MOA BLOCK.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 2415, 31 May 1876, Page 2

MOA BLOCK.

STRAY NOTES FROM INGLEVVOOD.

BOAR BAITING.

Lovers of the good old English sport of boar baiting would have had a treat could they have visited Inglewood last Sunday. They would then have seen twenty, or thirty men and boys, and a small army of dogs, engaged in the exciting amusement of worrying a boar, which had been caught that morning, brought into the centre of the town, and tied by the leg to a stump. It was very kind of the promoters of the entertainment to provide such sport for the public, and the eucouragement they then received showed them how fully their kindness was appreciated. The sounds that filled the air were certaiuly rather confusing. Had , a stranger dropped suddenly amongst them he might, without much stretch of the imagination, have thought he was near a madhouse. From the chapels close by might have been heard praying and singing; from the boar baiting company could be heard shouting and swearing. This, mingled with the yelping and barking of all the dogsiu the township, made a medley of sounds, rarely heard in these days on Sundays amongst a, community of persons calling themselves Christians. We trust such a scene may never be again witnessed in Inglewood, and hope that the boar baiters, if they have no respect for the Sabbath themselves, will, at least, havO sufficient decency as to refrain from offending the ears of those who wish to spend the day in a christian-like manner. If they cannot appreciate anything better than a pig hunt or the like on Sundays, let them, at least, keep away from the town, where-they only disgrace themselves and are public nuisances.

THE KAIN.

I, with the Meterological Office, would like to establish an Ob.iervatory up here, and register the amount of rain-fall we have. They would have to bring their largest size pots, aud empty them every few hours, for it seems to be neai'ly always raining, instead of reckoning by iuches, they would have to reckon by feet, and not a few, of them either. The roads and streets are nearly "knee deep in mud and water, and a journej' of a few hundred yards even in the daytime is a serious business; but at night- it almoßt certainly entails plastered clothes, and broken shins and noses. The ground is thoroughly soaked, the air is full of mist and- fog, (when it is apt raining), and but that we scrub ourselves well every morning, we would soon be able to collect moss and fungus off our ovrn<bodies. Report says that the surveyors (who have to live altogether in the bußh) have to scrapo each other every morning with sheath knives' ' to get rid of the moss, &c, which has sprouted during the night ; but how far that is true, I cannot say. I have not myself seen them undergo the operation.

SAW MILL.

If the weather and tht roads "would give them anything of a chance, Messrs. Broadmore and Co. would soon commence sawing operations ; but if it keeps like it is at present, they won't be able to make much show this winter. They have cleared a large place for their timber yards and sheds, and would soon have the latter erected if the rain would only cease for a week or two, but I suppose that is too much to expect before next Christmas. How they are going to get their machinery here from Now Plymouth, or their logs to the mill, is a puzzle, as the mud is. scarcely soft enough for a boat to be of service, and moreover .Tarrsuaki timber won't float. lam afraid they will be able to do little more thau get nil prepared for a good start early in Spring.

THE LATE FIRE.

A subscription is being got up in Inglewood for the Danish family who were burnt out last, week. Although they managed to save Borne' things, their loss, besides the mhare, amounts, to upwards of £30 — a large sum for persons in their position, and one they can ill afford, as they are old people, not able to do much work, and have several young children to support. If a fair amount cannot be raised up. liGre for them, it is very possible the charitablydisposed in New Plymouth may be requested to give a little aid.

Mako Mako.