A WAIKATO TOWNSHIP AND ITS WORTHIES

Observer, Volume 9, Issue 523, 29 December 1888, Page 8

A WAIKATO TOWNSHIP AND ITS WORTHIES

%*ftjtf/.P find a village of sweet', ArCadiahVsim-.7: -Mn 11 PJi°ity is. a. rarity 7mbre to-.be/,priz^47: JUL than the -philosopher's "stone,;":. 'yOur'A. village is remarkable before all others) for its brotherly love and Christian charity. ,'. 7ifp .; ... party spirit, no religious disputes, no backbiting "■'-.. gossip, no afternoon scandal ever, disturbs the ; :"-_ peace and serenity of our village; ' None -_s6'-y ready as our worthies to hold out the right- "hanttfy. of fellowship to visitors. . 7,- i; ' I was a stranger and ye took me in'— rest," assured they will do that for you. :.'."" .;''.'.'•' It may be that the beauty of' the 7 surrounding. r country, has a calming and* beneficent effect ". upon the village: It lies hot within the shadow '. of Auckland, but the inhabitants have an idea that they could teach the Aucklanders a thing qr ' two. ' '■ . And so they could. Our village is further noted for the number of worthy and distinguished families of ancient .7 pedigree residing in it. Naturally the family 7at 7 the' Great House' take the cake.-. They have spent a great portion of their time ih ' f urrin parts,' and they are distinct and separate froitn all -. their fellows, so cannot be mistaken. WhetHer ' furrin parts ' is accountable for that' distinction I know not. We are fortunate in owning as parson an earnest, liberal-minded, broad- thinking, consistent Christian. He is not one of your cramped idead men who think only those of their own particular creed will be received within the ' pearly gates, and walk the golden streets. . Men who are ' called 'to the church are above all those little weaknesses ; they are a yery superior order of beings, purged and cleansed' from all earthly dross. And it would draw tears from a stone to see this worthy mounted on the rostrum discoursing most eloquently upon consistency ' and Christian charity. Christian charity I—how1 — how the phrase sticks in one's gullet ! -Bah ! When , bur spiritual pastors possess ' That charity which thinketh no evil,' 'Do to others as they would be done by,' think less upon the loaves and fishes, and make their actions compatible with their words, then, and not until then, will they get people to believe in their teachings, but straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel is as easy to accomplish now as in the days of the Pharisees. Doubtless our worthy divine will receive his reward. Already in imagination he may see the golden portals yawning wide, and a trumpettongued voice exclaiming : '.Well done, good and faithful servant.' Our village is further adorned by one who must be a lineal descendant of the Great Earl of Warwick (king maker). . This worthy fancies himself a power in the village (if not in the land), indeed would almost have people . believe he has been sent specially to put things right; For one to be seen walking down the street with this 'exalted being ' is quite sufficient to give them a standing in society, for his respectability is sp; overwhelming that in the natural course of things it must overshadow those with whom he conies in con- y tact. If any psalm- singing, T drum-beating, gospel-grinding, corner-praying body locate them- - selves in our. midst this worthy deigns to bestow upon them the ' light of his countenance '—out of pure benevolence of course, not giving an eye "\ to possible votes. -•*,.'• Our village is positively Utopian. We have in our midßt one ivho is desirous of promoting, big schemes of Heaven knows what ? Schemes . which will make the place go ' up like a rocket ! and the fortunes of all concerned. This deligh.t.-7: ful individual will button-hole some poor iinforr. tunate wretch and expatiate for hours upon t&ese 7 airy projects. Will tell you ' how the thirijg is . worked,' enter elaborately into! the most minute 7 details, is quite willing to. take long jo'ufneya: '"A:-, here, there, everywhere, to further these rmafem-.-' ficent projects. Naturally, he does not wish to -? participate in the bepefits which., may acenie .' from these Utopian schemes'; they are originate^ 7 for the; benefit of ■ mankind at large. His^great . , ambition is to pose, as the" noble, disinterested - ; patron. But somehow these bubbles, ai-^ not / , viewed with; favourable ( eye by, the .many, undoubtedly this 'visiphary dreamer will regreW,. fully think he has. but ,' cast his pearls; before swine.-'. " '- - • .' - 7 ;., * -_,_. *';•'-, -,-..-; Hospitality is a great feature, in pur charm- 7 ing retreat. Yoiing cockatoos, .quill-drivers, > counter-jumpers, all find a warih welcome iii the -,. bosom of a worthy family, oneibt the props and. main-springs of this community^: How charming in this fast- and extraordinary ;age; r ; t6' see youths, instead of diving into-th^ , y of billiards ani euchre, wiarblifigV^weef djttieß with ' maidens fair ; then they bljoud^ not theijf , 7 superb brains with strong "drink hor .'■!* look upon 7; the wine when it is red,' but, r ef isß#;jhis}x. , flagr. :. ging energies with a beverage; whicH('Hail6; {from the sunny land of India. ..'.'-. * yf _7 7 A How utterly too-tod to ; see theßte. damsels y chaperoned by 'mamma' taking an/airin'g.:ip v ii-:: ' v ; chariot which might have been -f9?7/ Cinderella herself. How the:impeci^iMiou__^a^d'H ineligible must envy the gilded ypiith 7 wh0;77 basks in such smiles of beauty. , >' ; \ ' . j ';\ '. -A A But alas! they are such laggards, their; throaty are dry; they will come and they will' go^ahdJy after all chariqts and horses may prove a delusion 77 and a snare, so even, mammas -with captivating y daughters tp t ; -.settle with such ; attractiohs'ae' in? .teilectuaj and sprightly conversation, '.; seductiyie . y strains of masie, and the gorging 1 to repl^libh dif 7 ; i ayourably^e^ed that VLiie;is;^ot. all. beer'ahd skittles 1' - -... AAA Oh! mod^riar^rcadia ! ; sweet rural simplicity/"* 7 one is loth; tofAlpayeiysuoh' a charming themeV77 Thy perfect' and "haioyoh days, thy graoibus 'an J . dignified wortliies; shall we ever .behold "their, :, like, agaiiriyyyt:' 'y ' „'- v ;,-7 : -'7- 1 . -\-y ;'7^7S [What . Waijkatb . township : 7can ; y:our ' cprresfivli pondent .mian^. anyone* 'recbghisfe the' : picture ?^Ed r 0;3. 77 •