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Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 61, 10 November 1875, Page 2

Tiie Native Bauds Court sat on Friday last, bis Honor Judge Ey mends presiding. Lira Manjulalii sat as Native Assessor. Komoko and others made a claim for sGlt

acres of land in the JJangaliu Mock. Proof in favor of ownership, and the Court awarded certificate as prayed. Ngahnriumum made a claim, through ancestry, t > (be , Koliaroa block. A. number of Maoris were examined in reference to ownership, but the ease was not by any means finished when the Court rose.

An impression lias got about., and been accepted by some members of tlmTowii Board, that, as the estimated assessment has to be exhibited in the Court House, it is not necessary to advertise it. If the Act is not strictly complied with, the assessment is not worth sixpence, and no rates can be legally recovered. In our last issue wo ponded out that the Amendment Ordinance of last year repealed clauses 7 to 1G of tie; original Ordinance, both inclusive, but did not repeal clause G, which rims as follows; —“Such assessment shall be ascertained and determined by two persons to be appointed by the .Board not being members thereof in such manner as the said Board shall direct who shall cause the same to be printed in two newspapers published in New Plymouth within fourteen days of the time when such assessment shall be completed.” Wo should not wonder at the Town Board endeavoring to wriggle out of the expense of advertising, as laid down by the Act, but in tins case they have no option, unpleasant as it may be. The clause is clear enough in all coincieuce, and those who run may read it without the help of an interpreter. If they fail in one condition laid down, any rate they may strike is invalid, and those liable to lie rated cannot bo compelled to pay a farth-

Thc tender of Mr Stevens lias been

accepted for metalling of the road at Hawora, and the work will be proceeded with at once. Tenders for another, section were sent in a fortnight ago, but none.of them have been accepted, the reason being, wo suppose, that they were deemed too high. ’Tins, we are given to understand, is by .no means the case, for the distance that the metal lias to be carted is great, and there is considerable difficulty in obtaining it. The delay thus induced is greatly to be regretted, for a most uoeessary work is indefinitely postponed, and the residents suffer seriously' in the meanwhile.

The first services were held in the new

Wesleyan Church in this township, on Sunday last, and a great many attended These wore not con lined to the Wesleyan body only, but comprised many of other denominations. The Rev. Mr Kirk preached both morning and evening, and the collections made in aid of the building fund, amounted -to To 15s. His Honor Judge Symons, of the Native 'Lands 'Court, Dr Bailor and-other leading people, were amongst the congregation. This is only regarded as a kimj of preliminary opening, the formal one will take place in about a mouth,, when a tea meeting will bo Hold in aid of the funds. The building is not nearly completed inside, though the shell is finished, for seat, ami other internal fittings, have yet to be provided. There will be no trouble in tins, however, and they will be furnished at once. We con _ gratulato.the denomination on the spirit they have shown in the work, which is highly creditable to all concerned. The .dimensions of the building are 30 x‘2l •feet, with a porch. 8 x 8 feet, and the contract for its erection has been most satisfactorily executed by Holtharn and War* eren. In lieu of a pulpit a roomy platform s fixed for the minister to preach from . Mrs Hirst, we may say, kindly presided a'; the harmonium on Sunday,last. A most interesting lecture will bo delivered by Captain Skeet to-morrow even . ing, the subject being Temperance v. Intemperance, The lecture is under the special patronage of the Good Templars of the town, and will be ably handled by thekc.ir.r.

The Native Lands Court con eluded its sitting yesterday, having had before it tour blocks to give judgment on in reference to ownership. The- memorials of ownership were passed, as brought before the Court, with respect to the Wangaelm, AGO ; Mangaohiku, 01,‘200 ; and Bakckino, 11,570 acres. The fourth, the Kaharoa, was reduced in quantity from 12,800 acres, in consequence of the opposition of the Waitotara natives, who made good a joint claim to 4,050 acres of it with the claimant. The Government are about purchasing these blocks, some of which contain some very fine land. The largest block, the Maugaotukn, goes to the Matemateongi ranges that divide the trilul rights of these natives from those of tin Upper Wanganui. The gross total is 82080.ac.Tes. In closing the Court, the .Judge complimented the natives for their orderly conduct and attention to the business before the Court His Honour displayed great care throughout, and deserves especial praise for bis patient painstaking bearing of the lists of anecdotes, with the rights that they exercised, in catching eels, knirs, parrots, pigeons, and rats on the Kaiiaroa block, from whom the opposing claimants claimed descent. His Honour, with the interpreter to the Court, Mr Hammond, and the Civil Commissioners, Messrs I’arris and Brown, will probably leave Patea on Friday next for tin; north. .Major Kemp represented the Waitotara opposition, assisted by the legal advice of Dr Boiler.

The liulier A r cim gives the following; as a literatim copy of the bill of fare recently put before the guests at Charleston Hotc■ I : — ll Mutton Baraulb, Rost Beef, Pickled Pork, Host Motto, Pic Wh - ;:>k, Corn Beef, Blum Pin.lon, Tappy ok ■, Pat Pat.”

The ease of Jenkins v. Lbv. Flavel Cook, report M in the English papers, is certainly a curious one in all its actors and ciiciimstances. Mr Jenkins is a curious parish" inner, who is consumed with so pious a desired) enjoy the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper that ho goes to law with Ids clergyman, and lights his ease through all the courts, up to the Privy Council itself, in order to have his pious wish gratified* The clergyman too is, in Ms way, a curiosity, and is possessed with a remarkable sense of what constitutes Christian faith. He brought the matter in dispute betwix bis parishioner and himself to a Very limited issue ;— u Let him tell me that , lie believes in the devil,” lie said “ and I will give him the sacrament.” Surely this is reducing the Christian faith to a very .small and uncomfortable area—a very surprising - departure from the Paul, ino demand. We hear much of “progressive ” theology, and certainly this s theology which Ims“ progressed” very far indeed. Mr Cook, however, seems to have not done justice to his own cn; His parishioner is of opinion that the Scriptures are in patches, immoral ; and ho has published an oxpurgated and improved edition of them, with ail the objectionable passages omitted. The last .scene of all, that ends or does not end this strange eventful history, is by no means the least curious : a number of lawyers deciding, by iVm Priux arguments! whether faith in the devil is an essential part of Christian character. Surely the whole case is ore more curious than edifv-