Notes from the West.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 466, 12 June 1890, Page 3

Notes from the West.

[from oub own correspondent.] THE DISCRIMINATING “ GRIPPE.” Maraetaha, June 9, Although I am aware that the absence of my usual letter hiu caused an enormous decrease in your circulation, and that the gravest uneasines has been felt in the highest poliiical circles in the Empire City, still I dared not inflict on your readers such inane drivellir.ga as must necea arily be the outcome of that frightful disease which without respect of persons has dared even to assail royalty, a d has not respected even the sacred person of “ your own.” Need I say that I refer to la grippe ?

Whilst on the subject of that grim offshot of the king of terrors, I may mention that his ravages have necessitated the closing of the local educational establishment for a fortnight, by which time it is hoped that the effects may be less apparent. A PLEASANT CHOICE ! I grieve to have to record another injustice to Ireland. It appears that the lessee of a certain Government block at Paraetu has erected a fence which crosses the line of road between here and the Mahia, and the 'travelling public are left the option of either jumping seven wires or down a precipice, a modern version cf Scylla and Charybdis. THE RENOWNED “ SYDNEY ” —HIS MIGHTY INTENTIONS. Mr Sydney Taiwhunga has recently been paying a visit to the Mi rewai, and hh wouldbe constituents in this locality. He, in answer to a leading question I put to him on the subject, distinctly denied that he was canvassing—which is fair presumptive evidence concerning his principal object—but that he came to uphold the cause of hia injured and down trodden aboriginal brethren with respect to Pakowhai and Maraetaha blocks. The former he intends to have returned to them in its integrity, and, of the latter, four shares which have been, so he says, wrongly obtained, are to be given back. This of course does not prejudice Tokomaru and several other blocks, for which he says natives have got nothing—that means that theyv'e spent all they got, and are whipping the cat over it. Mr Taiwhanga’s eloquence had such an effect that the Murewai natives sent round the hat and collected £ll, of which they begged the M.H.R.’s acceptance, but it was declined proudly— not enough, I suppose 1 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENGINEHE. I noticed that Uaptaiu Winter arrived here yesterday afternoon, and am glad to be able to congratulate him on having escaped aecident in those dangerous quagmires at Pakirikiri, or drowning in the lagoon, which all passengers to the Murewai have to ford. The recent dry weather has conriderrtbly lowered its depth, and at time of writing it is not much higher than the axles of a buggy. Pretty rough on pedestrian?, though, when a c mparativeiy few loads of sand would remedy it.