TARANAKI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1003, 18 February 1871, Page 5

TARANAKI.

(FROM OUR OWX CORRESPONDENT.)

January 16th.

As it is the correct thing no ,v to forward all letters directed ''per Cobb'a coach " instead of by the steamer, I feel bound to follow in the ruck, aud to send you my usual monthly epistle by that most expensive luxury. This place has been so long isolated from the world that when it was announced that Cobb's coach would arrive here on a certain date, and would continue to run regularly between this and Wellington twice a week, it threw the inhabitants of this place quite off their balance. An event so long talked of — an event never really expected to be realised— was too much for them, and they became so elev.ited wi h joy that no suggestion was too extravagant or too wild as to the manner in which they should receive the proprietors of the coach on their arrival. The subject was the theme of conversation for every one, from the youngest child to the oldest inhabitant of the place. Something had to be done, and done quickly, to celebrate the event. Something uncommon — some* thing that would show the world that the people of New Plymouth were not like other people. A public meeting, for a wonder, was not held, but a few solons formed themselves into a Committee, and held secret and grave consulcations as to what should be done on this occasion. The deliberation at last terminated iv it being agreed that a dinner and an address should be given to the coachman on his arrival. No sooner was this settled than the Committee proceeded to carry into effect their decision. Two addresses were prepared and sat upon by the gentlemen who took an active part in the affair. Paragraph after paragraph of each were considered and debated upon, and finally the address was agreed to and ordered to be engrossed on parchmeut, so that the opinion of the people of New Plymouth in 1871 might be hawled down to the future generations of Sheparda. How this address will be prized when we are under the clay ; and we should not be surprised if it finally finds a resting place

in the- Colonial Museum. On the day previous to that on which the coaoh was expected to arrive, & rumour was current in town— -brought into the place, I have iio doubt, by a native — that Cobb's coaoh not arrive till the Friday morning. Dreadful; wasn't it 1 It created a great consternation; and enquiries were immediately set on foot to' discover the truthfulness of this dife calamity. It was at length, found to be false. Woe to the man, had he been caught, who circulated this diabolical falsehood. The gentleman who manages the political " organ" of the place — who praises everything that emanates from Vogel and Co., and denounces whatever comes from the Biehmonds — was in an awful state of mind. He was rushing here, rushing there, no doubt with the hope of finding out the culprit. Ah ! he is seized hold of by one of the committee as he iB bounding down the street. They consult together. The committee-man lays the law down with hia fingei. The gentleman of the press evidently expresses his surprise. The committee-man interrogates ; the " organ" man replies, and with a wave of the hand I see him disappear up the street in the direction of his office. The thing was done, and, as I anticipated, a flaming poster was Boon seen on the walls and in the shop windows, of which the following ia an exact copy :—: —

COBB'S COACH WILL ARRIVE tO MORROW, January 12, 1871.