THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1895. LOCAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 3, Issue 159, 18 December 1895, Page 2

THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1895. LOCAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Next. Wednesday being Christmas the CIiROXiCM will be published on the preceding evening. Advertisers will pleaso note tlie change; A meeting of tho Jockey Club takes place on Monday night. The finder of a purse is requested to apply at the Chronicle Office. Offers will be receive/! by the Town Board for crppoi standing luiy orLcastorn slope of Pnkcroa. Tho Town Board meeting will tiike. pluco on Friday afternoon instead of Thursday as previously announced. Messrs Burns arid Christie, carpenter?, left forTaupqlast week tocinstruct eevtuiiii additions to Gallagher's Hotel. Owing" to tho lowness of the hike level the temperature of the Priest Bath litis heon very high of la'tci. A subscription list has been opened for the purpose of raising fund's to liolrt a regatta on or about 29th January. Lists will be found at the hotels. Christmas hampers appropriate to. tho festive season may br ordored at tho Grand Hotel, its per announcement in another column. Section .'J, block '2-'>. town oi Rotonia. having an area of one rood, is gazette'd as a site for Public; Library and Town Board offices. Mr Maughan Barnott, the well-known pianist, in conjunction .with Herr Balling, the celebrated viola player, wilt give a concert here on January 3. Mahuta, the Maori king, will pay a visit to Tarulionga about January 25th next. The object of his visit is not stated but already preparations on an extensive scale are being made for his reception. . News has been received in Auckland of the death of Mr Fred Harvey at Calcutta. Deceased was a son of Mr W. Harvey, uow-of Auckland but-formorly resident here. Sir Patrick and Lady Buckley left for land and Wellington. Sir Patrick regretted the shortness of his visit as he was receiving much benefit front the Priest Bath. Amission in connection with the Roman Catholic Church will boopenedin Rotoriia on January ttrd, whoa, one of the Vincention Fathers, from Australia will give a series of addresses i:i the church daily. Tho mission will extend over a week. The Library Committee Have decided that the projected concert in aid of thefunds.shali take place-jon January 17th. Tho secretary was instractrd to write to Mr P. F. Battley, solicitor, Auckland; in reference to tho vesting of the property of the Institute in the Town Board.' Mr Homiing, with a companion, arrived here on Sunday from Auckland having accomplished the distance, per bicycle, id 17 hours (actual riding time). The expenses incurred on- the road amounted to 10s. This is almost as speedy .-is the" ordinary train time and nearly- as eheaji' l as Yaiie's system. The Native-. Lund..-Court adjourned yesterday next for the "Christmas recess," to reopen on January 11. The cares in relation to tho Whakarewavcwa !" -cks have been heard but the decisions will not be given until the Court again sus. Since 25th October 214 053 acres have been awarded to the Crown in this district. Mr R. J. Gill, land purchase agent, accompanied by Mr Cumuchaii, left yesterday morning for T.-iuranga, Whakutjine und.Opotiki. On-his return from the latter place Mr Gill proceeds to Mauukaewa in the Waihi district, and will return to Rotorug in time fur the re-opening oi the Native Land Court in Januurv. .

Owing to pressure on our advertising and Joc.il columns leading and other matter of an interesting nature is held over. Our telegrams also meet tlie same fate. This is the less to be regretted as the most important item seems to he that the Duchess of York aiid the new baby are doing well. A correspondent at IV Whaiti writes:— Tlie late heavy rain caused the Whirinaki River to be Hooded the highest that has been seen for some few ve.trs, it was so flooded that the two* foot-bridges erected by the police and artillery at Te Whaiti, were carried away, pedestrians now having tu cross the river by means of a canoe.

The frontispiece of the last number of the ''"War Cry " is a grouping of pictures of native life photographed by Mr Josiali Martin, and issued by that gentleman as a neat business card. The "'War Cry" people, however, reproduce the same without the slightest acknowledgment which seems rather quest ioriable behaviour on the part of the " Official Gazette of the Salvation Army." A variety entertainment of a light and attractive nature will be. given in the Pukeroa Hall un New Year s night under the management of Owen Higgins whose versatile genius as an entertainer is well established. The services of the best amateurs in the neighbourhood have been retained, and a strong feature in the programme is a fire club swinging act by Mr Higgins himself. The show will no doubt bring together an overflowing house. The children's concert in the schoolhouse last night was very successful the room being tilled with the little ones and their friends. MrT. J. Robinson acted as chairman and a very excellent programme was submitted. The children acquitted themselves in a highly satisfactory manner, the recitations, which were numerous, betokening careful training on the part of their teachers. Valuable assistance, was 'rendered by Mrs Wilson ami Misses Cinders, Brab mi, Dansey,Robinson,Malfroy, P. Griffiths and Mr George Mayes. The Jivlea fife and druai native band, under the conductorship of Mr Lovell, arrived here on .Friday last, and on Saturday paraded the town, giving a highly satisfactory proof of their musical attainments. Iji the 'evening a. concert took place in the Pukeroa Hill in aid of the baud fund. The programme consisted of musical selections, hakas and so forth and judging by the frequent applause was much relished by those present. It is doubtful, however, if the. Band's trip to Rotorua was a-financial success. Tin- Christmas Number of the Auekj laud Weekly News-is exceptionally good in every particular,' It is profusely illustrated and in a manner never excelled by any colonial publication. Theviewsof Now Zealand scenery are admirably repro- | dnced and the " Parliamentary.Charaelm[Sketches" and other pages done in colors are quite a revelation in this class of printing; The reading matter is also of a highly interesting nature while the whole production vrofleets the greatest credit on the office from which it emanates. I A day's racing will take place at O-il-I atoa on Boxing Day and though the ari rangments are of a rather impromptu nature a good attendance is. anticipated. The' amount to be given away is about £3O made un as follows :- -Hurdle Race, £1; Cup, i'S; Flying Handicap, £-1; Maiden Plate, £3; Pony Race, £2; Hack Race, £2; Maori Women's Race, £1 ; Consolation Race, £2. The second money amounts to £1 in the Cup, and 10s in most of the others, The course which is . a good one has boon newly cleared for the occasion, and Mr W. H. Bird is making ample provision for the reception of guests. Lust Wednesday's storm was much' more violent a little way out of town than appearances from here indicated. Between here and Paharaka for a distance of about a mile it seems to have rage 1 witli unusual violence for heaps of hailstones still lay on the ground when Mr Bird passed on the following day. The road in many places had the top soil washed completely away but.no damage was done. The men at work on the roads declare that they never saw lightning like it in their lives. The discharge was almost incessant and the electricity ran along the ground like wild fire. Two cattle are reported to have been killed at Maketu. In regard to the New Tear's Day Sports in aid of the Band Fund it was decide! at. thfe last meeting of the Jockey Club that the use of the race course should be granted on condition that the members of the Band gave their services gratuitously on race day. This -sec-ins a very equitable arrangement a.ll round; the sports will be rendered more attractive owing to their taking place, on the race-course, and the presi-mceof-thv Band-on race day is most desirable. The full prbgran>irie> of sports has not-yct been published but it will doubtless comprise most of the features noticeable at an athletic gathering. The events enumerated in . another column .are.simply, those in which entries must be lodged by S" o'clock on December 30th. The Railway Department, announces in another column that holiday excursion tickets at Id per mile second-class, and 2d per mile first-cl.ass will be issic 1 bct weed any station and Auckland, Rotorua, Hamilton, Ohaupo.'Te Awumutu, Cambridge, To Aroha. Okoroiro and Morrins--ville.i'rqm ISth December- _{to-day), ami 2nd January, and from any station to any station on December 2.-1, 20,j 2(r, and 31, and-January 1 and 2. These tickets will be available for one IBQJItIS from date of issue, the holder .may bi'c ik the journey and may exlend his ticket, for a further period of a fortnigM on payment of, the difference' between an ordinary" single ticket and half the excursion fare. This arrangement . makes the fare between Auckland and Rotonr.! Irs 3d and 2Ss Od, for second and first-class respectively. Mi- Stewart, photographer, has returner.! from his visit to the Urewcra country with a portfolio full of interesting views: He readied as far as Tarai pounaicu, the farthest road o imp in the I district! The travelling v.-.us not so rough j as was anticipated, but as the road skirts i deep Ravines and wincl} up almost perpendicular heights he questions its efficacy for stock purposes. He'took views of all points of interest as hp went along and the Various gangs of men at workalso offered subjects for his camera. Mr Stewart thinks however that the country is not what has been represented so far as scenery is concerned most of the route I laying through dense bush. He visited and took vie of Fnurakau pa, aroundwhich much fighting took .place in the old"davs, • aiid al-'O Hiirenri when- Te Kooti was shji in flic leg, aiid only escaped with his lite owing to tile fortitude of a native, .woiimn.

\ The local post-ofifce will bd bbse lon Christmas and New Year's Day. Mails closing- on Wednesdays will Qierefore closo on the previous night at 7.30, iiud j mails arriving will be sorted on tin following morning. On Boxing Day, D<— comber 2<>th, the office will l>e open from : !> io 10 a.m. only, but mails will close a-s ! usual. The attention of our readers is directed to the coaching time-table of Messrs E. Robertson and Co, which appears on'the ] front page. The new stables inTutaiiek.ii and Hincmoa-strcets are now completed and the travelling public will thcrj find all the accessories to safe and speedy transportation. A description of the firm's new premises is unavoidably held over until next issue. The children who purpose attending the picnic to-morrow at Taruke.ngn are required to assemble at the schoolhousc not later than CtA~> a.m., when heidcd by : the Hand they will march in procession |to the railway station. Carriages have been sent up from Auckland for tho-oc-; casion and will bo detached from the train' at Tarukenga and picked ih t on the return. joarney in the evening! The sports will bo earned out under the supervision of Messrs Webber and Fitzgerald, and the a department of supreme importance where growing youngsters are concerned, will be presided] ovej: bv Miss Selby, assisted by other ladies. If is necessary for all the children to attend at the schoolhousc at the above men turn oil hour in order to receive their tickets, otherwise they will have to pay ordinary fare. Adults" will get special tickets at the station. The concert announced to take place on T'Viday night in the P'ukerou Hall in ordoi" to provide-- funds for repairing the roof of the Catholic Church promises to be the most successful entertainment of its kind ever given in Rotorua. It has evident on more than one occasion that there are vocal and instrumental musicians in our midst of much more than ordinary merit, anil it is satisfactory to know that these Indies and gentlemen have willingly lent their assistance in furtherance of the laudable object in view. The programme is re most excellent one in every particular, and there is no doubt that the haltwill be filled to its utmost capacity on Friday night. At the conclusion of the concert a dance will take place to which holders of reserved scat tickets, ordy will be admitted. Lieut.-Colonel. Roberts, S.M., passed through on Monday last on his way to Taupo; where he holds-a court. Returning i here in-time for nest Monday's sittings. Colonel Roberts cSme from'Opotikt"by way of Matata, and in coining across country from the latter place made a slight detours in order to enable kirn- to take in the newly formed road along the shores of L.ike Rotoiti. It was his first visit to that romantic locality and lie expresses the opinion that when the road is fully opened it will become the favorite route for tourists, [t is not yet quite appi lachable from Rotorua. in vehicles sis several of the culverts are still wanting, but work is proceeding briskly find'a few weeks will SCO the road quite practicable. As (lie traveller winds along the road, wuioli is cut out of the cliffis overhun'ging thelaktv, view after view of surpassing lovelineis is unfolded ill the description of which it would bo impossible to exI aggoratel On bis last trip to Galatea and To Whaiti Mr R. Wake mit with a mishap which lengthened out his journey to beyond its usual limit. In going through the gully in the neighborhood of the Motumako Hush, shout X miles on this side of Galatea, the trap collided with a. stump, completely smashing one of the wheels, and throwing out the driver and . Miss Mcl.'ae. the only passenger, l<or- ! innately for the young lady the burly 1 form of Mr Wake interposed between | her and the roadway and she escaped ! without injury. The rest of the distance ■ to Galatea was accomplished on horseback and another vehicle having been | procured Mr Wake returned, transferred I the loading, and continued his journey to To Whaiti. Mr Wake reports that the ! roads from Waiotapu onwards are rather j rough since the last rains and "that the ! fords on the Rangitaiki and Wliirinaki ! rivers have been filtered by the Hoods. SAILING EN" STORMY WEATHER

Is very different from sailing on siimme 1 ' seas. For sea-sickness it would bo well in have i>n bund a stock of Wolfe's Schnapps. We-have received from Messrs Jones and Son of Wanganui some, beautiful design's in Christmas birds >vhich not only convoy the compliments of tlio season but also furnish friends abroad wil.li a splendid representation of Now Zealand bush and mountain scenery. Those can ; be .obtained at the GllKOsreLE Office.* The Christinas numbers of the various English publications are now,arrivlng at the"Cmni.vn'i.K Office.*