TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1791, 29 December 1883, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

CHIUSniAS DAY, C'HUKOH .SERVICE AT ST. JOHNS.' A full clioral service was held in the church on the evening of Christmas Day. The singing was very good indeed, evincing the caiefn] instruction given by the Rev. Mr Phillip;-. The anthem selected was. "I bring you glad tiding.-." The Rev. gentleman pi eached a vei y impi essi vesermon from Zechariah, !)-(). " Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion," which was listened to with the most piofound attention. At the cose of the service the choir sang the Te ])eum. The floral decorations in the chmch were veiy good, flower.s and wi oaths being tastefully arranged around the reading desk, communion rails, the pillar of the lectern, and the pews. FESTIVITIES. Christmastide the season of festivity in the old country passed off very quietly here, so quietly indeed, that from outwaid appearance no one would think it Christmas time. Our Maori friends however, took advantage of the season to enjoy themselves after the manner of Emopeans. The natives living at Pekapekarau a kainga within a mile and a half of Te Awamutu invited a large number of their f i iends and Europeans to accept of their- hospitality, the invitation was accepted by about two hundred natives and a few Europeans. The hosts had several long tables which were well laden with good things, roast bsef and plum puddings in galore, and though there was plenty of liquor the guests behaved in a most orderly manner. After dinner sports were got up for the amusement of the visitors. These reunions tend to promote kindliness and good feeling between the two races. Everyone was pleased t>> see the natives enjoying themselves ii so harmless and innocent a manner. MISCELLANEOUS. The season for big gooseberries having arrived, a few hints to farmers about growing that very profitable fruit may not be out of place. I saw by one of the papeis that a nobleman in England is about to plant a large extent of his property with goosebei ries and other fruit trees. As the lent rolls decrease the gentry are compelled to turn their attention to making their estates pay them in some other way, and apparently the most profitable is by growing fruit for the mai ket. Home of our own settleis have set us a .similar example. Mention was made in the Herald of some very large gooseberries grown by Major Jackson, and which were on view in the shop' of one of the Auckland fruiterers. That gentleman must have got a good return from his garden this year, as he has sent large quantities of this fruit to town. If some of our farmers would, like him, turn their attention to growing fruit for the mai ket it would materially increase their incomes. Stiawberries and gooseberries giow most luxuriently heie in Waikato, and with tlie rapidly increasing population of Auckland a ready market could be found for the^e fruits. On Friday last 10 men of the Te Awamutu Cavalry, and an equal number of the A.C. stationed at Alexandra met on the Te Awamutu rifle range to fire a friendly match. The ranges were 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards. The match commenced soon •after 10 a.m. in a drizzling rain, which .soon increased to a heavy down pour. The firing at the 200 yard range was completed when both parties agieed that the match should be a draw. The team meet again ' to fire another match to-day, this time on the Alexandra range. In spite of the rain some very good shooting was made by the cavalry. The best shots of the Alexandra detachment of A.C. were not present, but are expected to be to-day. The cavalry have larely been beaten in rifle matches. They will have good marksmen against them to-day, so they must look to their laurels.

MEETING OK RATEPAYERS. A meeting of ratepayers was held in the Public Hall on Saturday last, at 7 p.m., to discuss the advisability of closing certain roads, and iilso to take into consideration any other matters which might be brought before themeeting. There wasa fair attendance of settlers, and Mr Sloane, chairman of the Rangiaohia Highway Board, was in the chair. It was agreed that the roads published in The Waikato Times be closed. A little discussion ensued on the utility or otherwise of county councils. The chairman addressed the meeting. He said : I tried to hang up the act by a vote of the majority of the ratepayers, but failed to do so., He advocated the abolition ,of either the road boards or the county councils, and said the whole of the works in the district should be 1 handed over to the ( council. They (the council) appropriated our license fees and land fund, 'and the 'proceeds Were spent in 1 Ngaruawahia, Whatawhata and 1 other districts. -Several boards said, Let u give the county "ouncils a show, and we, did so, but.now the tyirden of tipnis becoming greater,' than we "can bear, and we are of opinion.that the road board or council ought to be abolished at once, 01 .As-goon as possible." r No discussion of any clmportance"beih"gieHcTtea,fcthl usual: vote, of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to aclose. „,:. V m4^J"(^"|' ! /.>L ' y " —..* i r i, 'LltfE'iN THfEBuSH—THEJrANIi'NoW;--"tffW'generally^up^osed thaftri theWsh'We.h'av* ■Ko put up with many Misco^tnfort Sr'andi privation.' in the shape ot food. ""JTbrmerly itLwaa sp f but now, thank's to' T, B. 'Hu.lv who, has'himsel dwelt' in'We'bush, If food *do«Jsf Consist 'chiefly p: tinned.nioatsihis CoLokxAL SAUCUigtves'^to their ■-■« nidst"deTectaJ)le i flaY9urJni»lc|iijC' th,em/as \vel •of tjic^platnest: food most ei<jpyabl^;,and, insteac is h£rd 'biscuits aiidjindigcstiole damper his lir PROYEp'CQLONiAL BAKING jth< very best ;bread,t.scoj|esiycikes>iapd -pistTyUmi