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Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 215, 2 May 1877, Page 2

“The Begulation of Local Elections Act, 1876,” is gazetted as in force within the Town of Carlyle. Clarence Kcnnell, Esq., of Now Ply mouth, has been gazetted Auditor for the Counties of Taranaki and Patea. Mr William Dale will hold his usual monthly stock sale at Kakararaca on Friday next, at 1 o’clock. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Patea Kilwinning Lodge, will be held this evening, in the Carlyle Town Hall, at 7.30 p.m. C. A. Wray, Esq., K.M., has been appointed auditor of the Patea Education Board accounts under the provisions of “ The Education Boards Act, 1876.”

A meeting of the Patea Cricket Club will be held this evening, at the Albion Hotel. Mr Felix McGuire has opened an office at Hawera for the transaction of land and commission agency business. New Plymouth papers contain full reports of the Tlon. Major Atkinson s banquet speech. Wo are unable to give lengthy extracts to-day, but will endeavour to do so in next issue. The Thames Ad Berliner understands that a native named Tulcukino has intimated bis intention to repair and make, at his own cost, the road between Take and the Komata, so as to retain the right of its control.

A meeting of all persons interested in devising means to protect the town in case of lire, are requested to meet at hall-past seven o’clock on Thursday evening, at the Albion Hotel, when the question of forming a Fire Brigade will, amongst other matters, be considered. The following contracts for gravelling were accepted by the County Council yesterday: —No. 5 contract, W. Vivian, Wanganui, IB) yards, at Gs 2d per yard ; NoTd contract, ditto, BID yards, at 7s 9d per yard ; No. 7 contract, O’Sullivan. Wanganui, 100 yards, at 15s per yard ; No. 8 contract, ditto, 200 yards, at 7s ml per yard. There was a good attendance of Licensed Victuallers at the Albion Hold yesterday afternoon, in response to invite issued by the newly formed Association, representatives being present from Normanby. Hawera, .Mamitahi, ami other parts of the district. Proposed rules wore discussed, and other preliminary business transacted. A committee meeting will be held at Manulahi on IT id ay evening.

There are indications ol: liveliness in the building trade, at "NVaverley. Contract for the new building lor the Hank of New Zealand, lias born accepted ; the new J’resbvterian Clmreb v.-ill be put in hand, besides which improvements have been and are being made to private dwellings. A large room, intended :ior a billiard room, has just been added to Mrs Price’s “Welcome Stranger” Hotel. A first-class billiard table has been ordered and will be the first, as yet, introduced into that township. Items from the Taranaki 7Zc»v<&/.—Lngincers now surveying the site for harbour at New Plymouth, state that the only inconvenience they experience in their work is inhaling the strong sickening odour that arises from the constant and copious (low of petroleum around where they are engaged at Mihotahi. —A deputation waited on the Premier on Saturday, the 21sfc April, and urged the necessity which existed tor having a Native Land Court established at New Plymouth, and a Judge appointed. He promised to take steps to secure the services of a Judge in New Plymouth, that both Maoris and Europeans might get their claims arranged. —Mrs Elizabeth Tate, wife of Mr George Tate, of the Waitara, died on the 22nd April, aged u?) years. The deceased lady arrived in New Plymouth in 1850, in the ‘ Pluebo Dunbar,’ and up to the time of: her death was much esteemed by all who knew her—Three vessels arc loading in Wellington with railwa} r iron for the Inglewood railway. The Auckland Slur says A wellattended meeting was held on the 20th April in the Temperance Hall, Albertstreet, for the purpose of considering the propriety of establishing in Auckland a “ British Workman Public House.” or a kind of hotel without beer and liquors of an intoxicating character. The idea was started in Leeds, Yorkshire, by Mrs Hind Smith, and has found much favor in the old country. A committee was formed to make inquiries and report at a public meeting.

The Auckland Star of the 27th April says :—New troubles arc brewing in Europe. Count Von jMollkc, the Com-mander-in-Chic£ of the German army is alarmed at the menacing atttiude of France, and fears that peace cannot long be maintained with that country. The rapidity with which the work of army reform and re-organization has been pushed on in France has excited the admiration of military critics. You Moltke augurs from this, evil to the Fatherland. The stern military President of the Republic, smarting under Liic defeats of: Woertb and Sedan, with every feeling and instinct deeply •wounded, is not an unliKcly man to venture on an enterprise for the recovery of lost honour and the Rhine provinces. Von Mol Ike’s declaration at this juncture is not improbably, in some way, associated with the war in the East, and is suggestive of future offensive alliances. Whatever else it may mean, the threats of trouble in this new quarter deepen the black cloud hanging over Europe. The Auckland Star says that Mr Denniston, who has for the last four years superintended the Duller coal mines, has been on a visit to Auckland coal fields, and has reported as follows : —The coal measures of Waikato are inferior to those of the north of Auckland. Lignite only was found in Waikato, while north of Whangavei and Kawakawa a superior class of coal abounds, and at Hiknrangi a still stronger and hotter coal was found, but has not np to the present been developed.

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL. The regular monthly meeting oC the above Council was held atthe Council Chambers, Carlyle, yesterday. Present —Messrs Sherwood (Cnairman), Dale, Kells, Middlemas, Winks, Honeyfield, Livingstone, Bridge, and Kunah. The minutes of the three special meetings, and ordinary meeting, wcie read and conlinned. The Chairman rose to a point, of order, and stated that he, had observed members reading nowspapeis during the proceedings of the Council, which lie ruled was not right, ns members could not attend to their duties as Councillors whilst engaged in such an occupation. Mr Sherwood then called the attention of the Council to a charge that had been brought against him in the Patea Mail by Mr Middlemas, and wished, before any other business was .gone into, that the matter should he cleared up. He would suggest that the slanding orders be suspended, ami another Chairman appointed, in order to give him a chance of clearing himself.

The standing orders were suspended, and Mr Bridge was voted to the chair. Mr Middlemas, on rising, said he was perfectly willing to repeat what ho had said inTho letter that appeared in the Patea Maie. He had met Mr Joyce in the street, near Mr Gibson's store, and explained to him that lie wars very sorry that he had made use, ol' the expressions he did in Council, and Mr Joyce appeared perfectly .satisfied. During the conversation he (Mr Middlemas; said to Air Joyce that his report, as read in the Council, was a very strange one, and he was under the impression (hat lie had been tampered with bv Mr Sherwood. Mr Joyce acknowledged this, and made complaints about not receiving proper instructions. Mr Winks came up whilst tin: conversation was going on, and Mr Joyce repeated the statements to him. Mr Middlemas would, therefore, call upon Mr Winks to corroborate what he had said. .Mr Winks stated that ho had heard Mr Middlemas and Mr Joyce talking over the late dispute, and the latter gentleman had expressed himself as perleolly satisfied with Mr Mid< I lomns’s explanation. Mr Jovco had slated during the conversation that his report was according to orders, and said “ 1 will not say what was said to me. bn!, I did as I was ordered.’’ Mr Sherwood said that as a direct charge of corruption had been brought against him. it was the duty of the Council to prove or disprove if. He thought Mr Middlemas had acted entirely out of the usual course, by rushing into print, instead of bringing the matter before the Council. The Council Chamber was the proper place to investigate such matters. As regards the statements made by Mr Middlemas, ho was in a position to prove that his name was not even mentioned during the conversation between Mr Middieinas and Mr Joyce. When Mr Joyce was appointed Foreman of Works, he' (Mr Sherwood) gave him his instructions in writing. His work was laid down distinctly. He had impressed upon him tiie nccessilyol' nsingthc greatest economy, as the funds of the Council were very limited at present, hut, lie had not inllueneed the foreman in any way as to how lie should send in his report. His duty as Chairman of the Council was to give instructions, anil not to judge of capabilities. However, ho'was under the impression that the instructions given to Mr Joyce were quite clear and distinct, and that they were understood by Mr Joyce. Mr Middlemas had utterly failed to prove the charge made by him, and lie should call upon him to make some amends. At this stage of the proceedings, Mr Bridge said it was a very irregular discussion, as there was no motion before the Council. Mr Dale thought they had hotter proceed, and after both sides had been heard, then a motion could be tabled.

[Witnesses wore called both by Mr Sherwood and Mr Middleman.] Mr Kells thought the Council had no right to take any notice of the letter written by Mr Middleman, if Mr Sherwood wished to clear himself of the charge brought against him, he should have done so in the columns of the paper lie considered that Mr Middlemas ought to make an apology to .Mr Joyce, as the statements made were very inigcntlcmanly. MrKcnah said the Council was wasting valuable time for simple nonsense. Mr Sherwood said a charge of corruption had been made against him as Chairman, and that this had gone all over the colony. He thought it should be cleared up. and considered the time would be well spent in doing so Proposed by Mr Kcnah, and seconded by Mr , ‘’That the ordinary business of the Council be proceeded with.” Mr Dale, in moving as an amendment, “ That the Council adjourn till 2 o’clock,” said that as a charge had been made, it should ho cleared up, and the principal evidence in the case (Mr Joyce) had not been heard. He would not like to see the matter drop as it stood. The amendment was carried.

Tlio Council re-assembled at 2 p.m. Councillor Bridge in, the chair. Mr Middleman proposed that the opinion of the Council should he taken in regard to the Chairman having exceeded the powers granted. Ho referred to the resolution passed by a majority of the Council as to repairing road from the Patea Bridge to the Town Hall, and said that, when Mr Joyce came and asked for an explanation lie (Mr Middlemas) thought that Mr Sherwood had indirectly influenced Mr Joyce to make alterations in the estimates for the road through Carlyle. He said lie was now of opinion that it would have been better had he not written to the paper about the matter, and since hearing Mr Sherwood’s statement, did not suppose that that gentleman had tampered with Mr Joyce. Mr Sherwood gave a brief explanation, and proposed that the standing orders be resumed, which was carried unanimously. Mr Bridge then vacated the chair, which being taken by Mr Sherwood, ordinary business was continued. [Remainder of report in next issue.]

PATEA WEST ROAD BOARD. A meeting of the above Board was held at Carlyle on Saturday last. Present —Messrs E. R. Morgan, G. W. Gane, S. B. Corrigan, E. M. Honeyfield, A. Hunter, E. J. Morgan, and the Secretary (Mr W. Dale). In the absence of the chairman, Mr E. R. Morgan was voted to the chair. The minutes of last meeting were lead and confirmed. Correspondence was read, _ comprising letter from Solicitor-General, in reference to deviation of roads ; A. Guthrie, as to gully on Mamitahi road ; P. Wilson, as to bad state of Ball road, near Sonthby’s gate ; Treasury, as to naming Bank ; and from W. Alzdorf, as to work performed. Proposed by Mr E. R. Morgan and seconded by Mr Corrigan, “'lhat Air Peacock be allowed to use what ho requires of the culvert timber laying at Mamitahi, and to replace it when required by the Board—Mr E. J. Morgan to give delivery of the same.’' —Carried. Proposed by Mr Corrigan, seconded by Mr Honeyfield, and carried, “ IMat the Bank of New Zealand, Carlyle, be appointed Banker to the Board, and. that the Government bit informed accordingly.” Curried. Proposed by Mr Gane, seconded by Mr Corrigan, and carried, “ That tcndeis be called for works on Tongahnc Road, to be sent in by next meeting.” Proposed by Mr E. J. Morgan, seconded by Mr Corrigan, and carried, “ That the sum of T l'?/ be expended on iaiuaha Road, under the superintendence of Messrs E. J. Morgan, Corrigan, and the Chairman.” Proposed by Mr Corrigan, seconded by Mr Hunter, and earned, “That tenders be called for works on Taraaha Road, No. 2 contract.” Proposed by Mr limiter, seconded by Mr Huiieyiiehi, and carried, “That Mr E. R. Morgan he allowed to expend the £o, previously voted on the Mamitahi Road, wliero most needed, instead of the place previously mentioned.” Proposed by Mr Gane, seconded by Mr Honeytiold, and carried, “ That the sum of lOs lie paid to F. Nickel, for removing rata tree oil road.” Proposed by Mr Gane, seconded by Mr Corrigan, and carried, “That the Secretary write to the Telegraphist. Carlyle, asking him to get telegraph pule, on Paterson’s road removed.” Proposed by Mr Gane, seconded by Mr limiter, and cariicd, “That Air Cowern be requested to lake immediate legal proceedings against all persons who have not paid rates for the nine months ending 131st March.” Proposed I>v Air Honeyfield, seconded bv Mr Gane, and carried, - That a sum not exceeding TM ss, be expendedm tilling up hole on Ball Road, under the supervision of Messrs E. 11. Morgan and A. Hunter.” Proposed by Air Hunter, seconded by Mr Gane, and carried, “ That Alessrs E. R. Morgan, and Corrigan, inspect Mr Tulloek’s contract on Mamitahi Road, and also report what is necessary to he done to gaily on same road.” Proposed by Air E. R. Alorgan. seconded by Air Gane, and carried, “ That Messrs limiter, Honeyfield, and the mover, 1)0 appointed to inspect Air I’ll (ford’s contract on Crompton Road. ’ Proposed by Air E. J. Morgan, seconded by Mr Gane, and carried, “ That Alessrs Peacock, and Corrigan, he appointed to inspect Air Hansen’s contract on Kakaramea Road.” Proposed by Air Honeyfield, seconded by Mr Hunter, and carried, “That Mr .Fraser bo requested to survey and prepare phut of proposed deviation on Kakaramea Road, through Alessis Paterson Brother’s property, ami that Messrs Corrigan and Peacock point out: the ground to him.” Proposed by Mr Hunter, seconded by Air Corrigan, and carried, “That Messrs E. R. Alorgan, Hunter, and Gane, bo appointed to inspect works required on ilnrsthousc Road, and expend the amount appropriated for the same.” Proposed by Air Huueylield, and seconded by Air Gane, “ That the Local Elcctions Act bo not put in force, and that the elections he conducted on the same method as heretofore.” Carried by 4 votes to 2. An amendment, proposed by Mr Corrigan, and seconded by Mr Hunter, “ That 1 The Regulation of Elections Act, 1876,’ ho brought into force in this district,” was lost. Proposed by Air E. J. Alorgan, seconded by Air Gane, and carried, “That tenders be called for falling bush on Ball Road, from Air Southby’s land to the township of Woodvillo.”

Accounts were passed for payment, and the next meeting appointed for the 7tli May, at two o’clock. The meeting adjourned.