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Manawatu Herald, 15 June 1880, Page 2

The Houowhenua Road -—Mr J. Cootes of Otaki, de? ires us to make an explanation reersrdiug the bather with the natives at Horowhenua., According to his statemont it appears that the trouble is the result of the action of the County Engineer The different sections of natives who have hitherto been engaged on the road have received 25b per chain for bush felling and clearing. They have not, ' however, done the work therpselves, but in most oases have employed Europeans, to whom they paid .20s per chain for rho work, and pocketed -the remaining Ss i>cr chain as their profit on the job. This arrangement the Horowhenua natives were quite willing to accept, and instructed Mr Oootes to employ the necessary men to push on wi£h the work in their district. This Mr Oootes did, and he had the men engaged and ready to start, when Mr Uayns announced to the Hor<>whenua natives that he would not allow them the 25s per chain, as it could be done much cheaper by tender. Since then tenders have been called, and the work let at 2's and iia per chain. This explanation certainly puts a different complexion on the matter. The natives at Horowhenuo, according to Mr Cootes' statement, were quite willing to do the work, and aaked only the same terms as the Otaki natives had already received. Why a difference should have been thought necessar v v in their case we cannot understand, especially as Mr Cootes is extremely positive thai the bush is heavier in the Horowhenua district than it is near Otaki. It will be remembered that an arrangement was made with the natives through whose land the road will pass that each hopu would be allowed to construct the road across its own land. This arrangement should be adhered to, and no favour shown. If Mr Hayns has hitherto allowed the natives 25s per chain' for the work, it appears a mistaken policy to rriuse the Hero whenua people the same terms, provided they are willing to do' the work. : Is It True ? — Very many circumstances have occurred which have woakened the ] regard felt by the settlers of Sandon, Car narvon, and Koxton for the Maaawntu Highways Board, and have generated a strong desire on the part of those districts to separate from the parent body. It is now reported to us on very good aulhoity that the Board intends to show its affection for its runaway children by collecting at the earliest possible moment in the districts named the rate recently struck. We are not prepared to vouch lor the truth of the rumour, but it is stated to us that the Collector has been requested to visit Sandon, Carnarvon, and Foxton imme dia»:ely, and collect all the money possible ; also, to buc defaulters at the earliest moment allowed by law. We shall watch with interest to soe if events prove the correctness or otherwise of this rumour. Meantime, we will only say that we can hardly believe the Board ci-s bo-.ly of public men would be capabJo of intiug in the manner indicated, considering the three districis said to be singled out for the Collector's especial attention are on the eve of scptira ti«n. Pokk and Cray Fish. — Magistrates are often called upon to decide eases in which very strange things are the subjects of .litigation. Duckd, geese, pigs, fowls and other live stock frequently bring grist to the judicial mill at Otaki, but at the last sitting of the Court ♦here a case o lme up for hearing which included pork, salt, and cray fish, and certainly eclipsed the majority of causes celcbre that are enshrined in the legal records of that township. The parties were the chief Hema to Ao and Jack Webber, who respectively held, the positions i of plaintiff .and defendant. It appoared th%t in the month of June, 1879, the " noble savage" determined on traiisforn ing two well-fattened ponrers into ham, bacon, &O. Having unbounded confidence in Pakeha talent aa embodied in Jack Webber, he invited that gentleman to kill and fait the pigs. Jack cousented, but informed Hema one hundredweight of salt would be necessary, upon which Heina rode to Foxton and purchased that quantity. This was in du<* course transported to Otalti, and Hema again waited on Jack to inform him th« salt w-p ready. Jaotc thereupon promised to do the work next day, but during th evening called upon Hema and asked for a gift of two cray-fish, whioh the wily native gavf to him and debited against Jack at the rate of 2s 6d each, as part payment for the work to be done in killing and salting the pigs. -Meantime, the aforesaid hundredweight of salt was placed upon Hema' a verandah, in readiness for Jack's arrival next day .For some reason or other Jack did not fulfil his promibe. He neglected to attend, and in the eveuing a heavy downpour of rain spoiled all . the salt, resulting ina,losß*to thr^plaWiff. He bottled up his feoiings for a year, but at the end of that time they exploded, and he accordingly sued vVtibber for 158, made up thus : 10s for damage done by moisture to salt through defendant's neglect ; 5s for value of goods supplied, to wit, 2 crayfish. After a oareful hearing of ih* case, the R M. ruled that the plaintiff should have looked aft?r the salt himself, but gave a verdict for 5s for the crayfish. Sale. — Pmonß wauting fruit trees, shrubs, &c , are reminded that Messrs rbynue, Lintim & Co hold a sale this day, nt th* Foxton Public Hall. * | i Station Contract. — Mr Saundern, the contractor for the railway works at Foxton, , haß made a start in real earnest, several truckloade of timber having arrived lrorn 1 Feilding, while tender!) have also been aci cepted for providing the necessary ports, [ rail*, &c, for the fencing required. Dnring - the execution of the contract, Mr J. Jay will be in charge of the worke on bahulf oi ' MrSaundera. The gentleman named oamu ■ ■ out to the Colony in oonncction with the

contracts of Brogden and Sons, and has been employed in supervising the construction of several large works jn the Oolonyj including the Westpord railway, the Waiohine and Tauherinckau Bridges, besides other important contracts. A quaivity of gear, including two large punts, is expected to arrive from Wanganui in a few days, when the work of repairing the did Whafi will be at once commence!!. K.tt. Coubt.— The usual sittinur of the R.M. Court will be held tiaiorrow (Wednesday), at Foxton. The cases down for hear ing are of a very unimportant oharacttn*. Propebty Tax. — The attention of settlers in the Sandon district liable to pay Property Tax is flallud to the hdtice In another column, announcing that Mr Linton, valuer, will attend at the Junction Hotel, Sanaon, next Saturday, to render assistance to property holders in fulling up the assessment, papers. This will be a great boon to sett-lew, the schedules buing iv many daßos rathei* co:npli&itdJ; Whilst on this subject w<* ill ay remark that the Otaki settlers express considerable surprise that no as- ' <*es.-ment papers -have been forwarded to them. Sawdok HwHWATa DISTUtCT.— The Sandon settlers are fully determined to cut the rope which has united them to the Maiia watu Highways Board, tt will be remembered that some timebgo an agitation was got up iv favor of separation, and the neceasary memorial was prepared and Dumerously signed. It was then left in the hands of a gentleman to obtain the remaiuing proportion of signatures necessary. The mattei? was, however, overlooked by him, and as a consequence the separation movement haß been rather quiet. Stimulated, however, by the determined "set" the majority <>£ i'no. Roard have made against the carrying on of works iv the Saudon district, the settlera there have taken up tho matter with renewed energy, and on Saturday two energetic separationists started on a tour throughout the district with the determination of obtaining the necessary signatures. These will no doubt be easily obtained, and as tho Government are almost . certain to grant the prayer of the petition, we expect before very long to be able to congratulate the settler's in Wards Nos. 1 and 2 upon being endowed with the privileges of local self-government. Customs Duties. — We are glad to learn the Customs duties paid at the iroxton office willjshow a great improvement for. the current quarter, and will be considerably over auy amount yet collected for a similar period. Mr Whyte has Btarted importing " under bond," and a few days ago paid in nearly '£4o as duties on spirits, wine, &c. It is to be hoped otheraAvho aell dutiable articles will follow hia example The NojtßEit of Employ us on Puussiax RAiLWAYS;-r-The " personnel" employed on Prussian railways is divided into two main classes. The first comprises the officials and servants with fixed positions, and mostly wearing the uniforms of the companies they serve. This class compiised in 1 879 as many as 91,000 persons. The other class, the laborers, was 85,200 strong. The two classes together thus numbered 179,200 persons. This is independent of the navvies and others employed by the contractors in building new lines and extensions. The numbeu of persons employed in working the railways of Great Britain and Ireland, independently of those engaged on tbe construction of new lines, is about 300,000. A Strange Death.— Atout half-past eight o'otock on 'Friday morning last a young woman named Eliza Blanford was found lying dead in bed at the house where she resided in Tory Street, Wellington. The Poa- say* the deceased was employed as servant by Mr Rwhard Davis, Torystreet, of whose wife she was the niece. It seems that she was subject to epileptic fits, and Dt Grace, whose assistance was invoked on the discovery of the bedy, and who ha* known her from childhood, expressed his opinion that elie fell on her face in bed durliig one of these attacks, and was dtaothered i?i tho bed-e!othos. She traa last seen alive ?.t I o'clock in tho morning by Mr D.ivis, who states that sho then appoared in perfect health. Deceased was 25 years of asre, aud unmarried. An inquest was held on the body afterwards, and a verdict of " Died from suffocation, whilst in a fit of epilepsy " was returned. A Corps of Bankhcfts. — Wehaveboan informed (s^ys the Post) that a new volunteer company is about to he enrolled in Wellington, but wo do not vouch for th« accuracy of tho information. It is proposed that the members shall consist exclusively of persons who hava filed their schedules or assigned their estates. The promoters, we are tol.i, intond to call themselves the ' Noble Army of Martyrs,' but a correspondent suggests • The Conquering Heroes ' as being more appropriate. There is uo doubt the company would be a very strong one. The appointment of the person most suitable for the office of captain is a subject on which opinions are very much divided. The Ibish Distbbss Fund. — The following message has been received by Dr Lemon from the Lord Mayor of Dublin for circulation among the Irish Relief Com. mittees in New Zealand :— " While acknowledging, with the utmost gratitude, niunificient contributions received, I feel bound to say further that any assistance which can be extended will be much needed during the next tiro months. I would there* fore ask that your subscription list be not closed, ami any further contributions may be forwarded."