THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. "This fact I will chronicle." WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1895.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 119, 20 March 1895, Page 2

THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. "This fact I will chronicle." WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1895.

The Maori Parliament. now held here is the tliird session. Hastings having llie honour of the first and Gisborne the second one. Owirg to the Arawas delaying their ncceptanceof the scheme it v 3 arranged, as some encouragement to them, to hold the Parliament at Eotorua this year, coi scqueutly for some considerable time great prepara' tions have gone on in erection of large temporary houses and the storage of food. The Parliament as yet has only had preliminary meetings owing to the delay in the arrival of some of the leading chiefs, however during the next ferr days the formal opening will take place. Amongst the distinguished Maori visitors are Hone Heke, Wi Pere, Te Moti, (the Native Premier), and the following tribes are represented: Ngapahi: Eano;i Wharerau, Pen 6 Taui, Wiremu, Herepete Eapihina, Arina Kiwa, Katane Patuawa, and others. Palmerston North: Petria Punua, and others. Coroman' del: Hamiora Mangakaia. To Uriwera: Kerei J, and others. Tauranga: Hon Ngata, Hohepa Hikutaia, Tar pari and others. Waikato : Te Eei, and many other chiefs and their ladies of note. The Arawas of here and surrounding districts are also in force. The Ngatipikiua tribe of Eotoiti and Maketu, having some misunderstandi ing between Major Fui uuq Petera Puknahia, is the only Arawa hapu absent The gathering numbers about a thousand at present, but this it is expected will be increased largely the coming week. Every cl itingent of visitois is welcomed just outside the Maovi village, of Ohinemutu by the excellent Paidpaki Brass Band of 19 performers (alt Maoris) under the conductorship of Mr F. Clements, (brought over by the Hawkes Bay chief), and escorted to the open space in lront of the great carved meeting house, Tamatekapua, (which is sr; aside for the meeiing of the Parliament), where the Maori salutations, tangis and hakas are carried on. Much praise is duo to the Eotorua uatives lor the manner in which they are entertainingtheirnumerous guests. There are several Eotorua native ladies and gentlemen Committees, and their arrangements made for catering to the strangers are excellent. The long lines of tables have snow-white table covers, glistening china, glass, silver and steel and decked out with rasas of flowers, waiters and waitresses all natives, neatly dressed. The scene is quite unique and interesting and shows how apt the Maori is to adopt the pakeha manners. The food is all that could be desired consisting of the delicacies of the season. The Band discourse select pieces, to the pleasure of the residents and visitors and also frequently give entertainments, instrumental, vocal, dances and hakas. Strict regulations are in force against the sale of intoxicating drinks of any kind. The meeting is likely to continue for some weeks. In future issues we will endeavour to give the business doings of the meeting. The natives are to be commended for their good and respectable order.

St Patrick's holiday was kept up on Mfiiidiiy. and although rain had been threatening' for soiflo days we had beautiful weather. Many having pleasurable trips by the steam launches on the Lake, Whilst some journeyed to the summit of Ngongotaha and other places of interest . fairou, the Native Premier of the Maori Parliament, arrived here from the South Island, by the Auckland train yesterday afternoon. Mr Grant. District Traffic Manager, and Mr A. V. Macdonald, Loco Superintendent and Permanent Way Engineer, Auckland Railway Section, are on a visit here. The meeting of residents on Friday evening last in connection with the maintenance of religious services here was fairly attended. After some discussion nothing definite was arrived at. The Band of Hope will hold their monthly meeting in the Schoolroom on Friday night next. The ladies who have the arranging the programme are preparing an excellent one for the occasion. Constable Mull-ay is again in our midst having returned on Saturday night by the excursion train. There were sixty-seven excursionists by the special train on Saturday, 16th inst., arriving here at 10.15 p.m., and returned on Monday at 3 p.m. At the recent examination of schoolteachers Miss M. Solly, assistant teacher at our District School passed in class E. During the time Miss Selby has been here, some eighteen months, licr first Education Board appointment, she has had the exclusive teaching i.e. to herself of one schoolroom, with an average attendance of nearly forty European and Maori children, ano mean task. AVe have much pleasure in paying Miss Selby the high tribute of being an efficient teacher and exceptiohnally good disciplinarian. The transfer of the Yorkshire Grey Hotel license Tauranga, to the New Township, Eotorua, having been granted vigorous operations are going on with the removal of the Palace Hotel from Ohinemutu to the allotted section in the New Township. On Wednesday last, as advertised, the Eotorua Brass Band took advantage of the beautiful moonlight nights to inaugurate moonlight excursions. Thirtyfight people availed themselves of the opportunity which may be considered very fair. The Band although very weak five instruments being absent, played a varied programme and this with singing and chatting helped to while a pleasant evening. By attending these excursions the public can kill two birds with one stone, that is enjoy themselves and aid the Band funds which need it. An extraording meeting of those interested in the Church of England hi re, was held at the Parsonage study on Mi 11day night, the Eev. E. H. Spencer in the cliair. Matters pertaining to the future carrying on of English Church services were pretty fully gone into and a now committee was formed of the following ladies and gentlemen Mrs Ginders, Mrs Webbe, Miss Thompson, Miss Griffiths and Messrs Brent, I'obinson, W. P. Williums and P. Hammond, to act as an auxiliary committee to the present one. It will be noticed from the advertisement of Messrs Wynyard and Purchas's that an opportunity is now afforded to speculators in search of a really gord investment. Block IV divided into ?> sections, is now offered for sale 011 a lease of 94 years. The position is admirable and the terms easy, the conditions of lease arc also much more favourable than those offered by the Government. Section No. 0 facing the Parade, containing over two acres, is eminently suitable for either a firet-elass hotel or boarding-house, a clear frontage and view of the Lake is obtained, besides having the advantage of close proximity to the Parade and Pukeroa slopes. We understand that an impression has got abroad that Government will interfere with anyone leasing these sections us it was originally intended for a large company hotel and grounds, but as the block has passed into the hands of the present owners from the Government at auction without any stipulation as to how it is to be (Yalt with, they have perfect right to cut it up as they like. Moreover we should think that the xerv fact of these leases being offered by such a respectable legal business firm is a sufficient guarantee to satisfy .inyone. Since the foundation of the Department of Labour five and half years ago it has rendered assistance to 12,051) persons, with 27,380 individuals dependent upon them, who were in quest of employment, and 0,0!)!) were taken on Government works. The estimated population of the Colony 011 the 31st December, inclusive of Maoris, was 728,121; made up of 380,024 males, 341,497 females. The excess of births over deaths during the year was 11,610, and the excess of arrivals over departures 2,254. The Chinese population is estimated 4,145. According to the Inangaliua Herald the people down Greymouth way have been the victims of a nicely arranged fraud. A distinguished visitor recentlyburst on the horizon of the sleepy little southern town claiming to be the son of Bishop Cowie, and all Greymouth " society " religiously flocked to entertain him. Everything went well until at length the cat got out of the bag, and now the Greymouthites consider themselves the victims of a cruel hoax. Thanks to the credulity of human nature any designing tramp can take people in bv the same dodge. It is estimated that a ton of gold, used in stopping teeth, is annually' buried in American cemeteries. An inquest has been held on a girl of 17, at Birmingham, whose death was attributed to drinking vinegar and other compounds for the purpose of becoming thinner and paler. Within the past three years the number of temporary clerks employed by the Government has risen from 181 to 241, the number of cadets appointed has risen from 30 to 340. A novel marriage, which excited much interest, has just taken place at Liversedge, Yorkshire, the contracting parties being a saw-grinder, aged eighty-two and a widow of seventy-three. The bridegroom appeared in his working attire, Tmd was equipped with his stock-in-trade ; whilst tho bride was attired in a black dress, rolled up at the sleovcs, and a rod cotton liankerchief on her head. The brido was given away by an umbrella mender, and tho "bridesmaid" was a widow of about seventy.