TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2114, 26 January 1886, Page 3

TE AWAMUTU.

THE COM) SEEKERS. •So far nothing lin.s been heaid of the pro.sl>ectorn rjjjco they went out, but it has boon said that "signs " of gold have boon found (not by one of them, however,) in the direction in which one of tl)O parties h going, but what these " signs" consist of I am not able to nay. So many reports of finds aro made that little attention is paid to any of them. THK COTTON MOTH. In my last letter a printer's error occurred. For "cotton moth" it road " codlin moth." However it served a good purpose, for it had the effect of producing a very clear and unmistakeable dNcription of the pest from " Orchardist," and a remedy for its ravages. Tho cotton moth, or more properly speaking its larva* have completely ruined tho cabbage and cauliflowers everywhere; only tho skeletons of the leaves are left, and young and old plants have suffered equally. THE CROP* AND THE WEATHER. In spite of tho long continued drought many of the paddocks of oats in the district will turn out very well, especially those that were sown early, and the wheat crop in general will be very good. lam often a>nu«ed at the varied views people take of the weather. I meet Mr Brown and ho saya " beautiful day, glorious weather," Mr Robinson says "dreadful weather, this heat is unbearable," Mr Jones saya " this weather will be the ruin of the farmers," and so on. Mr Brown has no crops or glass to spoil by the drought, and doubtless the warm sunny days arc beautiful so him, but it means serious loss to the majority of the community, for the potato crops will be spoiled, grass is getting very short, and the springs are drying up. CARBINB MATCH. The firing competition between tho Te Awamutu and Waiuku cavalry troops, which comes off about the 25th of next month, will be made the occasion of a couple of days' amusement. Besides tho shooting match there will bo rapidity firing contests, foot sports, and hor»e racing. On the evening of the first day there will be a dinner, ana on tho second evening a ball will beheld. LECTURE BY MR DKWSBURY. Another intellectual treat is in store for the people here. The Rev. Mr Dewsbury will give a lecture ne\t month on " Thomas Bftbmgton, first and last Baron Macatilay." That there will be a full house goes without saying. "TIT FOR TAT. I heard a pood story a short time ago, which could be well termed " the biter bit." In a certain town in this distiict live a jeweller and a shoemaker. The worker in precious metals at one time occupied the shop now occupied by the disciple of St. Crispin, and when vacating it for another left borne brass bar3— used for hanging watches on— behind him. (This by way of preface.) The shoemaker wanted to Bend a couple of copies of a weekly paper away by the San Francisco mail. He had only one, and on making enquiries di.«co\ered that the jeweller took tho paper. Accordingly he went to him and asked if he had read bis paper, and receiving a reply in the Affirmative asked if he would mind giving it to him as he wished to send it away by the mail. The jeweller said, Certainly, he could have the paper. The man got it, folded and addressed it, and took it out to the post office and posted it. The o*her watched him to the office and when he i came out said, "have you posted the paper," And when the man said yes, said "then I want sixpence from you." The shoemaker said " you have lost sixpence, for I would have paid a shilling if you had asked it." He paid the sixpence and went away. About a week after the jeweller went to the shoemaker's shop for his brass bars, and the latter before giving them up demanded half a crown for storage, reminding the generous hearted man that this was a return for the newspaper transaction. There was no getting out of it, so he paid the half-crown with the best grace he could. His first venture as a newspaper agent turned out most unprofitably for him. THE FORTHCOMING RACES. If the weather continues dry till the 29th, the race meeting on that day bids fair to be the most successful ever held in tho district The acceptances are good and with the low fares there will be a very large attendance of visitors from Auckland and Lower VVaikato. It is to be hoped for the sake of those who were so plucky as to pay the prices they did for the privileges that the day will be dry ;if it is they will make money. For cool effrontery commend me to the man who bid for the publioan's booth, and gave the name of a publican who never authorised him to make use of it, and in fact knew nothing of the affair. However, there was not much difficulty in disposing of it afterwards.— (Own Correspondent).