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Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 52, 1 March 1873, Page 3

Wo learn that Mr Ryan, engineer, has come to some arrangement with the promoters of the proposed Flour Mill Company, and that the work of erecting a flour mill in the district will be commenced as soon as possible. “ Long may it wave.”

A preliminary meeting of gentlemen desirous of forming a Fire Brigade for Tauranga wua heid at the Tauranga Hotel on Tuesday evening last. Mr H. R. George occupied the "chair. ° The Chairman explained the object of the meeting, dwelling briefly, but ably and forcibly, on tlu? necessity of establishing a brigade, and citing several clauses from the New Zealand Volunteer Regulations, 1870, bearing on the matter. The Chairman—who, wo learn, has had considerable experience of the working of Volunteer Fire Brigades on the West Coast—also answered several questions in a manner that showed he was thoroughly up in the subject. A conversational discussion ensued as to the advisability of establishing an independent Brigade or one under the regulations of the Volunteer Actj and it was ultimately decided to obtain all necessary information and report thereon. The following gentlemen were appointed io act as a committee : —Messrs H. R George, F. George, D. Asher, Booth, Bennet, and Holler. A list of persons desirous of enrolling their names was opened, and a number of signatures obtained. After a hearty vote of thanks to tho Chairman, the meeting adjourned. Mr Booth kindly promised to act as secretary pro tern. . Ws learn that Mr Alley’s cattle were temporarily stopped by the natives at Waihi, the other but Mr Mackay, who happened to be in the locality at the time, managed to arrange matters satisfactorily. The Ven. Archdeacon Brown was a passenger °7 the Southern Cross, from Auckland, on Wednesday afternoon. In the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, a bushman was find 5s and costs for drunkenness. On the following day two other inebriates were also treated in the usual manner. Divine service was held on Wednesday evening (Ash^ Wednesday), at the Memorial Schoolroom. The Rev. Mr Jordan preached a suitable sermon on the occasion to an attentive congregation. A meeting of the Tauranga Highway Board was held at the Court House on Wednesday, at ■3 p.rn. Present—Chairman, Captain Skoet, and Mr Kirk. The state of Judea Road was considered, it having been inspected by the Chairman Captain Sheet. The secretary was instructed to a raw up specifications for repairs of the J adea Road, also for forming portion of the road between Judea and Otumailai. Public tenders to bo called for the work. Other repairs were required,, but tho execution was postponed till the rates were collected. Cyras HaJey, the infamous incendiary and would-be murderer, escaped from Dunedin gaol the other day. It is stated that he threw pepper into tho eyes of a warder, who w.is shaking blankets at the time, and managed to temporarily escape irom custody. Happily tho wretch whs speedily captured. We presume a strict inquiry will oe held into the matter. Thera appears to 3e gross negligence somewhere. __The Hon. John Hall, who is in a delicate state of health, is about to visit England. We trust the sea voyage may be beneficial to him, and that before long be will return to us with restored vigour. The colony cannot afford to lose Mr Had altogether. Some time ago tho natives residing near Heke’a Pa complained to the Native Minister that the English slain there (and our loss on tho occasion °‘ l be storm!?'g of the pa, it will be remembered was very severe) were buried in exposed places. Upon this the Mon Mr McLean very properly promised the natives £2O to secure decent burial of the departed braves. In a late Parliamentary paper we perceive that Mr Commissioner Clarko has written in his usual able manner on the sub-j-cf. He says; ‘‘The natives were actuated to this from a respect to our dead, and a fear lest the remains of their former brave enemies should, by any accident, bo disturbed or subjected to indignity.” We learn that the natives have not only carefully re-interred tho remains, but have built a neat little church in memory of their dead enemies. This noble and graceful act requires no comment.

Members, ot the Taumnga Kale Volunteer dPtR Wa ‘’ mtend t 0 COm P ete for llio CWrnme.it her P >T° B ’ Ur ° re « uired b y advertisement in v > r Z ia 'T , to attend »t Captain UuZ * ° e bof r e tho 3rJ insttlllf - *» P«* down tatir names on the list'of the set they lire in. Caobihlb sb * u | a , also 6onci thtl *r names in to captain funks at tho same time. An interesting firing match amongst the men- I b n r !- 01 tlu ’ I’aurungA Light lior.se Cavulrv f l ; | pyce the Government butts, on. Th-V- .?■••• i afternoon lust. Captain Chau wick n»d’ V'Tffi I tenants Connor and Craig were t. . . -t, . considering the wretched slate ot the' Cvc-a-V,- ! t icre was a good attendance of comp.-ti; or* j prizes otiered were, .a handsome gold ,-fi-iiu J seated by Captain Snell, and four monev awards. I Ihe ranges were—lso yards standing.' A.) , OUJ yards ac any position, five round- t i 1 range. «ergoant-M»jor Murphy won the iW* i prize (gold chain), with a score of 44 p,- i trooper Robertshaw second (monev) Ti 1 | and tho residue was awarded to t i.o‘'t.fit Told I troopers Fleetwood, 40 ; Lake, d J ' 37. _ The officers are well pleased ’ vhih Vh scoring (which was undoubtedly good) and the general efficiency of the corps, him the e vvam.l Captain Chadwick distributed tho prves .u' ■ Tauranga Hotel. Tho Obinemutu natives liavo agreed to allow tho blasting at Waiwbakarewarcwa to emuimnino men engaged at this work had their tools taken from them, and were sent into Ohum-nnin about a fortnight ago. Two Maori police :ir . carry the tools back on Monday nest, when 1 'work will bo resumed. * 1 A meeting of tho Provisional Committee ..f o>,» I proposed Tiro Brigade will be held at the' Tun- i ranga. iiotel on Monday evening, at H o’i I list of membership can bo signed at, Mr W V i Bootlfs office, that gentleman having kindff I oliereri to act as honorary secretary. M>* IL-voth i has a happy knack of obtaining the-,* bowl,.'-re-appointments. Tho public are" indebted io Mr Kooth for voluntary and gratuitous service'* rendered on several occasions, the more' «oV.«'V 10 ahvays performs his official duties in an tnrlcieni, and thoroughly satisfactory manner. Tee names ot several gentlemen are mentioned as candidates tor the position of captain of the brigade. At tue District Court, Auckland, on Monday last, the case of Macfurhino v. Cook was m-rt inlly board, and further adjourned for a mouth. * A special meeting of the Town Board wasTudd yesterday morning. Present—Cantaiua Tanks* (c hair man) and Norris, and Messrs‘Sanu:el= and Wrigley. The secretary having reported tho town pump to have been erected, the members of the Board present proceeded to inspect same’"and having approved thereof ordered .Vhw. rk ss ff. and Tinne’s account to be passed and paidu * An ! abundant supply of really beautifully pure water can now be obtained. Tho anxiously expected proclamation of Whauganiata and Hikutaia, being open for occupation as a goldfield, in the Provb-.ffial Government Gazette of' the 20tb February la-t! In speaking of the now field the Tkanu-n Advert dvr of a late date says A number of men liavo returned from llikutaia and Whangamata, and soon afterwards left for Auckland, With one accord they pronounce the new field a 4 duller.’ We should be sorry to say one word which might induce men to leave ot her occupations to proceed to the new held, but those who have gone there should not form an opinion on insufficient, ground, or come to a conclusion to depart from the ground without giving it a fair trial. Wot the country well prospected, it is quite possible a good payable field might be opened up ; bat some men, if they do not find a golden reef in a few days, lose heart, and declare there is nothing in the country. It is to be hoped Thomas Brogau will make some sign, and peg out his gold-bearing r eef —if he really ever discovered one. Should ho take no steps to do this, we rray then safely conclude that the whole of the proceedings nro a gigantic fraud, and that the O-oyernirumt and the public at large have been wilfully deceived.” At the Native Circuit Court, on Thursday last, before Mr Commissioner Clarke an ; _V» oe Assessor Hori Ngatai, a case was heard -- c b . -j t. Wiremu £i gatote ; claim, £6, value hrr.-o illegally detained. Judgment for plaintiff 1 , horse to be restored to owner immediately. There has been a considerable amount of firing at the butts lately—class firing, practice, and even matches—in which a go d d 0 f Lad in the shape of rifle bullets bn* b „r. expended. Where has it j|lljgone to ? M-ikb.: allowance for byes and wicfCs, il not since rciuoved, the bulk of it ought to be found strewed in front of the butt and buried in the sand. An approximation towards the quantity so deposited* might be arrived at by reckoning tho individual number of shots fired. There are usually three ranges of Cvo shots each, which,. takinglho bullet lit an ounce weight, would give 1 u a., or c-my a pound weight of lead per day for each man. Then, taking the number o f days and tho average attendance, we w ouid got no some ra’.her ~- i: r j figures, and might probably find th «t there ought i to be a metallic deposit worth cuiu.cs.ing. A fi_r.v j years ago a person in Tauranga, after three visits i to the butts, collected over 6ib. of lead. Before i that time tho attention of the military authorities j had been drawn to the circumstance :but natives | frequently visited tho spot and gatffi r-.-d all {hey I couid find, for tho purpose of using it ay inst the 1 pakeha. Consequently, fatigue raruvs mo"* I de»ailod for tho purpose of uuti .inaiiug suea i predatory visits, but now—who gr-is tho le.id ? I Wo know that in times gone by, natives set a, very ! liigh value on the metal, which they Is -• 1 no inv j of obtaining except by stealth fre M. t r q-.win-. * As criminal business is rather dull at prs-eaf, 1 defective officer Kell will perhaps permit us to i suggest this as a subject worthy of invtatig.ifi ,n. ; An Arms Act to prevent the ..-ale of ammunition i to natives is of very little use if wo scatter if liberally about for them to pick up-. By a private telegram we h-arn <haf. Mr Mackay was at Katikati on Thuri-day Lst whither he proceeded to Opurcora tor tho purpose' - of purchasing a block of And on behalf of the Government. It ws? his intention to return to Whangamata immediately the transaction was completed.

Ihs iusmouciuy -S;r Ocargo Buwcu is cvocctcd to arrive at AuWUnd on Monday rex(. ' ’ohva' i preparations are being made for Ins reception, February is considered to lie Fee driest mon«h .•hiw.gl.out the rV-w Zealand year. Wo mmsume ru'=o ' C!lr 13 tU ° eXlV i‘ Uja required !o prove the