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Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 53, 13 October 1875, Page 2

Ie ever an unfortunate official was expected to fulfill his duty under difficulties, that official is Mr Hutton the postmaster and telegraphist in Carlyle. If ever a public building utterly unsuitable and wholly inadequate for requirements was erected, that building is the Post and Telegraph office here. In the first place the whole space available for postal and telegraphic business is one room 15 x 12, and everything has to be transacted out of one window opening, the size of an ordinary window pane. Another window for post office purposes fronting the main road, was originally put in, but as the building is situated at the angle of two streets, in a position that catches all the high winds that blow in this place—and residents know that it does blow here sometimes—the result of unclosing it is a general scatter of all loose papers, and consequent confusion and disorganisation. After a vain straggle with the elements, Mr Hutton has had to give them best, and hence his communication with the outer world is narrowed to the one window referred to above, placed in the lobby nominally devoted to telegraphic uses only. At this he has to receive telegrams, issue letters, receive applications for, or make payments of money orders by post or telegraph, do all Government Savings Bank business, make Treasury payments, attend to Government Life Insurance, and discharge a variety of other duties that are usually piled on country postmasters. It may be, possibly, that these, however onerous, may be satisfactorily discharged by one person, and Mr Hutton seems to prove that, though for our own part, we think it very unfair to expect so much; in such a case at least he should have reasonable space and accommodation, which is not the fact in Carlyle. The Hon. Mr Reynolds, Collector of Customs, passed through Carlyle a year ago, and expressed his surprise at the want of proper room, but he apparently forgot all about it when lie went back to Wellington, and, whilst nearly every other Post Office in the colony is being enlarged and added to, this one, wanting such extension most, is regarded least, or rather is neglected altogether. The 1 atea district has taken and is taking vast strides in advancement; its population is daily increasing,cultivation is extending fast, and the business of the Post Office is growing more ami more every week. Surely, then, it is duty of the Government to make necessary provision to meet evident wants, and in order that its members should not plead ignorance on the subject we submit these facts for their consideration.

Applications are invited for tiic mastership'of schools at Hawcra, Kakaramea, and Mamffahi, the two last being half-time schools, with' one master to divide his time between them. The salaries arc £IBO for both appointments, and applicants, as at present arranged, must send in their testimonials, &c., before the 31st inst. Advertisements, arc to be inserted in tine principal papers in the colony, and, so far, all is well. At the same time it would seem that the time is too short and that if an opportunity had been afforded, candidates would have offered themselves from Victoria, and so have afforded the Committee an opportunity of still greater clniiee,- and the selection of possibly bette r men. Even for New Zealand the time is too short ; to-day is the 13ih and there ai\> only eighteen days for the advertisements to- be despatched, inserted, read by those likely to : answer them, for the transmission of applications, and their receipt here. "With the very irregular postal communication between here and the more distant chief centres the time allowed will not suffice, and on re-consideration we think lire educational authorities will agree with

The Catholic Temperance Society will hold a soiree on the 20th inst., when unusual attract ions will be offered, and a very huge attendance is expected.

'file Kakaramea Town Hall is completed, and a number of gentlemen resident in that locality are making arrangements to open it with a concert, to be followed by a ball and supper. The celebration is to be carried out in first elacs style at the next full moon ; it is hardly necessary to sav that many of the fair sex are eagerly looking forward to it.

In our article on Saturday last, in reference to rendering this port more accessible, we understated the depth of water on the bar, in ease of some needed works being executed. We then said that Captain Edwin was of opinion there, would be nine feet at high water, whereas it seems that lie thinks there would be that depth at low water —a very material difference, indeed. Should (bis b > correct, with the known rise of tide, a steamer ol: comparatively draught could enter with safety, and the sooner such a consummation is arrived at the better, not only for this district, but for other places. As onr readers will remember, Mr Me Viear some months ago, proposed to erect a Hour null in this district, hut, through various causes, the project was not; carried out. W’e are glad to say, however, that another gentleman, Mr Contis, has lately visited Wanganui for the purchase ol: a Rangitikei mill, to transfer to Patea, and* what is more, there is every prospect of the negotiations being successful, and the purchase completed. It will be very unfortunate should such not prove the ease ( lor a number ol settlors, in ihe expectation of a mill being established, put in wheat specially. The absurdity ol: shipping giain away to another port, and importing Hour, thus paying two unnecessary I rcigots and heightening the cost of the staff ol life enormously, wc have on former oecas o is pointed out ; that this should bo continued for want of a mill, is out of all reasoiq lleaven helps those who help themselves, and should a second break-down take placewe trust that a vigorous and united effort will be made to form a small company to supply the great want. [Since the above was in type, Mr (,'outts has informed us that the purchase has been completed, and that arrangements for its transit and erection will shortly be completed.] At the Hawea Resident Magistrate's Court, held on Saturday last, before Major Turner and James Livingston, Esq., J.P.i the business was unimportant, only some civil cases being decided. Verdicts by default wore given in the following civil oases ; —W. Sergeant v. W. Aikman, £ll OS, costs £1 7s; W. Furlong v. Peter Malcolm, £l6 lbs fid, costs £1 2s; W. Bennett v. J. A. Smith, £5 12s, costs 13s ; same v. W. Edgecombe, £3 17s 3d, costs 10s ; same v. J. Kenyon, 11s, costs 10s i same v. R. Ross, £2 15s Cd, not served. On Thursday last some excitement was occasioned in Ilawera and neigbourhood by the report of a human skeleton being found close to the Tongahoc bridge, on the property of Mr Peterson. It appears that some men had been employed in burning the fern off the range, near the bridge, when they came across the skull and bones above alluded to. Dr. Walker examined the human remains, and was of opinion that the skeleton was that of a male about, 30 years of age. No bones seemed broken, and the osteological appearances led him to believe that the man had been dead 12 months. Patoc, native chief desires to remove the remains, already interred, believing it to be one of his own people. It was deemed unnecessary to hold an inquest. We beg to remind intending tenderers for gravelling the Waihi road, that tenders close at.New Plymouth next Saturday. The immigration cottages at Kakaramea are finished, and are great improvements on those previously erected in this township. The walls are higher, good substantial brick chimneys are built instead of iron ones, and the plans altogether are much better. The work has been done substantially and well by the contractor, Mr William Aitcheson, of Carlyle.

The affairs of (ho Patea Library and Institute are brightening, and are being placed on a far better footing than hitherto. The Library at the commencement of the quarter was removed to the office of the Town Board, and Mr Campbell has undertaken the duties of librarian. The issue of books will take place on Monday and Saturday afternoons from 3 to 5 o’clock, and on Wednesday evening-from 7 to 9 o'clock, but the librarian has also kindly promised to accommodate subscribers at other hours when he is disengaged. There is now a veiy good selection, and a supply of now books ordered from Melbourne is shortly looked for. The Committee, we may say, recently applied to the Government for a building site, and a very good section in a first-class position has been most liberally granted. Altogether the prospects of the Institute are excellent, and, in common with every one who wishes the district well, wo hope every success wi!l attend the energetic exertions of the Committee.

The following is the eleven selected to represent Carlyle in the cricket match to be played against Wairoa on Saturday next, on the ground of the latter ;—M‘Kay, Girwood, Baggett, Inman, Finnity, Meredith, Fraser (captain), Nicholson, Jacomb, Taplin, Arundcll, and Croft. Wc have great pleasure in drawing the attention of settlers to an announcement in another column of the establishment of a fellmongery at Kakar.uuea by )Ir R. E. M - Rac. This is a want that has long been felt, especially as far as wool-sor ing and scouring arc concerned, and wc have no doubt that Mr M-llac will have as much as he can do during this season. It will also be a great convenience to producers to be able to dispose of skins, hides, kc.. on the spot without sending to a distance. pay n , r carnage and commission in addition to other incidental expenses. Every one. we arc sure, will join us in wishing Mr M'Jlac all the success that his enterprise deserves, and which there is every prospect of his obtaining. Yesterday afternoon a chimney in Major Turner’s house caught fire ami blazed away merrily for a short time. As it happened, all the family were out at the time, and the first news they received on their return was, that the fire had occurred and been put out. Assistance was speedily rendered, Mr Meredith especially rendering material service. Had prompt steps not been taken, the Major, on returning ffom his walk, might have found his house a iieap of ashes, but as it turned out. no damage whatever was done. In consequence of the inclemency of the weather, Mr Dale’s auction did not take place last Saturday, but, it will be seen by advertisement, is announced to be held next Saturday.

The Taranaki liu-fhj.it affords the following information : —The prospective near approach of the opening of the railway line is attracting outside attention. With an eye to business and public convenience, a representative of the Auckland Steam Packet Company (Mr William Loddcr) has come down in the ‘ Go-ahead ’ to canvas importers and exporters in regard to opening direct and regular trade between the Waitara and Onchunga. The completion of the railway, it is considered will remove every objection to, as well as afford every inducement for, direct and regular communication being opened up betwee i Waitara and Manukau. The steamer ‘Goahead ’ is a very suitable boat for the purpose. The Auckland Steam Co npany are first in the field, and unless the r dlway can be used in some such way as would follow the carrying out the proposition now made, the strip of railway will piovc to be of little pracfcal use. Parties chiefly interested speak out in favour of giving their support as far ns possible, and the manager is so far satisfied as to have determined to make a trial immediately on the railway being opened for traffic. The boat, when started, will be kept specially for the Waitara and Auckland trade—-so that there will be little or no uncertainty as to the time of arrival and departureThe steamer will be enabled to run up to the Waitara wharf, and goods and passen. gers may be at once transshipped and forwarded to town. Should the trade prove large enough, other boats will follow on the heels of the ‘Go-ahead.’ Already Nelson men are talking of sending steam boats to the Waitara, but as the Auckland Company is first in the field they may now hesitate till a trial lias been made with the ‘ Go-ahead, 1

The Cross says It is satisfactory to fi: d that one unsuccessful venture has not <c ferred sonic of the more enterprising of ( nr citizens from making another attempt to fit out a whale ship from the port of Auckland. A company, called the Magellan Cloud Whaling Association, has been formed, ai d is now fitting up a vesselAmongst the interesting calls made oj he “Challenger” was a visit to the Admiralty Islands. ‘Here the scientific seekers after truth foatid most interesting people, of cheerful disposition, agreeable manners, very neat in habits, and perfect economists. They wasted nothing. With corals and they made neat walks from house to house, and they bordered the paths with brilliant foliaged plants But one thing puzzled the savans. They couldn’t find the cemetery. At length they asked an intelligent islander what they did with their dead. The gentleman addressed was an excellenu pantomimist. and he solved the mystery by smilingly patting himself just over the diaphragm ? Now in these days of fancy sepulture —of cremation and wicker burial baskets, elegantly adorned with moss and rose buds—the idea might be attractive to some enthusiast. It has the advantage of perfect novelty. It is the straight thing, No pretence of revenge upon your enemy, but literally taking your friend to your heart, or at any rate as much of him as possible.

“• Once a week ” —a first-class Home pub lication —-has the following, which a contemporary very properly stylos " a hint woith taking A wealthy London merchant i„ reported as having said ‘ I always feel happy when I am advertising .for then I know tha fc waking or sleeping, I have a strong, though silent, orator working for me—one who never tires, never sleeps, never makes mistakes, and who is certain to address the dealers froni ( if at all, my trade must come.” A correspondent of the Southern Cross signing himself “ G. 8.,’ P sends to that paper the following arithmetical question: " M alking up {Queen street, I strolled into a publichouse, and I borrowed from the landlord a s much money as I had in my pocket, and and for his kindness I spent a shillhT^T^

Leaving this, I went into three others in turn, each time borrowing as much money as I had hi my pocket, and spending a shilling for their kindness. When I left the fourth publichouse I had nothing in my pocket—how much had I when I went into the first-public house.'’ The answer to it is as follows ;—•“When G. B. entered the first public-house he had Hid. in his pocket; he borrowed lljd., making Is. IGJd, ; he spent Iwhich left him 10J-d. In the nect one ho borrowed 10.) d. more, and ■ p -nt Is..leaving 9d.; in the following one he borrowedDd. and spent Is., leaving Gd ;in the last one lie borrowed Gd, and spent Is., and when he departed ho had nothing. ’