The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 162, 28 October 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1876.

The Immigration Officer of Wanganui, it seems, is displeased at the fact of our having commented on the recent disposal of the immigrant Colo, and the way in which ho was treated. Mr Brewer is facetious on the subject, and in a letter to the Wanganui“ Chronicle” published on Wednesday last, he opens fire by stating an evident truism, that “ Carlyle is a small place.” Ho proceeds to say that the local paper finds it difficult at times to find matter to fill its columns. Both these allegations may bo fairly pleaded guilty to. but at the same time, they do not alter the fact that Cole was cruelly treated here, and that, to say the least of it, Mr Brewer was exceedingly injudicious in sending tip a family under the circumstances that have already been stated. The statements made by Cole here and the letter of the Wanganui official vary greatly, but giving all credence to Mr Brewer in preference, we may ask—is it reasonable to send a man, wile, and five children to a distance by steamer, on the sentimental journey of seeing a son’s grave ? 270 one could feel more sincere sorrow for any bereavement than ourselves, nor recognise more completely the sad pleasure that such a sight would bring, but when an Immigration Officer, in all seriousness, makes it an excuse for transporting a large family nearly a hundred miles, it shows that he has more than usual official sentiment, and that he is considerably careless in the expenditure of public money. As to Mr Brewer having to pay for the family’s graveyard excursion, in our humble opinion it is the very thing he should bo condemned to ; and, if his expectations in this respect be realised, the general verdict will bo the old, much-used, and oft-quoted one of “ sarved him right.” But apart from Mr Brewer’s benevolent sympathies, the facts as stated by us were strictly correct. The late local Immigration Officer may have telegraphed as stated, but there is an old adage that tells ns, that “whilst the grass is growing, the steed is starving,”

and whilst all this circumlocution was going on, Cole and his family wore wanting a meal, needing fuel, without beds to lie on, and beyond having the shelter of a roof, being as unprotectedly helpless as could bo imagined. Fortunately for himself, he possessed a few shillings, and was able to procure something to cat for himself and family, but their sleeping accommodation was, if we arc rightly informed, of the simplest, a'mere matter of pricking for the softest plank being the family necessity on the occasion referred to. If Captain Wray, as alleged, telegraphed in the manner stated, how did it happen that Colo applied to the Resident Magistrate for assistance, and that that officer also telegraphed for instructions on the subject ? The fact is, we have no Immigration Officer here now, Captain Wray having resigned his appointment, and Mr Brewer, apparently unconscious of the fact, sent the unfortunate family in question up hero with a kind of vague hope that they would be somehow located, and a desire to get them off his hands. Mr Brewer makes much of giving the family a private note to Captain Wray, but what did tiiat amount to beyond leave to shelter within bare walls ? As to the “ rot” to use a somewhat slang expression, of Colo being frightened away by people in the township, Mr Brewer must have dreamt, or Ids proteges must have invented it. Wc have on previous occasions stated, and wc repeat it now, that for all ordinary purposes the labor market of this part of the Colony is fully supplied—lf wc except respectable female servants. Sending families of the Cole class hero now is really unnecessary, and the manner in which they were treated on arrival fully justifies the term “ cruelty” that we used in reference to them. We have no desire to question Mr Brewer’s general ability or tact in disposing of those immigrants, who, to use his own phrase, “have passed through his hands,” hut he made a mistake on this occasion in the first place in sending the family in question to Patea, and in the second, on their arrival, they met with such inhospitality—wc will call it—that must have created anything but a favorable impression on their minds, relative to the now famed Colony of New Zealand. In order to allow our readers an opportunity of judging of the letter to which we have at this length referred, we re-publish it in another column.

hj spiteful old bachelor, who might have been considerd young forty or fifty years ago, but who certainly never could have been called handsome, writes as follows; — “ My friend and I, on our way borne about midnight last night, saw a young lady and gentleman bolding' a gate on its binges. They were evidently indignant at being kept out so late, as we saw then; bite each other viciously several times within a few minutes.”

The District Court at Patca has been very bare of business of late. In this part of the world there arc no criminals, or next to none ; people hardly care to litigate in a District Court, and the consequence is that the sittings are reduced to a minimum. The first day of the next month is appointed as the next day for the Court to hold its sittings bore, but there is only one case sot down for hearing, an appeal by Mr G. W. Williams, against a decision of a full Bench for £8 odd, recoupment of an alleged overcharge in poundage on sheep belonging to Major Turner. Judge Kenny has written to the effect that such a trumpery appeal docs not justify him in putting the Government to the expense that his journey and opening the Court formally would entail, and he will not, in all probability, come up. Some of the local speculators at the late laud sale have done pretty well out of their bargains. Several have secured advances, but one person, to our own knowledge, has pocketed over £IOO in a couple of days, as profit for his speculation. We have received complaints from settlers between here and Hawera, respecting the damage that loose cattle do to their fences. We are sorry to say, however, that the Impounding Act is their only remedy, and that to place the offending animals in pound, and charge them heavily with damage, is all the redress available. This applies, of course, only to beasts without the jurisdiction of Town Boards. Within such jurisdiction Town Boards do—or ought to do —preserve the animal peace. There lias been no business at the Resident Magistrate’s Court since our last issue. Strawberries arc early in Patea, a number of residents having this week gathered ~ipe specimens of this delicious fruit from their gardens. Amongst others we may mention Mr Hirst and Mr Tap’in, who have both been able to furnish strawberries to their friends during the present weekOwing probably to the exceptionally good weatther this fruit has been of better llavor and larger size than for years past. The long-talked of improvement and enlargement of the English Church here have at last been commenced, not before they were needed. There has not hitherto been accommodation for all who would have beeu members, and we hope that the projected alterations will in this respect remote all causes of dissatisfaction.

The weather has been unusually hot of late, for this season of the year. Indeed it would seem as though wc were in midsummer instead of on the threshold of that season There have been warm rains, too, accompanying the unusual heat, and vegetation of all kinds has sprung up amazingly. Gardens are very forward, grass Is knee deep in places, and clover is in full bloom, and can be measured in favored spots by the foot. The Maoris, who arc generally good judges, anticipate a hot and long summer. The absence of wind, too, in this usually tempestuous part of the country is very singular, and altogether such a sultry spring season has not hitherto been known since the settlement was formed. A gmat deal of illness is prevalent, and a change to a right down good downpour is earnestly hoped for. The long-anticipated sale of the OtoiaOpaku Block took place on Thursday last, Captain Wray, Officer in charge of Confiscated Lauds, officiating- as auctioneer on the occasion. There was immense competition, and the rates realised were very high. They would have been still more had a professional auctioneer been engaged, for zealous as Captain Wray was, ho had not the tact that pertains to the usual “ knockcmdowns.” As a proof of the soundness of this idea, several lots changed hands directly after the sale, some of the second purchasers declaring that only modesty prevented their bidding tip. Another thing to the detriment of the sale was, that the public were barred out, as it were, from the inner portion of the Court House. Notwithstanding all drawbacks, however, the sale can only he regarded in the light of an unqualified success, the whole amount realised being £5,100. Wc are unable to give the exact details in this issue, owing to the returns not having been finally made up, but we will do so in our next. The sale was of the most spirited nature, and the value of land in this district is clearly on the increase. We have been favored with a spring advertisement from Mr Peter Bell, the wellknown draper of Wanganui, in which ho sets forth in glowing terms his wellknown wares ; but unhappily, we are compelled to hold it over till, our next issue, owing to the lateness of its arrival. We remind our reader's that Mr W. Dale will hold a sale of general merchandise at his mart to-day, when bargains of all kinds can be obtained.

Owing to the result'of the late enquiry, in connection with the A.C. Force stationed here, we have ■ reason: to believe that some material changes will bo made. ■ > A scratch cricket match will be ,played this afternoon, but the season has not advanced sufficiently to allow of formal matches. Another meeting of those interested in the establishment of a hospital for the Patea district, was held on Thursday evening last. Mr Sherwood was called to the chair. Although there had been so many scttleis in town during the day, probably in consequence of the land sale, they were conspicuous by their absence on the. evening in question. Notwithstanding this apathy on the part of those who will derive great benefit from the establishment of such an institution, in being able to send their sick and helpless bands to good quarters, the meeting passed off very well, and before another month is out the Patea district will possess a hospital, unless the temporary committee strangely lag in their work. In opening the proceedings, the Chairman explained that the care of hospitals would in futnr o devolve on the Comity Councils, provided the hill at present before the Legislature passed in anything like its entirety, and he then called on the lately appointed committee to give in their report. Mr Lett then came forward and explained what had been done so far, referring especially to the fact already stated, that Captain Wray, under instructions from the Government, had granted the use of the two Immigration cottages for hospital purposes. He then proposed a resolution that three trustees should be appointed, to conduct hospital affairs, but an amendment, to the effect that a temporary committee only should bo appointed at that time, to inaugurate the hospital, collect subscriptions, call meetings in the different centres of the district, and then hand over the institution to a committee, elected by the subscribers, was carried. A discussion arose as to the amount at command for hospital purposes, at present in the hands of the expiring Provincial Government, and it was resolved to apply for the balance to meet some of the preliminary expenses. The following gentlemen were chosen as the temporary committee :—Messrs Williams, Aitchson, Lett, Sherwood, Harris, and Hankins. A resolution was also passed, conslituing ministers of religion, of all denominations, members, ex officio, of the committee. The Chairman announced that a most valuable site in the township had been recently set aside for hospital purposes —a fact that, he was sure, would be welcomed by those present. Dr. Walker confirmed his previous offer of a year’s gratuitous service as stugeon, and also gave a brief estimate of the preliminary costs of the establishment, which he set down at Ll5O, including furniture, medicine, and all. The meeting, though small, did a greac deal of business, and the hospital will now certainly be a matter of fact within a very few weeks from this date. As is usual, a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.

The Town Crier in the San Francisco Nows Letter writes : —An ingenious editor, who started a paper in a community of: four houses, right on the line of railroad, is sometimes puzzled how to fill up his sheet, until the town assumes larger proportions. He issues it on Saturday, and when Thursday conies, if he is short* he will go down to the depot and interview the daily train, which generally results in half a column about a yellow dog who wa* riding in the brakeman’s car, and an amiable one-eyed lady going East. Then, if the train is late, he writes an editorial about unpunetuality, or walks a mile down the track and counts the telegraph poles, giving an account of their height and the kind of wood they are made of. Going into the only saloon in the town, he drinks four glasses of beer and scribbles an article on hops, between times ; he gets a column of local items out of a boy playing truant, a runaway mule, the darkness of the city and necessity of another kerosene lamp, or the handsome way in which Mr Smith’s store is painted green. If he is still Short he puts in bodily a whole chapter of “ BunjNin’s Pilgrim’s Progress," under the heading of “ Heading for the Young,” Using up all remaining space in frantic entreaties to his seventeen subscribers to pay for their paper. The Grey Argus relates that at the District Court, during the trial of G. Knopp, and while the Crown Prosecutor was examining a witness, his Honor Judge. Weston suddenly interrupted the proceedings by remarking—“ Mr Guinness :It is a most indecent and improper thing to wink at the jury, and I imrst request you to stop.’ 1 Mr Guinness : “I did nothing of the sort. If jmur Honor is in the habit of doing so, lam not.” His Honor : “Is that a proper answer to give to rt Judge of this Court ; to give the lie direct ? 1 saw you wink, Mr Guinness, and I have seen you do it before ; and if you address the Court again in the manner you have done, I will not allow you to appear in this Court at all.” Mr Guinness subsided. Abundant evidence has recently been furnished that sponges of good quality are to be found on the coast of Fiji For many years dead sponges have been' produced by the natives, but these were of no value. Mr Harding has obtained, iin eleven fathoms of water at Kandavu, sponges said to be equal to the best Turkish. . It is hoped that, the discovery may lead to some important commercial results.