TE AWAMUTU GOSSIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1998, 28 April 1885, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU GOSSIP.

A mkktixo of the mombois of the libinry committee was convened by post card the other night, but there was not a sufficient number of members piesont to do any bustnes«. To nso the woid "quorum" would be doomed by some »f my admirers a-, a. bit of literary rot on my part, for the term, in their sublime estimation, would bo considered beyond the pale of my cognitive alphabet— and I like to humour them, you know, and gain the delightful smile of their approbation. The library, from the infant it was, is growing into a 'sturdy, chubby child. From its cradle a literary branch has buist forth in all the bloom of " Punch, ' "Graphic," "Public Opinion," and other periodicals, that will, if only by the act of looking at the pictures in, let alone reading, them, make the privileged beholders more liberal and jolly, and operate as an antidote to tho sickening loai of local " pollytricks " they stagger under. The Rink Club was opened for the soaboii last week, and merry lads and lasses, and men and women too, glided along the slippery floor amid laugh and shout and tumble. Now and then timid disciples of the treacherous rollers, vainly endeavouring to grasp nothing, fell sprawling on tho floor, or assumed an involuntary sitting position, with such hastinevi as to neaily jerk their heads off, — their inherited stiffncckednesH preventing tho calamity. The successful tencierera for the erection of Lewis's new hotel, were Thomas and Maunders of Kihikihi. Tho amount is nearly £1100. The nomadic public will be glad when the work is finished, for accommodation hero is very limited, and so is Bacchanalian civility. Other houseß, shops and stores are exposing their nakedness and leisurely dressing themselves in the hioad daylight. Their callow appearance will soon bo coveted witli a tint of decorating beauty, and To Awaniutu will be moie imposing than it was befoie. Proud in tho splendour of her buildings, her piklo will unchallenged, and tho position of commercial iinpoituice who assumes will be granted to her as her duo. I give no prai-so to tlio aicliitcct of those stiucturcs, for tho knowledge that he created— l say created, for a sheet of paper, pencil, and rule virtually amount to nothing— them in embryo, and the pleasure ho is bound to fdol as they gradually riso, monumental to his ability, must transcend any eulogy of mine, and reward him with a groater reward than a whole column, let alone a paragiaph could afford. Tho enrollment of the Militia is inspiring 1

such annlitaiy aidour in the people, that tin* lounging, shuffling gait of peaceful bucolic puisiuts now assumes the stiffne-s of a\\ kv\ aid squad dull, and the eniolled potion of tlio inhabitants aie constantly p<n forming tlie feat of "changing step'" in the public streets. They walk along, w lien all of a Midden tliey make a spasmodic, set t >-paitner soit of movement, and then walk on niarchingly until thoy find it necessary to change step again. My militaiy .11 dour gushingly bmsts forth in the following epigiammatic fashion :—: — Ths Russian Bear went growling round, To tantalize the Lion ; The British Lion gave .1 snap, Now Bruin's head's in Lion. Near Te Awamutu «i battle was once fought between the M.ioiis and Europeans, called 111 history the B ittle of Ringioohia. In a fow days another battle called by the same name is to be fought on the same classic ground, with all the bitterness of the former one, but it is to be hoped without the bloodshed. The election of members for the highway boaid— which I thought the Government was going to abolish, consigning it with all other boards to the oblivion they deserve, and which was sanctioned to be done away with at a public meeting of ratepayers — is to take place early next month, and th.it institution is going to luxuriate greener than ever. Party feeling inns high, and the milking of U>e proverbial cow is to be debated for, canvassed for, bounced for, and politically fought for. Thft subject is unpleasant foi me to wnto about. I cannot knock any fun out of it, and to pander to a vicious taste for abuse is uofc on my card. I will meiely say, if the R uigiaohia ratepayn .s, who are represented by the fignvntwe cow, want to bo milked and will stand to be milked, by all means milk them, and then !>»iir out tho milk on the road^ of the dv^trict until it verily becomes a land noted for its thoroughfare* and tho crentn'meii iri lU milky ways. If tho ratepayers do not desire a road board, Jot them merge their (lihtrict in the county council, or else, if they can't live without distiict selfishness, let them split and have a board for e^ery lane in their riding, and exeiciso their inventive ingenuity by levying rates to carry on business ; it will keep them at home busy. Cheap bread is in everybody's line but the bakers, and when one of the doughy knight's lowei 3 the prince of biead, he becomes a public benefactor indeed. Gieat arj kings and queens and bishops and curates, but gi eater far th in these is the loyal— loyal unto righteousness — baker who gives the hungry public bread to eat, at the lowest leinunerativo price. The wave of reduction has not 1 cached here yet, and I sinceiply hope tho wave of threatening war behind it will not overtake and absorb it. ______^_ — _ Bill\.