The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 230, 23 June 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1877.

At a Meeting of the committee of the Ilawera Presbyterian Chinch, which took . place at the beginning of the week, all the members being present, officers were elected and scs’eral matters of interest were brought forward for consideration. Mr John Winks was elected secretary, and Mr Moore Hunter treasurer. Discussion arose as to raising the minister’s salary but was not definitely settled. A meeting of joint committees of the district (Patea, Kalcaramea, Ilawera, and Manutahi) will *■ be held in the Bloc* House, Manutahi, on Wednesday next at 12 o’clock. Mr F. R. Jackson’s Waverlcy cattle sale, takes place to-day at 1 o’clock. Manutahi settlers meet at the Block House at half past 7 o’clock this evening to discuss matters connection with the cemetery. Messrs Greig and Co.’s sale at Hawera at half-past 1 o’clock to-day. The rough weather during the week has prevented the usual steamer communication with Wanganui, consequently neither the English nor ordinary mails from the South arrived yesterday. 1

Panders have arrived from Wanganui ami have commenced operations on t!io Court House, Hr Basset of Wanganui being the successful tenderer.

The Patea Harbor Reserves sale on Wednesday last, attracted a good number of solders ami some few .strangers to Mr W. Cowi.Tii’.s auction warciioii.se, Carlyle. The and ion room pro,sen!,.-d quite an attractive appearance. Plans of the district lined one side of the building, and the auctioneer was thereby enabled to point out the exact .locality of each particular lot. The result shows that confidence is felt in the future of the district. All the lots offered, sold as follows Carlyle suburban section 73, was divided into three lots—l2 acres being knocked down to 11. Carey, for Gs Gd per acre, for 21 years ; 78 acres to U. Bourke, at 4s Id ; and 75 acres to J. Collins, at 7s. Carlyle suburban, section No. 2, 21J acres, for 21 years, D. Hughes, 22s per acie. Section at Kakaramea, 127 acres, for 35 years, Messrs Paterson Brothers, 17s per acre. Section 320, Kakaramea, 50 acres, 35 years, C. Weeks, 11s Gd per acre. Sections 118 and 111), Whenuakurn, 10 acres, 14 years, McCarthy and Sutherland, 25s per acre. Sections 120 and 121, Whenuakura, 10 acres, 14 years, McCarthy and Sutherland, 21s per acre, In addition to Harbour Reserves, a dwelling house and section near the river found a purchaser in Mr Nicholson, of Whenuakura, at 4-225.

Brisbane official statistics show the population of the Palmer gold regions to be 1,400 Europeans, and 17,000 Chinese.

On the principle of trying before buying, a Kakaramea settlor on Wednesday morning last shouldered a spado, and made his way to the Harbor Reserves, which were to be sold by auction in the afternoon. Ho busied himself in turning up the soil. Sumo folks fancied he was digging for gold. He did’nt buy.

It looks as if the proposed new Building Society (Patea County) is finding favour with Hawera people. In the course of a few hours, on Wednesday last, the secretary (Mr W. Dale) had applications for about 100 shares. Wc understand that the Provisional Directors will meet at the Albion Hotel, Carlyle, on Tuesday overling next, at half-past 7 o'clock, to decide date for holding meeting of shareholders to elect permanent directors, &c.

A large mooting of licensed victuallers

has been held in Wellington, to consider tho question of extra lairs, on account of tho interpretation put upon the law in Christchurch, whore every opening from a room or passage into the bur is deemed an extra bar. The Wellington Argus say’s: — “ It may bo quite right that where a house runs right through a block, from one street to another, and has fronts each way, that two licenses should be paid. ; but where there is but a single bar, only one license fee is fairly payable, no matter how many openings from inside there may be to that bar for convenience of serving customers.”

Wo have received a letter from Mr W« Hamilton Inman, writing on behalf of

himself and Mr Byrne, as to the publication of their names in connection with a meeting of Ilawcra Town Hall shareholders, and denying any connection whatever with the affair. The error arose through ft misunderstanding on our part as to who had sent the advertisement. Mr Inman’s name was not on it. The word “ myself,” really referring to the sender of: the advertisement, was interpreted to mean Mr Inman, under the impression that ho had sent the advertisement. The advertisement was written in pencil, and had no signature. We regret the error, and must take all blame. Under the circumstances, no good result would follow tho publication of letter received. The letter concludes “The Directors do not desire to be exculpated from any horrible charges brought against them.”

A correspondent writes:—“l strongly object to .unmerited slurs being unjustly cast upon natives, as was lately done in a paragraph in the Wanganui Herald , relative to an accident to a commercial traveller reported to have taken place near Manutahi. Instead of the natives being unwilling to render aid, and being unduly extortionate, they readily did whatever they were asked. Two gentlemen from Wellington and a member of tho A.C. Force happened to arrive first at the scene of the accident, and had partly helped tho traveller out of his difficulties, before the Maoris came up. Tho Maoris took charge of the horses whilst the Europeans gathered uy> tho scattered boxes. One of the Maoris happened to have a tether line, and the “commercial,” requiring it, objected to pay eighteen pence to cover the cost. He appeared to think the Maori should have given it to; him for nothing. On one of the Europeans speaking to the Maori, he readily gave it up for one shilling, though it would cost him more to replace it. Had the traveller taken even a little blame to himself, or at any rate had he not unjustly slandered a native who in war times rendered good service to Europeans, I would not have troubled you with this correction.”

Messrs Davidson and Fraser, who lately' opened an establishment —“The People’s Butchery”—have retired from the field, the population being deemed too small to support a second butcher’s shop.

In last issue Tapa’s claim was slated to be 15,000 acres. It should have been 1,500 acres of land.

'Major Brown (Civil Commissioner) who It ft Carlyle on Wednesday last is reported !o have gone to Hawera for the purpose of paying over to unlives, who arc about to assemble, tic.- balance of money winch Covermncnl agreed to pay on account of. certain confiscated land.

G. F. Sherwood. Esq., Chairman of the Patea Harbor Board, returned yesterday from a visit to Wellington. AVc hear that a meeting of the Board will shortly be called, when matters of considerable importance to the welfare of the district will ba brought on for consideration.

A correspondent to the Wanganui Chronicle reports the burning down, on the morning of the 18th, of the new building which was in course of erection by Mr Wallett at Waverk-y, the house being unoccupied, and the owner at Wanganui A gale was blowing at the time the fire was discovered, about 3 o’clock in the morning, ami Mr Caldwell’s house, which was just opposite the burning building, was for some time in danger. Sparks travelled as far as Mr Hogg’s store. An inquest has been held, and as the origin of the fire could not bo discovered, an open verdict was returned.

On Thursday’ last, at the B.M. Court (before C. A. Wray, Esq., R.M., L)r Croft and 11. F. Christie, Esq., J.P.’s), James Fairwcather sued Adam Sergeant for Pis, charge for grazing a horse twelve weeks. After the case had been fully heard, judgment was given for plaintiff for the amount claimed and 10s costs.

A few days ago, Mr F. McGuire, of Kotonmrao, smashed one of his lingers between a gate and the post. Beyond bandaging, no further notice was taken of the accident till it began to grow painful. Dr Cole was then called in, and intlamation having set in, found it necessary to amputate the finger. Had it gone unattended awhile longer, it is probable the hand would have had to be taken off.

SPEC IA L TBLEG RA M.

o HAWERA. June 22. The Town Boat! election took place to-day resulting as follows— Horace Baker ... ... 35 John Winks... ... ... 21) George Tait ... ... ... 2(5 James Davidson ... ... 24 Thomas Lloyd ... ... 17 Colin Cameron ... ... 15 The first four were declared elected.