Local and General.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 327, 27 October 1875, Page 3

Local and General.

On Saturday afternoon the Postmaster, Mr Sheath, received intimation from Inspector Roberts that in future the A.O. orderlies would discontinue carrying mails between Taurangft, Opotiki, and intermediate settle ments. Mr Sheath, in a laudable spirit of concern for ihe interests of the public, lost no time in acquainting tho postal authorities at Wellington on the matter, pointing out the abruptness of the measure, and the great inconvenience and probable loss it would entail on the settlers along the coast. Wo also placed ourselves in communication with tho authorities, and are happy to state that the A.O. orderlies are to coutinuecarryingthe coast mails as heretofore. We ate not aware of tho motive which actuated the Commissioner of the Armed Constabulary Force when ho issued the order that this mail service should be stopped—doubtless it was a reasonable one from a Wellington point of view; but we aro sure ho could not, have known at tho time of the loss that would thereby be entailed on the whole of th e coastal community referred to, as, with the exception of this Armed Constabulary service there is in reality no postal communication through from Tauranga to Opotiki. We may also add that it would be a good thing for the district if no alteration was made in the present mail service, as we are confident that no arrangements for currying the mail could equal those existing at present. For years past the members of tho Armed Constabulary Force have carried this mail with the regularity of clockwork and tho reliability of a bank. Their work has often been arduous and dangerous, but it has always been punctually and cheerfully performed, and we would challenge contradiction when wo say that a uniform courtesy and willingness to oblige has always characterised the mounted members of the Armed Constabulary Force in their execution of this duty. We are personally deeply indebted to the mounted orderlies in this and the Opotiki districts for many favours received at their hands, for which we take this opportunity of publicly thanking them.

Tho consideration of tho bill introduced by Mr William Kelly, M.H.R., for tho purpose of vesting the reserves in this district in the Town Board has been postponed until next session. It is perhaps as well that such should be the case: at tho advanced stage of the session at which it was introduced by the honorable member, and, in company with so ininp stirring questions before the House, it is piobablo that its great importance would h ivt been overlooked. Tho bill gives power n ‘ho Governor to grant the six reserves of 1 u anga to tho governing body, who may ii use them, with tho exception of the Mechanics’ Institute, Pound, and Cemetery Reserves, for any period not exceeding twentyone years.

Wo notice by the New Zealand Gazette of tho 14th instant that, the jurisdiction of the Maketu Court is extended to fifty pounds from the Ist November instead of twenty pounds as at present. The road from Ohinemutu to Tamvera was completed last Friday, and the Amwd Constabulary shifted camp back to Ohinemutu on Saturday. In about a tortnight’s time the timber for the erection of the bridges on the Wairoa River will be on the ground.

We notice by advertisement that Mr William Hale has commenced business as plumber and general tinsmith in premfies in Wharf street, opposite the new building of tho Bank of New Zealand. We have no doubt Mr Hale will receive a fair share of public support.

According to advertisement Dr Carr delivered a lecture in the Temperance Hall last evening on “ The Philosophy of Life,” a subject which the Doctor treated in a masterly manner. The auhence, though small, numbering about. sixty persons, was a most appreciative one. After the lecture the Doctor examined several heads.

We tire glad to notice that a meeting is convened bj Mr Eoger Mill, at the request of the residents of Greerfon, for the purpose of applying to Government to have a school at that settlement. The District School is undoubtedly too far sway from Qreerton to be of much benefit to the children living there—not only that in bad weather it is impossible ibr the children to walk two miles to and from the school, but even when the weather is fine the little ones, no doubt, dawdle away during their walk too many of the moments which should be spent at their studies. We trust the application may meet with the favorable consideration of Government

A. few members of the Tauranga Lund. Building, and Investment Society were in attendance at the offi -e of the Society on Saurday t-vem’rtg Disk in response to in-* advertisement, calling the meeting, when the new rule relative to (he purchase o' land and an offi v for the Society with the fund* was pa*.-ed, and an am-wdmerit made to the 25th rule, as lately advertised in our issue of the 29th u limo.

The news of a serious mishap to one of the Katikati settlers reached us on Monday last, Tho whan* occupied by Mr Loach, in which ail his worldly goo-Is lately brought from home were stored, has been burnt to the ground, and nil the property destroyed. We sympa this* with Mr Lunch at his loss, winch must ne a most senousouetu him, asgiuiependcuf 1} of the pecuniary importance, there were doubtless among the prop -rty burnt iununw able household goods whscii no money can replace. We have nor yet revived 1,-1. particulars of the origin of ttie fire.

Mr E. (4, Norris has handed us a letter received by him from Sir Cheese man, the Secretary to the Acclimatisation society in Auckland, which relates tho almost entire loss of the trout, a portion of wide were to have been sent to Tauranga. Mr (. in-e.-euiim mentions that the ova w re hatched successfully, hut that about a week after hutching the fish begun to show signs of wcakne.'?, and a few' days after a most serious mortality set in which reduced their number from about 750 to slightly over 200. The survivors have been turned out in the Papakura River, us it was considered necessary to do this to give them a chance of living. Mr Cheeseman further informs Mr Norris that he has written to the South for a fresh supply of ova, and that it is agreed that a third of tho next lot wherever obtained shall be specially reserved for this district.

Composing with a machine has been for some time successfully in operation at the Times office, London, and now experiments are being made, the results of which, if successful, will be the simultaneous corapositon of the leading journal in London and every other great town in tho kingdom. The theory of the process is this: —The external form of the composing marhine exactly resembles that of a piano, and the compositor, by touching a key, drops a type into its proper place. Tho new move is to add electricity to the process, and by means of wires to Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, &k, to compose at both at, tho same time. This is actually already done with Morse’s alphabet, but it: is done still more exactly on the Stock Exchange, where there is a telegraph machine which communicates with the office of every stockbroker in London, minute by minute informs them of the fluctuations in price. To move a typo at the end of a wire 800 miles long lost.eid of a needle, is merely a question of electric power, and it is to this point ot power that tho experiments of the savans of the Times are now directed.