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Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 52, 9 October 1875, Page 2

Mr De Fraser is now engaged survey'ng the R.M. Reserve, Carlyle, into building sites, and we understand thal the allotments will be placed in the market by the Town Board of Carlyle as soon as the reserve is handed over to that body. The Patea Good Templars hold another of their popular entertainments at the Immigration Barracks, on Thursday evenJ ng last, before a well-filled house. Mr D. Coutts occupied the chair. A very lengthy and attractive programme was provided and the performers .acquitted themselves most creditably. We regret pressure of other matter, compels us to refrain from further noticing the excellence of Thursday night’s entertainment. Weather permitting, the cricket match (which was unavoidably postponed last Saturday, through the inclemency of the weather) will take place this dty. Wickets to be pitched at 1 o’clock. Wc beg to direct attention to Mr Dale’s unreserved auction sale of merchandise at his mart this day. As Mr Dale is positively relinquishing the retail business persons in search of bargains would do well to attend.

The following quaint advertisement 3 appea.i in the Inangakua Herald : “ Death. —Expired at the Southern Cross Hotel, on Tuesday, the 31st day of August, 1875, Dickie Tick, the offspring of Blind Confidence, after a painful and protracted struggle of four years duration. Friends will please accept this intimation, and wish him a lasting repose, 8.1.P." “ Inquest.—The Coroner, Master Ledger, held an inquest on Tuesday, the 31st day of August, 1875, at the Southern Cross on the remains of Dickie Tick. Dr. Daybook having made a post mortem examination on the remains of deceased, stated the cause of death tot have been from ‘ protracted indulgence.’ The jury returned a verdict to that effect accordingly."

On Wednesday last, says the Taranaki Herald , a child of Mr W. Stockley narrowly escaped being drowned in a well, and but for the fearless and courageous act of Miss Stockley in jumping in after the little boy, and holding him out of the water till assistance came, the accident must have proved fatal. It appears that the child, who is about 15 months old, made its way to the partly-opened well, and by some means or other raised the lid and tumbled in. Miss Stockley, who was at the house door, just caught sight of £jae child as it was disappearing. She immediately ran to the spot, and jumped down after the child and succeeded in grasping it as it was about sinking in the water for the second time. The well is over 35 feet deep, and there is between 15 and 20 feet of water in it. Miss Stockley’s screams attracted the attention of the neighbours ,* and the well-bucket was promptly let down, when she and the child (of which she had a firm grasp) were rescued from their perilous position. Dr Rawson was sent for, but by the time he had arrived the child appeared all right; and, beyond a pinched finger occasioned by the handle of the bucket, whilst being drawn up from the well, the young lady is uninjured. The Rev. Mr Blunt, at a meeting held In London recently, said, .“Not long ago a woman had taken hifh in with a piteous story that her htisband had not done a day’s work for six months. It was true, for he was a night watchman.”

An interesting but melancholy discovery was made the other day at the foot of "Mount, Blanc. A block of ice, separated from the mass of the mountain by the thaw, rolled down into the valley. Upon closer inspection it was found to contain encloesd the remains of the American, John "131 ackford, who about three years since attempted an ascent, and has never since been heard of. He evidently met with his death on that occasion, and has since lain in his cold crystalised coffin, which has preserved his body and clothing admirably. When found his features were unchanged, and ho might have breathed his last only half an hour before. As a sample of some of the domestic servants who arrive in Dunedin from Home, the Guardian mentions that one of these importations by the ship Aldergrove, from London, hired herself to a lady as a thorough domestic servant. She com. menced her duties shortly after the family had partaken of their morning meal, and beyond being rather slow, got along pretty well until dinner time. She was then told to lay the table, and put mats on in order to keep the dishes from injuring the table ( she picked up two door mats from the passage, and placed one at either end of the table.

A census of the Samoan Islands has been taken by the Lev. Mr Poyne. There are six inhabited islands in the group. The total native population at the beginning of the year was 34,205. In 1863 the population was numbered, and then the inhabitants was found to be 35,097, or 832 more than at the present time. But since 1863 a more considerable immigration to the Samoan Islands has taken place. There are now found to be 204 Europeans and Americans, 236 Polynesians, 4 Asiatics, and 475 imported laborers, making a total of 919. The total population, native and foreign, on the islands is thus brought up to 35,184, against 35,097 in 1863. The decrease in the native population is attributed to the late war among the natives.

The proceeds of a Church of England bazaar held in Wellington lately amounted to nearly .£I,OOO. It was arranged that the goods remaining on hand after the fourth night should be distributed among the bazaars shortly to be hold in the various country districts..

The Oamaru correspondent of the Watiangi Tribune writes :—“ A smart trick occurred lately, which, though not in Oamaru, I think is worthy of publication. A certain mercantile individual became embarrassed, and I believe was not much troubled thereby. In the course of his transactions he paid a cheque to a creditor for £75 odd shillings ; upon presentation the cheque w'as dishonoured ; the creditor spoke gently arid entreatingly to his mer. cantile friend, and in the course of his conversation managed to learn that the debtor had a balance in the bank of about £SO, and that the gentleman of mercantile proclivities intended to draw his balance that afternoon. The creditor proceeds directly to the bank and pays in £25, presents his cheque for £75, and so saves his £SO. I believe that this ,affair is reported to have happened before, but its recent occurrence not many miles from here makes me send it,” The Southern Cross states that Mount Tcngariro is at the present time in a high state of activity, throwing stones for a distance of eight miles from the crater. All the springs and geysers in the neighbourhood are in full play, and some wonderful sights may be seen in this extraordinary region. From Taupo the same paper learns that a day or two ago a horse which was turned out loose near the hotel of Tapuaeharaau, whilst straying about, fell through a thin crust of earth into the boiling water beneath, and was killed in a few minutes.