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Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 125, 21 June 1876, Page 2

In our last issue wo inserted a, letter from Mr Hirst, commenting oia the proceedings of the Town Board, and ex-pi-essing surprise at the hasty manner in which some matters of moment had been dealt with at the last meeting. Our correspondent further called us to task for not giving a much fuller report of what took place, for the information of The ratepayers. With reference to ourselves, wo may say, that our reporter had no idea whatever that business of any importance would be shuffled through at an impromptu meeting of the kind, and so Heft before proceedings terminated. Hence the -absence of some items from the report, It is not our wish .to complain unreasonably, but, without exception, the Carlyle Town Board is more eccentric ami irregular in its conduct of business, than any other cognate body we have, in the course of lone experience, known. In ithc first place nil the rules of debate, usually recognised by public bodies, are either wholly set aside, or ■very rarely

enforced. People may speak as frequently as they choose to the same resolution, or may branch from the sub icct under discussion to any other they think fit, and proceedings resemble those of a rather irregular committee meeting. Again, members may at any time, without any previous notice, bring forward what business they please, and submit resolutions thereon, as witness at the meeting to which Mr Hirst referred. This is most objectionable, on a number of grounds, and should he put a stop to at once. It is the custom for members invariably to give notice of any resolution that they intend to bring forward, unless, by the unanimous consent of all members, standing orders or rules, are suspended. In the case of public bodies meeting, at rather longintervals, as with the Town Board here, notices of motion are received by the clerk till within two or three days of the time of meeting, and those are open to the inspection of ratepayers, who, thereby, have an opportunity of expressing an opinion, if necessary, before being agreed to. Wc feel convinced that it is only necessary to point out the necessity tor reform, to obtain it; it it is introduced, a great deal more work will be done in a great deal less time, and the public will he made better acquainted with the proceedings of its only local representative body.

A meeting of the Patea Football Club was held on Saturday evening last, and was well attended. A code of rides were adopted, based chiefly on that of the Rugby Union, but slightly altered to suit the requirements of this part. We arc glad to say that a combination lias been effected, whereby the former Patoa Minstrels will be amalgamated with others of a dramatic turn, and a now club be formed, who will give mixed entertainments during the winter. This union will not only strengthen the society, but bo more agreeable to the public, as that great charm —variety —will thus bo secured. The first entertainment, under the new auspices, will, wc boar, bo given very shortly.

Tenders arc called for forageand shoeing, for the Government horses in the district, for a period of twelve months, and will he received till the 31st hist. I'iie advertisements appear in another column.

The Waihi Amatucr Dramatic Society have announced two performances, to take place at Waihi on tho 29th and 30th hist. The pieces to be played arc “ The Idiot Witness,” and a burlesque entitled “ The. Belle of the Barley Mow.” Great preparations are being made for the occasion, and the entertainments promise to be highly successful in all respects. We again remind our readers that the auction sale of two thousand sheep, at Mokoia, will be bold by Mr William Dale, on Friday next, when they will be sold in lots to suit purchasers. On Saturday, Mr Dale will hold a clearing sale, at Ketemarac, at Mr Soutliby’s store.

An act of brutality" on the part of natives at Opnnakc, was disclosed in evidence given in a case hoard by the Resident Magistrate in New Plymouth, last week. It seemed that two valuable working steers had strayed on some Maori land there, were seized by" the natives, lied up, and £5 demanded as damages for the trespass. This not being forthcoming the brutal captors let trio poor animals, bound as they" were, slowly" starve to death, without food or water. As a matter of course no stops were taken to punish the wretches, and the act was only made known through the owner of one of the bullocks, who had lent it to another, suing the latter for its value. Truly Taranaki should be the Provincial Maori paradise, where they can commit any atrocity", in accordance with their savage instincts, with impunity. During the past bad weather, the mud pond in front of this office, and of our neighbours’houses, has been in excellent condition, and unwaiy pedestrians crossing it have not been bogged much deeper than the tops of their boota. Should heavy rain set in, something better may be looked for, and a lev." inches more arrived at. As to the promised clay, gravel, or whatever other material is to be applied to render the part passable, it seems as far off as ever. It is a great pity that wo have not a member of the Board residing in the row-, for the present swamp would, in that case, quickly bo a thing of the past. It is true that the Chairman is a neighbour, but no mud deposit was laid down opposite his door. It has been suggested, and the suggestion appears a good one, that when the Otoia or Opaku block, adjoining Kakaramea, now being surveyed, is sold, some of the sections, as yet undisposed of in the Kakaramca township, say" half of thenn should be offered at the same time. They" would readily find purchasers, and the sale would do much to promote settlement in that flourishing district. The block above referred to contains six thousand acres, and a road now being constructed, will give access to it. The publicans of Maryborough, Queensland, have been disqualified from serving on juries, on the assumption that, as most crimes result from intoxication, they are incompetent to form a-eandid judgment of a ease on its merits. A skating rink has ’been established in the Public IltJl, Newmarket, Auckland. i

Mr F. 11. Jackson, of AVanganui will hold a sale of cattle, sheep, horses and agricultural implements, to-morrow, at his St. Hill-street sale yards at noon. There will soon be another vacancy in the Town Board, as Mr Southby informs us that it is his intention to resign at the next Board meeting, which Will bo held on Monday week, 3rd July. There will be another chance thus afforded to the lately defeated candidates, should they think fit to again come forward. AVe have heard Mr Hirst’s name mentioned as a probable candidate, though whether there is any foundation for doing so or not, we cannot say. Should he do so, he will assuredly meet with considerable support from a large number of ratepayers. Telegraphic communication with New Plymouth was expected to be realised yesterday, but up to the time of Writing had not been accomplished. It will in any case be completed to-day, we are told, and a great boon it will prove to our New Plymouth neighbors. On this subject the News of last Saturday says After considerable opposition from unlikely quarters,' New Plymouth is expected to be in telegraphic communication with the outer world about the 20th of this present month. All through the week workmen have been busily engaged planting poles along Dcvon-streot East to the AVaiwakaiho and Bell Block, and by Kaipakopako to Sentry Hill. Not only shall we be brought into direct communication with AVellington by the completion of this work* but a positive saving of at least £1,500 a year will be effected by the rendering nugatory of the post service between Stony River and Hawera. Possibly now that the wily natives find that they have been outwitted by the Government, and that their gains by the break in the tele' graph are gone, their opposition to the completion of Hie coastal lino of telegraph will suddenly Cease. AVo suppose, however, that the Government having formed the communication inland, will not at present care to connect the coastal wires.”

The new Kakaramea school-house was occupied by the children on Monday last, and suits the purpose admirably. There are now twenty-five children on the ioil, a number that will be largely increased in the spring, when fine weather may be looked for. Mr R. T. Brown, the master, gives the greatest satisfaction to parents, and in his improved quarters will be able to do even greater justice to bis charges. It gives us great pleasure to state that Mr Coutts' mill at Kakaramea is now finished, and was set to work-first on Monday last on some oats, and yesterday with wheat. It does its work admirably, and every part of it runs exceedingly well and smoothly. Tho flour ground yesterday was all that could bo desired, and the mill will be a great boon to the district. It will no doubt have the effect of encouraging surrounding 1 farmers to grow wheat, as now they will be able to have it ground on the spot, as it were, and fully supply the local market, to.the exclusion of all imported flour. The producer of tho grain will thus be enabled to secure a fair price for it, and the consumer of the flour will be able to get it direct from the mill, at far less cost than at present, when there are, in addition to the legitimate profits of the grower, the.miller and the retailer, freights and charges of various kinds to be added. The enterprise of Mr Coutts deserves, and will no doubt obtain, the support of the public in the district, and we cordially congratulate him on its successful completion. This is the wheat sowing season, and farmers will probably be encouraged to put in crops as the produce can,by the mill’s aid be promptly and profitably realised on. At present, only one pair of stones are at work, and but half the water power at command is used. As soon as work gets brisk, another pair of stones will be added, and the dam will supply water enough for full work all the year round. At an early date We will give further and full particulars of the new industry and its belonging's.

Notwithstanding the reward offered, and the evidence afforded by the captured weapon, the police have obtained no clue to lead to the detection of the unknown individual who recently drove a hayfork into Major Turner’s cow. Suspicion has, however, been aroused ; should the suspected one be the offender, and venture on another performance of the kind, he is not likely again to escape well deserved punishment. The Aramoho Steeplechases are appointed to come off on Friday next, and promise to afford good sport. For the Annual Steeplechase of 120 sovs., second horse to receive 20 sovs. from the stakes, there are ten entries, as follows : —Messrs M'Rae and Nicholson’s Butcher Boy and Medora, Mr Buller’s Hardy, Mr Buckridge’s M.P.C., Dr. Earle’s Blacking, Mr Jackson’s Flora, Mr Heaton’s Ireland, Mr Fraser’s St. Albans, Mr Freeth’s Sultan, Mr C. M. Richards’ St. Peter. The distance for this event is four miles, and the weights 141bs over weight for age. For the Maiden Steeplechase of 30 sovs., with a sweepstake of 2 sovs., the following have been nominated Mr McKittrick’s Comet, Dr. Earle’s Blacking, Air Heaton’s Ireland, Mr Fraser’s St. Albans, Mr- Buller’s Hardy, Mr Baker’s Brilliant, Mr Richards’ St Peter. The distance is 2 miles, the weights as for the first race.

There is a fearful dearth of news of all kinds in this district at present, the upset of the Government, coach being the only topic of interest or excitement. It is now nearly a week since we received any distant exchanges, the weather having been so bad as to cause great delay in communication. There arc two English mails now due and in the Colony, one by Suez and one by Frisco, but .owing to AA r ellington steamers being unable to reach AVanganui for some days, the former is not to hand, and, as the Phccbe with the other has been detained, bar-bound at Manakau, it had not reached New Plymouth when the coach left. Even if she diil arrive there, it is extremely problematical whether the steamer could be tendered, and those expecting letters must wait With the utmost patience at their command. Probably, however, the Suez letters, &c., will arrive by the coach today, as the AVanganui blockade has most likely by this time been broken, and those by Sail Francisco may come by Saturday nest.

The late, present, or future Government, as the Vogel administration may be variously termed, has been on economic thoughts intent in this part of the World* Recently, shortly after a return of equine property belonging to the State had been in to head quarters, in which three horses were reported to be “ spelling”—in a paddock, not on a platform—-orders came down for their sale, and sold they were accordingly on Saturday last. They fetched low prices, though good horses, realising respectively £lO 10s. £9 15s, and £9 10. They cost and Were Worth a great deal more, buc all the eloquence of Mr Cowcrn could not persuade more out of their purchasers. The AVanganui Special Settlement Association are actively exerting themselves. Their objects are to obtain—lst. Land suitable for agricultural purposes adjacent to a market, at a moderate Upset price, and not exceeding 800 acres for each member. 2nd. Deferred payment, extending over a period, say, of seven to ten years. 3rd. Personal residence on the land, and stipulated improvements'. A meeting was held at AVanganui on Friday last, when, amongst other resolutions, the

following was agreed to : —“ That the Secretary be instructed to communicate with the Crown Lands Department, and also with Captain Wray, the Government agent at Patea, with a view to ascertaining what land is available for the purposes of the Association between the Waitotara and Waingongora rivers.” The Wiltshire Variety Troupe, (says the Taranald News'), who so lately excited our admiration, have exercised their ambulatory powers in walking oil without paying their debts. On Saturday night they quietly embarked in the schooner Julius Vogel—Which vessel, by the way, has left us a legacy in the person of a Mr George Beny, who is at present reposing in Bosworth’s Retreat—and sailed for tho South. Nemesis, however, who is said to avenge unpaid washerwomen ou cheating sailors, maintained the defence of unpaid printers and others by driving the fugitives hack to the Waitara, Wo believe they have essayed to reach the South, but whether they will succeed in so doing is still questionable.

It is contemplated (says the Wellington Argus) to bring in to operation in the various Resident Magistrate’s Courts the provisions of the Stamp Act, 1575. It would be hard to say what the object of the alteration is, except it be to prevent the possibility of fraud on the part at the Court officials. This end will be secured by an . alteration of the present system of cash accounts, and the substitution of a plan by which all amounts paid for summonses or other instruments will bo represented by stamps affixed to the face of the document. Thus, the only account required will be a stamp account, and in this case there can be no possible variance of* the amounts received at each of the Courts of the colony. It is suggested also that Clerks of Courts should become vendors and depositories of stamps. This will be a convenience to the public. The alteration wil probably come into force on the Ist of July. The climate of Australia (says a correspondent wilting to the Border Wn.tcJi) is not only changing, butitps becoming very unhealthy, and thelatter iseasily accounted for. The gum tree is our principal agent in attracting ozonic oxygen, from the upper strata of the.air to the surface of the earth where man can breathe it ; and, according as gum trees disappear, so will ozonic oxygen seek higher altitudes, and the children of men begin to die in unusual numbers. “ I once saw,” he says, “ a squatter preparing to annihilate a forest of gums, and I said to him, ‘ As soon as these trees are dead, get coffins.’ And it was so.” There has been such quarrelling among the customers of the Co-operative Stores at Dumbartool about eggs, that the committee have determined in future to sell those articles by weight. One and a-half pounds has been fixed as the standard weight of a dozen fair-sized eggs. A Provincial Gazette has been issued, in which his Honor the Superintendent has appointed William Morgan Crompton, Esq., to be Deputy-Superintendent during liis absence from the Province.