TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1736, 21 August 1883, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

The Te AwamuUi Cavalry Volunteers completed their six days annual training on Saturday last. The muster throughout the week was most satisfactory 44 members having attended cash dull and three part of the Meek, three of the tioop being absent in Auckland, making a total of .50 strong. Every member with the exception of those in Auckland attended the inspection parade which -was held on Friday the 17th inst. Owing to the day being wet the inspection was held in the hall. Col. Lyon, officer commanding the distiict, attended as Inspecting Officer. He was highly satisfied with the efficiency of the men and complimented them on their clean, sm.ut, soldierlike appeaiance and expressed the hope that they would look as sm.ut and clean at the next inspection. On the the patadc a ciicular was read notifying that 2nd or sub-lieutenants must pass the examination prescribed by the new regulations by the Gth of next No\ ember to entitle them to leeeive theii commission as lieutenants, which will be dated from the Ist January ot this year, thus lestoiing them to their pioper status in the iorce, as by the new tegulattons all ofhccis iccciwng their commission since the regulations came in foice will lank the same a3 older oiliccis, but by the clause piovidmg for the examination, the latter if they pass, will ha\ c their commissions duted from the first of this years thereby preserving their seniority. On Satin day the Tioop paraded at 3 p.m. and matched to Kihikihi. and'at 7 p.m. the final dtill took place in the hall, when the men went through the manual and musketry exercise in a manner that would icflcct credit on a company of regular troops. The recruits were then put through the sword cxeicise ■without a sinulc mistake and in splendid time. Too much praise cannot be given to the diill instiuctor, Mr Cailey for the skill and attention he bestowed, "on them and which has brought them in such a limited time to their present, state of pcifection. The band played on Fiidaj, when Col. Lyon was present and he was very much pleased with their ettcnts Bandmaster Sibley explained that the band has been in existence for a long time, and that the troops had been to a great deal of expence (£160) in purchasing, instruments &c, and requested Col. Lyon to uso his influence in making it in conjunction with the Waiuku band a garrison band. It is to be sincerely hoped that the request will be granted, as the Te Awamutu band is acknowledged, by everyone to be the best band in the province outside of Auckland, and if amalgamated with the Waiuku band they will compare favourably with any band in the North Island. Mr Sibley has been unremitting in his attention to his band duties and to show their appreciation of his services the troops voted him a sum of £7 10s Od on Saturday. A debt of £20 for music &c., was also paid so that the instruments music &c, are now clear of debt. I would suggest to the Waipa County Council that at their next meeting they should take into consideration the advisability of urging upon the Government the ncooasity of opening a road to Taupo through Otakau. Two rontes are available, one by the Waotu, and the other by way of Aotearoa. Waotu can be ridden to from Kihikihi through Aratitaha in three hours and a-half. At that point the Waikato river in some places is not more than a chain wide, and the cost of a bridge would be very trifling. I have jt qn the authority of competent engineers whp have travelled that way several times, that there are no engineering difficulties in the way of malting a good road. lam myself well acquainted with the country as far as Aratitaha, and know there is nothing to prevent a road being made as far as that settlement, and the country between there and Waotu is, I believe, even more level. The distance to Taupo by way of Aotearoa is comparatively short. Some natives came into Kihikihi that way last week. They left Taupo about 8 o'clock in the morning, arnvmg in Kihikihi at 6.30 the evening of the same day. Now, if they could do the journey in so short a time over a native track, and at this season of the year, it could be done in a very rqucb shorter time in dry weather, and on a good road. There are, I believe, no serious obstacles in the way if this route were chosen. At all events it would be very much easier for tourists from Auckland to travel to Taupo by either of those routes than by the present roundabout way. If a road were made the journey from Auckland would only occupy two days instead of three as at present, thereby effecting a saving of a clay, which would be a very great consideration indeed. There would be no difficulty in' getting the consent of the natives, 'anu the services of the Armed Constabulary could be* availed of for the work. At present the natives grow very little crops, as they have 'to pack their produce to Kihikihi, but if a road -were made they would, go in for cropping on a much larger scale, as they would, then have easy communication with a ready market for niaize, . oats/.. &b., , and their' laml^'is' ' eminently ' suited-^f oj.^' grbjjvipg

sure if the matter were laid properly before our member he would do his bes* to further so desirable an object;. A meeting of the Te Awamutu Domain Board was held on Saturday evening. Present : Messrs W. Taylor (chairman), Winstone, Ruthciford, and Sloane. At a previous meeting the board, having decided to lease the domain for a period of 14 years, called lor tendons, when tenders were received fiom Messrs Teasdale, (Jco. Kay, and J. F. Andrew. Mr Kays tender was accepted. Ho gets the land free for two years, and pays i"0 10s a year for the remaining twelve, amounting in all to £78. Mr Andrew's tender was £70 7s. There are IS acres and son.c odd perches in the domain. The boa id will plant ornamental trees on tluee sides of the piopcity, such trees to be protected and kept in order by the lessee. The land is to be cleaned and fenced immediately. The board ha 3 the light to use the domain for any public purpose, such as shows, exhibitions &c, and fix the piice of admission, and should the lessee suffer any loss or in-convenience on swell occa&ions the board will compensate him. The lessee cannot tiansfer or sub-let his lease, or any portion of the domain without the banction of the board, and at the expiration of his lease he is to hand o\ er the property securely fenced with puiiri posts, (G to the chain) and plain and barbed wire, the land to be in grass ami free from fern. Any buildings elected by the lessee can be lemoved by him at the cxphatton of his lease. The trustees have executed their trust faithfully, Avitli the money acciuing from rent (and which will be considerably augmented by beaiing interest) there will be a handsome sum at the expiration of the lease to lay out in ornamenting the domain, which will be a good recreation ground for the people of Te Awamutu. — (Ow n Correspondent.)