HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 183, 10 January 1877, Page 2

HAWERA.

(from our own correspondent.) January 8New Year’s Day, with its concomitant festive gathering, which 1 referred to in my last letter, having come and gone, and Christmas-tide with all its usual associations having also passed by, affairs are relegated to their normal State, and every da}' life

has assumed its wonted aspect in this township. A public meeting was held in the Blockhouse on Thursday evening last, having for its object the appointment of permanent Directors to the Town Hall Company, which has been started here, and to discuss other matters relative to the advancement of the company’s interests. About twentylive residents put in an appearance at the meeting, and as there were enough shareholders present to represent one filth of the shares already taken up, business was promptly entered upon. The report of the Provisional Directors was read, and tlie main facts contained in it were—l. That owing to a difficulty in procuring a site for the company’s sole benefit, it was not until December last that they were enabled to incorporate the company. Secondly, that the corner site opposite the Empire Hotel, on the Government Reserve, had eventually been purchased for that purpose, for the sum of £5. Thirdly, that the number of shares already applied for amounted to about 260, and lastly that the articles of the association had been registered at the same time at which the company was incorporated. Mr G. V. Bate was then elected Chairman, and proceeded to point out the business before tiie meeting, which as above stated was for the purpose of electin' l- Permanent Directors and Auditors to the Company. After the articles of association were read, the shaicholdeis piesent proceeded to elect directors, the number of whom had previously been fixed at The following gentlemen were Aceted —Messrs G. V. Bate, J. Davidson, W. J. Furlong, J. Lloyd, D McL Dowie, J Oreln'ston, and G. fait. Messis H. B. Baker and 6. Symo were also proposed, but declined, under clauseSOof the articles, which forbids directors from participating in the profits of any contract or work done for the company. Mr Byrne was elected auditor A vote of thanks to the Provisional Directors, and also to the Chairman, terminated the proceedings aftei which a meeting of the newly-elected Directors ° The monthly sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, winch ought to have been held on Saturday las., has been put off until Saturday next, intimation of which was only afforded to the public a day before the Court should have sat, A large number of the settlers around here and Kotemavac are grumbling very much at those frequent postponing* of the Court day, and some say they are put to great inconven.iencij and logs of tune by then coming into town on the usual day—-the first Saturday in the. month—only to find that tlie Court is adjourned for a week or for some future date. It cannot be expected that the police, can on one or even two day’s notice, give timely intimation of the postponements to all tlie principals and witnesses in every case set down foi hearing. I cannot give an opinion as to the absolute necessity for such adjournments, hut I give it as a fact that there are freqrierit grumblings heard, and,.curious inuendos "shadowed forth the reasons for these adjournments. Be it as it may, a certain amount of dissatisfaction is shown on tills head. One or two cases whioli arc set down forbearing on Saturday next have arisen out of the. species of larrikinism which has been latelv complained of in the Wanganui papers as having occurred on New. Year’s Eve in townships down south. I allude to the heating of tin' cans and other noises attendant on the usual “waits” on such occasions. It appears that some of the parties who participated in going the rounds could not discern. the difference between indulging in a noisy disturbance and in destroying persons’ property by breaking windows, &c., and consequently the perpetrators of these wilful damages may expect to meet at the hands, of the Bench, such punishment as they deserve. It is a great pity that if people must let off some of their exuberant spirits on the advent of a new year, they cannot withhold them so. far as to' keep th'eir hands from damaging other peoples property. As for the row part of the affair, it seems to be an usual custom, though whether a desirable one, in the interests of those who spend their New Year’s Eve in meditation and devotion, I cannot say;. Mr McGregor has opened his new hotel at Normanby, and from what I can learn 1 believe that the fittings and general turn out are first-class. Apropos of opening hotels, I may state that soine considerable amusement lias been caused to siglit.seers and bearers by the friendly rivalry which appears to exist between the cooks of the Egmont and Empire Hotels. No., 1 rings In’s hell one minute before cook No. 2 at breakfast time ; cook No. 2 does’nt like this, arid so hurries up dinner, and rings half a minute before cook No. 1. . At tea time they manage to hit the time exactly, and consequently the two bells sound together, and so on from day to day, with of course certain variations at the different meal times.

I hear of great changes in the distribution of the A.O. Force hereabouts. Rumour, goes that Sub-Inspector Northcroft.,, of Waihi, is to be transferred to the East Coast; that the services of Sub-Inspector Hackett are to be dispensed with, and that Sub-Inspector Gudgeon from the East Coast, is to take his place at Opunake. Besides this, I hear thata number of others in the rank and file on the strength of this district are to lose their positions. Captain Northcroft will be greatly missed in Court, as he used to watch, on behalf of the Crown, all important cases that came on for hearing here. I trust that to whosoever is allotted the task of “ weeding” the members abovenamed all private feelings may be dispensed with and put aside, and those who have served the longest and bear the best characters will be allowed the option of remaining on_ in the force, otherwise much dissatisfaction is sure to be manifested. I learn that Mr Sutherland, has leased or bought the property which belonged to. Mr Douglas, near this township, and intends to start a fellmongery there. If this be true, it will prove of great benefit to the settlers hereabouts, and also bo a profitable investment to the enterprising individual in question. I will finish this letter by giving } r ou the following yam, which I heard yesterday, and winch I believe to bo strictly true ; A gentleman, who is a member of one of the religious denominations in this township, who attends church as regularly as clockwork, and who is in every way what you would call a religious man, while taking a walk a day or two ago, met a friend and his wife. This said friend was

unfortunate in possessing in Ins wife what people generally designate “ a tartar, and was generally sat upon by that lady. Aftersome discussion about cinirch matters, the religious gentleman gave vent to the following remarks —“Sir, there is a terrible prevalence of irreligion in these days. Some men, good townsmen —uprighg honest, capable—still deny the possibility of a hell ! I hope YOU do not?” To whichthe sat upon gentleman replied —“l ! certainly not ; allow me to introduce my w'fc /”