speeches' for anotner fi^it, wh oh, I suppqse, will take place on the eveoftbo battle/ lii( I am not quite, sure „ whether the ae^Lsons ar§«ttfefc&ifrf«*^ fch^Hh Waikatb. The orchids,,, ,a,re,-i,s,hG!&ing si^ns of vitality. \ Peach trees are approaching fuft hlbbrA, ahd'the! hawthorn blossom, or, 1 as we say, thafMay^itel's ua that spring* is noj; fgr a^ea^jcNecto^ea.a|W,p}s» bloom, ing," and inVwliole face of Nature shows that winter ia almost gone. — September 12th, 1881.