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Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 121, 7 June 1876, Page 2

... His ..Honor Jedge Kenny arrived by / coach yesterday, and will open the District ■ Courtthis morning. There arc no criminal cases for hearing, the sitting being in that .-rn&peet a maiden one. Whether white kid gloves arc the perquisites of District, as .of Supreme .Court Judges, on such ~ occasions, we cannot say, but at least the: - public here have reason.to congratulate; on such an absence-oftcrime.' ■The following civil cases arc set down for’ ' hearing :—McGuire v. Q. Muir, ;£3O ; M. . Kelly v. G. Beamish, £Ol 12s Gd ; P. Dickie v. F. Waller, £76 ; Taplin and Muir v. Hurangi, ; judgment summons, £3O 15s Gd. ■lTis Honor Judge'Kenny will deliver *“ his promised lecture at the Town Hall this evening, in aid of the funds of the i Lilerary Institute. The■"ability of the . lecturer, and the claims of the Society . combined, will no doubt attract a large ■measure of ■ support, and we hope ■•to-see - the building crowded. ■\Vc;-remind our readers that the Good Templars Open Lodge will be bold tomorrow evening, when admission will bo free, and a pleasant evening’s .entertain ■ merit afforded. The place of ■meeting will "be the Town Hall, and it will be moonlight. -.'lt is to bo honed’that the weather will be .(favorable.

The annual general meeting ol! Ilawera ratepayers, was held on Monday last, when three members, in place of those retiring by rotation,' were to be nominated, or chosen at once, in case of no poll being demanded. Mr Winks did not offer himself again, but Mr Bam ford was proposed in his stead, in addition to the late members, Messrs Black and Mcf/Dowio. There being no oilier candidates, these throe Were declared duly elected, and a poll was therefore avoided. Wo arc very glad to say that Major Brown, on his late visit, authorised the temporary re-engagement of Constable Wallace, and the appointment will no doubt be confirmed by the General Government on the circumstances being explained, and the absolute necessity for a native officer to be stationed hero being pointed out. Though, as yet, Wallace is not •actually-in the force, be is on pay, and, in addition to interpreting, will lend any aid that is required in the service of summonses on natives, or in other business in 'connection with the Maoris.

We regret to state that the schooner Janet Grey, which might be considered one of the regular traders to this port, was totally wrecked at Opunake on Sunday last. It will bo remembered that the Janet Grey originally sailed for this port, but after some considerable detention, she wont to Opunake, where she disposed 'of her timber, and would have returned for another load for.Patea, Owing to the bad weather she bad not been able to discharge all her cargo when wrecked, but most of this will probably be recovered. She is a total wreck but, we arc happy to say that no lives were lost. Wo are not aware whether she was insured, but believe that she.was not.

At the meeting which was convened for Saturday evening last, at the Albion hotel, Carlyle, for the purpose of organizing a football oinb. in Pafccn, a number of'gentlemen interested in the game attended, sufficient to justify the meeting to form a club and enter into the ordinary business. Mr R.E. McKay was voted to thechair. The following propositions were then carried nem con: —“ That a football club bo organized to be called the Patea Football Club.’’—“ That Major Turner bo asked to act as President to the club.”—“ That a committee of the following gentlemen bo appointed—Messrs G. Bayley, A. KHaywood, K. Jacomh, E. C. Meredith and T. Turner, and that Mr V/. 11. Inman bo appointed Secretary and Treasurer to the club - ” —“That the annual subscription bo not less than 2s Gd.”—“That the Secretary be instructed to write to the Secretaries of the Wanganui and Taranaki clubs for a copy of their football rules.” We feel sure that from the hearty support which we learn has been accorded by the community towards the maintenance of the club, a team may be got together fitted to compote with any in the adjoining Districts or Provinces.

The celebrated sporting writer, Mr Chapman, who writes in the Australasian under the nom de 'plume of “ Augur,” has recently been making a professional tour through New Zealand. As a matter of course, criticism from such an authority is of high value, not only on account of the ability of the pen, but the perfect disinterestedness of the gentleman who wields it. Breeders in the district have reason to congratulate themselves on having a local horse like “ Doadshot.” Referring to some of his get, “Augur” says “ Then came a yearling gelding, by Deadshot, from Haupo, by Diomedea, from Phoebe, a fine strong fellow, with plenty of length, and just the sort to ripen into a slashing racehorse of the- best type. Another of the same sort is the chesnut yearling gelding, by Deadshot, from Queen of the South, and two chesnut geldings, by Deadshot, from Constance and Fair Agnes, are capital representatives of the thoroughbred yearling. Deadshot, the sire of these youngsters. is by Ravensworth from Certainty, by II Barbiere from Chance, by Sir Hercules, and is now located in the Wanganui district, where lie promises to to ho a very popular sire, as Ins arc remarkable for their excellence.” Again, in another part of the same article, lie writes referring to one of Dcadshot's offspring; —“This filly is by Deadshot from Fidget by Sir Hercules, and, like many of the descendants of the last-named she is a chesnut, standing nearly 15 hands 2 inches. Her head is handsome, though her ears are large, but the forehead isbroad, and the eye hold and full, giving her a most intelligent appearance. Her neck is nicely moulded, and her shoulders long and powerful. Over the back she is something wonderful, and being nicely ribbed, •■andhaving exceedingly powerful but well•tnrned quarters, and a good set of legs, ■she is, indeed, one of the grandest fillies ‘ that New Zealand has ever produced ; and if anything belonging to the weaker sex is to rival the doings of Lurline and Calumny, this, of all the fillies I’ve seen, is the one most likely to do it.” During a legal argument in the breach of promise case, Hughes v. Shnnd, at Dunedin, counsel put it that, “if a man made a proposal of marriage when drunk, it would not be binding.” His Honor Judge Williams interjected; “I should think a great many proposals of marriage were made under the influence of drink; of course, not when a man was actually drunk ;” and -Mr Smith, barrister, instanced the pbrso, “ Dutch courage.” The Court seemed decidedly to favor the idea that a little foreign stimulus is not un. commonly indulged in to steady the nerves 'before popping the question, an opinion whic‘h the experience cf the gentlemen of the bar appeared to confirm.

Durinf Gif ' v Vwoek or two, a numb of shcc y by dogs, and in some c . the lias been serious. tVir - P urner has lost no less Vi'u i i iiWPn. the canine destroyers only sucking the blood and not indulging in any of the flesh of their victims. It would almost seem as though the destruction of this lot had boon effected by one animal, for the wounds on the throats of the sheep are almost identical in all cases. They arc in the neck, just below the ear, and the most experienced butcher could not have divided the jugular vein more effectively than the teeth have done. In fact they look more like cats ralber than bites, and must have speedily brought the wounded animals’ career to a dose. A watch was set, but till yesterday without success. Early yesterday, however, better success attended the watcher, who soon after daylight saw a yellow dog attack a sheep, and in a minute almost render it hoi;a dc combat. Chase was given immediately, the four-footed culprit on finding himself detected making tracks for home at his best speed, but this was not fast enough to prevent him being viewed to a bouse in the town. The animal was forthwith seized and brought to the police station, and its reputed owners will bo nt once proceeded against for the destruction caused by it. It is to bo hoped, if the ownership is fairly sheeted home, that the fullest damages will be awarded, as a warning to others who may possess dogs with equally dangerous mutton-loving proclivities.

'At the timo we (Coromandel Mail) arc writing'the Land Court is sitting. The town is full of Maori men and women. The rum in the hotels is all sold out and hotel keepers in desperation are selling kerosene flavoured with peppermint which the Maoris appear to relish greatly. There will not bo as much left by this morning ns will admit of the outside lamps being illuminated at night. The last resource the hotel keepers have to fall back upon for a supply of rum will be to buy up all the turpentine in the local market and flavor it with rhubarb obtained from MiBishop, the chemist. The Abolition of Provinces Bill (says the Taranaki Herald) lias been acceded to by Her Majesty. The following copy of a despatch arrived by the last mail settles the question, which the country has endorsed in the recent elections —even opposition candidates admitting the necessity for abolition: “Downing-strcot, 17th February, 1876. —My Lord, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 79, of the 25th of October, enclosing a copy of “an Act to Provide for the Abolition of Provinces,” to which you have assented on her Majesty’s behalf. I concur in thinking it a wise course to delay the operation of so important a measure until the general election has afforded the constituencies an opportunity of expressing their opinion, and I trust that if it should be endorsed by them it will bo found as advantageous in its operation as has been anticipated. I have now to inform you that her Majesty will not be advised to exorcise her power of disallowance with respect to this Act.—l have, &c., Carnarvon.—Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Norrnanby, K.C.M.G ~ &c.. &c.

The schoolmaster is indeed abroad in Auckland. Tho following is a literal copy of a notice sent by an Auckland schoolmaster as an advertisement to the Auckland Star Reply to the Cross. —“ J. D. Clark, Resident Teacher in the Secular Religious School Union street, ascertaining the Fact that Mr Lukey being the Propogator of the Falshoods and Calumny contained in the Leader, in tho Cross May 5, thinks it only safe to abhor and therefore to stand aloof from such a man.—J. D. Clarke.” The following extract from the Ballarat Star illustrates the vicissitudes of colonial life ; —“A Ballarat gentleman, writing from A vend to a friend hero, says that at one of the hotels there the cook, once a Ballarat man, is a brother of Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale ; that the boots at the hotel was once a Ballarat man, worth £50,000 ; and that another once well-to-do inhabitant of this city was there ‘ on the wallaby,’ and not by any means well off now.”

Mr Crawford (says the New Zealand Times), on. Thursday, decided against the plaintiff in an action for the recovery of 175., money lent by plaintiff (a billiardmarker at tlie Commercial) to defendant to play pool with. The Magistrate referred to the “Law of Contracts,”by Chitty, and recorded a nonsuit, the authority being that money “ knowingly lent for the purpose of enabling the borrower to gamble is not recoverable.” Tenders for the Central Prison (says the Taranaki Herald) have been called for, and as they have to he sent in before Parliament meets, the doubt that existed as to the building being commenced at once may now be set at rest. The prison once commenced must be finished, and the men here, they must be employed on the harbour works ; for without they are, the Government wilt not be able to draw the revenue from the land fund to meet a portion of the expenditure on their keep. The very fact of the long looked for harbour being commenced, will instil confidence in the place ; and with the commencement of the work, a bright future maybe looked forward to by the inhabitants of this Province.

A good stor}* is told by an eye-witness of what he termed, “A full-blooded buck Maori,” who entered in. high feathers and stylish attire Mr Curtis’ Pacific Hotel at the Thames, and sat down at break fas* table, one morning lately. To him was handed the bill of fare, which, after a careful perusal, he said sontcntioualy. the one word “sassage.” “ Sausage*, one,” shouted the waiter through the kitchen communication. “No fear, cockoy," cried John Maori, holding- up four fingers and a thumb, “sassage five!” and he got them. Bather an amusing affair, according to the North Otago Times, took place late on Saturday night. Towards the witchinghour of twelve, a certain well-known merchant and a portly countryman of about sixteen stone weight -were transacting business in a store near the Alliance Hotel, when some chaffing conversation took place as to their relative muscularity, The merchant, who is a light weight, averring that ho could take his ponderous friend on his back to the Star and Garter Hotel (a good 300 yards), in less than two minutes. The heavy man put down his ten “ bob” on it, and the merchant also staked his half-sovereign, and bade the former come outside. He did so, and the would-be Samson forthwith bade him strip, as his wager was to carry the man—not his clothes. Not to bo done, Fa! Staff forthwith stripped off coat, waiscoat, and shirt, but made some demur .about the unmentionables. The merchant insisted upon a complete “ peel,” and to his astonishment and discomfiture off came the nether garment also, and his big friend stood before him in the first costume of Adam. Then buckling to his tank manfully, the merchant took the party in buff on his shoulders, and staggered with him as far as Gockburn’s confectioner’s about half the required distance, to the great amusement of the two or three late birds who were abroad at that hour. Here however, the merchant had to give up the task, and so soon as his friend had donned his breeches, his own half-sovereign and the merchant’s found their way side by side to the former’s breeches pocket, The merchant is a smart man, and no doubt calculated on winning his wager by the other refusing to carry out the conditions liberally, but in fins case found that ho was not quite smart enough, and had to play the role of “ the biter it.”

The following may be of interest to our Good Templar readers ; —“ The RegistrarGeneral’s Annual Report, recently issued, shows that the registers of deaths in England, and of their causes, indicate a substantial decrease in the last few years in the number of persons killed by intemperance. In 1850, the number was 863, there being 540 deaths from delirium tremens and 323 from less aggravated intemperance ; in 1873, the latest year for which such returns have been issued, the total number was but 777, the deaths from delirium tremens having fallen to 3G5, the other deaths from intemperance having risen to 412. In the intervening years there were groat fluctuations in the numbers. In 1861 the total had fallen to G57 ; in 1864, and again in 18G5, they exceeded 1000, and then they declined again until in 1870 they reached the exceptionally low number of G45, rising afterterwards to 740 in 1871, 713 in 1672, 777 in 1873. Comparing the deaths by intemperance in England with the number of the population, wo find that these deaths show the following annual average. In the five years 1850-54 the annual average was 4G.4 such deaths per 1,000,000 persons living ; in 1855-59 the annual average fell to 40.8 ; in 1860-64 it was 40.0, and the same in 1865-G9 ; in 1870-73 the annual average lias been 38.5 per million In the ten years 1861-73 the annual ratio has been as follows :—ln 1864 no less than 52 ;in 1865,50 ;in 1866,44 ;in 1867, the year after a great financial disturbance and distress, 35 ; in 1868, 36 ; in 1869, 35 ; in 1870, 29 ; in 1871, 32 ; in 1872, 31 ; in 1873, 30 per million of the population. Nearly all these occur at ages above 25, as is also the case in insanity. It will be observed that these figures show the deaths which are the direct effects of intemperance, no return tells how many persons, having been damaged by hard drinking, succumb to diseases from which otherwise they might have recovered.” Fair America has turned the old fashioned privileges of leap year to good account. For the ladies of that more vigorous hemisphere have a solemn sense of the humor of the position to which they aspire, and have graceful tact enough to show what pleasant amenities might be the result of a concession to their social and political claims. An amusing instance of this has been afforded by the ladies of Norfolk, to the officers of the United States naval vessels 'at that port. Mrs Leigh, who had done more, perhaps, than any other lady to harmonise the sectional elements in society there, was the leading spirit. She was heartily seconded by Mrs Lovali, a relative of Mrs Admiral Farragut, and other Virginia ladies. The .“belles” of the evening were Admiral Mulany and Captain Jouett, who received moie invitations to dance than any other participant, either in civil,military, or naval life. The gentlemen were escorted to supper, waited upon to their hearts’ desire, solicited to engage in the dance, furnished with chairs when weary, supplied with fans and cooling beverages, and a number, particularly the naval officers, were protected by the ladies on the way to their vessels.