GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA AND THE TAURANGA PEOPLE. [By New Chum].

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2091, 1 December 1885, Page 2

GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA AND THE TAURANGA PEOPLE. [By New Chum].

Now that (Jeoige Augustus has been and done the Lakes, ,md having: in theexcicise of his transcendent wisdom adopted tho Waikato mute, it is extiemely hard to tell what slup'3 tho fien/.y of the Tauianga people is likely to take in consequence. The much-tia\elled man of letters, the lion ot niodei n literature now doing the colonies, after much coi\ing and wheedling on the pait of tlie Auckl md and T unanga public consented (on the paj incut of a hbeial inducement) to ta\ our the Wonderland of New Zeal aid with a visit. Belies ing that an oppoitunity pi evented itself to gam a little popul irity for the Tauranga route to the Hot Like-, by obtaining a favourable mention in one of Mi tfala's laigely chculated letters, tlie Tauranga people, their woithy mayor, city fatheis, clene>, tailors, tinkers, and (loveimnent stipendiaues all put their heads togethei in .-oleum conclave to conspire towauls entiapping the noblo vi^itoi into mi unconscious pxtionaga of what i»genei ally admitted to bo the most execrable, inconvenient and expensive routt! to the lnteuor. Can any lational tnoit.il possibly conceive that a gentleman of Mi " Sala's undoubted penetration and foiethought could be .so successfully hoodwinked as to be indued to take a step which would so .seuously compromise hi-> le.putation as a traveller and a sensible mau? Tho thing is absolutely pieposteious 'in the face of it, and if Tauianga people think, the omniscience of the mayor notwithstanding, that all the tiav ellmg public of Now Zealand are as big fools as they are, they are veiy much inistiken, and the soonei they are made aware of the tmth the better foi all concerned. Of couise the fact that (looige Augustus S\la— the Pi nice of Wales or Captain Jackbon Barry for that matter — was about to visit the Hot Likes could never di-tinb the equanimity of the Waikato public. They know full well that nothing they tould do could m ike their route moie popular th.-n it is, m that anything tho despaiung public of T.mianga could be guilty of, however e\tia\agint or ridiculous, could m the slightest degree mteifeie with the well-established supiemacy of tins seductive highway. But I h.i\e always a sympathy for disappointed hopes, and my object in penning these few lines is more one of condolence than ridicule. Waikato could well afford to have done without the countenance or notice of a- Sain, but pool, obscure, backward, struggling, touiist-.«eeking Tauranga really wants a lift, and considering their (nesting supplications, then uniting piogrannnes, and other rediculouspicpaiatums of a princely charactei it was positively cruel of Mr Sala, to ignoie them. A fiiend of mine in Tauranga sends me the following draft of the Sala raception piogiamme, foi the non-cmying out of which Mr Sain is greatly to blame :—: — "The membois of the borough council attired in clean linen and shued, with the mayor, in civic robes and tron-eis, will pioceed on bo.nd tlie steanipr on anival, when the town clerk in evening di ess (b<m owed for the decision) will read the following addie.ss • —

To His Uo\ \l Hichnkss Geokoe Acc.isris, Piuvk or Jotuvvusrs. May it plc.ist your Highnes-. We the people of Tauranga heieby tender you our sinc'io welcome to this, the metropolis of Kew Zealmd. For many weeks ]>ast, Miice we learned of your arrival on tho shote* of this pio.speiom colony, we h.i'.o been looking forward to your advent in our midst; wo have been anxiously awaiting tho welcome tidings of youi generous intention to visit us ; a fond hope'has been cherished m the breasts of our people, the same breasts w Inch now throb with pleasure and gratitudj on this tho greatest and most menu rable, day of om existence. We had with delight your piesence in oiu midst. We thank, fiom the veiy bottom of our hearts, the great mind which has directed youi steps tow'aids us, and are proud to acknowledge that with your anival comes the happiest moment; of our lives. Trusting that you may leave our town impressed with its great commercial importance, its capacious haibour as a haven for the, naval foices of the united Empire, of our cultivated paradises as the future supply stores of the Southern Hemispheie, nnd last, but not least, of the civility And urbanity of our people, and the, all.nnpoitant fact that travellers to tho Lake Country can, on due notice, bo accommodated with cloan bedi and good meals at the reasonable and rospectablo h'miro of Is 6d a head, We beg to subscnbe ourselves, your Highness's humble, devoted and suppliant tuft-

huuteis, Thk Pkoi'le or Talrvnga. At this stage of th« proceedings the band is to stiiko up the "To Demii 1' followed by the cheers of tho populace for his Serene Highness the Pi nice of Journalists, the volunteeis (musteied in full foico to the tune of twelve men and fouiteen officer") will fire a royal salute, and tho procession foi ining in the following order shall proceed tinough tho town to the local boaiding house .—The mayor, in civic lobes, attended by the beadle, and the members of tho Boiough Council will head the procession, on foot. Following on the heels of the foiegomg dignitanes comes an imposing black chaiger (kindly lent by the undeitaker) onsluouded in a funeral pall, astude of which .sits the Pnnce of Journalists. Then follows tho local band playing "Sco the Counseling Hero Comes, m the wake of which is a number of banner-benreis flaunting thp significant insciiptions, "Sala for Fj\er," "Advance Tauianga," "The pen is mightier than tho sword," &c, &c. The tail of the procession will be made up as follows :—Tho volunteers marching two deep; the clnldien of the public school diessed in white and singing "Sala is our light, our hope ' to tho tune of " God bless tho Pi nice of Wales " ; the local Salvation Aimy corps, alternating with the secular melody entitled "Yankee Doodle;" the nieuibeisof tho Touiibt Fleecing Association ; the mombeis of tho Tourist Washerwomen's and Linen'Ciibbing Socioty, and, bunging up tho lear, the inmates of tho local Charitable Atd Asylum. On arrival at tho boarding-house Mr Sala. at tho iequest of tho mayor, will address the procos-

aion, on the receipt of which they will be e\pccted to disper-so quietly to their r»Hpectne homo*."