THE PATEA MAIL. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1875.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 1, 14 April 1875, Page 2

THE PATEA MAIL. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1875.

In placing before the public of this large and important portion of the Colony the •first number of the Path a Mail, it may not be deemed out of place if wo briefly enumerate our reasons for being the first to introduce a paper in this district, and at the" same time to indicate the fine of action we intend to follow. After a personal visit to all the settlements along this coast, we came to the conclusion that this district of all others was the one most in need of a public journal to advocate its claims, and to make known its wants and resources. Situated as it is on the confines of two Provinces, by neither of which it is properly valued. Tin’s largo district, has now arrived at that stage ofits existence Avhon an outspoken and perfectly untrammelled public journal should bo published,and it is in recognition of these reasons wo .this day issue the first number of the Patka Mail, which, although in its infancy as a journal will, we have no doubt, exhibit a vigour and self-reliance in keeping with its surroundings. It is hardly necessary that we should depict the various stages through which tiiis district bus safely passed—at one time the seat of a terrible Native Avar, its soil, reddened by the blood of its early settlers, whose homesteads made lurid the midnight skies, and avliosc death cries rent the palpitating air in vain efforts to call help to their aid, Avherc no help Avas available; at another a mere military settlement, Avhose population could do nothing toAvards the cultivation of the land, nor the doA r eloprnent of its trade. Happily for us all this has passed aAvay, and as we fervently hope never to return. On every hand avc see comfortable homesteadings, highly cultivated fields, and rich pastures, on Avbicb the finest stock in Ncav Zealand broAvse knee deep in the richest of feed. In no part of the Colony can be found a more pleasing and prosperous picture, and avc very much mistake the settlers around us if flic present be more than the first stage of a long succession of prosperity. It Avas the sight of all this that determined the proprietor of this journal, avlio for many years past has been engaged in a similar occupation on the West Coast Goldfields of the Middle Island, to cast lot among bis present readers and to sock their friendship and support in bis efforts to establish in their midst an independent public journal. There are many matters in the district which it Avill be our aim to improve as opportunity offers. We shall take an early occasion to point out the railway requirements of our district, and endeavour through these columns to induce flic Government to commence a section of the trunk line in this vicinity as early as possible. Our river and port will also reectA'c our A’igilant attention, and wo will spare no efforts to make Patea Elver 'a port of entry, and to got the GoA'oiTimont to extend the Avbarf accommodation and to erect a receiving shed. In short as a resident in the district and the proprietor of this journal no pains shall be spared on our part to at all times fulfill our various duties to our felloAV settlers, AA’hosc cordial support avc hope to win by an ontspioken expression ■ of opinion upon all questions of public importance. As a ncAvspaper avo Avill spare no pains or expense to make the Patea Mail Avorthy of the distret it represents, as avc baA r c made ample arrangements for a regular supply of the latest and most important items of iicaa’s. Our telegraphic columns Avill be found Avell supplied with late telegrams, and aa t c shall endeavour to place before our readers a weekly report of the various markets. We ha ve to acknoAvledge the cordial and liberal support Avhich avc have received throughout the district, and as it is,not AA'illiin the power of mortals to command, success, avo will do more—deserve it. With, these remarks, we launch pur literary barque on its mission, and trust it AA'il 1 meet Avitli favourable breezes to Avaft it to a safe haven of success.

We regret to learn that a little boy, two years’ old, a son of Mr Meredith's, met with a serious accident at Ketemarae on Monday last. It appears that the little fellow was in the act of climbing upon a chair, when it upset, the child meeting with a severe fall, and breaking its arm. Dr Walker was immediately called to the little sufferer’s aid, under whose care the child is reported to be progresisng favorably.

The first annual meeting of shareholders in the Patca District Land and Building Society was held at Carlyle on the 10th inst. The director’s report to the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the result of the business transacted by the Society during the year, and believed that it would have been larger but for the difficulty shareholders experienced in procuring timber for building purposes during the first eight months of the Society’s existence. The balance-sheet showed a profit of lf» per cent, per annum interest on--amounts paid in by shareholders, which cannot be considered bad under the circumstances. The report and balancesheet was adopted. A vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs G. W. Williams and J. A. Hutton for their gratuitous services as auditors. Messrs T. M‘Guire, S. Taplin, W. Williams, D. Fraser, and G . N. Baggett, who retired from the directory in accordance with Rule 25, Section 11, were reelected. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the business. The survey of 15,000 acres of: land between the Patea and Whenuakura rivers is now completed. "We trust that no time will be lost in placing the land in the market. The traverse of the Patea River from the Mountain Road to Carlyle has just been completed by Captain Skeet. The directors of the Carlyle Town Hall Company held a meeting on Monday evening last, and transacted some routine business. The secretary was instructed to inform those in arrear that interest at the rate of 15 per cent, would be charged on all arrears up to a certain date. The question of building was discussed at some length, and there is every probability of the hall being commenced within three months.

We regret to learn that Mr Hurley, of Hawera, has met with another bereavement in his family, by the loss of his little daughter. It is but a fortnight since that he suffered the loss of a fine little boy. The cause of death in both cases was a kind of bronchitis. A meeting of gentlemen interested in the establishment of a Town Hall at Kakaramoa was held at Lloyd’s Hotel on Monday week last. The chairman intimated to the meeting that Messrs Williamsonson Bros, were prepared to grant a quarter of an acre of land as a site for the proposed building free of charge. It was resolved that this mimilicent gift bo accepted with thanks, and that early steps be taken to obtain a title from the Messrs Williamsons. A Building Committee, consisting of Messrs Lloyd, 11. 'Williamson M‘Rac, Robinson, Delarnorc, and Wi]so u was appointed. Mr. M‘Rae was elected Secretary and Treasurer. It was stated that a spnrof ;£75 had already been subscribed by the settlers resident in the Kakararaea district towards the erection of the work. It will be seen by our advertising columns that the Building Committee have lost no time in inviting tenders for the building of the hall. ' ■ A well attended meeting -was held at the Albion Hotel on Monday evening, to cons sidei* the advisability of forming a BrasBand. Mr. Sherwood was voted to the chair. Mr Lett stated that he had been requested by a number of gentlemen to convene the meeting, in order to entertain a very handsome proposal made by Mr James Southby to furnish the members with the necessary musical instruments free of charge. On the motion of Mr Iloltham, seconded by Mr F. Smith, it was resolved that a Band be formed, and that persons willing to join same be requested to baud in their names. About a dozen gentlemen present signified their intention of joining. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Gone, that a committee be appointed to Avait upon Mr Southby and make arrangements to take advantage of his very liberal offer. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings

Wc arc pleased to announce the receipt of a telegram by our local members in the Provincial Council, announcing the welcome news "that the Mountain Hoad is now open for horsetraflic.” By the adoption of this route, the distance between here and New Plymouth is lessened by about one-half, and horsemen will now be enabled to ride through in one day instead of two as formerly. The opening-up of this road will be the means of placing a large area of land in the and it is to he hoped that our members will use every effort during the approaching session to induce the Government to render the road available for whool-traflic.

jga The fourth quarterly meeting of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Patea Circuit, was lielil 031 Wednestlity, tKe instant, in the Parsonage, Carlyle ; the Rev. F. F. Reeve in the chair. Representatives were present from the various parts of the circuit. The business of the meeting being partly financial, the financial position of the circuit was gone into, and it was found that a balance deficit upon the year:/ expenses existed of about £ls ; but this deficiency will be met upon the payment of subscriptions now due. It was also resolved that the minister’s stipend for the ensuing year be raised to £l5O. During the meeting, a long conversation upon the subject of collections was held, and it was decided that no collections other than the quarterly ones appointed by the Conference, and one per quarter in aid of the parsonage fund should be in either of the preaching places excepting - Hawera. It was also decided that, if possible, a class meeting should be established iri Wairoa,, and that the Rev, Mr. Reeve be asked to arrange for the delivery of some lectures in Wairoa during the coming winter. Mr. Williams having gratuitously provided board and lodging for the minister during the year, and provided dinner for the members attending the quarterly meeting, a cordial vote of thanks to Mr; and Mrs. Williams for their liberality was passed,, and the meeting terminated. It will be seen by our advertising columns that the Educational Board intend erecting a school at Kakarainea. We hear that it is also their intention to build a schoolhouse at Ketemarae._ The Board appears to bo bent upon supplying the wants of the district in the matter of school accommodation. A settler at "Wairoa is reported to have been eased of £65 in bank notes on Thursday last. It is stated that lie inadvertently left his pocket-book in his coat which he had carelessly thrown aside, and from the pocket of which the money was abstracted. A Maori was found to be missing when the loss was discovered. The police are in active search of the thief. The school at Hawera is now completed. Mr Dunne, the new schoolmaster, will take possession almost immediately. This will prove a boon to the people of Hawera, as the blockhouse, which hitherto clone duty as a school, was but a poor makeshift. The new building is properfy fitted up, and is a very neat structure. W e think, however; that it is'": a matter for regret that a more central site was not chosen, as it will be very inconvioncnt for Hie majority of the children to walk so far, especially in the winter time. The land on the north side of the Patea river, opposite Carlyle, is now being surveyed . preparatory to a sale, which is expected to take place in about three months. The sections will vary in size from sto 40 acres. It is expected that the land will command a long price, as it is of exceptionally good quality, and its proximity to Carlyle will also tend to considerably enhance its value.