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Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 167, 15 November 1876, Page 2

On every hand we hear of preparations being made for Christmas sports—excepting in Carlyle. At New Ptymouth, at Waitara, at Wanganui, on the West Coast of the Middle Island—where, by the way, they give £IOO prizes—everywhere, in fact," but here. Now, there is plenty of sporting spirit in the Patea district,;' as all know, if some, one would take the lead, and initiate matters, and we hope the needed' individual or individuals will not delay his or their appearance. It only wants' six weeks of Christmas now, and. not a note of preparation has yet been sounded. . It will' teke fully a fortnight to arrange a committee, collect subscriptions, or. accept promises for the same, p; epare a programme, &c., and a month’s notice therefore is the utmost that can be given to intending competitors, even if preparations are commenced, at' 1 once* : Surely Some of the young men of the district, who take a justifiable interest in such : matters, will stir themselves without any ■ r u"ther delay, and arrange for sport s worthy of the Patea District:y ; The Patea Lodge of the . Ancient Order of Foresters will hold thein periodical mc-crlng this evening, at the usual hour, at the Town Hall.

The Taranaki cricketers have arrang-. d to piny the All-England Eleven about to visit this colony, but are sorely exercised in ’ raising £IOO to pay the necessary expenses. How a flourishing district like Taranaki can be in trouble about sin hj a sum passesourcomprehension, and wehope the parsimony implied, on the part of the residents, may be speedily got over. . As Taranaki will play (vventy-lwo against the champion eleven, they will have to. search through the \vhole*of the late province to make up their team, and representatives ■from the Patea district will most probably take part in the amicable fray. Cricketers can be obtained from here who, we venture to say, will not disgraec either themselves or their district, and will hold their own with the best that New Plymouth and its environs can produce. A detachment front Patea will render good service against such formidable opponents.

Envy is engrafted in human nature, and we arc as subject to its influences as otlur people. In our exchanges we see acknowledgments of railway free passes being received for favored scribblers whe c railways arc, and we envy them. .Inasmuch as there is no Patea railway, nor any reasonable prospect of. such a work coming this way during the present generation, would it not be fair to give the PaTEA Mail representatives free coach passes to go to and fro, as their luckier brethren can do, in districts where railways obtain ? We fear our appeal is in vain,.'but' ws throw'out the suggestion. ■

As our readers will see by advertisement elsewhere, Messrs Henderson and Varrab, the well-known brewers of Wanganui, obtained llie first prize at the late Agiicnltural Show for.-their ales.. This was well-merited, for their beer will stand a favorable comparison with the best English malted liquor, and the judges did no more than right in so highly commending it. Their representative here, Mr Garner, I who conducts rheii busine.ss, fully maintains tbe ru[uifciition f oi! tho Hmi, it* ho dues not exceed it, for, from tasting experience, we can say that no better beer is brewed in New Zealand than is produced at the Patea brewery.

In our last issue we fell Into an error in uTeienee to the object of Mr Bennie’s last visit in connection w'tli the skating rink. •Neither of the entertainments were in aid of the hospital, but were merely intended to create an interest in the amusement, [ueliminary to a hospital bmeiit on a much more extended scale. Mr Bennie has promised to give an entertainment very ♦shortly, not only by Imnscir, but assisted by two oilier gentlemen equally good or cv:n superior to himself on the wheel- 0 , in audition to two ladies, all of whom have kindly promised to come from Wanganui for the purpose. There can be no doubt that such an exhibition will be a great success, and afford substantia! aid to the fund. Some members of the Hall company are, we believe, greatly alarmed in reference to their floor, the late unskilful ska’en haying chipped one or two little pieces in the hoards an inch or so long, and may be unwilling to again allow their proper.y to be thus damaged. In oilier places the veriest tyros can stumble over the flooring without injuring it, and any damage done on the last occasion must bo exceptional. We hope, therefore, that no objection will be made to letting the hail for the contemplated benefit.

One of the most violent thunderstorms that has ever visited this tlisirict occurred about four o’clock on Sr.lu day morning last. The previous'day had been close'and sultry, but the sky was clear, and no indication of ■the- pending., storm.-, was - given. .After nightfall, showers fell at intervals, but at (he hour above-mentioned, thunder and lightning of the most appalling description set in, followed by a violent hailstorm, which was succeeded by heavy rain. One peal of thunder was so sharp and loud that it isqemod. literally to strike the earth, or those unfortunates out at the hour, whilst the instantaneous Hash of dazzlingly brilliant lightning told how dangerously close it was to beholders. As it happened some of the “ slaves of the lamp” attached to this office were en route for home at the time, and were involuntary spectators of the. elemental convulsion. We have not heat'd of any damage being done, but fear that such what may be termed, .vicious lightning, could hot have passed over the c -untiy, ap'd left it unscathed. A correspondent of the Grey River Argus] in de'scribing'a trip from Melbourne ’to Greymouth, in the Gleaner, states : Even the sailors were “ all at sea on this voyage, and one and all declared they had never known or heard of such a prevalence of easterly weather in these waters at this, or indeed, any other time of the year. One said he felt positively unwell in consequence, and asked Captain Agnew for a dose of Holloway’s pills. The caplain gave him about a dozen, and with them a'printed bill, setting forth the manifold virtues of these famed remedies for all diseases under the sun. Presently the’ sailor returned, .and the following dialogue ensued : Sailor*; “ Please sir. can you give me a pin?” Captain-Agnew : “A,, pin ? Yes; what do you want a pin for?” Sailor : “ To stick it into inrliges- . tion. . sir.’f, Captain Agnew “ To stick it into the—-t—l What on earth i - - I I do you mean ?” Sailor : “ Well,'sir, these J here pills cure a lot of things, and I want !

ii pin to stick it into my complaint (which is indigestion) on Holloway’s bill which yqti gave me. Else how would the pill ß IcOow;.fbr what sickness I took them ?. Th'eV might think it was for general debility, or dizziness, or shortness of breath, or eniptipna on the skin, .-it I stick a pin into ‘ indigestion * on the bill they will vvoik for indigestion. I always stick a pin in the disease when I take Holloway’s pills.” Captain A piew (to the sailor after a long and amazed pause) : “AT right ; here’s a pin." (To himself) ; “Heavens, -above! And this is the nineteenth century! But perhaps it’s the confounded easterly winds that hj ive knocked him off his ‘ chump.’"

The Liverpool Mercury states that a borough magistrate has made a rough calculation of the amount of money spent upon drink in Liverpool per week and per year. He points out that there are 1240 public-houses where drink ■ only is soli!, and 500 where food is-soldih addition to drink. This Jailor number does not ine.nde hotels or eating houses. Of 500 he holds that at least, a third—namely—170 —are diinking-iunisi'S. pure and- simple. He adds this number to die 1240 which sell nothing but drink, making the total number of drinking houses 1-110. He confines his calculations to these, and uiakes the following estimates of their weekly receipts: —lO at £2OO, £2,0.00:; 20 at £l5O, £3,000 ; 30 at £IOO, £3,000 ; 50 at £75, £3,750 ; 100 at £6O, £6,000 ; 200 at £SO, £10,000; 300 at £4O, £12,000; 300 at £3O, £9,000 ; 200 at £2O, £4,000 ; 100 at £lO, £I,OOO ; 100 at £7, £7OO ; making a grand total per week of £54,450.' This weekly total, multiplied by The number of. weeks in the year gives an annual expenditure of £2,831,400, which-he considered under, rather than over the mark.

Many of cur readers .will remember Mr Henry Gordon, the well-known basso of tbe Garandini Company. He lias gained the bronze medal of the Royal Academy of Music for singing.

Lately a person styled Dr W M. Thomson, M.A, undertook to expose the secrets of Freemasonry to the people of Milton, Otago. Ho had only three of an audience, and consequently an adjournment was made to an hotel. ' The Doctor was badgered a good deal, and some eggs were thrown at him. From a report in the Bruce Her .11 we learn the Doctor gave the following reasons for exposing Freemasonry :—The Worshipful Master, who ! is the president of the lodge, stated to him before he took the oath that there was nothing in the oath which would conflict with any man’s religion, or with bis duty as the subject of any State. His eyes were then bandaged, and anoose of hempen tow placed round his neck. The end of this was held by a Mason, whose duty it was to strangle the candidate if he hesitated to take the oath. /The oath was then read over to the candidate, and repeated by him word by word. There were three oaths, with three different penalties. The first penalty was to have one’s throat cut from ear to ear, which operation the Doctor showed in pantomime. The penalty attached to the second oath was to have one’s heart torn out—(laughter)—the ‘‘ Doctor” suited the action to the word and tugged .vigoi ou ;]y. at his breast pocket, under which heat the dauntless heart that dare expose Freemasonry, at the risk of its owner’s life. The penalty for the infraction of. the third oatb was to be cut in two pieces, [At this stage of the proceedings, the’ “ Doctor”- adroitly dodged a flying egg, which, struck an innocent gentleman in rear of'the “Doctor.”] The lecturer then proceeded to-say that he objected to any secret society taking io itself the •ight of killing any British subject. He wanted to reform the “ bloody oaths” of the Freemasons, so that no man should suffer death at their hands. (Applause.) His life had been attempted at Dunedin on account of his endeavoring to expose Freemasonry. The police of Milton were under the influence of the' Masons, or they would have protected him that evening, -(daughter.) He considered Masonry was inimical to Christianity. He had no doubt the Prince of. Wales would renounce Masonry : when he came to the throne. He would hot rejoin the Masons if the ofthe baths .were reduced to semi-strangula-tion. During the last 25 years he' only I knew of one man who had been killed for

breaking a Masonic, path, and he was an American captain. Certainly he himself had been half killed. (Laughter.) The Dunedin Guardian says : —lt is ex'ceedingly to be hoped that we shall not receive a taste of the new sheep disease which is at present raging throughout Victoria and devastating whole flocks. During September, this disease—whether dropsy, braxy, fluke or rot —had arrived at a very alarming stage. On one 20,000 sheep run, all the shecp/have died ; on a smaller station they die at-the rate of 300 per diem ; and it is ptdUGD'' to travel over a third run from the number of sheep lying dead on it. Several stations have J a . vfasv - . • been cleaned out by-tms disease, and on - one a number of pet theip have succumbed- 1 to it. Young fat sjjeep die sooner than/ old crawlers ; arid in’na two cases are the’ internal appearances: of the dead slieep similar. If tlj& disease reaches the largerdistricts, the result will be dreadful.

It is.'With:hea tfelt regret that we have to chronicle the death of Mr Colin Nichol Camobell, Town Clerk of this township. He bad been a long lime ailing and had, with great difficulty, but the most undaunted resolution, fultilled his duties of late. g For some time past he had been a great sufferer, and his death was by no means unexpected, on the contrary was rather IPoked f srward to as a release from pain. His funeral took place yesterday, and was most numerously attends.', the TownJßoyd and a host of residents payi ig the last tribute of respect by f (Plowing his remains to the grave. ’ The deceased was liigh'y respected, and the sincercsl sympathy is felt for his bereaved family.

It is not, a pleasant task to bring eases of poverty before our readers, but there are occasions on which it becomes an absolute duty. Those who attended' the last amateur entertainment of the Star Minstrels wil] remember Mr Franck, who was one of the leading performers on that occasion. Within the last few weeks he has been attacked by dangerous illness, and having no means, was placed under medical caro, at the 1 -cost of the province. Since that time bis wife and two little children, one hardly two years of ago, the other an infant, have been subjected to sore straits, their bread-winner having no power to help them. How;.distressed the}' have been we do not care to detail, for it is a sin and a disgrace that such should have been iii'a Christian community. Mrs Francis, with a natural pride that dues her credit, declined to apply for ah/, but fortunately the family’s condition became known to some kind-hearted souls, ami Mr Dixon of Kakaramea, especially exerted himself on their behalf. At his instigation a meeting was called at Haywood’s Albion hotel on Monday evening last," to take steps, not only fur the family’s immediate relief, but to get up an entertainment for their assistance. Mr W. Williams occupied the chair, and explained the objects for which the meeting had .been'"called.’ It was resolved that the case should he brought under the special notice of the Superintendent, through, the chairman, and a subscription list was started in the room which resulted in between three and four pounds being collected on the spot, Mr Williams being delegated to administer it. , A committee, consisting of Messrs Connolly, Dixon, Hirst, and Oakley, was appointed to organise and get amateur entertainment in aid, to come olf either on the 22ml or 29thinst. Altogether we are glad to say, Patea charity has not been appealed to in vain, and a deserving and respectable family have ba I a timely • rescue from the, clutches of sad and bitter privation.

A meeting of the Education Bonn! was held on Monday L-h, when there wove present —Messrs Middh-irns ('i-hairm m\ Da’c, Co iilts, Furlong, and M'lroy. The year having expired, it Was necessary to elect a chairman, and Mr Middh mas was unanimously re-elrcen. On taking Ills seat ho thanked the Beard for the honor confeirM, but pointed out that it would bo but short-lived, as under the new Education Act the B iard would in a very short time have to be reconstituted. Tie Lloyd and Williams complaint was again brought up. Our readers may remember that these pwties leased a sectional Hawera from the Board, and fenced it n according to the survey pegs as then put in. Subsequently it was discovered that an error had been made bj r tbe Government surveyor, and they bad to shift their fence at great loss and inconvenience to the corrected line. They applied to Captain Wray, the officer in whose charge the land previously was, asking that, as the fault did not lie with them, they should obtain fair compens't’on. That gentleman replied, stating that he could neither give nor advise compensation, and that what they; had . done, they had done at their own risk. The Board considered this great hardship and injustice, and referred;the whole of the correspondence back to Capt. Wray, with a request that he would reconsider it, or that he would forward it to the head of fiis department. The members felt that the lessees had been misled by the Government survey, and were frirly entitled to redress.;A . most painful case was. brought/ before the notice of the Board from Hawera. A boy and girl, aged 12 and 11 years respectively, attending the Hawera school, were proved to have, been repeatedly guilty of gross and open immorality, in such a manner as to tend to deprave the whole school. We abstain from mentioning their names, for their

, own and their parents . saxes. they were both bj r a unanimous vote expelled. The Board instructed the Secretary to write a circular letter, to all the teachers, requesting them., to keep the hoys and girls separate, and to take all possible means to prevent such infamy -in : future. The Secretary was instructed ; to prepare a full statement, in‘accordance with the new Act, of the financial position of the Board, the schools in existence., and all other particulars in connected/with the Board’s -.An"-application; was made: by itiieyteacheis of the district to have the -’‘ClYrktnm holidays extended tofour weeks,. in Hen of** the'the fortnight,as*t present. It nppc.arefl~.that/.-as fhei'e'was a distinct--rule no alteration could .'bamade’.riiidTout a notice of morion haying l# [ been given. The Board were not inclined I

to grant the month, but were disposed to extend the holidays a week, and notice of motion, for consideration at the next meeting, was given that they should be for three weeks. The teachers also notified that they had formed themsdvcs into an association, and asked the use of one of the schoolhonsea for th dr ■periodical meetings. This was granted at once. This wis all the business, and the Board then adjourned. The weekly hor a e sale at Brskine’s yards, initiated by Mr W. Cowern promises to be a-great success, and will shortly bc-come an institution in Carlyle. On every Saturday in future, next Saturday inclusive, he will hold a sale, and persons wishing to dispose of their equine stock will thus have, an" opportunity of doing so. - ■

The Glaciarlurn,” or real ice skatingrink, established a few months ago at Chelsea by Dr Gimigee, has stood the severe test of a hot summer triumphantly. Even on August 13th. When the temperature in the smi was lo'3 deg, the ice was kept perfectly solid all day. The freezing agent employed is hydro-sulphurous acid, the cost of which is only a fourth that of either. By means of this doners, with money in their ; pockets, can enjoy the pleasure of skating on ice with ordinary (not mile l- ) skates all the year round. Similar rinks arc being constructed at Manchester and Southport.

Arrangements have been made jit Waitara, to hold a race meeting on New Year’s Day. In addition to the races, sports of various kinds will kbc given, and boat racing will a'lSd take, place. Tndy Waifara is a plucky little seaport, and deserves all credit for the manner'in, which it has gone in for public amusement on the .forthcoming opening day of. 1877. A committee has been elected to cany out the programme and contains names that will see it done properly." ’."lVie''faces.= \yUf comprise a Maiden Plate. Waitara Cup, Railway Stakes, Hurdle race, Consolation Stakes, and two hack races. Waitara is certainly going'almad.

The Wfing-inai Chronicle of Saturday last, lias the following:—Yesterday morning about 5 o’clock, at the Hospital, Mr Luxford, who' has. been an inmate for several weeks, suffering we believe from a pulmonary attack of a violent form, breathed his last. The'’former residence of the deceased was Mokoial beyond Putoa, where lie had acquired some property. Relatives of the deceased, a mother and sister, reside, we are informed, in Victoria, and they will probably come over to administer his estate, as a will had been prepared by the deceased at the advice of a friend some weeks ago. The custodian had seen the deceased a short lime prior to his death, and it would appear that he passed away without a struggle. The Hawera Police Court is likely to be occupied with a case of indecent assault, the defe idant being, a.man in a good position in that townisi ll p.-W 1 1 ellt e r the allegations made are true or not we have no means of knowing, but we have reason to believe that an in forma ion haa been laid and, unless settled, tbi matter will' be brought before the II.M. on his next visit.

The Taranaki D&rlget of tlie 11 li says—- “ We are informed (hat th ; Gove.niunt has rec-ived information that the Upper Wanganui natives arc in a sta'-e of greatcxcd .‘in n-’, owing to the rep u’i having’got amongst. them that Ivirop'an ■> art out P" ispaetin 'for. gold and coil, an I. parties o‘ : n lives are bii the look-out for thcniTho Govornmeht’fcar that if any prospecting party fall in ( o the in fives’ hands the consvqu inces wU he serious. Tn the face of this warning- it whir I he advisable for prospectors to defer (heir j.m n ;y till another tim e, when-the exoitem ‘tit of tine natives has somewhat abated.” In connection with the above itmiydic pi union,;d tlx it in the interior there are between six'y aad a hundred natives—chiefless, landless, and reckless, who are at any time ready for mischief. Am mgs: thmir are smu who have been' guilty of mur'd ;r, and who to avoid seizure' h-ive taken rofu ge among the reckless. It is from these m m dang nmay at any time he apprch aided. They have everything to gaip < and .'nothing to lose'by m iking mischief. There is reason for believing that hotli friendly natives and king natives who are located on land u-ider recognised chiefs are peacefully i iclined. and it is only from the outcasts that mischief is likely to .‘arise. It is therefore ,veiy clear that prospecting in the above counhyis at least a dangerous game. A meeting of the.Town Board was held on Monday evening last, when all the members were present. In consequence of the death of Mr Campbell, the Town Clerk, all the business done was comprised in the following resolutions. On the motion of Mr Hirst, seconded by Mr Williams it was resolved : “ That the Chairman be requested to write a letter of condolence to Mr Malcolm Campbell from the Board, also expressing their satisfaction as to the manner in which the late Mr Campbell performed his duties,” On the motion, of Mr Hirst it was a T so resolved ‘ that the salary of the late Mr Campbell should be paid-up to thejend of tlfemonth to his relatives.” On the motion of Mr Williams the Board then adjourned till the 20fch inst., at (he Court House.

Our Presbyterian readers will be glad to learn that on Sunday next, the Rev. A. Martin, will conduct services at Carlyle at 11 a.in., and at Hawera at 6.30 p.m. It is a great pity that a permanent minister of tnii denomination cannot be stationed in the district, as many of onr.-most respected sattlersbelong. to the Presbyterian Church. We do not know with whoni the appointment -li ; s, but, as we staled a few weeks ago, there is a congregation ready, able, and willing-to pay their pastor, if a pastor be forthcoming. ...