MANAWATU.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 28, 5 August 1871, Page 15

MANAWATU.

[From our Own Correspondent.] Last Wednesday the Rev. Mr Paterson delivered another lecture in the Scotch Kirk, to a large audience, on ‘ Domestic Life. 5 It was unfortunate that the evening was as wet and wild as the last time that he was here, as it prevented many persons from attending, who wished to have, had the weather been a little finer. The rev. gentleman stated that he saw no h arm in being amused in a church, and that 1 suppose encouraged his audience to applaud him in certain parts of this lecture by clappiug their hands, and by laughter—but it certainly sounded strange. Some little time ago a small fore and aft schooner, the George Macdonald, went on shore on the north spit of the. river. She was laden with timber for the Waitotara, and* had succeeded in

reaching the bar of the river, but owing to a dense mist hanging about the Coast she put off to lay under Kapiti for a day, but unfortunately for her, a squall struck her off our river, carried her sails away, and drove her on to the beach. No lives were lost, and the ship and timber were sold by auction last Thursday. The weather on that day being exceedingly rough and stormy, there was but a small attendance of buyers and therefore the timber sold at a price very much below its value. It was all tongued, grooved, and dressed. There is some little excitement in this district concerning the Maoris at Horowenua, and owing to a. report in. the township yesterday that an order had come up from Mr M‘Lean for Kemp’s party to return the Government arms, as it is imagined that nothing but force will obtain the excellent arms those natives hold. We all sincerely trust that the pakehas will not be drawn into this dispute. Our Executive has become seriously reduced in numbers, and we are wondering, after the speeches of the Hon. the Provincial Secretary upon the Estimates, when he pointed out the urgent necessity that there was. for a member of the Executive to be a resident upon the Manawatu block, and the remarkable fitness Mr Halcombe had displayed for that position, who is to look after the many and important works which are being and are to be carried out in this district. The Highways Bill is exciting a deal of antagonism in all parts of the country, and a meeting is to be held at Palmerston next Wednesday, to protest against the system of taxation proposed therein. The Go-a head arrived here on Sunday morning, and is unloading to-day. She will leave to-morrow morning, and will try and enter the Rangitikei River.