Untitled

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 165, 8 November 1876, Page 2

Some splendid Kauri timber, ex Danto will be sold by auction, by Mr W. Dale) on Saturday next. It is some of the finest ever seen in Patea, and will certainly realise high prices. Mr Cowern’s stock sale at Kakaramea comes off to-day, we remind our readers. He will offer a very much larger amount of stock than advertised, amongst which willbe found some of very snpcriorquality. A £1 sweep, on tho Handicap to be run to-morrow, will be drawn this evening at Haywood’s hotel. Subscribers may bo certain of fair play, and a great many will probably come forward. The most poisonous spider in New Zealand is the katipo, and from its bites fatal consequences have often ensued. In all cases such wounds, minute as they arc, cause great suffering, and their consequences are said to last for years. In this part of the colony they are unpleasantly numerous, though, owing to their confining themselves chiefly to the beaches, the public generally have little knowledge of them. It is /well, however, that such dangerous fellow-colonists should be known when seen, and the public hero have now an opportunity of being introduced to a specimen without danger. Mr Adams, solicitor, whilst walking on tho beach at the Heads on Sunday last, captured one, and consigned his perilous prize to a vial of spirits, intending to forward it to the Nelson Museum. In the meantime, however, he has kindly left it at our office, where any one desirous of inspecting it can do so. We should think it is a small though very perfect sample. Its body is about the size of a small pea, and legs in proportion ; down its back there runs a scarlet stripe of-the, most brilliant color, and on its sides arc little glittering points which, when the insect -was alive, and had not been subjected to spirituous influences, : must have been exceedingly pretty. The general color is dark brown or black. Seeing it, people will be able to recognise these insects should they, come across them.

After waiting for some months, we are glad to find that general meetings of the District Eoad Boards are convened for the purpose of electing new Boards. The Patea West (25th), will hold its meeting on the 27th inst. at the Court House, Carlyle, at 12 noon. The Patea East (26th) at the same place at 2 p.m. The Haw era (24th) will hold their meeting on the 25th inst. at the Block House, Hawera. Sections in the new township of Woodville are still in demand. We are informed by Mr Dale that since his last report he has sold ten additional sections, and in nearly every case to persons who intend to immediately occupy the same. The site for the hotel is now being cleared) and it is the owner’s intention to have the Hotel opened with the commencement of New Year if possible.

We are glad to say that Mrs A. Smith, of Hawera, who recently met with such serious injuries, through a horse on which she was riding falling hack on her, has quite recovered, or is at least sufficiently so as to enable her to resume business. She expresses her thanks for the help she received in another column, and is evidently grateful to the kind friends who assisted her in her trouble. We have no doubt that h’er customers will comply with her invitation and call as usual.

A meeting of the Hawera Oioket Club will be held in their own cricket ground on Saturday next, for the purpose of electing a Match Committee, and for making arrangements in their contemplated contest with New Plymouth members of the Club, are specially requested to be present, as these and other matters of importance have to be dealt with.

The Patca East Hoad Board mot on Monday last, but the business done was of a very unimportant nature, the freezing process to which that body has recently been subjected, in consequence of the delay in calling the required general meeting having prevented any late action. As will be seen elsewhere, the floodgates are now open, and business of a useful nature may very shortly be resumed. Very reasonable complaints are made by the Hawera people and other residents in that direction, at the races being again held at Wairoa, when a course can readily be obtained in every respect equal to that at Wairoa, for a very small charge at Patea, which is about the centre of the district. Visitors from Hawera have to ride some thirty miles to the course, and if they return the same day sixty miles in all, and numbers are prevented from attending, owing to this cause. On the other hand, the people of Wairoa would only have a few miles to travel to come to Patea, or Kakaramea, and, if the course were at either place, a great many more people would attend. We hope the club will alter matters in this respect for next year’s meeting. Whether owing to disappointment on this account, or innate racing spirit, it is rumored that the Hawera folks intend having races at their own township this season. We hope the report is true, and that it will become a reality.

Tho contractor for the enlargement of the English Church here, Mr Aitchson, is making every effort to finish his work tin’s week, as the. Bishop of the Diocese is expected hero very shortly. Those who have attended the church during the time of alteration deserve all credit for being most devout worshippers, for tho services were of tho most open air description, the building being literally cut in two, with one end out. Notwithstanding this little inconvenience, the attendance was good, a fact that speaks volumes for the congregation. When the alterations are complete, a large number of extra sittings will be available, all of which will be readily taken up.

Amongst other Acts that passed during the session just concluded, is a short but important one, the Juries Act Amendment Act. By it, all railway-officials and workmen of all kinds engaged on public railways, arc exempt from juries of all kinds, on producing a certificate by a superior officer. If any such officer give a false certificate he is liable to a penalty of twenty pounds. Another important amendment is the abolition of the humbugging old system whereby foreigners charged with offences were entitled to a jury de medieiate linguae , in plain English a jury comprised half of ordinary British jurors, and half of the alleged criminal’s own countrymen. The confusion- and tho miscarriage of justice that this has caused have been enormous, and it is well that such absurdity has been swept away, in New Zealand at least. The barbarity, too, formerly exercised in keeping jurymen without meat, drink, or fire, pending the delivery of their verdict, though the case under consideration might take hours to arrive at a satisfactory verdict, is also put an end to, and these necessaries may now be supplied, at the discretion of the Judge, in whatever is reasonable. Another most important alteration is contained in the-Act,, which is, that after a jury has deliberated for three hours, and cannot agree upon a verdict, the decision of three fourths of them will be accepted. This will put the pigheaded, or the juryman friendly to a prisoner, completely out of Court, and will do much to ensure full justice in a manner, that has, as yet, never been attained. This is one of the best minor Acts that have become law, and jurymen generally should rejoice at its provisions.

A rather novelentertainment was given in the Town Hall by Madame Schielbich and three children; all of whom performed on the violin, in concerted and solo pieces, —one of the Itttlc ones varying the instruments at times by the introduction of the rock harmonicom " The performance was also supplemented‘by the exertions of some amateurs who kindly lent their aid, and, for one of its class, passed off very successfully. It was repeated on Monday with equal good fortune, amateurs again coming to the rescue. The most successful of these was Mr Oakley, who was encored no less than three times, a certain proof that his audience appreciated him. Last night Madame Schielbich very generously gave a benefit for the hospital, which was poorly attended, and the amount realised was only £1 17s. A discredit to Carlyle. The necessity for the Committee proceeding at once with the establishment of the proposed hospital is every day being made more manifest. There are now three under medical treatment at the public charge, the last comer being Mr Francis, so favorably known in connection with the last amateur Christy entertainment. He is suffering from ulceration of the stomach and is, Dr: Walker informs us, very ill. At present the patients are sup plied with rations from an hotel at a cost of 18s. per week per head, and in addition to this there is a warden to pay, medical aid has to be paid for, and what the total cost of their maintenance is we cannot say, but should guess it at from £2 to £3. per head per week. In hospital £1 would cover everything, for provisions would be cooked on the premises, medical attendance would cost nothing, and with such a small number of patients the warder could act, if necessary, as cook in addition. We may add that the doctor, the warder, and the hotelkeeper, &c., are owed a large sum, and that some £l5O will be required to clear off all. We very much doubt whether they will ’ever see their own, the provinces being obsolete, but wish them all success in any applications they may make for payment.

Mr Quinhvau, the sporting proprietor of the Egmont Hotel, Hawera, is making great improvement to ids property there, by the erection of a large and capacious stable, which, from what we can judge in its present state, will prove to be —if not the finest—at any rate one of the best in the district. When finished the fittings will comprise four large loose-boxes, about ten stalls, fitted up with latest improvements, a saddle and harness-room com* plete ; and above these there will be a large and roomy loft. There is a talk of a dance being proposed to be held in the latter, on the evening of the stables being completed, but we cannot state whether such a social gathering will eventuate, but hope it may. We may safely say that the loft in question is of such large and lofty dimensions that it would easily hold about twenty-five couples, who could indulge in the votaries of terpsichore and have plenty of room to do it in. In consequence of the performance in the Town Hall on Monday night, the usual monthly meeting of the Town Board met at the office of Mr Harris. Present— Messrs Sherwood (Chairman), Milroy, Taplin, M‘Carthy, and Williams. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, a discussion arose anent the advisability of some one being employed to perform the duties of Town Clerk, until Mr. Campbell bad sufficiently recovered. Ultimately it was decided that the Chairman should write to Mr Campbell, informing him of the wish of the Board in this matter. Much sympathy was expressed by all the members of the Board at Mr Campbell’s long-continued illness, and a general wish was expressed for his early restoration to health. It was then moved and carried that the meeting stand adjourned until next Monday, when the Board will meet for the transaction oC ordinary business.