THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1896. LOCAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 163, 15 January 1896, Page 2

THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1896. LOCAL NEWS AND NOTES.

The next sittings of the Magistrates Court will take place on the 24th inst. The usual monthlyineetingof the Town Hoard takes place to-morrow afternoon. A professional announcement by Mr Ginders, surgeon-dentist, appears in another column. The lease of section l.j, Block 22, is advertised for sale. The site is a good one being next to the block at the corner of Tutanekai and Pukuatua Streets. The Te Aroha News contrasts our last month's bath receipts, £-19 14s, with its own " handsome sum" of £63 1(« 9d—including towels, we suppose. Thursday's Gazette contains a notification that " Constable William Murray is appointed clerk of the Magistrates Court at Rotorua, vice Mr It. D.Dansey." The Jockey Club call for tenders-for the- privileges in connection with the forthcoming race meeting. Particulars will be found in another column. The usual monthly meeting of the library Committee called for last Friday lapsed for want of a quorum. Another meeting is called for Friday night. His Honor Judge Wilson and Messrs Hammond and Sherridan returned by Monday's train. The Native land Court was reopened yesterday but only formal business was transacted. Amongst the visitors to Rotoraa at present arc Dr Haines of Auckland who has been in attendance on the gubernatorial party recently and Dr Jackson, the leadoculist of Melbourne. A very sweeping and comprehensive statement in reference to the quality of liquor supplied to the natives in this district appears in last week's " Observer." The charges are so specific that, we understand, redress will be sought for in the law courts. Mr W. Kelly is in receipt of a wire from the Hon. J. MacKenzie stating that he has just returned to Wellington from the East Coast trip, and that pressure of business would necessitate his postponing his Rotorua visit for a short time. He will, however, give good notice of his-coming. It is confidently anticipated that the wharf and boat shelter will, after all, be completed before the close of the present season. The site chosen, as our readers already know, is at tho foot of Tutanekai Street, the plans and specifications are Ixiing prepared hero, and as soon as they aire sanctioned tenders will be called for the work, A thorough overhaul is about to bo made of all the bridges and culverts on the nvain roads of the district with a view to their being placed in a proper state of repair. A comirocncement will be made with the Awahou bridge, on the Tauranga road, but tho rest will be examined indue course as also those between here and Napier. Mr Vane will have charge of the work. The mission services which were hold during last week in connection with the Roman Catholic Church by the Rev.. Father Heggarty wore well attended. The Rev. Father Boyle brought the mission to a close on Sunday night when he preached a most eloquent sermon from the text, "What does it profit a man if lie gain the whole world and suffer tho loss of his soul?" Our correspondent at Te Whaiti writes, under Saturday's date : —Everything is quiet in this locality. Mr Cross is expected out on Monday next to takecliargo of the road works. Mr Fox to the regret of all on tho works has been transferred to the office at Rotorua. lie has made himself very popular hero. There are about 40 men on the work) now. Tag furthest party is that on tho descent from Tarapounamou to tho Whakatane river. Fine weather prevails here. The To Aroha Domain Board hsvo decided that in future the baths bo opened at- 0 n.in. each day, it having been represented that visitors were frequently to be seen waiting to enter the domain long before the present hour of opening, 7 o'clock. In tho discussion which took place MiGavin, the chairman, statod' that it was the duty of tho Board to consider the interests of visitors and not tho convenience of tho attendants.

A party will shortly be sot to work on the Galatea road to make certain sub- ' stantial improvements and render it fit for traffic duiing the coming winter. , The road has been much cut up of late, ! not solely, it is stated, by the amount of traffic passing along but by the narrow tyres in vogue here. We understand that instructions have been issued in regard to the last named matter which will necessitate the regulations in this respect being better observed. At the last meeting of the Jockey Club it was intimated that efforts were being made to organise a regatta for the day following theraces. Thosepresentlooktd favourably upon the idea and stated that they would l>o willing to assist in bringingittoa successful issue. A subscription list having been introduced several names were appended to it, and it is understood that an energetic canvass will be made of the town for support. With a lake so well adapted to aquatic sports there should be no difficulty in organising a successsful meeting of this description. The annual meeting of the Presbyterian Church was held last Sunday at the close of the evening service, when the balancesheet was presented and adopted. It was then resolved that the committee should consist of five members only, and the-fol-lowing were elected: —Messrs Penny, W. Hall, F. Hall, Thompson, and Neighbour. After the public meeting a meeting of the committee Was held when Mr Penny was elected secretary, and Mr Neighbour treasurer. The balance-sheet appears in our advertising columns. Tenders are called in this issue for the erection of new buildings and stabling in connection with the Geyser House Hotel, Wairakci.- From an inspection of the plans the additions contemplated will add much to the comfort and convenience of this favourite tourist resort. A new building, containing dining room, kitchen and about Ifs bedrooms, will bo erected on a site adjacent to the coach road and partly occupied by the existing kitchen, which will be done away with as the work progresses. New stable*, will also beerected and the facilities for bathing materially increased. Workwillbe commenced i forthwith as the resources of Wairakci are at, present scarcely able to meet the demands made upon them in the matter of accoro uodation. The To Aroha Domain Board have been exorcising themselves muchly in regard to the Guide Book recently issued under their authority.- It appears that Mr Spooner, the compiler of the book, bought certain blocks from an Auckland illustrated paper believing them to be views of the Hot Lakes district. One of these was included in the book as a view of the Waahou river, but unfortunately it came under the eye of the holder of the negative who pronounced it to have been taken at Fitzroy, Great Barrier in 1891. There were also strong doubts expressed as to - the authenticity of another of the four views which the book contains. Meanwhile the compiler of the "Guide" has had the remaining copies returned to him in order to have fresh photos inserted. On what are known as late train nights the hour of arrival here has boon considerably protracted of late. Last Wednesday night the train due hero at H.,"10 did not arrive till past 11 o'clock, and all sorts of rumours were afloat as to the cause of the delay. It appears that an engine broke down at Frankton in the morning, and this made the up-train late all along the line. At Morrinsvillo it was two hours late, and had that fact been telegraphed to Rotorua all anxiety woidd have been allayed. Those delays emphasise the necessity which exists for establishing telephonic communication between the various stations along the lino. Oxford is the terminal point at present, but the' wire should be continued to Ngativa, Tarukenga and on to liore. The pros and cons as to whether the big fish now being taken out of the crooks near here are trout or white fish are still being argued. In Mr Rogers' store the other day three "speckled beauties " were placed on the scale- two weighing 7 jibs each and the third 9Albs. Later on, at Lake House, we were introduced to another of the same sort which scaled over l llbs. Further acquaintance with this latter specimen on the following | morning at breakfast, at which we were present in the interests of science, confirmed us in the opinion that if it were trout it was really fine trout and if it were white fish it was remarkably fine white fish. It would bo injudicious to say more, in viaw of further experiments boing deemed necessary, until the fishing season is over. It may be as well to mention however that the size of these fish is no obstacle to their being trout. Several species of lake trout in America attain a great size. The finest and largest of these is the Mackinaw trout (salmo ametliystus) of Lakes Huron and Superior, specimens of which have been obtained weighing upwards of fiOlbs. In the Old Country even, lake trout have boon caught weighing over 3fflbs. Such fish in lakes are all very well, but in the creeks here they afford no sport whatever, as it is impossible to play them. They are besides most ravenous and make sad havoc among their smaller brethren. Their destruction, then, by whatever means, is not to bo deplored. Some of our readers may have observed a notice in Maori posted up in Ohinemutu during the past day or two. Its purport was to draw attention to a mooting held at Tame te Kapua for the purpose of discussing the troublo which has arisen between England and the other powers. "This is an appeal," it wound up, "to the Arawas to meet together and discuss the situation. In regard to this matter one who attended the meeting writes : The war spirit has seized upon the natives here owing to the recent developments in the Transvaal. Yesterday morning an impassioned orator told in fervid language the story of the march of Dr Jameson's men and how they were overwhelmed by numbers after their last cartridge had been expended. He exhorted the members of the tribe to offer themselves to the British Government for the purpose ' of forming a pucrillu corps for sorvice in Africa. An influetial member of the tribe 1 has offered tc provide arms and uniforms 1 for his people. liv the meantime further i tidings as to the course of events are i awaited. There is no doubt, however, 1 that the impressionable Maori nature is i much excited over the danger which •• menaces the Empire, and is inclined to go I to greater lengths 1 ban the Sydney crowd 1 which manifestd its loyalty the other day 1 by hooting a German Band. " i THE MOBNING HEADACHE 1

Is often tho result of drinking bad liquor. You are invited to try Wolfe's Schnapps It is pure, wholesome, and unadulterated.

The usual monthly social of the Bund of Hope took place in the Schoolroom on Friday last and was as enjoyable as those Entertainments always are. A more than usually strong feature in tlie programme was the presence of Mr Arthur Boult, of Adelaide, S.A., and his promising young pupil, Master Hubert James. The latter contributed two songs, "The Nameless Lassie," and "All thro' the Night," and betrayed the possession of a soprano voice of the utmost purity and considerable range. The method and evenness of his vocalisation reflect the highest credit on Mr Boult's system of training for without judicious guidance even the highest natural musical gifts are in danger of being spoiled. Master James was, as a matter of course, encored and in responsegave " Joyous Life." The Bells chorus, by the children, went with a pleasant swing, and the anthems by the choir were much appreciated. The programme with the exception of the items already enumerated was as follows: Song, " When you and I were young, Maggie," Miss G. Murray; song, " Thy Voice is near," Miss Fitzpatrick ; recitatation, The Child's first Grief," Miss Hawkesworth ,' song. Miss Jfelson; pianoforte solo, Mr Boult; song, "Ah, he 1 kissed mo when lie left me," Mrs Thomson ; song, "Belle Mahone," Miss A. Murray; song, "Yesterday," Miss F. Murray; song, "The Arab's Farewell to his Steed," Miss C. Robinson; recitation, "Pussycat," Miss Elsie Murray. The accompaniments throughout were played by the Misses Fitzpatrick and Robinson- anil Mr Boult.