WAIPAWA JOTTINGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3691, 14 May 1883, Page 3

WAIPAWA JOTTINGS.

[BY A COKIIESrOJJDEOT.] May 12, ISS3. Judging by the preparations being made tliero will be no lack of amusements in Waipawa County about the time of the Queen's Birthday. There is to be a grand concert in Waipawa about the 22nct, the proceeds of which, I am glad to state, are to bo devoted to the library building fund. bn the :>3rd there will bo the grand ball of the united Oddfellows' and Foresters' lodges, in the Town Hall at Waipukurau. On the following day— the- day —there will be a pigeon match at Kaikora, and in the evening another grand holiday ball in the Oddfellows' Hall, Waipawa. On the day following these two events will be held at Waipukurau, the annual ploughing match of the County Association, Avinding up with a big dinner, so you will observe that wo are not to be short of amusements.

The enjoyment of the foregoing, howcvol'i will depend a great deal upon the weather, which at present looks anything but promising. The "oldest inhabitant" of the district has been canvassed for his opinion in this respect, and ho thinks the present is tho "most unsettled autumn as never wan," and that lie "never saw jiqthing like it." For my part, not being the oldest inhabitant by a Aveck or so, I can jjnly say that fqr 'tljo past six or seven weeks avg' have little else in tho way of weather but rain. It is raining hard as I pou these Jew lilies, and, if appearances arc

to be trusted, it is going to continue raining for a long while to come yet. The river shows signs of the rain by being swollen a bit, but nothing at all comparable to the freshes wo have had at other times with far less rain It is to bo hoped tlio weather will clear off and be fine for a. few days preceding and following the Queen's Birthday. An exciting topic of interest just now is the Road Board election, which takes place on Tuesday. I say "takes place," because it is announced so, but the election is really settled. There arc not a great many voters in the district, and they have hud their heads together to such good purpose that the election lias been virtually decided for over a week. I think the following five members will be returned:— Mr Annand, to represent an unpaid account for footpaths. Mr Arrow, to represent the Wavcrley cutting and "every man his own lawyer"—terms at snle. Mr Cowper will represent Hogarth's line of beauty—he is vert/ round, you know—and will also represent the late clerk. Mr Collett will represent the other elected members, and a new road to lead into the Wavcrley cutting. Last, but not least, comes Mr MeGrccvy ; he will represent the family, including "Dear Mick." The ratepayers will continue to bo represented by the rate book and a bank overdraft.

Our library committee are to be commended for 'the strenuous exertions they have latterly been making to erect a library building. The contractor for the structure has almost got the frame ready for putting up, and the rooms will doubtless be open to subscribers in a couple of months' time. The committee have still a hire sum to collect to pay for the building, which is being erected at a cost of £310, and they will' certainly be glad to receive a subscription from any of your many readers. I understand the committee, in conjunction with the Napier Athciucuin, are sending away by the outgoing 'Frisco mail an order for a number of books, which have been chosen to suit the taste of both "heavy," " light," and other classes of readers. A room in which to pass a social hour or so in the evenings is a want long felt, especially by our bachelors who have passed the rubicon of youth. The erection of the library building will supply that want. The building will contain altogether five rooms, two being for the caretaker, and the remaining three for library purposes, one being especially reserved for conversational purposes, and'so shut oft' that the talking of those inside cannot bo heard by persons in the reading room. If such a room had been in existence a few evenings ago a socne that happened would never have occurred. Our representative Liberal politician (we have a Conservative one also, but he is at present away on a holiday tour), and a friend, who is best known as the objector to all County and Road Board informalities (conscientious old man !), were having a friendly chat in the room where the library books are kept. The subject was a pot one of the 0. to C.R.8.1/s, vt:,, the Waipawa Road Board, and in the course of conversation the 0. to C.R.8.1, denounced the local wardens as " cowards " for not striking a higher rate than Gd in the £ when the Board was in difficulties, and also hinted that in doing so they were truckling to some of the ratepayers. It happened that one of the abused wardens was (no, I won't say listening !) sitting in the reading-room, studying a new device in blacksmith's bellows dedicted in the Scientific American, and, on hearing the above remarks, arose from his seat and majestically approached the 0. to 0.R.8.1., and in a threatening attitude, hissed, " Do you call me ake-oward ':" The 0., ifcc, was quite equal to the occasion, and simpered, "Only a political cue!" However, what threatened to be a sanguinary battle tured out to bo only a passage of words, the 0., &c, winding up by stating that "listeners never heard any good of themselves!."

A meeting of the Waipawa County Football Club was called for this evening, at 8 o'clock. Shortly after that hour I peeped into the meeting room at tho Empire, and saw that only three members had put in an appearance, and were sitting round a table solemnly transacting the business. 1 wus inclined to laugh out when I heard a motion to confirm tho minutes of last annual meeting proposed by No. 1 member, seconded by No. 2, and put to the meeting and declared by the chairman (No. .'3) in as formal a manner arj if there were fifty persons present. Football has evidently died a natural death in this part of the country, tho playing members having either got married, left the district, or taken to lawn tennis, with the result that this year I fear it will be iinpossiblr to raise a team to play even a scratch match.