TE AWAMUTU GOSSIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2007, 19 May 1885, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU GOSSIP.

In a few more days tho anmversaiy of tho birthday of om Sovereign Lady Queen Victon.i will come lound. In .ill paits of the woild that constitutional affection foi gieatness and goodness which annually gushes from the hearts i)f a loving people will again Imist toith in all the loyalty of congiatul.itory homage. The degiees of fondni % s-> felt for Hei Majesty will be as otfu->ive, teinpeiate, or phlegmatic as the loyalty of that fondness will Le influencod bv climatic c>cli*s ; but the inhabitants of eveiyzone will honour her natal day m such a manner as to best express the thank fill gladness of their hearts for anothei opportunity of doing so. Tennyson, m bis dedication of the " Idyls of the King-, " to the Queen, has nobly ex pressed the affec tionate desiie of every Briton— not only of every Briton, but also of those who aro, even in the remotest degree, connected \\ ith " the right little, tight little island." The first line refers to Good Piince Albert :— " May His love, unseen, but felt, oeis-hadovv thee, The love of all Thy sons encompass thee, The love of all Thy daughters eheiish thee, The love of all Thy people comfort thee Till God's love sets Thee at his side again." No birthday card can excel the simple one millions of hearts will .send forth us they blend together and joyfully sing — " God bless and save our Gracious Queen." My fealty paid, now to review <i few local items of general interest. One of the officers of the Volunteer Cavahy kindly showed me a splendid photograph of the troop. The major and captain are in the foreground, and are faithfully icprcsented in nil the pride of uniform and cncum-'t.uico of wji on h<>i-<e-back. The tioop is in a line behind them, and their imposing appearance gives the picture an effect of collective importance as awe-inspiring as it is martial. S )ine of those pet-ons who take a deep mteiest in the volunteer service aie endeavouung to revivify the custom of rewarding military services vvith grants of land. Tho idea is good and popular, and looking at it in its broad sense, I think the State would be v\ i»e to do so. Encourage volunteering by increasing the number and value of capitation grants, aud also adopt a scale of reward for terms of service, th.it reward to consist of grants of land. The volunteer organisation is patriotic and of much national importance, and as such, it ought to receive the fostering care of a generous government. The Public Hall was ciowded with rinkist-, the othei night, and the song of the rollers rumbled thunderingly. The work on tli > railway is progressing slowly. Lots of men aic knocking about the town watting for fresh contracts to start. A case of rowdy drunkenness occurred here on Saturday night. As the people are peacefully inclined, and as an influx of strangci.s is sure to bo attracted hero by railway works, 1 think a constable ought to be drafted heie to assist the sergeant in keeping 01 der ; but dare say the authorities are fully cognisant of tho necesnity for increased police protection here, and are awaiting an opportunity to supply it. The iron girder lattice bridge, proposed to be erected across the Mangapiko, the royal bridge of Puniu, and thn additions to the Post Office, still remain, as they beautifully appeared on "paper." The shooting season is languishing. Smiling sportmen go out in the morning with an empty bag, and return in the evening smileless and gameless. Birds aio shy aud feathers scarce. The gravelling of the roads in tho aristocratic east end of To Awamutu is progressing '•grittingly." The doings of the Hangiaohia Highway Boards— old and new— may be likened into a pramo of euchre, and, as the cuds now stand, the " old party " is bound to be euchred. The illiberal groove the local politicians govel in has decome so worn, c.ived in, ami deep, that nothing short of an e.uthquake will hoist them out of it. The eiuption, to be effectual, must be speedy, or the brightness of local politics will be tarnished for ever. Woodyears ciicus was well patronized and the piogianune of peifoimance was vvoithy the pationage. Billy.

A WKsr Viiu.ima. man's genius has developed in the direction of inventing a cattle shed to be used in pastures as a tempotaiy shelter, which is so conatiucted on a pivot that the wind turns it at will and makes it a secure shelter foi cattle in a storm. A I'oi'LTKY raiser who condemns the incubator in the Rural New Yorker advocates " bunging chickens up by hand." He places each brood in a small box as soon as they are hatched, and allows them no food for one day. As they increase in si/.e he puts them in larger boxes, and finally allows them to run in a small yard. His hctn often hatch four settings of in succession. List of visiton to the Aroha Baths lint week .—Mr Cosser, Mr Potkcthley, Mr C. McLean, Mr A. G. Webb, Mi Clarnett, Mr Lynn, Mr and Mrs (Jox, Mrs Leys and daughter, Mi«s (Kley, Mr Fonton, Mr Hart, Mr Giant, Mi Wcnton, Mis Ilott, sen., Mr C. .T. Pair, C.ipt. Lindfeis, Mm Laybourn, Mr K. Clurudge, Mr Wykes, Auckland; Mrs CurtK Inspector Kiely, Mr Wlutehouse, Mr Little, Mr Pony, Mr Kennck, K.M., Mr Maxwell, Mr* McK.iy, Thamo«; Miss Law, J)unodin; Dr. Cau>y, Mr T. Holloway, Hamilton; Mr ]). McDougall and servant, Queensland ; Mr Olaike, Tauranga ; Mr McGregor Hay, Mr R. Love, Waikato ; Mr Claik, California; Mr Hutching*, Cambridge ; Mi Vause, Oni'hunga; Roy. B. Culiimn, Sydney; Mrs Winter, (Queensland ; ote, etc. 'liik L.ll ho^ an M.l' — An M.P. deploring th« evil effects of London habits on the health, said that were it not for the Amcru an Co'i Hop Hitters he could not lire through with the irregular hours ho wis forced to ke*>. Said he • "As soon <is I feel weak and exhausted from lone night sessions anil mi'als at lrro({i»lar hours, I resort to ray Hop Bitters instead of stimulants. They regulate my bowol» and keep my *ppetitr r>ood, my brain clear, and ray strength and health are preswyed." feet.