TE AWAMUTU NOTES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2209, 4 September 1886, Page 3

TE AWAMUTU NOTES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Mr Coatks is pushing ahead as fast as tho wet weather will allow with- the lino to Otorohanga ; the embankment over the Kawa B warn p is through, and he expects in about a fortnight to hnve the ballast engine at work, when the ballasting will be taken up at the point left off on this edge of the swamp. This swamp (which is about a mile across by the line) is an unusually deep one ; two sixteen-feet gas pipes joined end to end were pushed down by hand, when nothing more solid than a soft clay bottom was reached. Owing to the heavy and continuous rain, the water was backed up so much as to endanger tho embnnkxnent; a drain was cut through to let off the flood, when two chains of the earthworks were carried away ; this however has been repaired, and the work of laying the sleepers and rails will be proceeded with as *oon as the engine arrive*. It will be some little time however before everything will be completed to Otorohanga. Since Mr Coated undertook the work in tho swamp the embankment subsided to some extent ; this of course necessitated fresh earth being laid on, and may occur again, so that the line will not be complete till the permanent level of subsidence is reached. As outlets for the water two bridges were designed, which were shortened from the original plan on the score of economy, but it lias since been found that they are not sufficient, and another will have to be built, but as this will require cutting away some of the embankment it will not be done immediately, but must be done before the line can be handed over to the Government. The watershed area on the upper side of the line has, I believe, been estimated at fifteen square miles. This will give some idea of the enormous quantity of water which must find an outlet, and which is now three feet higher on tho upper than on the lower side of the line. The original estimate of earth for this swamp, I understand, was 10,000 yards, but 50,000 have already been required. It was said the work of lowering this formidable swamp by deepening the outlet, which is narrow, would not be of any great magnitude, but the natives object, as it would .spoil their eel-fishing grounds — not a great objection apparently to Europeans, but to the nath es, who stick tenaciously to their ancestral rights, it is so. Some unkind people have been heard to gay that the simple-minded, untutored children of nature have not used this fish-ing-ground for generations, and this handy objeotion'waß suggested to them by some wily pakehas for their own ends, and it was adopted by the Maoris for the mere sake of obstruction.. To those who know the plastic nature of the native mind, this must appear as a base calumny on them and the pakeha Maoris, who have always proved puch staunch friends of the Government in all their schemes for the advancement of civilisation. How unreasonably suspicious some people are.

Parliamentary Pakadox.— A standing committee formed of sitting members.

The good dye young— when the new moustache comes out red. Mr Silvester Davis address to the ratepayers of Hamilon appears in another column. . Yea !It is certainly true. Ask any of your friends who have purchased there. Garlick and Cranwell have numerous unasked for and very favourable commendations from country customers on their excellent packing of Furniture Crockery, and Glass, &c. Ladies and S'lemrn about to furnish should remember that Garlick and Cranwell's is TH« Cheap Furnishinr Wharfchouse of Auckland. Furniture to JuitTll classes; also Carpets, Floor Cloths and Si House Necessaries. If your new house is «Larlv Hnished. or, you are going to get mar?ed visU Garlick and Cranwell, Queen-street and'Lorne-street Auckland. Intending pur chien can haw a catalogu© «nt free.