TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume 2620, Issue XXXII, 27 April 1889, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

A Haxrsomk Piumbst.—During the workon the Waiteti section, the utmost good feeling existed between the contractors and the natives, the latter giving every possiblo assistance. When Mr Robertson, Messrs Anderson's manager, came up he expected that, owing to the line going through native land, there would bo some trouble with them, but ho was agreeably disappointed, and so pleased was lie with the friendly relations which existed between him and them from the beginning, that when leaving, he suggested to his principals thu, advisability of handing over the four-roomed house in which he had lived as a present to Taonui. Messrs Anderson quite coincided with him, and accordingly lie handed the key of the house to the old chief, telling him it was his as a token of good feeling from Messrs Anderson. Not only was the house handed over, but the contents, for it was furnished throughout; sittingroom, bed-rooms, and kitchen, the latter having a new cooking stove and all cooking utensils complete ; there was also a large water tank, so that the present was a valuable one, and well worthy of acceptanceMr Robertson's management was characterised from beginning to end by straightforwardness and honesty, which the natives were not slow to appreciate, and they, on the other hand, finding they had such a man to deal with, treated him in the name friendly way, and it is pleasant to know that the relations between them terminated in such a satisfactory manner.

Injury to Mit G. D. Hunter at the Review. —Mr G. D. Hunter, of this place, who is a member of the Te Awamutn Cavalry Volunteers, met with an injury at the review, which was very nearly a most serious one. It appears he had made a prisoner of one of the Hamilton volunteers, when the fellow put the muzzle of his rifle rather close to Mr Hunter's face and fired at him, a great deal of the powder being driven into his face and neck, inflicting injuries which may disfigure him for life. The doctor said the consequences might have been fatal ; as it was some of the powder penetrated the neck unpleasantly close to the jugular vein. Had Mr Hunter used his sword ui the man it would have been no more than he deserved, it was a ruffianly thing to fire in a man's face at such close quarters, and many men in Mr Hunter's place would have trivon him a cut the mark of which he would have carried to his grave. The matter will not be allowed to drop for such conduct deserves the severest punishment. The thing was done deliberately, for it is said he afterwards made a boast of it. Another infantry hero—i do not know which company is honoured by his presence—put the imv/.de of his rifle against a troop horse's chest and was about to fire, when tlio trooper told him if he did he would cut him down, whereupon the valiant soldier —I fancy a soldier of England would not feel complimented at being put in the same category—thought discretion the better pin t of valour, lowered his rifle, and saved that part of liis body whore in other men the brains are to be found, from an ugly cut. To the credit of the various corps be it said, that with the exception of iniitafion JapkTars, such men are few and far between ii) the ranks. Owing to lack of discipline the whole system of volunteering is a huge farce, it is a burlesque upon soldiering, for tlio officers have to be careful not to offend the men lest they should retire from the corps. This sort of thing oniy keeps good men out of the ranks.