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Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 94, 4 March 1876, Page 2

Accidents in this part are still, wo are sorry to say, the, order of the day, thought fortunately, they are not generally of a very serious description. Mr Walker, settler, of Ketcmarae, whilst engaged in fanning operations on Tuesday last, by some means fell under the wheel of a dray, which passed along his spine and injured him greatly, in addition to fracturing his ribs. Fortunately the damages are not of a grave nature, and the sufferer, under the care of Dr Walker, is going on well. AnothoHaceident occurred on the same day to a man named Harrison, who was employed at Mr Wilson’s saw-mills, Ketemarae, through a log falling on. nr with him, whereby it is feared Ins liver is serious!v injured. When the doctor went up to see him he. was reported as passing blood, and was otherwise in a critical condition. It is to bo hoped that his injury may prove less than at that time feared. Another trifling accident occurred on Wednesday. whereby a gentleman who had been attending the District Court, ami varying its monotony by sundry potations, was thrown from his horse but not hurt, tieprovenhial luck, attached to those who sacrifice at the shrine of Bacchus, being realise.l in his case. \ much more varied chapter of accidents than those that have occurred in the dtstrict within a few days, could hardlvJ|»ve happened in any district o£,gfj,n;Mßpnlatioii in the colony lor some thfe paStv*-' It is the intention of the Provincial Kxecntive, we learn, to bring the Taranaki Police Ordinance into force in this township and at Hawera, these places having risen to the possession of Town Boards. Owing to tlio operation of the measure not having been proclaimed, as in force here as yet, the police have been unable to cheek many undesirable practices provided for in it, and we therefore warn offenders against- its provisions, that short ly it will bo necessary to ride on the road instead of the footpaths, not to keep a horse and vehicle standing more than a due proportion of hours unguarded, and that reckless galloping through the street will be met with a summary check. There are many other prohibited indulgences that offenders will hear of in all good time. Mr Standish, we may say, as a member of the Executive, has undertaken, on representations made to him to recommend the proclamation above alluded to.

The very uncomfortable, not to say unseemly, manner in which jurors arc seated at the District. Court, is a matter that should certainly be represented at head quarters, and one that calls for immediate reform. Instead of having a box to themselves, as should be and is the case in every court, they are placced, higgledy-piggledy, half of them, when twelve sit, actually in the body of the building on a miserable old form, with no support to lean back on at all, no matter how long the trial lasts. These unhappy half-do/cn wore, by direction of his Honor, guarded by a policeman, detailed for that service during the trial of Thomas Sole, their luckier six colleagues being within the bar, and having a back to their seat. The whole arrangement is downright disgraceful, and, if the Government intend to maintain District Courts in the district, they at least should supply all necessary accommodation for carrying them out with due dignity and convenience. Such alterations as are necessary to effect all that is needed can be very readily effected, and before the Court next sits, surely for decency’s sake, they will be made. The Town Board will hold their usual monthly meeting on Monday next. The committee appointed to examine and report on the reserves at their disposal, will we believe, bring up their report on this occasion. The question-is one of large interest and cannot be too quickly disposed of. At the B.M, Court on Tuesday last, John Harrison was fined 20s, or 48 hours imprisonment, for beiugdrunkaud disorderly. Captain Wray, and —Lomax I'lsq., J.P.’s, were the sitting Magistrates.

The R..M. Court nut yesterday (Friday), imt tin* business was very unimportant, in the ease oi‘ Furlong v. J. M. ilu--s.se!l. an order for payment of the afSGe.mt claimed within a month, was made, with the alternative of a month’s imprisonment. In Wincheomhe v Hughes, to recover highway rates. .Mr Filzherhert, who aj.ipeareii for tin; piain|iiV asked for an adjournment as a telegram had been received from the const able at Wuima. saying that the amount had been paid to him. lie (Mr Filzherhert) wished to say however that this was not payment into Court, and that it, should not in future he considered so. The case of Tapliu v. (.fihson was postponed for the R.M. to hear it, he having heard the first part of the evidence. The Com t (hen adjourned till Thursday, April Gth.

The Education Board will sit on Monday next, at the usual hour in the Courthouse. Our Wiiima correspondent, writingunder date of the‘2t)th nit., referring to the native difficulty then*, says : —Major Kemp, the Wanganui native chief, has been up to sec the natives at. present occupying Dickie’s land. Kemp spent a night with them. He is in the pay of the Native Department. Mr Booth, another official, came up and met them by appointment yesterday at. Waitotara, and had a long korero, Major Brown being also present, t have not heard whether Golonel M‘Donnell’s visit to the district was also connected with this important State husincsss. When is this olfie.al farce to he played out ? By the bye, I think Mr Booth is a land purchase commissioner, so probably negotiations are going on for (die purchase of Dickie’s land from the natives. Anybody hut the Government, if about to make a bargain or bring a business mailer to a satisfactory termination, would employ one agent, hut if desirous of making a hopeless mess of it would perhaps employ half a dozen. Sir D. M’Lcan probably desires to make a mess of this, lienee* the* cmplovment of half a dozen agents to meddle in it.”

We arc exceedingly sorry to state that Mr G. M. Darkness, of Hawera, expired yesterday morning at his residence, in that township. He had been long ailing.but. had rallied considerably, so much so that hopes of his complete recovery were entertained His illness however took a bad turn, and lie died as above. He leaves a widow and seven children and was greatly respected by all who knew him. ‘ There was. we believe some inleiniptioii last eveningtothe telegraph line. Whether this was so oi not. we cannot, positively sav. hut no telegrams of any kind remdieJ ns. I’ossihly the Agency cun explain how (his was.