OTOROHANGA GOSSIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2275, 8 February 1887, Page 2

OTOROHANGA GOSSIP.

This place is looking up with its quickly, progressing station, goods-shed, wateringplatform, and coal house. Mr Hales was here the other day, and passed the first section of the Te AwainutuPuniu railway as fit for traffic. Messrs Coates and Metcalfe are getting on finely with the Te Kuiti section, and very soon the sub-contractors will start laying , the permanent way. Much speculation is rife as to who will be the successful tenderers for the Watate section.

A serious accident happened on Mr A. Ormsby's contract the other day. It was occasioned by a fall of earth that smashed a dray, nearly killed a hor-e, and broke a native's leg. I give the item as it was given to me, and analyse it as meaning that more importance was attached to the broken dray, nearly killed horse, than was to the poor suffering sorrowful Maori. But, such is life ! Dr. Pearman, of Te Awaniutu, was on the spot a few hours after the accident, and he quickly set the broken limb and did all that he could to ease the sufferings of the unfortunate native.

The tunnel contractor, on account of the low state of the river, has let by contract several hundred tons of stuff for carriage to Kuiti and the tunnel. There was quite a fleet of barges engaged in transport work on the river, but now they are moored side by side, calmly resting btinfath the willows waiting for the river to rise. To give some idea of the work done by these boats I may state that the quantity of stuff taken from here by them, from October 20th to December 13th, 188G, am mnted to 51 tons 2uwt. 2qr*. 51bs., all delivered correctly and in good order. The natives who work these crafts are first-class boats men, arid when it is understood that these barges—whose cargoes average two tons and a-half—have to be poled against the stream up the l'iver a considerable number of miles, I think it must be allowed that they are labourers worthy of their hire. One boat, the largest, has four of a crew, arid'all the others three.

Before accommodation houses wnro started, bachelorism-; was the order of t.'ie day. The "frying pan " and " billy " were the two most important cooking utensils. Domestic economy was not muchly studied. Potatoes were peeled with a thick liberality that would .shock the thin paring deftness of feminine "runga-rungas." That's Maori for fingers— but there, I pay to be taught, and I am not going to give lessons in the language gratis. Grease affectionately embraced everything, and caused a stickiness to permeate local society oozing gratifying-

Te Kuiti seems to bo the place for future speculation. Two brewers and a local boarding-house keeper are extending their commercial instinct by forwarding timber there for building purposes. The brewers will no doubt make fine restaurant keepers, and all three will strive to fatten their patrons at cheapest rates. Humming hop beer will be a staple commodity. The pro. tem. Maori boniface says business does not pay, and that his late experience in grog selling introduced him into society too expensive for his primi tive tastes, so he has given it up for ever, or until he becomes rich enough to stand it. The policeman at Kuiti is here, there and everywhere, always on the " qui vive " for the apprehension of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well honestly.

This country is beautifully adapted for sand-flies and mo.squitos. The former worry humanity in the daytime, and the latter console it at night. There, I teel as if I could'nt write for "sour apples," so I'll knock off. —Yours perspiringly uncomfortable Billy. N.B.—Hop beer is the national beverage. Beer without hops don't go down at all. Billy.