TE AWAMUTU GOSSIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2019, 16 June 1885, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU GOSSIP.

Thk unanimous \erdict of the Press thioughout the colony on the Governor 'a Speech is, dissatisfaction with it. Some journals speak of it as benevolent examiner* would of a combined effort of scholars in the lowest standard, but I compaic it to a midshipman's chest, everything in it, but, on account of iti puz/ling, I might say diplomatic disordei, nothing^ in it h available or easily to be got at. It is a beautiful composition, in fact a masterstroke of ambiguous emptiness and valuable for its interesting vagueness. But maybe in the middle of party intrigue tho thing wa> read that ought not to have been lead, and the Ministry accepts the situation .is the best one under the circumst.mCLN. Ladies import thuirsoci.il fashions from the " dear old country,' 1 ami I would not be surprised to see " the mighty honourable* " of New Zealand " fatherlandingly " foltow the ladies' lead, and go in for a little political " bear baiting."' It would do the country good and stir up the idle wealth it br.ijjs of possessing. Tho present nativo policy is go.)d— utopianly good. Its theory's very nice, but practically 'ml,' It needs a Johnny Bryce to work a Bijce's Bill. The editor of the Wellington Evening Press comes down hot on tho Colonial Financier. He says: — "This man, this *.une Sir Julius Vogel, this Colonial Financier, whose name and career are tho sport of the most trenchant public writer* on commercial linuioialit} in London, darts to sneer at u-. colonists ' with offensive sarcasm. Su Julius Vogel has done more for New Zealand than the editor of the Press e\er e\ en dreamt of in an afternoon nap m bis sanctum, and between the lines of his bittei article I can discern a dirge of disappointment at his own unsuccessful attempts, chorused with a discordant emy for the pie eminent success of the better man lie abuses. But there, that is surely political gos«ip enough for one letter. The railway works are progressing rapidly, and another township, composed of raupo, corrugated iron and calico, has sprung up near the station— the suburban cuiva.s-town of Te Awamutn. Tenders for the construction of the new bridge over the Puniu will be called for w itlim ten days. Contractors from Auckland have conic up to inspect a lull about 30 miles from here, tin "iigh which a tunnel is to bo made. Instead of the giand iron girder bridge, t common wooden one u> to be erected ever the Mangapiko. The streets of the town are being roformed and gravelled, and beautiful side walks niaile that are usurped by self-im-portant— equesti ians. The conductor pof tho private carriages of the much-l«\ed little desimtic plagues of domestic Te Awa • mutu frmvningly protest at the ungallan t usurpation. Building operations are going on briskly, but have not yet reached that architectural baauty they must assume before I can elaborately describe them. Business is lively, and those engaged in it livelier. Another roaring tiro took place in tho centre of To Awamutu the other day. A long wooden bo\ was filled with inflammable matter, plentiously saturated with kerosene, then stood on its end and deliberately set hre to. The flames roared up the hollow-, monument-like pile, and sprang out of its top like a fiery "Jack in the bo\." Mr Owen, after some unsuccessful attempts, baptised and diowned it, by throwing upon it aud breaking a couple of bottles of Hardens Fire Kxtinguisher. The thirsty spiiit of the fire guzzled up the spirits contained m the " Grenade V and becoming intoxicnted and helpless, sank into quiescent hnnnle^suess and went out. Tha " Star" Grenade is ornamental, and it could be placed by the '• boss ' of the household on tho mantlepiece m readiness foi a case of emergency. The " MissuV of the domestic hearth must let it alone, and n\ eicomc her terror of it a.s an infernal machine, for should a necessity occur for masculine lips to ask in the dead of night, " Wheie is the Grenade, my dear'" and the teriihed answer be, "don't know, dialing ! the baby had it last," uoful will be tho future happiness of that family, when terror h<vs subsided and alt its Lai eh and Penates burnt to ashes, through tho matronly carelessness of the " Missus," who, after the fire, will suddenly recollect she had, with tiue feminine t<tcl, placed the Grenade right up on the top of a window cornice to keep it out of the way of the childien — and even body else. The nights are fiosty, my hands benumbed, trie ink fioien, the fire out, tho caudle done, and so am I. BIIXT.

Mr T. (i. S.uides is prepaied to ad*i*e intending tenderers for the tunnel contiact Ninth Island Tiunk Railway.;