WAIKATO WHISPERINGS

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 39, 11 June 1881, Page 426

WAIKATO WHISPERINGS

— An athletic club is spoken of for Hamilton. •"■ — Mr Fred Whitakev made an excellent speech to his constituents at Hamilton on Saturday. — A masquerade ball is the latest thingspoken of in Hamilton. — The affair connected with a certain hotel not a hundred miles from Hamilton East has been settled to the satisfaction of one of the parties solely. — The inky-milky-mud-slinger has been insulting the members of a. private club, and the gentlemen and ladies thereof have sat upon him. — The amateur minstrel troupe, calling themselves the Pseudo-Ethopiansi will give a performance on Tuesday next, which, from all I can hear, will he a big success. — Since the calico ball the fashion in boots lias changed somewhat. The prevailing style now is shoes and rosettes. — Our dear members, including the hon. member for Piako, and future Colonial Treasurer (William Archibald) left us in tears on Monday. It is somewhat consoling to know that by going on that day they got cheap fares to the Empire city. — J. B. was "hitched up" in the most approved fashion on Tuesday week, he and his charmin<* bride leaving for Auckland after the ceremony. Strange to relate the bridegroom's house at Waitoa, which had been furnished for the reception of its new mistress, -was burned to the ground on the night of the wedding. — The subject which just now is uppermost in the minds of Hamilton people, at any rate, is the proposal to get a free bridge. There can be no question that the granting of such a petition as is now being got up would only be an act of justice to the district, and the Borough Council have gone the right way to work by enlisting the sympathies of outsiders, who are, after all, just as much interested in the question as the people of Hamilton. — The political horizon is pretty clear so far. If any little clouds "no bigger than a man's hand " are at all visible they lie along- the western sky; on the Waikato side the heavens are pure and unflecked. There may be some little dissatisfaction expressed because of the member not following the plan of giving a few parting words to his constituents before going South ; but no want of confidence in his readiness and ability to serve them is likely to spring from this circumstance. It appears to be pretty well understood that Mr Tole will come forward for Waipa, should his illustrious chief not select that constituency for himself ; but it will be an unwise step for either to take. The choice of the electors is pretty certain to fall on a local man, so long as one fulfilling certain necessary conditions can be found, and although the politics of Sir George may have a few admirers in Waipa they are not likely to base their action upon that. The best qualification for a member is his power to obtain certain much required grants, and it may be doubted whether the present member for the Thames has a better chance of serving the Waipa people in this respect than some others. Major Jackson has not yet finally decided upon coming out; but having plenty of leisure and means the odds are in favour of his doing so. — The Tauranga fire has roused the people of Cambridge to action in the matter of the water supply at last. A report had been circulated by the Engineer concerned that an ample flow of water could be obtained from a creek on the Maungakawa range, at a trifling cost of some £5,000. Of course money is no object, but water is, and in consequence a committee of prospectors was appoinsod the other night for the purpose of verifying the story about the springs. The most practical men in the township— Messrs Kirkwood, Gcnimill, and Hewitt (stick included)— were selected for this post, and on Friday morning they went forth on *heir errand. About mid-day a report came in to the effect that the stream might fill a two-inch pipe but certainly not more; and I believe the explorers, on their return, conflrmed the statement. Since then they have gone pretty well over the country in search for the precious fluid, for which none of our publicans can provide a sufficient substitute ; but lam of opinion that we shall be obliged to fall back on the offer of the Steam Navigation Company after all. How quickly ■would a shower of rain dispel all this excitement. But as there really does exist some apprehension of danger in the event of an outbreak of fire, I would respectfully suggest that a large tank be erected near the English Church to be kept filled by pumping from the lagoon