Local Memoranda.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 589, 25 June 1868, Page 3

Local Memoranda.

Arrival.—Mr Carl Schafer, tho great pedestrian traveller, arrived in town yesterday, overland from Wellington. Waiboa and Mohaka. —The schooner Annie is announced to leave as above, on or about the Ist of July (weather pcrmiting.) Sale op Impounded Stock;.—On Saturday next, 2/tn inst., a sale of impounded stock will take place at the Meanee sale yards, unless redeemed previous to that date. English Mail. —The Wellington, now overdue will probably be the bearer of the English Suez mail. The Panama mail will most probably come to hand by the Lord Ashley, due here on Saturday. Napier Brass Band. —We understand that the instruments for tho above band have already been written for to Melbourne. These, when they arrive, will be public property, vested in the committee of management. Ch.ei.-ty Minstrels.— A number of gentlemen ;have formed themselves into a band of Ethiopian screnaders, and they intend to make their delnit in the Council Chamber in about a week from this date. Armed Constabulary. —lt is stated that those men of the Armed Constabulary now in Napier will bo despatched to the “ seat of war ” on the East Coast, by tho p.s. Sturt, soon after she arrives from Wellington. Later teoim Napier. —Under this head'ng the New Zealand Herald of the 16th contains “ the following information, not contained in the Hawke’s Bay papers:”— “ The most important item of news is the fact of Napier being in a position to communicate with Wellington at a minute’s notice. On Tuesday the IGth the telegraph was to be opened for the transmission of messages to any of the Southern Provinces, and a dinner, on a very extensive scale, was to be given by the inhabitants of Hawke’s Bay in honor of the event.” It goes on to state that the dinner would be held at “ Waipukuroa,” and that the Governor bad been invited. They rive this information on the authority of Capt, Bendall, of the Star of the South, who, however, states that he made no such report, and surmises that some of the passengers by the Star must have been the perpetrators of the hoax.

Auueiri. —We learn llu.t it is probable; the favorite steamer Ahariri ivill be laid on! to trade between Auckland and the Thames Gold-fields. j The Weather. —After two or three' davs 5 beautiful westher, r«*n ftgsin set in! yesterday afternoon, and continued throughout the greater part of the night. Star of the South. —The above favorite steamer will tU-csu for Auckland tomorrow with a full cargo of sheep, and is open for a limited number of passengers. Festival or St. John.—Yesterday being the festival of St. John was celebrated in the usual manner by the Masonic body in Napier. Bay of Islands Coal. —Two cargoes of the above coal have arrived iu Napier during the past few days, and are advertised for sale by Mr LeQ.uesne. Tenders are invited from persons desirous of renting the slaughter house and yards, also the Toll-gate, for the year ending 30th June, 1800 —for the Toll-gate on Saturday next; the slaughter house on Monday, 2L)th iust. Papaeura and llikutoto Blocks.— Leaseholders of sections in the above blocks are informed that the fourth half-yearly rents and road levies will be duo and payable at the Provincial Treasury, ou Saturday next, 2'7th iust. Auckland Free Press. — Wo have to acknowledge the receipt of several numbers of the Auckland Free Press, a very well got-up penny morning paper, published iu Auckland by Mr K. J. Creighton, for in any years connected with the Daily Southern Cross. The Free Press is a very creditable addition to the newspaper press of the Co. lony. Extracts from its columns will be found elsewhere.

Ur*CoCSTiir Roads.— Under this heading, iu our supplement of to-day will be found a motion by Mr Weston, calling for a detailed return, showing the amount spent, by contract, or otherwise on certain country roads. We have been requested, since that report was iu type, to enter more fully into the subject of this motion, and accordingly give the discussion on the subject. Mr Weston in bringing for ward the motion standing in his name, obtained the leave of the house to add the words “ for the current financial year,” aho considered that iu its original form it was not sufficiently definite, lie said hi object in moving for this return was to disabuse tho minds of the public in the part of the country referred to of much local jealousy, lie was unaware of the circumstances of tiie case, and he had been requested by telegraph to bring this motion before the Council, so that he had no personal interest in tho matter.—Mr Carlyon said it was a pity that the member for Waimarama, who so seldom troubled the house with resolutions, should ask for

a return which it would be hopes; ible to supply. He could not think who that member was trying to hit. The motion was really so absurd that it was a waste ol time to consider it. He was sorry the member fur Waimarama had reserved his eloquence for such an occasion, lie would move that the return be not prepared.— .Mr Ormond could not understand the object of the motion ; but of course if the return was ordered it would be prepared, though it would lake a great ileal of valuable time. He did not think tho motion should have been brought forward ; and alter the member admitting that it was not bis own he should certainly opjioso it. There was no doubt that this was a sore subject with the person who had put the motion into the member’s hands; but he thought it very improper for tho Council to be influenced by any person outside, especially to ask for a return which would cost so much time and money as the one proposed.—Mr Weston said that the member for Porangahau had mistaken his motives in asking for this return. It was to disabuse tho minds of tho public of local jealousy. Ho thought after restricting it to the present financial year that it could not give so much trouble us represented, i'he Government had promised its assistance and information to the Council.— Mr Ormond said that the Government were willing to give all necessary information in their power ; but did not think sufllcient reason had been given.—Major Lambert asked if be was to understand that tho Government were not willing to give this information, for he observed that a return moved for by himself on the 11th on the same subject had not yet been laid on the table.—Mr Ormond said it was in course of. preparation ; but (ho Government did not really think there was any , necessity for the present one.—Major . Lambert said that the speech of the member for Te Auto reminded him of a bull who had seen a red rag. That member ■ always got rabid if anything was said ■ about Waipuknrau.—Mr Buchanan would : support the motion on the broad principle that it sought for information which the

G-orernmcnt could give without any great 1 trouble, lie apprehended that all iufori mation asked for within the Council was . for the benefit of people outside, and therefore tha objection was valueless. The member for Te Ante evidently objected to give the people of Waipukurau any infori mation ; but he (Mr 13.) thought it was a > very well-conducted little Tillage, and not u so rowdy as Waipawa, and considered that though some one there had asked for • the information, it was no reason why it - should not be granted. The motiou was lost on the following division ; —Ayes, 4-, i Messrs Weston, Buchanan, Lambert, and button; Noes, 10,Messrs M.‘Lean, Ormond, Kennedy, Rhodes, Locke, Petard, Wood, Tanner, A'JDcaue, Parsons.