Alpha Hotel, Kihikihi
A ferocious ferret found its way into the Pirongia hotel, having escaped its owner. It promptly attacked Mrs Finch, landlady, who ran into a room and perched upon a chair for safety. The ferret then made for a group of ladies who shrieked and yelled as they bolted out of the hotel and down the street. The footloose ferret was soon contained by its owner. Mr Finch was also vexed when some larrikins smashed the lock and gate of a horse paddock rented by him. The water trough was upset but the horses, fortunately, did not get out.
There was a strong suspicion as to who the delinquents were, and they were warned to stop lest they fall into the hands of Constable Jones.
Amusements at Te Awamutu in the form of a boxing match failed to amuse. A sparse audience was at the contest which was not a success financially. Donovan, a professional pugilist, was backed for £l0 to beat in four rounds another professional named Thomas. The gloves were gloves in name only and while an exhibition of boxing with properly padded gloves was not objectionable, to see men beat each other for the sake of a few pounds was not to the taste of the good people of Te Awamutu.
A ‘no-policeman’ policy at Kihikihi bore unwholesome fruits. The store of Mrs Corboy had its window shutters taken down and a pane of glass removed, evidently with a glazier’s diamond. An iron bar across the window was bent to allow access. The till was emptied but only of small change, the takings having been removed at closing time. Biscuits, tinned meat and fish were taken, as well as a considerable quantity of tobacco, coat and trousers of Kaiapoi tweed, and several pair of English tweed trousers, some saddle stirrup straps, and a stock whip. The same night the stables of Anderson’s Kihikihi Hotel were relieved of saddles and two horses. The Alpha Hotel’s meat safe was also burgled. The nearest policeman lived at Te Awamutu, and as he couldn’t be in more than one place at a time, the thieves made clear off with their plunder.
A soiree, concert, and ball to celebrate the opening of the new school at Ōhaupō drew a large attendance, despite the wet night. A sour spectator described the concert as disappointing because several gentlemen singers, afraid of wetting their feet, did not come. The ladies came bravely though, not afraid of wet feet. The ball was too much like hard work, and the floor was thick with mud. Funds raised were to go towards building a shed for the schoolboys. Just getting to Ōhaupō was a trial for some – rain had made railway lines very shaky, particularly at the Ōhaupō swamp where the oscillation of the carriages was so great as to alarm timid passengers.
