The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 217, 9 May 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1877.

A letter signed “ Enquirer,” as to some particular reserve which it is thought might have been asked for for the Harbour, on the occasion of Major Atkinson’s visit’ is almost of too prying a nature to insert unless with the writer’s own signature. The Secretary of the Hawera Race Meeting has forwarded the nominations received for the Hawera Handicap, and judging from the superior class of horses nominated, which comprise some of the best racers in the Taranaki, Patca, and Wanganui Comities. Wo cannot help but congratulate the stewards of Ihe Hawera Race Meeting on their endeavours to ensure success for their races. The following are the nominations received up to date :—Mr Thomas Row e’s “ Opawa,” and “ Mamama Mr W. 11. George’s “ Resolution Mr Win Handley’s “ Tamouri Messrs Mcßae and Nicholson’s “ Gazelle Mr C. Brown’s “Bully for You and Mr Powderell’s “Queen of the Vale.” A sub committee of the Stewards have , already visited the paddock fixed for the course (which has been generously given by Matthew Gibson, Esq., and which is situated half-way between Hawera and Waihi), and they have made all arrangements for clearing the course and putting it in order at once. Nothing has been left undone, so as to ensure success.

A lengthy report of the Resident Magistrate’s Court proceedings, on Saturday last, from our Hawcra reporter, is unavoidably pressed out of present issue. The Taranaki Herald says there arc some signs of progress on the part of the Haibour Board. A committee has inspected the Sugar Loaves site, with a view to deciding on plan of operations. A road from proposed harbour ro town of New Plymouth, may easily be made through land owned by Government. Messrs J. Strachan Greig and Co. will hold large sale of general merchandise, fruit, and produce, at their mart, Hawcra, on Saturday next, 12th May. Mr W. Dale will sell timber, at noon, to-day ( at risk of former purchaser, Mr F. R. Jackson will hold cattle sale to-morrow, at his Wanganui sale yards. See catalogue in other column. A slight shock of earthquake was felt in Carlyle early this morning. Tenders for a lock-up at Hawera are now called for. The places and times at which'elect ions of members for the several Road Boards in Pa tea Comity, have been fixed. The elections will take place in the usual manner. Mr Dyer Ims requested us to insert the following extract from a letter received by him from the Principal of Wellington College, referring to the scholarships in that establishment. “ That the Board decided with much regret that they could not legally admit your boys to the Primary Scholarships. I hope, however, soon to establish open ones, of which I will advise you.” Attention is called to time up to which general entrances will he received by secretary for Hawera Race meeting. It looks as if the Hawera Town Ilalj committee meant business. Tenders arc now called for erection of building. Messrs Inman and Co., of Hawera, announce their intention or boldine - regular fortnightly sales of stock and merchandise. The right to erect booths on race ground will he auctioned on the 15th inst-

Mr Cowern’s Kakarainoa Stock sale takes place to-day, at two o'clock. A mooting of Court Patea, A.0.F., lakes place this evening, at the (Jariylc Town Hal!. Business important. An enormous sheep is now on view at the Carlyle Meat Bazaar. It is a fat \veiher, three-quarter bred Lincoln, two years ami nine months old, m. asurns four foot eight inches from nose to root of tail, very broad aecross back, and weighs 188 pounds The sheep is one of five bred by Messrs J. and 11. Williamson, of Kaka. ramca, and which took First Prize at the last Agricultural and Pastoral Show held iu tin's district. In the dock sold by the Messrs Williamson to Messrs Mediae and Nicholson, for boiling-down purpose's, are about twenty oilier slicep of ncarl} 1, the same bulk. A long price has been offered by a Wellington butcher for a few of the heaviest, merely for show purposes. Mr J. Adamson, of the Meat Bazaar, has dressed the sheep in a moat skilful and artistic mfinner ? anti - iicis set it oir to tho best advantage, and is deserving of some credit, as well as the breeders—Messrs J. and 11. Williamson. The sheep will be on view to-daj’, and until noon of Thursday, when it will be boiled down with others for tallow, at Messrs Mcßae and Nicholson’s establishment, Kakaramea. Tho nett profits of the Queen’s wharf, Wellington, for the six months ending the 31st March, arc returned as .£4,507 13s lid,

Dr Hector, Government Geologist, lately left Wellington, to report upon the coal measures, if any, on land to be leased in the locality of Mount Rochfort. A football match will be played at Wavcrloy on Saturday, 12th May, commencing at half-past two o’clock, between Carlyle and Yv'airoa Teams. The following are the names of the Carlyle players : Messrs li. C. Tennent (Captain), Baggett, Corrigan, Coutts, C. Dasent, B. Dascnt, Hutchinson, Hargreaves, Harris, McGregor, Skinner, 0. Symes, Turner, D. Williams, iV. Williams. Emergency men—Bburke, Bowell, and Williamson. Punctual attendance is requested. At the Court-house, Carlyle, yesterday, before Captain Wray, R.M., Felix McGuire sued T. Irwin for rent, £5. Mr Adams for plaintiff. F, McGuire stated that defendant had occupied the house for about two years, and bad paid the rent jip to June last. The defence was, that rent had been included up to date in the general account, rendered by Mr McGuire, which had been settled. Defendant was willing to pay rent, but was not in a position to do it at once: The Clerk of the Court deposed to Mrs Irwin having offered him the rent. After the case had been fully heard, the Resident Magistrate gave judgment for the amount claimed and costs, possession of dwelling to be given up within four weeks. A woman at present resident in the Immigration Barracks, was woke up on Saturday night by smarting pains On neck and arms It was discovered that a small black spider had bitten her in seven or eight places,the parts swelled and the pain was intense. Hot bathing had to be resorted to, and other remedial measures applied. The effect of the bites was felt up till yesterday.

The Hawkes Bay Mercury referring to the Sheep Inspector’s annual report for the current year together with the sheep returns up to the Ist May, 1870, says : —■ That at that date the total number of sheep within the provincial district amounted to 1,273,008, being an increase of 133,911 over the total of the previous year. It has been Mr Gavin Peacock’s good fortune, for a lengthened period, lo be able year after year to make favourable reports of the flocks in Hawke’s Bay and to speak hopefully of the future with regard to the carry ing capacity of the runs. His present report is not the least satisfactory of the many bo has made. With the annual increase of the Hocks, so have improvements been cifectcd that have enabled the country to carry the additional stock, while, at the same time there has always been a good outlet for any surplus, affording at once a good market, and a good opportunity for culling. The unstocked country on the east coast may be expected for some time lo come to absorb all the surplus sheep that arc not intended for the boiling-down pot, and the surface sowing of artificial grasses every season will continue to improve the natural pastures of the province.

Items from the N. Z. Mail :—We believe all the members of ilia Ministry will assemble iu Wellington during the present month, when full Cabinet meetings will be held to further consider the measures to be submitted next session.— The Stella left port on Thursday to bring the lion. Mr Whitaker from Auckland, and, as she returns, the Hon. Major Atkinson from Taranaki.—The Chief Surveyor of the provincial district of Wellington, Mr Henry Jackson, calls for tenders for the survey by authorised surveyors of about SoOO acres of bush laud situated near the township of Palmerston, Manavratu District.—-Tenders arc now invited for the erection of the new theatre in Manners-street. —The Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington for . the month ot Apt it, eliding Thin-.-.luy, was .£14,173 (is Id, as against £15,757 4s 2d for the corresponding month last year. — Messrs Barber and Co. have been exhibiting a carcase of beef which weighed no loss than 1,750 pounds.—The quantity and value of the woo! exported from Wellington this season, already exceeds that of last season by 2,400,0001 bs. At the lust show of the Timaru Agricultural Association a hedge-cutting machine of Oiunaru manufacture was exhibited, and awarded a prize, it was bought by the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, and another has since beer, constructed for the Tolara station. A public trial of it lias been made, and has resulted most satisfactorily. An eyewitness of its performances lints writes to the 'Times :— ‘‘ It gives me great pleasure to say that as far as the machine itself is concerned I consider it a great .success, doing its work thoroughly and cllicieiilly. The diflicuity to conUnd with is the guiding of the horses in a straight line, and when this is overcome 1 believe we have a machine that will dross our hedges iu as thorough a manner as it can bo accomplished by the hand. I have no doubt that when the horses become more accustomed to the work, and the driver has bad more practice, the present existing diflicuity of the guiding will be iu a great measure overcome.”