AMENITIES OF ROTORTTA.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 235, 14 March 1885, Page 8

AMENITIES OF ROTORTTA.

Ward, Junior, o:sr Bathing.

You see when I was up at Kotorua I gave mortal offence to the native wahines, no doubt. See how it was : — I went up to Whakarewere to get a bath. The bathing is quite private ; there is the native cooking spring, and close to are various bath holes, as unprotected from view as the centre of the street, natives and white people walking about all the time choosing the time when the coast is clear; the only incumberence being an ancient lady of the native race cleaning potatoes. Her I requested to skedaddle, but she took no notice of my request. I again requested her to go away in the most persuasive manner, which only brought out a reply to the effect that I was to bathe away, as she had to attend to her cooking. I then took up a piece of limestone to heave at her, but, seeing my intention, she started to shout with all her might for the whole settlement to turn out to see a fool of a pakeha who was afroi :1 to be seen bathing. It's a fact. Before you could say Jack Robinson half the settlement had put in an appearance. Squatting on their haunches around me, half-a-dozen of the small fry had in the twinkling of an eye slipped into the very pool of water I had intended to bathe in. By this time my boots and socks were off, coat and vest carefully laid aside, and, as I happened to turn my head, I saw the curtains of a whare drawn aside by two pakeha wahines.

Come what would, I was determined to have my bath ; and as all my persuasion only served to increase the crowd, 1 offered Paddy half-a-crown to go for the policeman, which he flatly refused to do. Then I extorted a promise from the chief to hold me harmless for indecent exjiosure.

By this time my suspenders were hanging down my ba"k, and by a short turn of the head, I could see two faces protruding through the aforesaid curtains. I continued to disrobe. (Nasty fellow ; no wonder they were vexed.) Stop until I tell you. As a last warning, I called out for all decent people to go away. This only produced a laugh at my expense. I then took off shirt and flannel, and with one mighty effort off with my pants, and every mother's son cleared out; the window at the rear was slammed down. "No wonder ; you ought to get six months for exposing yourself." " You shut up ; I didn't expose myself — that's what vexed them. I had another pair of pants underneath — that's what vexed them." [That will do, Ward. — Ed. Obs.].