OTOROHANGA GOSSIP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2283, 26 February 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

OTOROHANGA GOSSIP.

Thk people here are languishing in a " simmer "of perspiration. No sooner has one mopped up the beady drops of sweat and polished his countenance ruddily dry, when others bubble forth, impatient to redecorate it with scintillating jewels of liquidity. Such excessive evaporation

necessitates liquid consumption ; therefore all who can swallow guzzle the pretty drinks of teetotal approbation, proud of tho virtue they exercise in abstaining from alcoholic beverages which they canuot proeuro, for communication with civilisation is too erratic for the proper ordering of supplies. Much " impotent " anger is felt by contractors and others who are put to groat inconvenience, as well as pecuniary loss, by the extraordinary delay of goods, plant, material, horse feed, &e., at the Te Awamutu station. Although tho line from that place to this is not officially opened, it seems outrageous for goods, &c., to bo indefinitely detained there, subject to the "lion pro bono publico " impulses of those who

are appointed to further the legitimate in

terest of each section of the community, and by so doing connect them in one grand whole of prosperous progression. Tho "powers that be" have studied and successfully solved the abstruse problem ot "knowing how not to do a thing," and their autocratic solution of the vexed question still greater vexes. The reason rumour assigns for the nonarrival of a train hero is "want of water for tho engine." There is plenty of water in tho Government well hero, and the tank* put up for the purpose of watering the engine are full to overflowing. Offers were even made to water the thirsty "iron horse," by individuals who would have dona it free, gratis, or for what the little boy "shot "at. Of course, tho line is not yet open, and comment may be deemed impertinent, but when "golden butter" froin tho famed dairies of Waikato is kept so long at Te Awaniutu that on delivery here, it greets the vision " oilily " and offends the' sense of small with its strong rancidity,

surely it is time to sing out in protest. This place means to cry out loudly when ever it is hurt, for in it not the primitive capital of the only portion of New Zealand as yet unencumbered with mortgage or loan, and the only part that can " cock it* beaver" in its proud virginity of innocency of debt. Even the aboriginal chiefs, whom a kind Government cherishes, forgetting their gratitude in the inconvenience they undergo, express their displeasure by gloomily saying, "No good that! Kapai te train." Telegram?, letters and petitions avail not, and the murmurs of the people are unheeded.

The Rev, Father Luck has been invited by tho men to visit them at their works on the line. He arrived on Friday evening last, and went on up tho line the next morning. Some time ago he rode up to tho tunnel and ministered to a large congregation there, several of whom have expressed the wish that he will quickly come again. To Father Luck belongs the honour of being the first ordained minister who has preached the " good news of glad tidings " at tho tunnel, and I do not think I shall be contradicted if I name hiiri as being the only clergyman—excepting oldtime missionaries, to whom all credit is due —who has ever preached the "Word of God "in the King Country. Ho held mass

at the Kutni on Sunday last. I wonder if it would be deemed " mal-apropos" to quote the following injunction -for the benefit of whom it may concern, "Go ye and do likewise!"

Business here is dull, and "natna," that is credit, necessitates an extensive use of pens, ink and paper. Ledger entries, lam inclined to think are in some cases as fol-

lows : —" Johnny the half-caste," "Tom's wife," "Mary, with shark's'tooth," "Man, on line," "One-eyed Sam," "Greenstone George," &c., but I must not forget to say that very few natives' accounts are left very long unpaid. Money here is scarce, and the grip on it tight. Yankee-grabbing, only for matches though, is a favourite pastime of the people, and it is indulged in by them with earnestness, laughter, verbosity and smoking.

Music, of the tin-dish sort, often agitates the air with the melody of its " runic tatoo." The girls chant and dance to it, assuming postures that certainly are a credit to their suppleness, although in my eyes,- detracting much from the gracefulness of their womanhood. But tastes differ, as the old lady remarked when she kissed her cow. The old lady was light. She thought of milk, cream and golden butter, and in the fulness of her gratitude she kissed the producer of these bounties. Often' quadrupeds are more worthy affectionate attention than bipod humanity, for tho instinct of the former is generally good when not abused, while the reason of the latter often acts as if it was inferior to tho former.

The, township was placarded with Mr J. I). Foley's posters, and Wednesday night last was looked forward to with eye-spark-ling anticipations of pleasure. All hopes were doomed to disappointment for tho renowned J. D. Foley came not. Mr Foley deceived this mighty "city,"and its inhabitants indulged in the folly of being petulant with Foley. They were only petulant with him, but wrathfully angry with the railway people for not fetching him on.

I notice Kihikihi is preparing for another battle for another bridge. I hope she will get it without fighting, for her interests are largely connected with this place, and easy communication with her is badly needed. Subscription lists were drawn out for the purpose of collecting money to make a horse track, that would reduce the distance from this place to it, to eleven miles. Tho affair seems to have come to nought, for no mention is now made of it. I suppose it is swallowed up in the important desire to obtain a bridge. Kihikihi put your shoulder to the wheel and Jupiter will help you.

Election time is drawing on. and lots of voters here will require to be registered. Messrs Coates and Metcalfe employ somewhere about 150 men, Mr J. J. O'Brien about 90, and the Waiteti contractors are sure to have a large crowd, so those who intend to oppose me at the next general election had better '* gird their loins " for battle, and look up their forces, for I should be very much dissatisfied if I acquired the right to the ennobling letters M. H. R. aud the stipend by an uninteresting " walk over."

News from the tunnel informs me that the works there are being briskly pushed on. Relays of teams of bullocks and horses are busily engaged carting up cement and other material. The road from here is in good order, although dusty, and every advantage is being taken of the long spell of fine weather to forward stuff on.

There is some talk of To Awamutu storekeepers opening branches at Te Kuiti, and Jots of timber i.s now at the To Aw.unutu station patiently waiting to be brought up. A baker arrived here on Saturday night with a portable oven for erection at To Kuiti, where he intends starting business. I wish him good luck, and I hope the old adage, " Nothing venture, nothing win," will, in his case, turn out " all win." Billt.