ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2676, 5 September 1889, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

Death of an Old .Settler.— On Wednesday last passed away Mrs Hannah Appleyard, one of Alexandra's earliest settlers. The deceased lady was gonorally respected hete and throughout the district by her unostentatious kindness to all where illness or trouble of any kind were t'i be found amongst her follow settlers. Mis Appleyard has for some time past been a great sufferer, having had a paralytic stroke some twelve months since from which she never recovered. During her long illness she was regularly visited by sympathising friends, who did their best to comfort and alleviate her affliction. Her funeral on Friday last was numerously attended, two of her sons and a grandchild following as chief mourners. The funeral service was performed by the Rev. Mr Boler, assisted by tho Rev. Mr Griffiths; the first-named milking an appropriate address over the remains at tho church, in which lie compared the deceased to the Dorcas of Holy Writ from her works.

Tun Bad Times.—During a long residence in Waikato, I fancy never has so gloomy an aspect been before our settlers as at present, or if so not so keenly felt. Business all round the district appears at a standstill, and complaints of tho dullness of tho times aro general throughout. Ouo does not meet a single person but what declares they would clear out if they could only wind up their affairs. Our representatives at Wellington and tho Government, as at present constituted, aro the disgust of all. No retienchment is being made and more taxation to follow. Our own petty managers of local affairs aro also following suit. Already the burdens are unbearable, and yet an extra hospital rate is talked of. General indignation meetings are to he held, commencing at Te Awamutu, to protest against any increase of the Hospital expenses.

Aiior.moN ok tiik Pound.—A petition is being signed here, addressed to the County Council, requesting that body to take the necess iry steps to abolish the pound hero This pound (which hardly anyone wants) is a contiuval source of heart burning, and is mostly taken advantage of to annoy people who may be at vaiiance, that is just now. It has also had the effect of clearing out a great part of the native population. There were some lifty or sixty natives residing above the township, who came from Foxton, and their settlement hero was named after it. Those natives were in the receipt of incomes from rents, and spent it in the township, as they had no cultivations; but, as their horses were constantly being impounded, they finally got disgusted, and have left the place to the general loss of the business people here. The pound itself must have been a great loss to the town board and council. Three times has it been erected, and a debtor and credit account would show largely to debit. Tho only good it does is to the individual who farms it (it is now rented, I believe, for £10 per annum), and of course he tries to make it pay. A fee of 2s fid per annum is charged for all horses and cows on the run. There aro no gardens to speak of in the township; the only decent ones are fenced, and no complaints are made or pounding done by their owners. To abolish tiio pound would cause no injury, but do an immense amount of good, as some would now look out for work instead of watching u chance to impound a poor woman's cow.