Local and General.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 404, 26 July 1876, Page 2

Local and General.

The management of the Bowena could hardly have chosen a more inconvenient time for laying the steamer up for repairs than the present ; the outward English mail via San Francisco leaves Auckland .on Monday next, 31st inst., and owing to the Bowena being laid up, the Bay of Plenty portion of the mai] will be too late. We certainly think a little more regard to the convenience of the public should be evinced. Due notice should have been given of the intention of laying up the steamer, in order to afford business people and others an opportunity of forwarding their correspondence by the last trip. 'It is not even now too late to avert the inconvenience to which we refer, aiid we would Buggest that the StaffU be placed on direct far Auckland ; there are many passengers here waiting for a steamer, and to whom the totally unexpected delay caused by the Kowena's non> arrival is a very serious matter. We trust the management of the Bteamers will adopt our sugges> tion and put the Staffa on direct to Auckland

without any delay. Since the above was in type, Major Scannell has courteously placed an A.C. orderly at the disposal of the Postmnster, and an overland mail leaves this morning at ten o'clook.

Mr Bhodes has addressed a letter to the Chairman of the Town Board, pointing out that as Captain Tunks is not qualified to hold a seat in the Board, he considers himself duly elected, and claims to take his seat as a mem' ber of the Board, Wo are not quite clear as to the legal aspect of the question ; whether Mr Bhodes, beingt he only other candidate at the late annual meeting, is entitled to the seat to which Captain Tunks was illegally elected, or whether the illegality of Captain Tunks' election vitiates the oleotion of the entire body of Trustees ; but in either case we are of opinion that Mr Rhodes has not adopted the proper couraeln petitioning the Chairman of the Board, who has no authority whatever to decido the question in any shape or form. Mr Rhodes should avail himself of the privii lego of the Act, and institute proceedings through the Eesident Magistrate's Court if he. feels himself in any way aggrieved.

The imperative necessity of bridging the Uritara river, running through tho Katikati settlement, is daily becoming more apparent, to persons having to travel along the Tauranga and Eatikati road. The tracks loading to the fords which have hitherto been used, run through private property, and are now fenced in, so that the river has to be crossed higher np, at a point near where the bridge wilievontually be. This ford is also on private property however, and in addition to being very dangerous may be expected shortly to be fenced in. The only place where the river can (hen be forded will be at the crossing where the road runs to the river, and where tho bridge should be, but here the only way of getting across is by boat. We would most foroibly draw the attention of the proper authorities to this state of things, as unless the ereotion of the bridge over tho Uritara is immediately proi ceeded with, the Katikati settlers on either side of the river will virtually be cut off from communication with the other portion of the block nnd the adjacent country. Travellers passing through overland will also not only be greatly inaonveniencsd, but great risk to live may be expected to ensue from the dangerous nature of the ford in its present un> bridged state.

A meeting of the ratepayers in the Tqu> ranga North Township Highway Distriofc is convened 4y the chairman of the Board, to bo held in the Temperance Hall on the 9th proximo, for tho purpose of electing a Trustee in tho place of Captain Thomaa Tunks, resigned,.

-~* IIIIMIIIMI MM,'' -»--jfe The ladies,- of the Bazaar committee have^ requested us. to mention -that contributions, to* »_ the refreshment table, oh the 3rd; and 4th -! proximo, will be thankfully received, -j ■ . ?

We are requested by Mr John Maxwell, of the Belfast Bakery, to state- that he is not-the Maxwell figuring in. the B.M. Court on Wednesday last in the debt case Gardiner v, Maxwell. .

Ohinemuri is looking up again, and we learn by telegram, from a reliable source, that there is every probability of a branch of that enter • prising monetary institution, the Bank of New Zealand, being opened there.

An extraordinary meeting of the Tauranga North Township Highway Board was held yesterday morning. The only business transaoted was in connection with the resignation of Captain Tunks, which was accepted. ;' :

A meeting of subscribers to, and all persons interested in, the Bay of Plenty Agricultural Society is advertised to be held at the Tauranga Hotel on Saturday evening next. As the business to bd transacted is of great importance, we hope to see a large number '> of the settlers present. .

That inevitable event, the reduction of the Armed Constabulary Force, is at hand. Cir* culars have been issued to all Inspectors commanding districts, notifying that the force is to be immediately reduced by 4 Bubiinstißtors, 8 non ■ commissioned officers, and 92 consoles.

We are informed that Eori Tupaea has called the various native tribes interested in land in the vicinity of Kaimai to meet him at the Wairoa next Monday for the purpose of considering the advisability of opening up the locality for gold-mining purposes. Herbert W. Brabant, Esq., Commissioner, will be present.

At the annual meeting of the Church Misi sionary Society, held at the beginning of May ultimo in London, under the presidency of the Earl of Ohichester, the annual report was read, showing that the income had increased during the year to £198,000, as against £195,000 in the proceeding year. The number of mission 1 aries employed was 372 as against 350 in the proceeding year. •.. . - ..-.-■■

The Bey Mr Jordan has requested us to correct a remark which , in our report of the late church meeting, appears as made by. him. In the report he is made to say that in a letter received by him from, the Bishop of Waiapu, the Bishop advises him to be more courteous to " two nutooratio parishioners," instead of which the Bishop advised the Bey Mr Jordan himself to be less " autocratic " in his manner to two gentlemen in the parish.

A meeting of gentlemen interested in the formation of a Chess dab, was held at the Mechanic's Institute on Monday evening. It was resolved that a club should be formed, and a committee was appointed, to draw; up rules and make the necessary preliminary arrangements. We are requested, to state that the next meeting will be held at the Institute on Monday evening, the 7th proximo, when anyone desirous of joining the club is invited to attend.

A southe asterly pale, wbioh for violence his not been exceeded for many yeara in this district, burst over Tauranga on Sunday, com tinuing with unabated violence till daylight on Monday, The harbour was a sheet of foam, and the waves dashed over the. seawall with great force, though without doing 9 ny serious damage. Fortunately no casualty happened to the shipping, though nearly all the vessels in harbour dragged their anchors during Sunday night. Much damage was done to fences and trees, which were blown down in many places.

It will be seen by advertisement that the Buzaat in aid of the funds of the Church of England, will take place at the TemperanoeHall on next 1 hurßday and Friday week. Having in recollection the unexpected success which < attended the last bazaar, held for a similar ' purpose in Tauranga, we can only exf r •:• the strong hopes we entertain that the labor of love in which; the ladies who have, been making the necessary, preparations for the present bazaar have been so diligently occupied for some time past, will meet with an equal, if not greater reward than was received on the former occasion.

The Ladies of the Bazaar Committee beg to acknowledge, with thanks, the following contributions ; — Mrs W. Kellj and Miss Kelly, valuable parcel of contributions; also, per Mrs W. Kelly, £1 from Mr Bates, of Opotiki;£l from Mr Oldham ; parcel of fancy goods from' Mr Jacobsohn ; Mrs T.D. Wrigley, tea-cosy and dolls, &c; . Miss Mitchell, one set of braided mats ; Miss Fanny Vercoe, one crochet Antiiaacasßeft^d mats ; Miss Oampney 2 boys comforters and $ mats ; Mrfl. B. Morton (Auckland) one ham for the refreshment stall.

The very great inconvenience likely to ensue by the detention of the Tauranga portion of the English mail, consequent on tbo laying* up of the Bowona, having been represented" yesterday to Major Soannell, Commanding. A.0., that officer most courteously placed' au orderly for its conveyance overland to the Thames at the disposal of the Postmaster, and a special mail will be made up at the Poet Office at ten o'clook this morning. We are requested to state that no papers or parcels by book post will be forwarded by this opportunity. The thanks of the residents are due to Major Scannell for this attention on his' part. -'.;'.'.

A serious fracas ocourred on the Strand on Friday last, caused by the well'knowh native - who attempted the life of Captain Gasooigne and Mrs Durand some weeks ago, and who was charged with lunaoy and discharged. His .> conduot waß on this occasion more like a mad* man than a drunkard, and we think another charge of the same nature would result in his. being taken care of for the future. We hear that Mr Lee and Mr Hull were both seriously ■ assaulted without the slightest provocation, Bnd although the police were loudly called for by the crowd who had assembled, they did not put in an appearance until Hie Hie had cleared out.

At the beaident Magistrate's Court, yester* day, the adjourned case, Rose v. Rose, brought by the wife against her husband for desertion w»8 heard and dismissed, as the Court considered from the evidence adduced by the defendant's witness, Mr Maxwell, that • a mutual separation had been agreed to by the . parties. The defendant had also agreed to pay his wife 15s a week, which had been duly paid. Mr Herbert W. Brabant., Resident Magistrate, in Riving his decision, advised the parties to settle their dispute amicably with the assistance of their friends. The defendant expressed his willingness to take his wife. back^ ,if she. would Jbehaie hereejf, .

A. petition from the Tauranga settlers to the House of Representatives, praying that a road may be opened to connect Tauranga with Cambridge is now in course of signature. The petition represents that many settlers have taken up land in the district on the faith of the- promise that this most impprtant work should be proceeded with, and that lauranga is at present isolated and shut out • from all road communication with other settlements in the province and from all markets for tlio purchase and Bale of stock ; thie being such a serious • disadvantage that settlement cannot but languish unless some means are speedily taken to remedy the evil,. The petition is already- numerously and influontially signed.

The following extract from a private lettor received from one of the officers of H.M.B. Pearl, will doubtless be read with interest, as the opinions- formed are naturally quite un« biassed : — " We only returned here on the 26th of last month, for we visited the Tonga group, and then remained for some little time at Samoa, to try and settle the Baracouta little affair. Poor wretches, they certainly do get swindled on .all sides ! What with missionaries and fillabusterers from all nations, they did not know which way to turn, and were simply afraid to do anything, seeing themselves made to pay some tremendous floes for nearly everything they did. They made up thajhL mindß to wait, for the arrival of the gtm bt chief, in their opinion, and that was th<? Jommodore. We, lam afraid, did not assist them much, the Commodore having, I believe, orders from home to interfere as little M possible. A. great meeting of chiefs was called, and when assembled, a few words of advice were given by the Commodore, and they were left to settle their own business as best they could. It certainly waß rather hard on them. I think, after bringing all the opposing patties together into the country of the chief most envied by all, we should at least have seen him through his difficulty.. % believe that had the Commodore named a ting for them, from amongst themselves, they would have accepted him and stuck by him, From there we visited Fiji, which is to my mind in a very sad state, brought about prim oipally by the dilatory way in which the land claimß are' being settled, for of course until the planter's claims are allowed, and made bona fide, they are beggars and cannot raise a penny. . Poor Fiji, I am very sorry for it. Ifrom there we camo on direct to Sydney."