The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 220, 19 May 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1877.

The Hon. Major Atkinson returned ro Wellington per Government steamer Hincrnoa on the 13th ins!ant.

The time for sanding tenders in for dwelling for Mr Peterson, will be received up to the 31st instant, at Messrs Greig and Co.’s office, Ilawera.

General entrances for the Ilawera Races must he made before the 21st instant, when it is requested that age, sex, and and other particulars required for the race card ho forwarded to the Secretary.

Mr James Davidson, of Ilawera, has been licensed to sell arms and ammunition.

It will ho seen by advertisement that Manutahi folks are intending to honor Queen’s Birthday by holding athletic sports. Sixteen events are entered on trio programme, hut the prows arc not yet decided upon. As the settlers arc rather behind hand in making known their intentions, it is to be hoped they wid work more vigorously to ensure success, and so bring their prettily situated and rising township into notoriety. Mr F. R. Jackson has been instructed to auction tiro p.s. Tongariro. The auctioneer says —“ The steamer is 39 tons register, and carries 45 tons on a draught of 5 feet 8 inches ; is in good repair, and is very suitable for bar harbours, where light draught of water is essential.”

Mr William Dale will hold a calc of Limber, fencing wire, Ac., at his mart, at two o’clock to-day.

Applications for the office of clerk and treasurer to the Harbour .Board will require to bo sent hi to tbe clialrnum (G-. X’\ Sberwood, Esq.) by Monday at the latest.

Tho date for holding the proposed concert in aid of tho building- fund of the Presbyterian Church, Hawcra, has been fixed for the evening of the 31st May. Every endeavour is being made to make the concert worthy of general support. ■ The wholesale price of flour at the Kakaramea mills is now £l7 per ton. Tho retail price is 18s per 100 ibs. A special meeting of the Patca Harbour Board was hold at 11 o’clock on Thursday morning last, at Carlyle, when there were present —Messrs Sherwood (in the chair), Milroy, Williams, and Williamson.—Business in reference to certain reserves was arranged.—On the motion of Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Williamson, it was resolved, “ That the terms proposed by the Bank of New Zealand, Carlyle, be accepted by the Board.” —Proposed by Mr -Milroy, seconded by Mr "Williams, and carried. “ That tho chairman and any two members of the Harbour Board be empowered to sign cheques.” —The meeting adjourned. The following arc the names of the Waihi Football Team, appointed to play the Patca Team in Carlyle to-day : Cowan, Hargood, Jones, ilhhhford, Lockio, Whih’, Byrne, Greig, Lukis, Lysaght, Helps, Bayly (Si 1 .), Bayiy (G.), Inmam Broadbent (C. E.), Wilson, and Stewart.

On Wednesday morning last, a settlor at Kakaramea, near Mr Paterson’s place, came upon the dead body of a Maori. The body was removed to the Kakaramea Hotel, and proved to bo that of Te Abu, a native from the district known as Gentle Annie. The night before, between nine and ten o’clock, some tipsy natives were heard passing through the township. It is believed To Abu was of tho number. The coroner (C. A. Wray, Esq.) held an inquest on the body on Thursday. Dr Croft, who examined tho body saw no mark of violence —the Maori might have fallen from his horse, or might have lain down and died from exposure, or been suffocated by a shawl which was wound round his neck and across the mouth. The night was very cold. Tho jury returned an open verdict, to the effect that deceased was found dead, but there was no evidence to show how death was caused.

On Wednesday evening, about dusk, as Mr Lett was driving 1 from Waverley towards Carlyle, and when between Mr Iloneyfield’s and Mr Derritt’s places, straying cattle on the side of the ioad ; startled the horse and led to the upsetting of the trap and contents. Mr Lett was thrown out on to the road and severely shook and braised about the face and body. Mr Joyce, who occupies' the Education Reserve, at Whenuakura, brought Mr Lett to town in a dray, when it was deemed necessary to call in medical aidLater in the evening a party went from town to bring the horse in. The trap was found upside down and the horse on its back, still harnessed to the shafts. But slight damage had been done to trap, harness, or horse, the latter having lain quiet until released. There was a considerable smash up of bottles, small boxes, &c. With the exception of a few apples and the breakages, the goods were found all right next morning. ■ A coirespondent only a few issues back, complained of the nuisance of wandering cattle, and expressed fear that serious accidents might arise. Mr Lett has been confined to his bed through the accident, an I had a narrow escape of his life. It is to be hoped the authorities will put a stop to the cattle wandering nuisance.

The paddle steamer ‘Lima’ is now being fitted out in Wellington for the Grey coal trade. She is expected to carry 200 tons on a draught of 7| feet of water. The Chronicle states that a late arrival at Wanganui is ovcrwcll stocked with skeleton keys. He is believed to have had experience in the housebreaking business. Several locks in that township are reported to have been unsuccessfully operated on.

The twenty-eighth annual report of the Australian Mutual Provident Society says the new premiums received during the year amounted to TG1,342, and the accumulated fund now stands at .2,1,901,771) showing an increase of £277,517, the balance of receipts over disbursements during the year. The total revenue of the society is now £460,185 per annum. Messrs Inman and Co have just been appointed agents at Hawera. Valuable freehold properties in Carlyle and Norm an by, belonging to G. F. Slierwood, Esq, will be offeree for sale by auction to-day, at half-past one o’clock, by Mr William Coworn, at bis Warehouse, Carlyle. There can be no two opinions as to the value of the Carlyle property as a building site. The auctioneer notifies that the properties arc absolutely for sale, and says section 4, with house and shop, for a business man, is unequalled in the town. Must of the Normanby sections wore selected before the first sale, and are splendidly situated. Alter the fearfully rough and uncomfortable weather experienced for a fortnight or so past, the gloriously line and cairn weather since Wednesday, has been thoroughly enjoyable, and has made the bulk of people cheerful and quite good tempered. The atmosphere on Thursday was clear and bracing. Mount Egmont, with its wintery covering, showed up sharp in every outline, lingo and grneei'iil, and appeared as if quite near. In an opposite direction, the more bulky irregular always snow-capped Ruapahau towered above the range upon range of far distant hills which intervene between it and Carlyle, whilst the immense stretch of apparently level land towards the south, hounded again by ranges of hills over the tops of which snow-capped peaks could be discerned, was charming and exhilarating to all beholders.

The building, which will in future bo used as Post and Telegraph Office at Manutahi, is being repaired and fitted up. Tho office is expected to be opened for business about the Ist of June.

The Sheep Inspector f:o:a the Knngi tikei district, is busy amongst the flocksA start was made in the Hawcra district. On Wednesday, ho had to pay a visit to Manutahi, to inspect sheep which had been disposed of. It is expected that Mr Hickson will he at Wovcrly to-day, to inspect sheep being offered for sale by Mr Jackem. Settlers appear to bo belter satisfied since the arrival of the Rangiiikei Inspector.

As a sign of preparation for increased trade and traffic, between Hawera and Wanganui, it may be mentioned that Messrs Bills and Co., of Hawcra, have received an order to build an express to carry 30 cwt., which it is intended to run in connection with an already established carrying firm. Tho express about to be built will run between Hawcra and Wavcrley, and will be on the road in about six weeks time.

The general meetings of tho various Road Districts, arc about to he held. The Hawcra (24th) Road District General meeting, will be held in the Block-house, Hawcra, at noon, to-day. The Patea East (2Gth) Road District meeting, will be held at the Court-house, Carlyle, at 10 a.m., on Monday. The Patca West (25th) Road District meeting, will be held in the Courthouse, Patea, at 12 noon. It will be necessary for ratepayers interested to roll up punctually at Carlyle, to prevent the business of the two meetings clashiag.

Signs of activity may be seen on farm holdings in various parts of the district between Carlyle and Hawera, in the shape of erecting and repairing fences, cutting and burning jrafehes of fern land. There appears to ho little in the way of preparation for tree planting.

On Wednesday last, seven or eight dray loads of wheat passed through Hawera, en route for the flour mill. The wheat had been grown on native land by Maoris, and was being transported in native owned drays, by native owned teams, with native drivers. The wheat being taken to the mill was but a portion of what had been grown. There had been and was still to be several similar turn outs.

The Eangitikei Advocate mentions that a number .of Maoris visited the Court) Bulls, to consult the Resident Magistrate about a native who had been found dead by the roadside some six months previously. The Resident Magistrate (Mr Ward) said an inquest was held at the time, and the probabilities were that the Maori had been drunk and fell off his horse. The Maoris expressing themselves satisfied. Mr Ward improved the opportunity, and spoke feelingly about drinking and card-playing, urging them to use their influence to discourage these degrading practices among their young men, and to induce them to work on their farms and elevate themselves in the social scale.

Jottings next issue. From the Chronicle we learn that his Lordship Bishop Redwood, arrived at Wanganui by the s.s. Stormbird, on Thursday, A large procession, marshalled by the Eev Father Kirk, was in waiting, and received the Bishop on landing, and afterwards accompanied him to St. Mary’s Church. An address was presented and replied to in the Church.

Two vessels which have been seen off the Patea River during the past few days, the Agnes and Jane Elkin, entered the river yesterday morning. The s.s. Clyde was expected to arrive this morning from Wanganui.

During the hurricane at Tonga, between six and seven hundred bouses were blown down, causing general ruin all over the Island.

Messrs Carr and Stcaff, Government surveyors, have been ordered to proceed to Waikato to make a trial survey of the Thames and Waikato line.

An English company has sent special representatives to work the Manganese mines near Auckland.

A cablegram dated Bombay, May 13th, mentions that Iquiqnc, a town on the west coast of South America, has been destroyed by an earthquake.

The Wanganui Chronicle, gives a long account of the opening of the railway between that place and Turakina. The train started at half-past eleven o’clock in the morning and did the trij) to Turakina in one hour and three quarters. Everything passed off well. The train left Turakina again in the afternoon at halfpast throe o’clock, arriving safely at its destination. The EngM.su mad, by way of San Francisco, is duo in Auckland to-day. From advertisement in another column, it will be seen that Mr Fraser, who for the past four years has been engaged as a Government surveyor in this district, has entered into partnership with Mr Tregear, a late arrival from New Plymouth. Both gentlemen arc thoroughly qualified surveyors and draughtsmen, and have had large and varied experience, and should be looked upon as desirable acquisitions to the district. Mr F. E. Jackson will hold a cattle sale at Wavorlcy to-day, at one o’clock. He will also hold a sale at Wanganui on Wednesday, the 23rd instant, when Messrs Mcßae and Nicholson’s steeplechaser ‘ Gazelle ’ will be offered. It is reported that a couple of acres of what is known as the swamp land, on the South side of the Patea River, owned by Captain Wray, has just been sold to a Carlyle settlor, at the rate of £IOO per acre. It may bo taken as an evidence of confidence as to the brilliant future now opening out to this district. Harbour works will, no doubt, wonderfully increase the value cf land near the river, as well as in the township, A plumber and tinsmith, Mr A. E. Pye, has set up in Carlyle. Orders left with Mr Dixon, painter, will be attended to. At the inquest held at Kakaramca on the body of the Maori who had been found dead, the Native Chief Tauroa made great objection to the post mortem examination. He seemed to think it equally bad for a European to cut open a dead Maori for examination as for a Maori to cook and cat a European. He was in great trouble. Capt Leslie, of the ketch Jane Elkin, which vessel arrived in the Patea River yesterday morning, reports leaving Kaiapoi on Wednesday, the 9th instant, and clearing the bar on the 12th. The weather was very rough and the vessel, after passing through the Straits was blown back and took shelter in the Sound. She left again on Tuesday, and meeting heavy weather was hove-to for six hours. The gale abating the vessel made for Patea, arriving as above. She has brought a full cargo of wheat for Mr Coutts, The Civil Commissioner (Major Brown) passed through Carlyle, on Thursday, by coach on his way to Waitotara, on business connected with the late large native gathering in that settlement. It had been arranged that Major Brown should meet Mr Booth, and influential native Chiefs. We hear that the meeting has been postponed till next month.

The following extract from a letter sent by an immigrant to a fellow-passenger per ship Leicester, will show that things ai - e not over cheerful for new-comers on the Fielding Block, in the Manawatu district; —“ You will be sorry to hear that we are in a very bad state here, the only work being on the railway for the Government. We are only allowed to work four days a week, and not permitted to make (even if we could, at the miserable rate they pay) more than 5s per day. The wet having come on, we can’t earn more, at the outside, than 16s per week, and out of this we have to pay 7s 6d per week rent. What money we brought is now all gone, and wo must do something else or starve. I don’t cave what I do so as to earn enough to live on. I thoroughly understand accounts and the grocery business, but anything I can hear of, even if it was a youth in buttons, i will gladly welcome.”

A man who has only one way to turn for a living—the hand organ man. A slip of the pen—a run-away pig.

WANGAN UI-TARaNAKI RAIL W AY. We understand that in reply to an enquiry made by the Hon. W. Fox, the Government has furnished particulars relative to the Wanganui Taranaki Railway, to the That for the line from Wanganui to Havvera, the only section at present in hand is from Wanganui to Kai Iwq and that there is no vote available to extend the line until the House meets. The lino from Now Plymouth to Inglewood is contracted for. and a section of about four miles on this side of the latter is partly made. The survey is only completed to Kai Twi. Thence to Patea the line is not decided upon. The only survey that has been made is the preliminary. The following are the appropriations and expenditure on the lines Waitara to Patea, and Manawatn to Patea : Waitara to Patea, — Appropriation ... ... £57,364 Expended ... ... ... £22,071 Outstanding liabilities ... £15,804 Balance available ... ... £19,489 Mamncatu to Patea — Appropriation ... ... £118,399 Expended ... ... ... £98,255 Outstanding liabilities ... £48,308 Liabilities in excess of appropriation ... ... £28,164