TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1889, 14 August 1884, Page 3

TE AWAMUTU.

This district is getting an unenviable notoriety for accidents. The late sad death is the third iri " ,leSs^ than A year from guns alone. Besides thesp, "there were two gun accidents which, fortunately, did not terminate fatally;. The death of the poor lad, which has been recorded, was caused by a mistake which has frequently been made by men who have handled guns all their lives ; that is, pulling the wrong trigger while holding the hammer of the opposite barrel. The sadjevent has cast a gloom over the disttict ; everyone sympathises sincerely with the parents in their bereavement* It is a great pity there is no law to compel owners of property to clear their land of fui/e. Home of the town allotments heie are quite overgrown with it. It spieads rapidly on to adjoining properties, but the danger does not end here, for if a spark should fall among it in dry weather a great deal of loss would result, foi nothing would save the houses built on adjoining pioperties. These allot ments are an eje-sore in the place. If people invest in town property as a speculation, they should at least take cato that their neighbouis' propeities aie not endangerered by their neglect. Now that the elections are ovu\ the place has returned to its normal state ot quietude. We aie anxiously waiting the news of the formation of the new Ministry, as doubtless the fate of the main trunk line will depend on the preponderance of Southern influence in the Cabinet. The natives are anxious to know how Mi Bryce's Land Bill will fare. The majoiity are not in love with the proposal of the Government to pay down one third of the purchase money of the land and invest the balance for them. They resent the idea that they are not capable of looking after then money themselves. There is no doubt that many of them would squander it, but many moie would take good care of it. This sort of thing sounds very nice in theory, but when it conies to be put in pwictice it will be found not to woik so easily. The olau&e (it such clause exist) which pi o\ ides that the majoiity of ow neib can sell a block in opposition to the wishes ot the minoiity, is extremely objectionable to them, and though the wholesale monopoly ot land is not appi os ed of by most people, I am afi aid it is too late in the day to put a stop to it, and in the end the (joveiument will piobably have to make the best of it by providing ample reseives for the natives, and let whoever will buy the land. Tdwhiao has been having a good time in London. He has been lionised to his heait's content, and, shades of Royalty ! occupied the royal box at Druiy Lane Theatre ; ho and his suite occupied seats in the "distinguished stiangeis" gallery in the HoubC of Commons. His majesty was &o plagued by \ isitors that he wished it to be understood he would give no moi c audiences to anyone unless they pievionsly addiessed themselves through Maior Te Wheoro. Altogether Tawhiao has a pioper conception of his kingly dignity. It is just as well he should make the most of if, for it cannot last much longer. When the "hon horse" tiavcls thiough his tenitory hisauthoiity will be a thing of the past. The proposed altetation in the railway time-table is not at all acceptable to the public in this disti ict. It will probably suit :i few business people to have a few hours longer in Auckland before the tiain leaves, but to the majoiity of people it will be a very unwelcome change, for the mail cannot be delivered the evening it anhes, and people must wait till the following morning for their letters. Atpie&ent letteis can be leplitd to by 1 etui n mail, but that will be out of the question w hen the change is effected. It would suit business people just as well if the train left here at S instead of 9 40. Of course, this would not suit for shipping cattle and she-ep, as people from a distance could not possibly get here in time, but that difhoulty could be overcome by running a cattle train, say twice a week. Large numbers ot cattle and sheep aie sent fiom here every week, quite sufficient with what are sent from other stations to warrant a tiain for that pui pose being put on. The latest frerk of the depaitment is to iaise the freight on agi icultuial implements, and chaige tor 120 miles on paicels. Over 100 miles is to be charged 120, and that is the cliaige on paicels to this station, butasTe Awamutu is only 99 miles, 08 chains fiom Auckland, it is very extraoidinaiy that the race for the greater distance should be imposed. The tanff is fe.u fully and wondei fully made. — (Own Coi respondent.)