TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Te Aroha, Monday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1856, 29 May 1884, Page 2

TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Te Aroha, Monday.

One of the most enjoyable social gatherings that lias yet been held here took place on Wednesday evening last, when theie was a large muster of members of the Presbyterian body resident in this and the surrounding districts, together with a number of friends connected with other denominations, the occasion of the meeting being the departure from the district of the Rev. \V. Ferguson. There weie nearly a hundred persons present, and, as is usual in such cases, a large proport'on were ladies, sosne of whom travelled a considerable distance to bid farewell to the departing minister and to take a part in the enjoyments of the evening. The proceedings were of a verp pleasing kind and had none of the milk-and-materiness which, as a rule, characterises church soirees and tea meetings. Of the stereotyped kind of speecli making there was very little, the pi availing taste lying more in the direction of mild fi\sti\ iry. Mu&ic and dancing were kept up with much spirit for a few hours, to the evident gratification of all present, and the pleasures of the evening were largely enhanced by an. abundance of refreshments temptingly displayed on side tables and dispensed throughout the evening by the presiding ladies with genial hospitality. Although everything was conducted with the | utmoat propriety and decorum, there was I almost an entire absence ot the restraint observable on such occasions, and it is seldom that a gathei ing of the kind has afforded so much genuine pleasure to those assembled as was the case on the evening referred to. Mr Ferguson left for Auckland on Fiiday, canying with him the good wishes of nearly everyone here. The first football match in which our local' players have been engaged this season came off on Saturday on the Parawai ground at the Thames. The A roha team comprised Verity (captain), Jones, Trude, JHinton, ParUer, Purdie, Gordon, MoFarl.uie, Hawkins. O'Shea, Sheehan, WhitehouMj, Lynch, Ellis, and Jeffrey. The Thames players were Tregonning (captain), -pencer, Murray, Ogle, Gillies, McGtegor, Christif, Rae, Johnston, Douglas, Anderson, Hall, Ngare, Watcna and Aperahama. In weight and strength the Aroha men greatly surpassed their opponents, and had the game been prolonged, these qualities would in all probability ha\e enabled them to bear offthe laurels, but the time was up before victory could be secured, and the match resulted in a draw, the advantages being slightly on the side of the up-country men. This is the third time the clubs have met, and on each occasion with the same lesult. Another match between them has been arranged to come off here in a fortnight or three weeks, and as each side is eager for the fray, some hot work may be looked for. Mr Ebrenfried, of the Thames, has given a silver cup of the value of £2.5 to be played for by the two clubs. The conditions are not yet arranged, but the anxiety to become possessors of it will doubtless inspire each team with inct eased determination, and add much to th* 1 interest of the coming match. Although the wet season has hardly yet set in, rain has, during the last week or two, been of more frequent occurrence than formerly, and we are now having a foretaste of the discomforts of winter in the shape of muddy roads and other disagreeables. Fortunately, good use was made of the fine weather to put our main thoroughfare, that between the two townships, in good repair, and wheel traffic which last winter was almost an impossibility will now be carried on without interruption. There is nothing of much importance to chronicle in the shape of mining news. The Diamond Gully claim continues to produce excellent stone from the winze in the low level, and the New Find is also keeping up its reputation. The new low drive in the latter claim is expected to b« in to the reef in about a week, and from the excellent prospects that are still being got in sinking from the level above, it is confidently expected that good quartz will be met with as soon as the lode is cut below. Much interest is manifested here in the success of the new " Elephant " crusher just tried at the Thames, and if all that is said about it prove true, there can be no doubt that it will be of immense benefit to this field.