The Patea Mail. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1875.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 36, 14 August 1875, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1875.

“We must go from home to hear news” is an old saying and the truth of which is illustrated from the following paragraph clipped from the Wanganui Chronicle : “We are informed that a considerable portion of this new route to Taranaki from Hawera, upon which the work of clearing has necessitated a considerable outlay, will be condemned in favour of a bette l ' line. The principal advantages which will be gained by the alteration, or as we should rather say deviation, of the present route, will be an easier gradient, fewer cuttings, and a more direct and therefore a shorter distance to be constructed. The same route will be surveyed for the construction of the railway to New Plymouth, and will thus answer the combined purpose of being used as a road, railway, and for the extension of the telegraph. The altered route will, of course, in order to allow of the coterminous and simultaneous construe tion of both road and railway, be cleared for a considerably greater width than the present line. If the proposed line will be more dirrect, and will also be more favorable to the economical construction of the road and railway, which will run side by side, and if, as is asserted, the gradient will be easier, the alteration is obviously an advantageous measure ; but still it is to be regretted that tlxis contingency was not foreseen when the original survey was instituted, which would thus have saved the heavy expenditure which was devoted towards the construction of the road at present formed. Owing to the inclement state of the weather, the Good Templars wisely postponed their entertainment which was announced to have been held last Thursday, till next Thursday, at the same place and hour.

We regret to learn that suurvoy and whooping cough have broken out among the German families located in the Immigration Barracks, the former malady appears to have assumed a bad form. Dr Walker was in attendance yesterday at the barracks, and attended to the several cases, and with the aid of Mr Buski, translated the necessary prescriptions into German. The sanitary arrangements in connection with the buildings need alittlc supervision, as we understand that many families are huddled together in the large dining-room. Wo learn that Mr Standish, Deputy Superintendent, has consented to the convening of a meeting- of the ratepayers of Carlyle, without delay, for the election of a Town Board. The advertisement, fixing the day, will no doubr appear in our next issue. The Duvalli Troupe made their appearance before a Patea audience on Wednesday last, and from the conllieting criticisms which we had road in various journals we were prepared to encounter something bordering on unchastity, but to do the troupe justice wc must admit that we noticed nothing in their performances which could possibly support the condemnatory comments of certain contemporaries or bear the slightest approach to impropriety or immorality. Their acting did not possess any special excellence, and the different pieces pro.huel, wl i hj w<r interspersed with songs and dances, had neither plot, beginning, nor end, and the sole merit which they appeared to possess was the dancing of the sisters, which was exceptionally good. The character singing of the Dnvalli Sisters also appeared to bo appreciated, judging from the applause which greeted their efforts. The playing of Miss Trolecki on the pianoforte convinced us that she was capable of acquitting herself in better style, but unfortunately she was compelled to preside at an instrument which was sadly out of time. Wo regret to have to notice the advent of the larrikin element in Patea, as every person) whether male or female, who entered the room was received with an unseemly exhibition of stamping of the feet. We appeal to the good taste of the gentlemen whom we noticed indulging in the playful exercise not to allow this species of larrikinism to further develop itself in Paten, for wo would he sorry to follow the example of other journals by publishing their names. We learn that Mr S. Taplin, of Carlyle, lias chartered the Blackwall to convey a cargo of oats and flour from Lyttlcton to this port. A meeting was held last night in the Court House, to take into consideration the Abolition Bill now before the House. The proceedings throughout were fvery unanimous, owing no doubt to the popularity of the measure under discussion, and the attendance at the opening was not very numerous, hut increased as the meeting drew to a close. To show the despatch with which the business of the meeting was disposed of, we might mention that the chairman was elected, speeches delivered, and the lamps extinguished, all within (he space of twenty minutes. Owing to the inconvenient evening on which the meeting was held, we are precluded from giving a full report. Mr Gibson having been voted to the chair, called on Mr Sherwood to address the meeting, who after speaking for some time oh the abuses of Provincialism and the benefits likely to be gained from the passing of the Local Government Bill, moved : “That tin's meeting is of opinion that the immediate and total abolition of the Provinces, and the introduction of a system of local government will tend to promote the welfare of the whole colony, and especially the outlying districts.” Mr W. Williams seconded the resolution. Mr W. Dale spoke at some length in support of the resolution, which was carried unanimouslyMr Dale proposed, and Mr Sherwood seconded :—“ That the chairman telegraph the foregoing resolutions to both Speakers of the Legislature, and also to the member for the district.” Carried. After a vote of thanks to the chair, the meeting terminated. The second entertainment by the Patea Star Minstrels takes place on Monday next, at the Albion Hall. It will be seen by an advertisement in another column that the programme is varied, and we have no doubt the different items will be highlv appreciated. The first part consists of songs, choruses, and breakdowns ) and as some of the songs have never been rendened before a Patea audience, we feel confident fhey will be received with great eclat. Mr Brarnwell lias kindly volunteered to preside at the piano, and during the evening that gentleman will enlighten us with that ever popular fantasia “ The Blue Bells of Scotland.” Two farces, “ Black Ole Bull” and “ Somebody’s Coat” comprise the second part of the programme) and from the local talent engaged we do not fear but that they will be done full justice to.

The following tenders have been accepted for buildings at Wairoa ; —Messrs Mefarlanc and Swinboumc, for tlie building of a school house, £2 ( '4 ;Mr North, of Patea, for the building of master’s residence, £240. The settlers of Wairoa will be glad to learn that their petition, praying that a public vaccinator may be appointed to vaccinate in that district, has met with prompt attention from the hands of tiie Colonial Secretary, as we learn that Ur. Walker lias been invited by the Government to accept the appointment, and will attend Wairoa on the second Thursday in each month, at the W.iverly Hotel, for the purpose of meeting the wishes of the petitioners. The nomination of two synodsmen to represent the Wanganui District in the Wellington Diocesan Synod, will take place at the Court House, Patea, on Wednesday next, at eight o’clock p.m. In the western districts of Victoria the bluegum is the only tree employed to afford shelter upon pastoral properties. It is indispensable that the land should be fenced. A light ploughing is enough—bettor, indeed, than a deep one ; when the gum has once obtained a start, it will push its routs into anything. The ploughing is done in June and August, and the seed sown at the rate of two ounces per acre in the latter month, or sometimes in September. When the trees have grown for two or threcyenrs they are thinned by the boundary riders who use them for their lires.

An attempt has been made in Dunedin to establish sixpenny Saturday night concerts, but they do not appear to be entertainments of a very desirable nature. The correspondent of the New Zealand Times thus describes one of them :—“That of Saturday night appears to have been particularly lively. Among the choice tilings gone through by the ‘ perform ere ’ was that elegant half-drunken ditty, which ends with thechanning chorus of TiolllngHome in the Morning, Boys’ (sung by a lady) a local song by a local poet, better known than respected, who strung together a tirade of doggrel about the Dunedin barmaids which ought to have caused the fellow to have been kicked out of the room. He then sang another slanderous song, the people applauded, the larrikins shouted and hooted, stamped their feet, and made night hideous, and in fact the so-called concert had all the worst attributes of a ‘free and easy.’ Therefore the sooner those ‘ intellectual treats’ are done away with (he better.”