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Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 110, 29 April 1876, Page 2

It is certainly unfortunate, that what may bo termed n miscarriage of justice, in the case of Tapa ami others, for trespassing’ on the land of Mr Dickie at Wairoa, should have taken place through a flaw in the indictment, or some formal error. That they were guilty beyond question is certain, but that they had crude ideas as to their action being the correct thing, is also assured. How such a mistake could have been made is one of the inexplicable things that, in the words of the mythical Lord .Dundreary, “No fellah can understand;” hut that it was made is certain, ami Tapa and company returned homo re juicing in consequence. It was not anticipated, under any circumstances, that very heavy punishment would have boon awarded in case of conviction, but the yi'rv fact of conviction would have been Den tidal aim deterrent to similar outrages in future. As it is, the natives are daily becoming; more presumptuous and arrogant, and almost every day gives fresh evidence of this. The result of the trial of Tapa and his confreres is hailed by them as a victory over the pakelia, at the pakeha’s own hands, and such will bo the native feeling throughout the district. In the prosecution there could not possibly be any thought of revenge—there was merely a desire to vindicate the law, and prove to the Maoris that those in possession of land, whether confiscated or otherwise, cannot he dispossessed under any Maori fancy or whim, ami that, if land lias been taken contrary to law, the natives have a remedy in their own court. On many grounds*the failure of the prosecution is to he regretted, though, to u certain extent, the law has been vindicated by the committal. As was stated in our last issue, a fresh outrage was committed by the natives on the Mountain Hoad track of the projected telegraph line, and if some stringent measures are not taken to teach them that the law, as existing, must ho respected, there will bo trouble occasioned of a serious kind. We elsewhere publish a memorial sent to Major Turner, the officer In command of the district, from a number of sawyers in the Okotnkn district, in which they cx] ress their fears relative to a part of the ground on which they are at work being the cause of a row, a similar claim to that setup in Dickie’s case being now sot np by Maoris to the land on which they arc at work. All these portents should surely arouse the Government to some decisive action. No one can desire another war of races, but for our own credit, for the safety of settlers, for the assurance of security, for a hundred other reasons some steps should be taken to curb the daily increasing presumption of the Maori, and to teach him that, whilst willing and anxious to extend all justice and (airplay to him, in common with Ids fairer-skinned neighbors, he is not to ho allowed to cany out kis semisavage ideas of right and wrong, or of righting Ids fancied injuries in such fashion as he thinks tit. Home example to impress tins on the native mind is needed in this -district at present, and we sincerely hope the Government will take an early opportunity of making it.

Wo would again remind our readers that the Ilawera Sunday School tea meeting and entertainment, will take place on Tuesday next.

The meeting in connection with the formation of a Lodge of Odd Fellows’, will bo bold on Monday evening, in the Town Hall.

A raffle for a breech-loading fowlingpiece will place this evening, in Mr Cowern’s office, at 7 o’clock. It is rumored that Mr Young is about to have an opposition coach on the present line, ami the Wanyatnd Chronicle is the authority in which the statement has found circulation The more .'sequent the means of CDmmnuiealion the better for travellers, though at the same time we cannot help doubling whether the traffic is at present sufficientiy largo to pay two lines of coaches. Mr Henry has given the creates! satisfaction (hiring his connection wifh the road, ami it will be hard for any opposition to impair 100 confidence that ho has so well and deservedly earned.

Wo are glad to say that Mr Vine, who sustained so serious an injury a week or two ago, was yesterday sufficiently well to be removed to hi.s home at Kctemarac. There will be quite a plethora of local meetings on Monday next. The Education Board will sit at 10 a.m. ; iho Town Board will bold their monthly meeting at? pan., and the 2Gth Road Board will have a meeting in the afternoon. There is no business of special importance to be transacted by either body, as far as we are able to understand, but it will of course be generally interesting.

The Egniont still remains in her former position, but, the sand has interfered with getting out her machinery. This has, however, been actively proceeded with, and already the major part of it has been placed safely on the beach. The boiler will be landed to-day, we understand, and the remainder will soon be ashore. Every tide, wcaro sorry lo say, sand is thrown up in quantity, and interferes considerably with the work in operation. At the meeting of the Education Board on Monday next, there will bo, wo arc informed, a petition presented from the residents in Kakaramea, praying that a full-time school may bo established in the district. The petitioners have, we believe, good grounds for making the application, which, there is every reason to believe, will be favorably considered by the Board. The half-time school at present in existence does not meet the requirements and a concession of the kind is required. We would draw the attention of the public generally, and those, in search of drapery bargains especially, to the advertisement in another column, whereby Messrs Wymoiul and Co., of Wanganui, offer goods of every description suitable for the season. They are just opening up their winter slock, end have new goods of everv kind lo offer to their customers, whether ladies or gentlemen. In addition to what they have on hand, they are receiving weekly shipments of goods, and those visiting Wanganui cannot do better than pay their establishment a visit, and judge for themselves.

Amongst other distinguished am'vals, to be looked for, may be mcnlioned, the Hon. C. C. Bowen, Minister of Justice, who is expected by the Taranaki coach this morning. There is no political significance. in his visit, as far as wo know, hut it is well to have Ministers, even without object, at times passing through our midst, and wo hope that the lion, gentleman’s visit may not be altogether unfruitful.

In the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Thursday last, the business awis not of nincli niuiorfhiut> r l l lwv.. ..... -v...........

cases for (li.spo.ial. The following wore the civil cases :—McCarthy v. Higgins, a dclitof ,I*l. 75., ordered to pay forthwith ; same v. Van, VI, Gs. verdict by default* Pome Hoad Hoard cases were beard, but several wen; postponed till the 4th of May. The Court then adjourned. The following- document, which speaks for itself, was sent to Major Turner, Officer Commanding in the district on Thursday hast :—“ Okotuku, April 24th.—To Major Turner. —Sir, —We, the undersigned, bushmen and sawyers, request the Government or their agents to a 1 low them some assistance in protecting themselves, in case of an outbreak by the natives, we being on the ground, or a portion of the land in dispute. In case of a quarrel we shall be the first victims, and do pledge ourselves (o assisl Government in law ami order.— D. Pellalt, CharlesTJlstcn, Frederick Fryer, Edward Snlelaby, Thomas Pearson, Patrick Burns, John Stevens, William Creighton, John Smith, Edward Beynolds, James Mullins, Michael Kelly, Peter Oldston, John Fitzgerald, Frederick Davis, James Gall'eney, Edward limit, Thomas Hyndcs. —The whole of the above, with the exception of D. Pellalt and Edward Hunt, arc unarmed.”

The Marquis and Marchioness of Townshcml have joined the Good Templars in England. The Marquis has closed all the public-houses on his estate and opened a Good Templar Lodge, in which ho and the Marchioness are office-bearers. Their son, Viscount Ivoynham, has also become a Good Templar. The following case of self-conviction occurred in the Christchurch Police Court recently. A woman was brought up for obtaining goods under false pretences ; at the end of her defence she stated that she had never been in a police court before. On being reminded that she had previously served six months imprisonment for larceny, she was profuse in her apologies for her bad memory, but doprecatingly observed “It was only three months your Honor.”

The following advertisement appeared in an Australian journal : —“Wanted, for Mr. McLean’s establishment at Euabalong, a housemaid, whose duties will be to assist in the laundry and wait at parlour table occasionally. Character no object. Current wages. The proprietor deems it Iris duly to inform intending helps that the last lady who filled the situation was married by the Rev. Mr. Soares to a gentleman with £4OO in the bank. The previous lady was married by the Rev. Mr. Fullerton, at Sydney, to a gentleman worth £30,000 cash. The two previous ladies wore also married, and are very nicely settled indeed.”

The Taranaki Budget is responsible for the following :—lt’s a fact. The young men in town are so shy, at least so backward in popping the question, that some of the young ladies, good-looking, useful, and healthy arc seriously considering of advertising outside the Province for husbands. It is the fashion for emigration agents at home to make strenuous efforts to procure marriageable young women It would not be amiss if a score or two of marriageable young men were sent to New Plymouth ; the marriagcables here either being so shy or frightened of venturing on wedlock, that marriageable lasses in town are rusting. Why don’t the .men propose ? A few have lately wed, who, properiy speaking, should have already had grown-up families. A gentleman has been commissioned to procure a husband for one lass, who does not believe that singleness is blessedness. Mhe has jet black hair, blue eyes, strong limbs, is goodlooking, and a hard and willing worker. She can cook, wash, bake, sew, and darn. Her nimble fingers acting in unison with a fair-sized and well-balanced brain, can easily and neatly do anything in needlework, from the sewing on a shirt button to the crocheting of the most elaborate designs in window curtains, or chair or sofa covers. She is her own milliner and dressmaker ; would be apt at making the most of adult cast off clothes, by changing them into new Locks, coats and trousers for little ones, should it ever be her good fortune to have little ones to do so for. At a pinch, she can work in the garden, chop wood, draw water, and kindle fires. She is an early riser. Her only fortune is good looks, a healthy constitution, and a sweet temper—can sing, but cannot strum — a piano would be useless. She has been initiated into the mysteries of the washtub, and can do a good day’s work at it when required. Good laundress. Who’ll take the chance. It is a good one for any decent fellow. No gay, flirting, cigar smoking, and billiard playing spark is required, but a moderately sensible, kind, steady, and homely tradesman or workingman. Letters addressed Z. A., Budget office, will be forwarded to the right quarter. As Budget is anxious that population should increase, no charge will be made for trouble Expects to be invited to all weddings and christenings resulting from matches made through Budget.

The Grey River Argus of the 11 tb instant says :—We have to apoligiso to our readers for non-publication of the Grey River Argus yesterday. We shall probably receive their condonation when we state that it was only when the flood was nearly a yard deep in our office that wc felt compelled to desist from further operations.

Madame Arabella Goddard, the celebrated pianislc, is writing - a book of her ti’avels round tlio world. Madame Goddard speaks ffve languages.

At Port Chalmers, a child fell over a cliff, a distance of four hundred feet, and escaped uninjured. The cliff inclined at an angle of fully seventy-five degrees, and was unobstructed by scrub or herbage. The wreck of the ketch Hunter (says the Argus'), was sold at Wellington on Tuesday at auction. Mr. Coffey was the purchaser at ,-£36. Four minutes after the sale a telegram was received saying she had broken up and not a vestige was to be seen. Advertisers are not usually backward in “ blowing their own trumpet,” but few have the originality of a Blenheim trader who addresses the people in a Marlborough paper. The last sentence ought to have a telling effect, “To the growling, dissatisfied, unsophisticated epicures of Blenheim • Hear this statement. I’ve just received some proper tobacco—Yes, good tobacco, you may bet your old boots it’s good, ■when I say so. The public will be allowed to purchase it for a limited time. N.B. — An unlimited amount of credit given. There are some lucky people in Auckland. A Mr Angus Smith, a settler at Opotiki, lias just received a legacy of £IOO,OOO. This, says the Herald , is the same gentleman who received the New Zealand Order of Valor, for his gallant conduct on the 7th June, 1869, at Opepe, on the East Coast of the North Island, during the native war. An attempt is being made in Taranaki to again get up a Volunteer corps. The province was not represented at the late Colonial firing.

The Napier Telegraph points out a den existing there of sixteen Scandinavians living in a habitation of one compartment. The occupants comprise one married couple, daughter sixteen years old, two married women (their husbands away), the rest single men. The habitation is 12 x 12. This is not the only place where Scandinavians live worse than Maoris.

No crop (says the Prairie Farmer ) gets less attention than grass. If manured at all, it is only incidentally with some other crop—rarely for itself alone, Corn, wheat, and barley get the manure, and when seeded, the young clover takes what it left. After this, if the field be pastured, the droppings of animals left in lumps over the field are all that the lands get till they are ploughed again. This is considered improving the soil : and so it is. No matter how mismanaged, clover is a benefit, and whatever else he may do, the farmer

who sows and grows clover is making his farm better. What, then, might not the result be if the same care were taken of the clover field as of other crops ? It docs not need cultivating ; the long, deepreaching roots mellow and pulverize the soil as nothing else can. If the clover grows thriftily, the top acts a mulch, shading the ground and keeping it moist. A crop of two tons or more of clover, whether ploughed under or cut for hay, can hardly fail to leave the soil better than it was before. It should be the farmer’s aim to grow the largest possible crops of clover. A slight dressing of gypsum—one hundred pounds per acre in early spring—often produces wonderful results. But if a farmer has a little well-rotted manure — the scrapings of barnyards—fall is the time to apply it. Clover is often injured by freezing and thawing winters, and a very slight covering of manure will afford a great deal of protection. Rich earth from the corner of fences is well worth drawing a short distance on young clover provided the ground is hard and firm. If the field is not to be mowed next season coarse manure can be used.