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Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 106, 15 April 1876, Page 2

Yesterday being a clo.se holiday, was observed as such by all classes. The usual religions services wore conducted in the Church of England, and the day was almost as quiet as a Sunday. To-morrow, the Rev' J. Law, Wesleyan Minister, will hold services at Hawera, at 11 a.m. ; at Manntahi in the afternoon, and in Carlyle, at G. 30. p.m. Tiie usual Easter Services will be held, at the Church of England to-morrow. Mr W. Dale will hold a sale of merchandise and sundries at his mart, this day, without reserve. Wo would call special attention to the advertisement in another column, announcing that the lease of the sections next to the Town Hall will he sold on the Gtli May, by Mr W. Cowern. Wo would again call attention to the tea meeting and musical entertainment in connection with the Hawera Catholic Church, which will take nlaec on Monday next, in the Hawera blockhouse. An emergency meeting of the Patea Kilwinning Lodge will bo held in the Town Hall, on Wednesday evening next. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a football club, will be held at Mr Grcig’s oflice, Hawera, this evening, at half-past 7 o’clock. A meeting is about to ho hold in Patea to establish an Odd Fellows’ Lodge. There can he no doubt such an institution should, and will, be well supported, and we most sincerely wish its supporters all success in their efforts. An accident of a very serious nature happened on Thursday last. Mr W. Vine, carter, loaded up a full cart of goods, and started for Ketcmarao, sitting on the shafts, when by some mishap he fell off, just after clearing the township, and the wheel os the dray passed over his body longitudinally, breaking two of his ribs, and injuring him internally. [Since the above was in type, Dr Walker informs us that the sufferer is in a very critical state.] Mr O’Sullivan’s bread cart came to grief on Thursday last. Whilst proceeding up Taranaki Road, thohorso turned sharp round a corner, and upset. The bread ami flour were the only sulforers. Mr O’Sullivan; however, was pitched clean out of the cart, hut luckily fell in a soft place, and sustained no injury.

A committee meeting of the Patea District Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Saturday last, the &ib instant. Mr Peacock was voted to the chair. It was resolved that Mr Henry Williamson be requested to band over the balance of cash in his bands from the first annual ploughing match to the Treasurer of tins Assbciation. —.Resolved, that it be optional with prize takers to lake cash medals or plate to the value of their prizes.—Resolved, that a sub-committee bo appointed to arrange for the next annua! ploughing match, to consist of Messrs M. Hunter, G. W. Gano, 0. Hawes, E. R. Morgan, U. Coutts, 11. Williamson, and A. Hunter. — Resolved, that this meeting decide that Mr Peacock is entitled to receive Mr Wilson’s prize of £5 ss, on account of winning a champion prize in addition to 5 first-class prizes (Mr Mcßae being the other exhibitor who took 5 first-class prizes.) Accounts and prizes to the amount of £l5O were ordered to bo paid, and in addition to that amount the committee voted a sum of £lO as a present to the secretary, Mr W. Dale, for his services during the past year. After providing for payment of all outstanding accounts, the society will start the new year with a credit balance of over £3O.

An interesting cricket match will be played on Easter Monday between the Constabulary and civilians of the Patea district. The game will be played at Carlyle on the new cricket ground, and wickets will ho pitched at 10 o’clock sharp. The teams arc pretty evenly matched, and the game should be a good one. The following are the names of the players;— Civilians—Messrs Riddiford, Jenkins, Bate, Mason, Baggett, Tennent, Arundell, Fetch, Taplin, Dascnt, and Meredith. ConstabuIfiry—Messra Jacornh, Inman, Robson, McKay, Johnston, Weatherly, Hargood, Cowan, Burrows, Segul, and Pooley. The Maori prisoners, Tapa, Spain, and mate, under a very small guard, were duly conveyed on board the Egmont on Thursday last, for transference to Wanganui for trial. It was supposed by some that a great Maori demonstration would be made on the occasion, but anything more tame than the farewell could hardly be imagined. Tapa’s wife and daughter, and another female, accompanied him to the wharf, and lamented as per Maori custom but that was all, and the few other Maoris who came in, were satisfied with a very brief leave-taking. Constable Robson was appointed custodian of the prisoners, and Major Brown was also a passenger. The abrupt conclusion of the trip of the prisoners is referred to elsewhere. They were duly re-lodged in the Immigration barracks, but were sent down by baggy in charge of four constables last night.

In our report of the resolutions of the Town Board, in reference to the disposal of the reserves, we find we made some trifling errors, and take the earliest opportunity of "correcting them. Instead of three years, the paddocks, when leased, must be fenced within two years. With reference to sections in Block XL, we made an error in stating that they were to be put up at 41100. We should have said that no buildings on the various sections, under £IOO in value, would be permitted by the Board.

The long looked-for ball at Kakaramea, in aid of the Town Hall building fund, came off on Wednesday last. It was a great success, and should add materially to the object in view. The weather was so threatening that the ladies did not muster in the force expected, but a very fair number were present, and those who did attend evidently enjoyed themselves. The most satisfactory arrangements for the comfort and enjoyment of the guests had been made by the stewards, and were duly appreciated by all. Mr Dixon, the new host of the Kakaramea Hotel, was great on the occasion. He very kindly lent the piano, and was also caterer in addition, supplying solids and fluids in profusion to hungry and thirsty souls. A very large proportion of the visitors were from Carlyle, though many came from other surrounding districts. Mesdames Christie, Taplin, and Hirst most kindly volunteered their services at the piano, and all performed their self-imposed duties admirably. The ball went on in a most spirited manner till httc, or rather early, it being nearly three o’clock before it came to a conclusion, and ad who were present expressed their great satisfaction at the manner in which it had been conducted. The Kakaramea poet “ Puck,” to whom a ticket had been sent, did not attend, neither did he apply for the leather medal, expressly prepared for him. The gathering was a success, and may Kakaramea have many of them.

One of the most remarkable meteors that has ever been seen in this district, appeared on Thursday evening last, about 6.130. p.m., in the west, almost directly over the track of the scarcely set sun. At thetimo, though the sun had sunk below the horizon, there was just a glimmer of light, which made the appearance the more extraordinary. It consisted in a sudden burst of light, lasting some seconds, so brilliant as to light up the whole sky, and illumine every mundane object The fiery globe for so it seemed, appeared to fall info the sea, hut its track was somewhat eccentric, and a thin irregular stripe of light was loft in the course it had taken, a line resembling that of lightning. This did not die out for some minutes, five at least, and faded very gradually before disappearance. Had this been seen some years ago, it would have been regarded as a portent of grave moment. In the present day it will be regarded as an astronomical phenomenon on which at some early date, wo hope to hear more from the scientific world. Pacific whalemen have made an interesting scientific discovery this season. A few years ago they reached the whaling grounds in August, only to ho obliged to leaA r e them in September. This year they remained until October, and might have been delayed longer, so far a peril from as icc pack was concerned. They went within eighty miles of M'Kenzie river, where sailing vessels have never been bcTore, and say that a steamer, aided by the currents, might have gone through to Baffin’s Bay without difficult}", and thus solved the mystery of the North west passage. They are unable to account for this strange atmospheric change. The repaired statue of Napoleon I. was hoisted into its old position, on the top of the Vendome Column, at Paris, on December 27. The operation occupied the whole of the day, and was not accompanied by any public ceremony. Duels of late years have lost much of the deadly chaiacter which, was formerly the chief objection urged against them, and “ hostile meetings” as a rule, have now no more serious results than the waste of ammunition involved by the necessity of both parties discharging their pistols, and interchanging complimentary Salutes. A fatal duel, has however, just taken place in Spain, whore the Marquis de Sofraza has just been shot by Major Liburne, an Irish officer, in the service of Don Carlos. The duel, it is stated, was conducted with “chivalric courtesy” on both sides. The first interchange of shots being ineffectual, the seconds most kindly decided on allowing the combatants to indulge in a second shot, and thus give them-a chance of compensation for the disppointment caused by their first ineffectual attempt to destroy each other. This second attempt was partially successful, for although Major Liburne was not killed, his bullet pierced the brain of the unfortunate Marquis de Sofraza, who died in a few minutes. No one, it is said, regretted the circumstance more than the survivor, whose conduct throughout was marked by good taste and feeling, as to call forth the warm commendations of all concerned in the gallant affair. Unfortunately, the Major’s regret came a little too late to he of service, who nevertheless, had he killed himself, would no doubt have been equally profuse in his expressions of regret. The cause of the meeting arose out of a rather heated argument on Spanish politics.

Speaking of the confusion which prevailed after the fire at Wellington the New Zealand Times says ;—“ The lodgers suffered considerably. One gentleman, a commercial traveller, lost property consisting of samples of jewellery to the value of over £2OO. Others were unfortunate in different degrees. Some lost everything they had in the hotel. Several watches were lust, and also money. In some cases the victims bad not even found time to provide themselves with a complete suit of clothes. One of these had to buy a pair of boots and borrow a coat yesterday morning. Another was seen to rush up and down the street once or twice in a costume of the queerest kind, being a compromise between that used by our forefather Adam, and a modern dress suit. He had on one tall hat, one shirt, and a pair of boots. He found a friend, and clothed himself.”

At the banco sitting, Christchurch, his Honor Mr Justice Johnson commented upon members of the bar appearing in colored clothes under their gowns, and said that it was paying but a poor compliment to the Judge, who always appeared in proper profeosional costume. He had caused his secretary to speak privately to members of the professsion on this subject, but as it had not been attended to he now took the opportunity of again referring to it. In future he should refuse to hear any member of the bar in banco matters unless he wore professional costume. An extraordinary case of self-mutilation occurred last week in Melbourne. A cabinet maker named George Erskine left his work, went up to a small circular sawn driven steam power at tlie rate o£ XOO revolutions per minute, and deliberate]} 7 put his right hand against this saw, which in a second cut through bone, flesh, and sinew, leaving the man’s rigiit hand hanging to the arm by a strip of skin. The other workmen ran up and carried Erskine at once to the Melbourne Hospital, just accross the road, where the bleeding was stopped in time, and other necessary steps having been taken, he was admitted an inpatient. Erskine was a steady quiet man, but had evidently become at any rate temporarily deranged. When asked why he had cut his hand off, he replied, “the Scripture says, ‘ If thy right hand offend thee,’ ” &c., and added that his right hand having offended him, he had accordingly cut it off. In his pocket was found a Bible well thumbed at the “ Sermon on the Mount,” in which the passage he quoted occurs, Reviewing the speech of the Premier at Wanganui, the Lyttelton Times gives a history of the circumstances which led Sir Julius to bring down bis abolition resolutions in 1874, and concludes a very able conti adiction of the Premier’s version of bis sudden conversion to anti-Pro-vincialism as follows:—“ He hud no notion of standing com nitted to a cause which his instinct told him was lost, and lie sought relief in a desperate stroke. He determined on a complete change of front. His plan was to abandon the Provinces to their fate, and to forestall the abolitionists by taking up tiicir resolution and bringing it on as one of bis own. By adopting this course lie gained a double advandage. First be shook off associations that were becoming a source of weakness ; and secondly, he left the abolitionists no choice but to follow his lead, and thus kept himself at the head of the dominant party. This is the real origin of the abolition resolutions. Nor, as the event has proved did Sir J. Vogel miscalculate their effect. Whatever may be the ultimate result, they have secured him a fresh lease of power. His tactics were unprincipled hut successful* He sacrificed his friends, but kept his place, lie abjured his political creed, but preserved bis majority.

Thefollowing is the text of the amended land, property, and income tax resolutions as submitted to the Legislative Assembly of Victoria by the Government, and which have since been withdrawn on account of the smallness of the majority in theirfavor—- “ For and in reapect of all lands, exclusive of buildings, for every 20s of the annual value thereof above the annual value of £BO and below the annual value of £200) the sura of Is, and for every 20s above the annual value of £2OO, the sum of Is 6d.” “ Eor and in respect of the annual profits or gains arising or accruing to any person from any kind of property whatever in Victoria, 'not otherwise taxed herein, or from any profession, trade, or vocation respectively derived, or exercised from or in Victoria, or from any source of income arising elsewhere than Victoria and received in Victoria during any year, for every 20s of the annual value or amount thereof above the sum of £SOO of income derived from all sources, the sum of 6d.” The Resident Magistrates of Dunedin and Port Chalmers have, after a consultation with each other, fixed the following scale of professional costs in civil cases:— Under £5, nothing ; from £5 to £lO, the magistrate to be applied to ; £l3 to £2O, one guinea ; £2O to £SO, two guineas ; £SO to £IOO, three guineas. The Otago Daily Times procured a special telegraphic report of Sir Julius Vogel’s speech at Wanganui. It was the lirgest message ever sent through the telegraph in New Zealand, and consisted of 13,800 words. It took 10 hours to transmit it.

Mr Kartell, the brand}' manufacturer, has just been elected Vice-President of the French Assemby.

The fire in the crater of .Mount; Vesuvius is gradually increasing in strength. The instruments of the Observatory are in motion.

The death is announced of Miss Hardy, the eldest daughter of Admiral Hardy, in whose arms Nelson expired. Miss Hardy was the occupant of a suite of rooms in Hampton Court Palace, allotted to her by the Queen. The musket ball by which Nelson was killed was for many years kept by Captain Hardy, who had it mounted in crystal and silver as a locket. It is believed to be in the possession of the Queen. —Surrey Comet. A committee of inquiry into the conduct of a warder in theOamaru Hospital named Ross proves him to have been guilty of gross inhumanity, which the committee are however pleased to term “ improper and cruel language,” and visited with a reprimand. It was proved that he flatly refused to attend to the wants of a dying patient, and when remonstrated with he unfeelingly' replied in the man’s presence that the latter was not likely to recover and any trouble of the kind would be useless.

It appears that a very large number of rabbit skins have been exported from Southland recently. A Southland contemporary says that Mr J. Hatch, of Dee street, for instance, has for some time past been sending them to the old country, and has shipped by the Waitara for London about 40,000 of them. Recently forty miners, with an aggregate amount o£ &3000 of savings left tiie Thames for New South Wales by the Hero, which steamer took a conside-iable number of diggers on the previous trip, who had over £4OOO amongst them. The following is not so had for the Wallaroo Times (S.A.) ;—“ In our last issue we happened to remark, ‘The prettiest girl in Strathalbyn stoops.’ Mark the result. Since then all the Strathalbyn girls keep their backs as straight as ladde r poles, and exclaim as they walk a trifle ahead of their maternals —‘ Ma, do I stoop ? that horrid paper says I do !’ ” An extraordinary accident occurred in the parish church of Cherry Burton, a village near Beverley, Yorkshire. Whil e the morning service was proceeding one of the weights of the church clock crashed through the belfry roof, and mortally injured a housemaid sitting below, as well as seriously hurting a young man by her side. The painfulness of the accident is heightened by the fact that the injured couple weie to nave been married to each other the next day.

The speaking of professional bookmakers, says that although “ there are undoubtedly some respectable bookmakers, as a class they are regarded in anything but a favorable light, almost on a level with the keepers of Chinese betting shops) in Little Bourkc-strect.” It sugi ests that, to raise the social status of the ring, its members should be licensed to ply thei r avocation on the racecourse to the exclusion of all who could not give security for good behaviour and clean antecedents, as well as the possession of some money.