WAITARA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XX, Issue 2046, 16 November 1872, Page 2

WAITARA.

CELEBRATION OF THE PRINCE OF WALES' BIRTHDAY. (FBOM OUtt CORRESPONDENT.) The festivities held here on Monday last, were undoubtedly the greatest attraction of the Provinoe, and a word of sympathy might be expressed for those belonging to the Town of New Plymouth who preferred a few trivial and boyish sports to a cruise on the well known magnificent Waitara River. Soon after breakfast aud nntil noon, scores of gay and merry people might be seen arriving iv the pretty township of Raleigh. They appeared to be coming in a oontinnous stream, either on horseback or in carriages — some trotting in gaily whilst others looked fatigued, having, no doubt, like Mark Twain, had to alight at every hill to push the bnggy on before them. However this may be, the anticipation of the sports they were to participate in was sufficient compensation for the arduous work they had had to perform on the road. To show the interest people apparently took in the festivities, it might be mentioned that a boat was to be seen at 4 a.m. being gently rowed over the bar, and soon afterwards another, then a couple of canoes came out for fishing ; aud, even at that early hour, a couple of ladies might be seeu fishing from Messrs. Webstera' wharf, no doubt attracted by the sweet refreshing morning atmosphere for which the Town of Raleigh is celebrated. Several new buildings have boon, recently ereoted at Raleigh, and amongst them is a schoolroom whioh is to aot the treble part of place of worship, school-room, and library. The- library, although small at present, is a foundation to build on. The proceeds of the tea meeting which took place here (which by the by was one of the centres of attraction) goes towards paying off a balance of £130 still owing on the building. It originally cost £250, out of which £120 hasbeeu oolleoted and promised. The building affords accommodation for eighty persons ; every sittirfg in the church is engaged at two shillings per quarter. Collections take place four times in the year.

The morning, and indeed most of the day, was spent by many in rowing np and down the river, for whioh amuseraeut seven boats were provided gratuitously. At noon a large assemblage of men, women, aud children, amounting' to between six and seven hundred, were to be seen scattered in all directions, and I feel justified in saying that the Waitara never witnessed such a scene of gaiety before. The banks of the river were covered with bnudreds of people, while merry peals of laughter reverberated across the water from those fortunate enoilgh to have their turn in the boats, and songs and choruses rent the air on all sides until dark. I think nothing oould be appreciated so much as some of the catches and ronnds in three and four parts as were sang by those in the boats in the middle of I he river.

Punctually at 3 p.m. the tower bell on the building rung out the signal, whioh was well understood to mean that tea was ready. Ton may judge of the despatch with which people flocked in, from the fact that in two minutes the tables were filled ; and after the Rev. Mr. Brown had invoked a blessing, all was life and activity. The ladies who presided at the trays were Mrs. W. Brooking, Mrs. Leedom, Mrs. T. Joll, Mrs. D. Bayly, Miss C. Lawrence, Mrs. S. Rundle, and Mrs. I. Bayly. To describe the busy activity of these ladies from 3 to 6.30 p.m., would be presamption indeed. Suveo times the bell was rung, and as many times the tables filled ; and allowing for seventy at each sitting, would give about five hundred persons that took tea. Besides this, there must have buen quite one hundred and fifty who did not come in at all, having provided for themselves ia the open air. The amount realised from the collections on Sunday, and at the tea, amounted t#£33 65., thus reducing the debt on the building to £86 13s. 4d. In the evening, many wended their way to Mr. Gilmour's new store to witness and take part in the ball which was to close the day's proceedings. It was not so great a success as was anticipated ; owing, probably, to another one being got np at Bell Block, whioh was nearer to town. Notwithstanding the misbehavioar of some boys in throwing a shower of stones on the tin roof, and striking the youthful door-keeper on the nose,- because he would not allow them to look in, no contretemps occurred, and the dancing was kept up in a most praiseworthy *nd spirited manner till 1 a.m. It is to be hoped that at Christmas another such a pleasant day may be passed on the banks of the Waitara River.

Astronomical Notes for November. — The moon will be at full on the 15th, and the last quarter occurs on the 23rd. The moon was nearest to the earth on the 7th, and at the greatest distance on the 22nd. On the 11th, Uranus will be stationary. On the 14th the moon will be par. tially eclipsed, but it will take place before her rising, and will consequently be invisible. On the 15th, Venus will be at the greatest distance from the sun ; on the 21st, Uranus will be in conjunction with the moon ; and on the some day Mercury will be in greatest heliocentrio latitude south. On the 22nd, Jupiter will be in quadrature with the sun, and on the following day will be in conjunction with the moon. On the 25th, Mars will be in oonjunotion with the moon. On the 28th, Mercury will be in greatest elongation. On the Ist December, the sun will be eclipsed, but the eclipse will scarcely be visible in New Zealand, as it takes plaoe about the time the sun rises. Venus is still an evening star, and will be during the month. Mars and Jupiter are both morning stars. The. midnight sky presents its nsnal appearance at this time of the year.

Tuts Wanganui Steam Navigation Company. —The balanoe sheet of the Wanganui Steam Navigation Company will shortly be circulated among the shareholders (says the Wanganai Herald). The most prominent feature is the debit balance in the profit and loss aooount of £1,128 4s. 4d. This however can be explained by the fact that the repairs to the s.s. ' Wanganui'cost no less a sum than £2,073 18s. 7d., while her earnings for the half year, three months of which she was laid up, only amounted to £1,504 2s. lid. The s.s. ' St. Kilda' made £3,189 Us. 6d.; her expenses being £2,987 16a. 65. ; nearly £400 of the latter amount was for urgent repairs. The expenses of management, consisting of fees to Directors £13 2s. 9d., Manager's Commission £176 35., and auditor's salary £35, amounted in the total to £224 ss. 6d. The overdraft at the Bank of New Zealand amounts to £1,958 19s. 2d., whioh sum is reduced by the usaal assets, saoh as outstandingfreights and passages £454 189. lid. ; coals and Stores on hand £113, offioe furniture Ac, fiually showing the debit balance in the profit and loss account as before stated.

Henry Ward Beecher onoe hearing one of his own published sermons delivered in an obecuve village, accosted the preacher on his way out and said " That was a very good discourse ; how long did it take you to write it ?" "O, I tossed it off one evening, when I had leisure," was the reply. " Indeed !" said Mr. Beecher ; " it took me longer than that to think out the framework of that very sermon." "Are you Henry Ward Beecher?" exolaimed the clergyman. " I am," was the reply. "Well, then," said the anabasheJ preacher, " all 1 have to say is, that I ain't ashamed to preach one of your aermooa anywhere !"