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Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 56, 23 October 1875, Page 2

We are glad to say that the hint we tiirew out relative to erecting dwellinghouses on speculation here is likely to be taken, the very great reduction in the price of timber, thanks to the establishment of a sawmill in the district, proving an incentive to builders. Several cottages are about to he erected in various parts, and many business men propose erecting shops on the present Resident Magistrate’s Reserve, when the sections are disposed of. The new Wesleyan Church is rapidly approaching completion, and, when finished, will be apretty and neat edifice. The Catholic Church is also to be considerably improved very shortly, and several private persons are making alterations in their buildings. Mr Warren, photographer, is enlarging his premises greatly, and is constructing a new room fitted up specially for photographic purposes, with all modern appliances, and a new and expensive apparatus. Mr Warren will be prepared to receive customers in about a fortnight’s time, due notice of which will be advertised. We are informed that a new and commodious hotel' is about to be erected on the Taranaki Road, a little above the butcher’s shop, it being thought by its intended landlord that the influx of population to this district will require increased hotel accommodation. In various parts of tiie surrounding country new houses are going up, and building is progressing rapidly in every direction. As will be seen by an advertisement elsewhere, any objections to the proposed rate roll for Patea East, will be heard by the Commissioners of the Board on. Tuesday, November 11th, in accordance rvith the 22nd clause of the Roads and Bridges Ordinance. This is all very well,but a very serious doubt has arisen whether there is any legal Board in existence, and, consequently, whether any act of the gentlemen constituting themselves the Board is legal. As many of our readers know, on a meeting being called to elect Commissioners, • a sufficient number of ratepayers could not be got together to fulfil the requirements of the Act, and the proceedings necessarily lapsed. The Act, however, provides that in such cases the Superintendent may nominate a Board, and he did so, but only appointed three members. By the amended Act the number is fixed at seven, instead and the nomination of three only therefore must be a grave mistake, and one that, till rectified, will render the Board incomplete and powerless. It would seem,- then, that the three gentlemen; before proceeding further, should seek to have vacancies filled, inasrnneh. as anything they do now will have

A little enthusiasm was evolved a short time ago in connection with the representation of this district in the forthcoming Philadelphia Exhibition, and gentlemen were appointed as commissioners to gather what products were possible, for forwarding to America on that occasion. Whether they have been busily but silently engaged in their task, or whether they have done nothing, we are not aware, but the public naturally feel an interest in the action, if any, that they have taken, and would be glad to be made acquainted with what had been done. Would one of them kindly explain and show some light on this interesting subject ?

The Catholic Temperance Soiree was bold according to announcement, in the large room of the Immigration Barracks, on Wednesday evening last, and must have added largely to the building fund for the benefit of which it was given. A very large number of persons attended, including a number of ladies and children. The attendance was by no means limited to Good Templars or teetotallers, neither was it confined to the Catholic denomination, for moderate, we will not say immoderate, drinkers, members of the Church of England, of the Wesleyan, and other bodies, all came forward and added their mite to the good cause, as well as those connected with the church to be aided. The first portion of the proceedings consisted of an excellent tea, at which all kinds of good things were most liberally and profusely provided by Mrs O’Sullivan, Miss Higgins, and Mrs Whelan, and for which these ladies were deservedly thanked by Mr E. McGuire, who occupied the chair on behalf of the Committee during the evening. After tea had been done full justice to the room was cleared for further enjoyment. It had been hoped that the liov. Father Kirk would deliver a lecture, but that gentleman was unable to attend, and music was substituted. A little hitch arose at this point, owing to no programme having been prepared, but Miss Coackley kindly came to the rescue, and sang and played to the great delight of her audience—a piano having been kindly lent for the occasion by Mr Taplin. This young lady plays very well, and has a very sweet voice, her rendering of “ The Harp that once through Tara’s Hall” being particularly well given. Another lady also kindly gave her assistance, and sang one »ong very well. An unsuccessful attempt was made to induce volunteers to come forward and display their vocal abilities, after which dancing was determined on and entered into with great spirit by a large number present, so much so that the company did not separate till between 1 and 2 o’clock in the morning. The only speech made on the occasion, if we except a few introductory remarks by the Chairman, was delivered by Mr Williams in support of total abstinence. It contained some good and sound advice. The soiree, taken as a whole, was a success, and fully answered the expectations of the committee. We may add that the room was most tastefully decorated with evergreens, and lighted with some very pretty Chinese lanterns. The music for dancing purposes was most obligingly rendered by Mr Connolly, senior, on the flute, and his son on the violin.

We beg to draw attention to the large auction sale of stock of all descriptions by Mr Win. Dale, to take place on Thursday next, the 28th instant, at Kakaramea. A splendid opportunity is offered to persons, wanting either cattle or horses, to supply themselves, as lots of every kind will be then brought under the hammer, and sold without reserve. Yet another in the field, says the Budget. We have local authority for stating that a steamer of light draught of water is being built at Dunedin especially for the Waitara trade. The route to be run will probably he from Dunedin, calling at Lyttelton, Wellington, Manawatu, and Waitara both ways. The steamer is to make her first rip early next month. The next San Francisco mail will close at this office (Carlyle) on Tuesday next the 26th inst. at 1.45 p.m. An error occurred in our report of the cricket match between Carlyle and Wairoa on Saturday last. The local team scored 36, instead of 33 in their second innings, Mr Meredith making 3 mns—a double and a single—that he was not credited with, though fairly earned. Apropos of this match, the Patea players fully intend to turn the tables on their late and future opponents in the return match, to be played here this day week.

We are glad to see that a little vitality is being infused mto- the coming races, by a small Derby Sweep on the Jockey Club Handicap, to be drawn at the Albion Hotel on the night of the races, and the evening before the race, to which it has reference, will be run. The prizes are not large, but will no doubt be welcome to the fortunate winners whoever they may be. Before the drawing takes place, several of the entries -will probably be scratched, but those who are lucky enongh to even obtain one of the non-competitors will receive somewhere about eighteen shillings each Tor the outlay of ten, the sum of £lO being, divided amongst starters and nonstarters alike, There can be no doubt of

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In addition to other business men who are holding clearing sales in order to make room for new stock is Mr F. McGuire. His announcement appears in another column, and intending- purchasers are offered great bargains at his establishment.

As will bo seen by an advertisement in .another column a race ball has been arranged to come off at the Town Hall, Wairoa, on Tuesday and Wednesday even ings under the patronage of the Patca District Jockey Club.

The Alexandra Times relates the following sad story : —“ One of those tales which have so often been told in Victoria about men falling from positions of honor and influence to the very depths of degradation and misery, came under our notice on Tuesday last. Hearing that old Smith, the Deputy-registrar of births and deaths, was lying in a hut very ill, we went-to sec him, accompanied by Constable Mc'Corrnick and another member of the police force. The door of the but (ould only be opened a few inches, as Smith was lying on the floor with his head against it. One of the police entered by the window and removed the unfortunate man, who was in an unconscious state, to the middle of the floor, where he died within five minutes. The poor man’s legs were a mass of putrefying sores. He had but one blanket for Ids bed, and the hut had a miserable appearance. This wretched remnant of humanity was the Honorable John Spencer Smith, at one time Colonial Treasurer of Pi nice Edward Island, his father being Governor at the same time. His uncle was Admiral Sir Sydney Smith. Mr Smith, who was about 66 years-of ago, had the stamp of a man who Irad seen better days. When questioned as to his past career he evaded giving any information, and it was only lately, by correspondence from bis friends in Canada through Captain Standish, that he became known. He has a son a clergyman in Canada, and another in a merchant's office in New Zealand. According to the last letters received, his relat.ves intended to send him some money and strongly urged that lie should return home. Too- late now.”

Dissecting the division list on the third reading of the Abolition-of Provinces Bill, the Canterbury Press says —“Tire third reading was carried by a majority of (including pairs) 44 to 25. The Opposition gained live votes since the second reading, when they only numbered 20 against 55. The five members who came over to them arc, Messrs Bradshaw, J. C. Brown, and Murray, of Otago, Mr Gibbs, of Nelson, and Mr Von der Heyde, of Auckland. The loss of these five members brought down the Ministerial majority to 50,.and it was further reduced to 44 by the absence of six others, who on this occasion abstained from recording their votes. Who the six were we cannot say exactly, as seven names are omitted in our telegram, viz., Messrs Bluett, Creighton, Harrison, May, O’Neal, and Tribe. Of these the omission of one- name is accidental, as the numbers show that only six of them did not vote, Mr Taiaroa, as before, refused to vote on either side. The addition of the Speaker and Sir J. Vogel (absent), make up the fall total of 78. The following extract from a private letter received by the last Californian mail, from a gentleman for sometime resident in Auckland, may prove interesting to manj'. It shows that the hot springs of California are deemed to possess healing properties such as are attributed to the hot springs at Waiwera. The correrpondent writes : —“ I was advised by my physician to go up- country, and np country I am. For the last two weeks I have been living in this place,—Cloverdale, Sonoma Co. Near here are some wonderful springs of sulphur,, which have tire property of curing rheumatism, &c. These springs are as numerous as the hills, and vary in composition and appearanceThey boil and bubble out of the ground with the sound of a steamboat whistle, and the reverberation of the noise of a cannon. Near them the ground is so hot that in some places when a stick is-pushed in the soil, the end will be’ charred off. Everything is strongly significant of the ‘evil place,’and the water is the most nauseous ever put to human lips ; but the cures it effects are indeed wonderful. Hundreds upon hundreds of sick people flock to them every year from all parts of the United States.”

■ The average uneducated female witness, , remarks a contributor to the Bruce Heral d is generally a source of amusement to those who attend the Courts of J ustice. As a rule she is literally bursting with evidence—or what she believes to be evidence—and is' sure to get into difficulties between her umbrella, veil, gloves, and the Court Bible. I heard a good story about something that happened in a neighbouring Province not long ago. A very self-possessed young woman—a recent arrival from the Emerald Isle—stepped briskly into the box, and with a familiar nod to the Bench, commenced to tell her ; story loiidly and rapidly. The attendant policeman endeavoured to stop the torrent of words, and said to the

witness, “You haven’t kissed the Bible,” “Kiss me grandmother,” contemptuously -eplied the damsel, “I’m spaking to the