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Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 108, 22 April 1876, Page 2

The Rev. J. Dunll, Presbyterian minister of Piangitikci, will hold services to-morrow at Ilawera in the morning, Manutahi in the afternoon, and at Carlyle in the evening. We understand that the place of the Rev. N. McCallnm will shortly be filled by a minister just arrived from home. Mr Finnerty, of the survey staff, was yesterday engaged in surveying the Cemetery, with a view to partitioning off portions for each denomination. It is to bo hoped that Mr Finnerty’s labors wil* have the effect of removing any future trouble, on this head. In another column will be seen an advertisement from Dr Walker, vaccinator for the district, notifying that he is fully prepared to vaccinate any children that may be brought to him. He has now a plentiful supply of lymph from healthy children, and the season is the most favorable in the year. Wo would therefore draw the attention of parents to these facts, in order that they may avail themselves of the advantages at present open to them. Land in this district is being eagerly sought alter, by capitalists from other places. Mr Lyaaght, a well-known Canterbury squatter, is now in Patea, and has entered into negociations with Mr McMaators of Makoia for the purchase of the latter’s freehold and leasehold holding, consisting of some 3000 acres. It is likely' that terms will be come to, and a good price, indicative of the general value of land in the neighborhood, obtained. Others are also on the look out for land in tin ß part, and we could give the names of several who have visited the district for that purpose alone. There is no doubt as to this part of the colony being one of the most, if not the most fertile, within its limits, and it is not surprising that people from a distance should bo anxious to settle in it.

As will be seen elsewhere, the anniversary' services of the Ilawera Wesleyan Sunday School, will be held on Sunday, the-30th instant. On the Tuesday following, a soiree in aid of the funds will be given, -when the Rev. J. Law will give a lecture On “ Habit,” and vocal and instrumental music will be added to the enjoyment of the evening-. Wo remind our readers that Mr Clapcott will lecture on Government Life Assurance, on Tuesday evening next at the Town Hal 1. His address will bo both amusing and instructive, and the Hail will, no doubt, be filled. He addressed a meetingat Waverley on Thursday evening last, and he was received with enthusiasm. A very special charm about his lecture is that it is free, and whether people choose to adopt his suggestions or otherwise, at least it costs them nothing to hear them.

An almost miraculous escape from death happened to a boy at Ketemurae on Wednesday last. He was sitting on the box of Collins’ waggon, to which Jour horses were attached, that was waiting to proceed to the saw-mi J. Two people 1 came racing up the road and st art led t lie waggon horses, who forthwith bolted wild the boy on t lie* box.. He clung' to his perilous perch manfully, and managed to retain his hold, despite the serious jolting to which he was subjected. There was a fence close to, against which the runaways first struck', carrying away a rod or so. They then slewed, .and proceeded at lull speed along the edge of a road, along which was a frightful precipice, sum • hundred icel. in depth, the wheel passing within a foot of the brink, and the boy still clinging to his phan*. At this point they fortunately came to a standstill ; had they gone’ a lew yards further nothing could have saved an overturn, ami (he poor lad must have iieeii, with the waggon and horses, dashed to pieces. This narrow escape should teach fooUi m>t to r'.iec past, vehicles, standing wiih horses attached, and those in charge of such vehicles to lake measures to prevent their animals from hulling without leave, as on the occasion referred to. A meeting of the I’atea West. Hoad Board was held at (he Board's ollice, Carlyle, on Monday last. Present —Messrs E. lb .Morgan (cliurman), Honeylield, Wilson, and linn ter.— Proposed by Mr limiter, seconded by Mr Wilson, and

carried, “ That tenders be called for improving Cursed Hoad, by reducing the grade to 1 in 9 on (lie second and third cuttings from the main road.”—Proposed by 'Mr lloneytield, seconded by Mr Wilson, and carried, “That tenders be called for falling G1 chains of bush to the lull width of one chain on Mountain Poach” — It was resolved that an account for £2 be sent to Mr James Southly for one pine tree cut by him on Ball Hoad.—The meeting then adjourned till called together by the secretary. Owing to the large amount of matter, in connection with the wreck and lire, we were compelled to hold over, in our last issue, a great deal of matter. Amongst other things the proceedings of the R.M. Court held at Hawcra on Saturday last was one. There were no criminal cases, but the following civil cases were heard, and disposed of ; —Furlong v Bateman, £G 18s 9d, a judgment summons, ordered to be paid within a week, with costs £2 14s 3d or two month’s imprisonment ; same v Startings £5 14s 9d, judgment for amount claimed. The case of Davidson v Byrne was adjourned, and in lliu oouio v Malcolm, a verdict was given by consent for £l4 19 11 ; Harrison v Fairwenther was a claim for £ls Os Od, for posts cut according to contract, but they were not taken delivery of on completion, verdict for the amount claimed, with £3 10s costs. Mr Adams appeared for the plaintiff. A verdict for £l9 19s lid, with £3 8s costs, was given in Davidson v Bateman. In the case of Adams v Fmmerton, a verdict was given for £2 12s Bd, and an action, brought agianst the same defendant, was adjourned till the next Court day.

The evidence given by the Harbormaster at the enquiry' into the wreck of the s.s. Egmont, relative to the invisibility' of the semaphore attached to the flagstaff, should attract the attention of the Government, without delay, and steps might be taken at once to obviate the evil so exposed. The semaphore, or arm, is supposed to be used to direct vessels on entering or leaving when crossing the bar, but, strange to say, it cannot be seen from the decks of any craft when so engaged. This is owing to the position in which the flagstaff is placed, and anything more absurd could hardly bo imagined. The cliffs between the bar and the flagstaff are some hundred feet in height, and when crossing the bar nothing more than its topmast spar is visible. Surely nothing more is needed than to draw attention to the fact to have the site changed, and the flagstaff removed to a place where it can really' bo serviceable for the purposes it is intended to fulfil. Whether that duty', in the present mixed condition of things, davolves on the Provincial or General Government, we cannot say ; all we know is that the work should be undertaken • vvithonc a day’s delay', if further wrecks are to be prevented. The sale of the wreck and fittings of the s.s. Egmont, including furniture, &e., took place on Wednesday' last, and attracted a a large number of persons from all parts. It was supposed that a very heavy price would have to be paid for her, but the sum realised for the hull only' leached £SOO, much less than was expected, whilst the et cetcras fetched £95—£595 in all. There will, we understand, be very little difficulty in launching her, and bringing her up to a safe resting place on the mud bank, where she can be temporarily patched up sufficiently well to make a trip to Wellington or Dunedin for substantial repair. Tins will be neither extensive nor expensive, a few plates only having gone, and the purchaser, Mr Duthie, has got one of the best bargains that wreckage ever afforded. The mode of flotation to be adopted, is by empty barrels and malt tanks, and these are being collected in all directions, loads of them coming in from all quarters. An attempt will be made at half-past sc'-'en this evening to launch her.

A general meeting, of the PjAtea, Cricket Club was hold in the Court-house on

Wednesday evening last, and vas very fairly attended. Thosiihj-et for discussion being a very important one, namely, the tenure for the future of the ground alreadv taken up and improved by the PateaCricket ('tub. The opinions of tlio.se present having been expressed, it was tiiia.ly agreed that a snb-eommittee consisting of the lies’. M r 1 )asent, M r Tenneiit and M r Jaeomb should wait on the Chairman of the Town Hoard, with a view of making the best possible arrangements for leas.ug the ground for the crieketors of Patea. The following gentlenicn were elected trustees of the ground : I lev. Dasenl, Dr Crolt and Mr li. Tennent.

The Hokitika Star states that a quantity of spurious shillings arc in circulation in that town.

Mr Ormond, Superintendent of Hawke s Bay, has found himself in a difficulty. All the land in his Province open for special sett lenient purposes is absorbed, ami yet he wants men 1 tor meeting the requirements of bona tide settlers. 1 here is plenty of land available, but the Superintendent can only set it aside tor speeiaj settlement with the consent of. the Pro vineial Council. He cannot consult that body in the regular manner, as the Council is prohibited from meeting, so he has issued a circular to the individual members, asking their assent to setting aside GOOD acres in the vicinity of \\ uudville. It, as no doubt will be the case, the M.P.G. s individually agree to this he will take it as .sufficient anthuril y.

For some considerable lime the Auckland Southern Crons, by arrangement with the Good Templars, devoted a supplementary page .every week to articles and correspondence relating to the cause of Good Tcmplarism. It has recently been found advisable on the part of the proprietary of the Cross to discontinue the arrangement, and to transfer Good Tcmplarism to the columns of the Weekly News.

An important decision was given in the Supreme Court, Christchurch, by his Honor Mr Justice Johnston. The Grand Jury asked his Honor’s direction in a case where a prisoner was charged with obtaining money by means of. false pretences; and where the name of the/ Bank was erroneously inserted indictment. His Honor then directed the Grand Jmy to throw out the Bill, which they accordingly did. Mr Duncan then proposed to send a fresh Bill to the Grand Jury. His Honor declined to allow the Crown Prosecutor to adopt this course, holding' that it was not the practice to prefer a second Bill, with the same evidence, described in the same way, at the same sitting of the Court.

How hard-working and frugal set tiers can get, on in New 7." aland is well illustrated by the following paragraph from the Tuapel'a Timen : —“ A v ery pleasing ease was brought before our noliee the other day of a man who with his wile ami family of live children came to this country two two years ago from one of (he midland comities of Knghuid, where ho had heen earning 14s a week as an agricultural labourer. During his (wo year’s residence in Otago, he has become the owner of eight head of cattle, lias saved some money from his wages, and is the successful applicant for a 200-acre block of laud on deferred payments.

A very sad letter is printed in the London Telegrajih “ from a (icket-of-leave man, who tells how all his efforts at gaining an honest livelihood were counteracted by the continued interference of detectives. For good conduct during the course of his imprisonment he had been liberated on a tickct-of-leave, which left him under the surveillance of the police. Once and again he got established in a comfortable situation, but always lost it by the appearance of a detective, and by the information of his antecedents being given to his employers. He says this liberation ticket-ol’-leave is so feared and hated that prisoners will deliberately break the rules of the prison for the very purpose of being punished, so as to be deprived of the favor of being set free before the time mentioned in their sentences has expired. They prefer to remain in confinement till they can go forth without being under any official espionage, and we cannot wonder at their choice. It is difficult, however, to see how the evil complained of is to he remedied. The ways of transgressors are hard, any way one likes to lake them, and the great inoial to he drawn from such cases is that it is prudent as well as right, to avoid the first wrong step, which may be, and in all likelihood will be followed by such dreadful consequences.