Untitled

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 66, 19 April 1873, Page 3

Tbe Nebraska, which was to have left Auckland yesterday, will probably be the last steamer of the Webb line, and the service is virtually and practically at an end. There has lately bt en serious grounds for < omplair.t at the manner in which this mail contract has been carried out, the principal reason assigned being that the most necessary consideration of all —punctuality, has not been observed. As we stated in our last, the Government have felt bound to exact compensation from the contractor, and Mr Thomas ■ ussell, of Auckland, is, we presume, by the time this sheet reaches our readers, on his way to America to enforce such claim. The cause of Mr Webb’s failure *o proceed further with his engagement is alleged to be that the United States Government, from whom be expected to obtain assistance, have been defeated in Congress by powerful political opposition. A rumour is current that a new mail service between California and New South Wales, with a branch line to New Zealand, is on the tapis by the New South Wales Government, out it is at present only a rumour. The all impostant question which prompts itself at this Juncture of affairs is—What is to be done in the meantime? The satisfactory solution of this somewhat difficult problem we leave with the utmost confidence to the Honorable the Post master-General, and depend upon it, somehow or other, he’ll “pull us through.’* The Per. Mr. Jordan has, we understand, notified to the Committee of the Mechanics' Institute his willingness to deliver the lecture be kindly promised for the benefit of the funds of , e society, at any time it may be desirable. It probably eventuate in about a month’s time, m conjunction with a musical melange. It is reported that the Vincent on arrival will chartered to convey the telegraph materiel now blocking up the end of tbe wharf, to Katikati Whangamata. We hope such may be the . ® or * Ngatai, we hear, is erecting a large build* mg at Whareroa, to be used on State occasions as * meeting house for the discussion of any subjects e natives may be interested in. '1 be house is o be called “ Pauru Kitahi,” after one of the “gaiterangi ancestors famous for never breaking 6 promise he had once made. Ngatai intends *cuding invitations to all the tribes in the Taudistrict to be present at tbe opening, which V n P^ ace immediately after tbe return of Commissioner Clarke from the North. Hr Hamlin, tbe worthy Resident Magistrate of *t»*etu f ig daily expected overland from Napier.

sieved bv m PP TI m °“ r columns OommittZ f Edgcumbe, LP. t Clmirman of evened Vh ’ lUeßtl , n S all have not already K fne ? lorml Petitioning the Government and Tauno 6 to ° f COachea between Tauranaa na laupo. fod° «o as soon aa possible. Over having-T ttlretd £ atUched - the memorial houaea ™ fch<? dis triet to «e til era Xiie thanks of the public are due to tli« ior m ZT el6 £l ed by th ° on e the Lhject! lor the very able manne* «« »u_ J • \ in ob?- “° d fot in obtaining signatures. “ * r;^hf D w mber ° f th ® members of the Tauranga aft g ZL?n°” e ftt the ButU OQ Wednesday ’ ID -° rder to co,ll P ete for a portion of of T^° ney PnZ mu P TT nted b - T Mr R - McDonald, of Tauranga. The following i« the result;—lst P RKi e, S Ptain adv Tick } > •* 2nd Prize. Lake /qo\’ P rsze » Murpoy (34)} 4th prize, Saunders i' , Tbe residue of the amount presented will be fired for on W ednesday afternoon next, at the same time and place. A splendid sample of onions, grown from itnghah seed, of theyeims known as Spanish, and possessing all the qualifications of a good sound onion, may be seen in the window of Captain Norris s shop. They were grown by Mr Earl, of the Gate Pa. The tenders (2) of Mr R. A. Scott, for delivery of about eight tons of wire, insulators, &c., alone the telegraph line from Tauranga to Katikati, and tor about 23 tons between Maketu and Tapuaeharuru, have been accepted. The whole of the material required for the line from Grahamstown to about half way between Katikati and Tauranga was on board the Hangatira (which arrived here on Thursday last) ; and the remainder, to be landed at Napier and Tauranga, will shortly be forwarded from Wellington. Th© Nebraska, with outward English mail, was to leave Auckland yesterday. A. notice to this effect was only received at the Post Office hero on Wednesday last, consequently we could not inform our readers before this. A preliminary notification appears in our advertising columns from Mr O’Sullivan, Inspector of Schools, to the effect that teachers under the Education Hoard who do not bold certificates ol competency, or with whom special arrangements have not been macte, will b© required to come up fov examination in .Auckland when called upon to do so. A Nets Zealand Gazette Bxtraor dinary, of the Bth instant, contains a proclamation from his Excellency further proroguing Parliament from 15th April to 15th May next. Hopkins Clarke, Esq., is gazetted revising officer for the East Coast. Tenders are invited for the purchase of the whole or any portion of £250,000 New Zealand Government debentures, issued under the Acts of the Legislature of the colony, entitled “ The Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1870," and “The Defence and Other Purposes Loan Act, 1870. * Haora Tipa, of Taupo, has been appointed an assessor under the *• Outlying Districts Sale of Spirits Act, 1870.'* A statement of the receipts and expenditure of the public account (General Government), for the quarter ended 29th March, is to hand, and may be seen on application at our office. By a private telegram we learn that Peacock’s Hotel at lawera, half wav between iNapier and Taupo, has been burned down. The origin of the fire is unknown The stock and building were insured in the South British for £4OO. Four seats in the House of Representatives are now vacant, or will shortly be so, namely—Lyttelton, Roslyn (Otago), Invercargill, and Nelson Suburbs. Mr E. C. Lockett, who is now in the Armed Constabulary Force stationed at Taupo, made the following splendid score lately when practising for representatives firing —lsoyds, 44444, 20 ; 200yds, 34444, 19; 250yds, 43443, 18 ; 300yds, 33434, 17- Tlius making 75 points at the four distances. The score was made with a cavalry carbine, and is not often reached in this colony, if indeed it ever has been. Mr Lockett had the misfortune to break one of his fingers just before the time for firing for a choice of representatives, and was thus debarred from taking part in the prize firing this year. The following requisition to Mr Douglas, M.P.C-, is in course of signature;—“We, the undersigned electors of Tauranga, having confidence in your ability and judgment, and being satisfied with the manner in which you have acted as our representative in the Provincial Council, beg that you will again permit yourself to be put in nomination as a candidate for a seat in the Provincial Council at the next election.'' Captain Hepburn, of the Hangatira, informs us that a serious accident occurred on board that vessel during last Saturday afternoon when loading up at the wharf, Wellington. While lifting a heavy piece of machinery, the foremast of the steamer gave way, and brought down with a heavy crash the entire rigging, yards, &e , landing the machinery between the whart and the vessel. It was a miraculous escape for the officers and crew working on the spot. Fortunately all escaped unhurt. New gunpowders have been in fashion of late. We are now told in a late scientific paper that a gunpowder possessing very great projectile power has been adopted (?) by the Prussian artillery. Nitre and sawdust are mixed together in certain proportions ; in this state it is kept without risk. When required for use, aa much sulphuric acid ia added as will make the sawdust cohere—when dried, the gunpowder is ready for use. Mr Blake, District Telegraph Inspector (says the j Poverty Bay Standard), arrived in town last evening from Wairoa and the coast, accompanied by Mr Drummond, Engineer to the Road Board. Mr Blake reports favourably of the position of telegraph affairs, so far as the erection of the line between Gisborne end Napier is concerned. This work will be commenced from the Napier end in the course of the next fortnight; and if favoured by fine weather, we may expect to bo in instant communication with the rest of the colony by the end of the year.