WHAKATAKI NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7401, 4 March 1903, Page 3

WHAKATAKI NOTES.

(From Our Own Corrcsjwnth::!)

Two opposite sensations 1 To como into Mastcrton along forty miles of dusty road, from salubrious Whakataki (I like to rosurrect old words, and "salubrious" has a boarding-school flavour about it) — and to perambulate- your city. Tho former is certainly tho pleasanter. By tho way, I behold iii passing, a picture of prosperous contentment tlmt will long live in m.y mind. A substantial " gudo wifn " (of what avoirdupois I will not speculatively guess) bearing in her largo strong hands a braco of buckets, containing nutriment for swine. Sho wore bluchers si/.o 1(5, and her bust was veiled by a blouse,

measureless and woll-worn; her stride was Amazonian, but leisurely—and her I'ound faix, rubicund, placid and tinwrinkled, bespoke perfect digestion.

And. a little further on, 1 eamo

face to faco with quite an antithetical person. Thcro met me, hurrying along on tho very edge of l-ho roadway, tho wannest, most attenuated, and most woebegone it'ahun- that ever donned petticoat. I longed to bestow upon her an eleemosynary embrace; but presto! sho had vanished. In fact, there was so little of her that it was almost an

iusion

1 must conclude these " Notes " with a personal reference. In a few days I depart for another locality, known by the unpoetical name of " Cross' Creek," whence, however, with the kindly support of this journal, I shall'resume the series. 1 cannot put

into words the regret L experience at quitting tho Valley and tho many frionds I have found here. Hardly over

have 1 felt more keenly tho bondage of circumstances. I havo reason to know

that my " Notes " have been acceptable both here- and throughout the whole

radius of the Daily Timks' circulation, and .so far as I am aware, no voader can

lay his linger upon a passage- calculated :o wound or injure anybody. I tako leave of the Valley and my many frionds

willi deep regret, and with warmest wishes for their success and the future of a very charming sea-side village. " Absence," the poet tells us. '' makes

the heart grow fonder," and 1 am quite sure I shall experience tho truth of his worris. That our intercourse during nearly five years has been pleasant, [ know'—that it has been mutually prolitable, I am glad to bo assured. And now to all let it be "<m irvvir, and not good-bye." My thanks aro due, and arc hereby'tendered, for innumerable kindnesses and much generous appreciation of a column in which 1 havo como to tako a prido and find a joy. Be sure that from the foot of the Uimutaka I shall always look back with pleasing remembrance upon tho quiet scenes of tho Valley.

By way of postscript lot mo add that henceforth my notes, from whatever quarter they may appear, will bear the signature (without which none arc genuine) of P.lt. What that means, I leave the dear reader to find out. P.R.