A TRUE GHOST STORY.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 1, 2 May 1872, Page 2

A TRUE GHOST STORY.

! A ghost Eitofy in tljjs prosaic age is too | uncommon to bo allowed to pass' without | comment.- Lately this settlement was thrown | into ft great state of excitement by the report i that certain unearthly sounds were to ho | heard by anyone who felt inclined to visit I the Delta Hotel. At first the public wero j dubious, being- under the impressiion that tins I jolly host had spread the report in order* to | dispose of ah extra quantity of his g< }■ ■ liquor. The most sceptical were, however* j soon convinced that there was somethingia" 't. Pale faces were seen issuing- from the doors, and the owners themselves evinced a decided inclination to " bolt," and this, wo believe, they were only prevented froni doing by the fear that they would lose the renutaj tion for true courage which the residents in this township flatter themselves they are justly celebrated for. Our reporter was speedily on the spot, and, accompanied by the most courageous of the on-lookers, took a front seat in the bar-parlour and waited for the mysterious spirit to notify his presence in the usual manner. They were soon gratified by hearing an unearthly sound, which appeared to proceed from immediately beneath . their feefc. Notwithstanding the liberal quantum of " Dutch courage " most of the party had provided' themselves with, there was a visible standing on end of haitv Our reporter says ho was sufficiently cool to notice this—we don't believe him. Authority was now appealod to. The Inspector and the whole of the constabulary force (two individuals) marched dauntlessly to the spot. Special messeugers were despatched for the two J.P.'s, and on their arrival the ghost-hunt commenced in earnest,, The Inspector frowned and looked determined • the two J.P. s shook their heads and looked wise ; the spectators stood arouncl with their mouths open. The Inspector being'the man of action, ordered his men to dig vigorously. Thpy did so, but the only resmlt was a profuse perspiration on the part of the constables. 'I hey were not accustomed to such severe exercise. As nothing was to be found below, it struck the Inspector (happy thought!) that the cause of the mysterious noises might be in bed upstairs ! lie took action accordingly, found nothing, and was about to retire from the scene, when the burly village blacksmith arrived, and, with his characteristic bluntness, informed the assembled multitude that they were — not wise men ! He had solved the mystery. Our readers will scarcely believe that the car..so of all-this hubbub was merely a hole in the wall through which the wind groaned. Many an ancient ghost story has doubtless arisen from equally natural causes.

«■ Tiie " Evening Post," iu writing, of the Coalfields of New Zealand, says "The time should not be far distant when New Zealand will not

only bo independent of any other country for its supplies of coal, but when a large export trade, will employ labour and capital profitably, and turn the tables so completely, that instead of hundreds of thousands of pounds being annually sent out of the colony for an unproductive article, we shall be absorbing a large portion of the capital of others. It is seldom we can take up any of our "exchanges" without learning of dis, I eoveries of coal-seams in Auckland, Otago, Nelson, Jor Westland. It is not so much capital that is lacking to work these, but labour that will enable it to be done at a remunerative rate. A 'ssue of the « Westport Times " states that Mr. Greenfield, Provincial Secretary, and Mr JJohson, Provincial Engineer, paid a visit to the Nokawa coal mine. Both these gentlemen testify to the value of the discovery of the coal seam winch shows an outcrop of twelve to fourteen feet in thickness .Lhey also speak highly of the navigability of the river and the accessibility of the An y ie coasting steamers can uo aloupside the present seam and be loaded without di/h----r"Juire A " quantity 0 f coals they may Mr Spurgeon bas been staying m Rome, and during his visit preached in the Presbyterian Church there. A correspondent of the II 'I'nUr.xi. " J *1 *

t egiaph, describing the service, writes : Perhaps the boldest thing Mr Spurgeon ever said in his life was said in his running comments before the sermon, while reading a chapter ot Scripture. Somehow or other °he j introduced Rome and Roman affairs in' his | discourse, and raising his hands and eyes at the same time—the hands clasped, the eyes ; turned up to the ceiling—-he broke out, with- ' out warningor preparation of any kind in the ! following terms:— I 'o, Victor Emmanuel !O, Emmanuel of Heaven, though true Victor! Help the Italians, bless and sanctify their cause, and maice them prosperous." Ido not think the cry of " Fire! "or " Stop thief! " uttered in the middle of the sermon, would have caused much more sensation than this prayer did ; some ot the congregation looked frightened, some indignant, and some painfully amused ; a few old ladirs seemed as if they would rash out of the church, but being too far from the door,kept their seats; others appeared bewildered, hardly knowing whether to laugh or cry, and quite beside themselves. Others again—and they formed the greater portion of the congregation, both-as. regards men and won?,en —sat, as it were spell-bound and devout-looking, wondering what would some next.