The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 235, 11 July 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1877.

For the convenience of sheep owners desiring to pay sheep rates, Mr A, Wood advertises that he will be in attendance at Mr W. Cowern’s office, daily, up to Saturday next. An examination of school teachers took place at Carlyle on Saturday and Monday last, under the superintendence of Mr W. Cowcrn (Secretary). Mr W. Cowern’s important sale of stock at Kakaramea, takes place at two o’clock to-day. Members of Court Patoa, Ancient Order of Foresters, meet in the Town Hall, this evening. We have been requested to state that it will be advisable for all members of *he Order to attend. A German who was working in the hush beyond Wood vile last week, not having turned up at his lodgings on Saturday night, nor up to Sunday, it was feared he had got lost. Search was made and an axe and billy were found but no trace of the man. On Monday the Police at Carlyle were communicated with, and the bush was searched' on Monday and yesterday without avail. It has since been stated that the man is in debt and may have left the district to avoid payment. On Saturday next, the 14th instant, applications will be received at the Waste Lands Office, New Plymouth, for land in the Hiuroa District, which is being offered for sale on deferred payments. The Football match, Hawera-Waihi against CarlyU, played at Hawera, resulted in a victory for the former Club, the scoring being Hawera-Waihi, 17 points ; Carlyle, 2 points. The Taranaki Herald of the 6th instant gives the pedigree of six head superior cattle, just intnluced into Taranaki, by Mill. D. Vavasour. Mr John Elliot, of Tikorangi, is also mentioned as a purchaser of a shorthorn cow and heifer of good pedigree.

A letter was read at the meeting of the Taranaki Waste Lands Board, on 2nd July, stating that it had been decided to hand over the Manutahi Cemetery Reserve to the County Council of Patea, and asking the Board to cany the request into effect. After discussion the following resolution was passed—“ That the Cemelry Reserve at Manulahi (teonth) be vested in the Count}' Council, Patea, in accordance with the request of the chairman of a public meeting hold at Manutahi on the 23rd June.”

Report read at dbc Taranaki Waste Lands Board, on the 2nd July, showed that the total quantity of land sold during (ho half-year ending 30th June, was 3 town and 33 country sections, the latter being 3,775 acres 3 roods 31 porches. Total value of land sold, £4,873 4s. 4d. The Wellington Argus referring to football team to be sent to Wanganui said the best players will be selected, as the Wanganui men are supposed to bo particularly “strong” just now. The July number of the Wellington Church Chronicle after explaining the subject, sources of income, and small amount contributed to the Diocesan Fund, says;—“We do not mean that present subscribers should double their subscriptions ; that is not at all required. But, when w’e look over the list of subscribers and find that it consists of not more than seventy persons, and that more than half the amount given is contributed by about ten of these, we cannot but conclude that it is only from the absence of a proper system of collecting that the amount raised is so small.”

The Wellington Argus asks:—“ Can it be true that Sir George Grey has been “ playing’possum” during the recess, and that instead of being in failing health be has simply been gathering strength for a fresh Parliamentary campaign-” ri ' !, ° writer, referring to the probability of Sir George Grey being present during the coming session, says ; “ And we can only hone that his undisturbed reflections have convinced him that if he wishes to lead his party to victory, he must, in the future, act very differently to the course he has pursued in the past. We trust wo shall have no more “mare’s nests” of the Piako Swamp style, and no more raving about serfdom and the rights of posterity’, and the interests of the whole human race in Provincialism.” The cutter Dante, which left Manukau for Wailara, about a month ago. has not since been beard of, raid is therefore given up for lost.

A meeting of shareholders in the Patca County Building Society, was held at the Albion Hotel, on Monday evening last, for the purpose of electing trustees and permanent directors, and to adopt rules. Mr S. Taplin was voted to the chair. The rules, as read, wore agreed to, and the day on which subscriptions are to he paid was fixed for the 21th of each month, Messrs S. Taplin, W. G. Nicholson, and W. Williams, were elected as Trustees of the Society. The directory was elected as follows Messrs J. E. Keys, W. Aitchson. R. A. Adams, G. Holtham, W. Cowern, IP E. P. Adams, and G. N. Baggett. The first meeting of the new Directors will take place on Thursday evening next. Shares to the number of 507 have been applied for, of which 301 wore applied for through the j> ro lem - Secretary (Mr W. Dale). The latter gentleman may take full credit as being the means of establishing the new society—the idea originated with him, and it is chiefly through his” persistent exertions that riio present successful result has been attained. MiDale’s connection with the Carlyle Building Society, tiie hotter enabled him to judge of the desirability of establishing another society, with more extended ramifications. The idea was pooh-poohed in some quarters, but the actual floating of the company shows who was right. As Mr Dale has so creditably conducted the affairs of the Carlyle Society, and was chiefly instrumental in floating- the present company, we should imagine the Directory will bo unanimous in electing that gentleman permanent secretary.

A late candidate for Town Board honors was observed on Friday last clinging to a telegraph post in Carlyle. The late aspirant appeared to have gieat affection for the post. Friends could not persuade him to let go. The police expostulated and kindly lent their aid. An explanation was made in Court House next morning before two J.P.’s, and W.W. was cautioned not to make another exhibtion of himself. Messrs J. Strachan Greig advertise the sale of fourteen valuable building sites in the township of Hawera, the property of Mr J. Stevenson. The hind being in the very heart of that rising township—good for position and good in quality—will, no doubt, command purchasers at fair rates* Intending settlers should take an early opportunity of inspecting the plans, which may be seen at the office of the auctioneers, Hawera, or at Mr William Dale’s, Carlyle. The land is quite level. Tne auctioneers have on view potatoes weighing sHbs., grown on quarter-acre section in front of Prosser’s. The land is valuable for gardening, as well as building purposes. The Canterbury Times says, amongst a number of trout lately found in the one weighed fully five pounds.

Mr Robert Currie, of Carlyle, advertises an Art-Union for the 23rd July. Wild pigs are being slaughtered by contract in some districts in Canterbury. The Wanganui Chronicle devotes a leading article to the subject matter of a letter which appeared in the Mail of the 4th instant as to the appointment of Mr Lately as Chief Sheep Inspector of the Taranaki Provincial District. Liberal quotations arc made from the letter. Referring to the appointment the Chronicle says : “ Really, it seems that such could not possibly be the case. Here was an official whose alleged incompetence was notorious, whose bungling did no end of damage to the district, and now we hoar of his being re-instated and promoted. Such an abuse of patronage is simply monstrous. Patea should resist to a man such unheard of procedure. . . . Mr Hately may be a very good handicappcr, but as an Inspector of Sheep has he not, tacitly acknowledged his incompetence? The Patea district, through official carelessness, was materially depreciated in the Auckland market : a stain, however undeserved, which will ding to it unpleasantly for some time to come.” The Chronicle forcibly states the case regarding the difference of opinion between the Inspector and the settlers regarding the existence of scab, endorses the letter writer’s remarks, and concludes: “There are sufficient grounds for the public indignation that such an act has aroused. A man who unassisted could not detect scab, and was helpless to act on bis own responsibility, to be appointed Chief Inspector, is surely a burlesque—though an alarming one to the settlers of the northern district.”

The Taranaki Herald saj r s :—A special train left town on Tuesday the 3rd instant, conveying the families of Messrs. Shore and McMillan to the Waitara, whore these pioneer settlers embarked on hoard the steamer Hauraki for the Mokan. Mr Jones and several other gentlemen loft in the steamer for the trip, but Mrs Shore and Mrs McMillan will be the first European females who have ventured into a native district (which has hitherto been looked upon as a closed one) with n view to settling down there. Messrs. Shore, Jones and McMillan have leased a large quantity of land from the natives in this district, and bj T the manner they have taken their families down to reside on it, shows (he confidence they have in the friendliness of the natives.

A letter published in the H. Z. Hail, signed G. F, Moore, gives an account of the West Wanganui harbor and coal held, which is situated about ten miles south of the oandspir, Cape Farewell, Middle Island, distant by sea to Nelson 100 miles, to Wellington IGO miles, to Taranaki 170 miles, Wanganui (North Island) 100 miles. The harbor is said to have a good entrance from sea, and is safe to enter lor vessels of from 200 to 400 tons, drawing from 8 to 10 feet of water, there being from 8 at low to 14 feet at high water on the bar. Several seams of coal, varying from 8 to 12 feet thick, and of excellent quality, arc known to exist, and have to a small extent been worked. The yield is estimated at from 8,000 to 10,000 tons to the acre. The outcrop shows that the coal seams dip at an angle of 10 degrees. Pit shafts for working the two first seams need not be more than about CO feet deep. The writer claims to have first discovered the coal in 1840, and to have taken to Wellington the first New Zealand coal known to picneer settlers. The locality abounds witli rich hematite iron, silver, and other ores. The erection of a few leading marks would enable navigators to use West Wanganui as a harbor of refuge. The Canterbury Times states that the Plough match season in Canterbury was opened on Wednesday, 27th June, at Sefton, with a slight falling olf of competitors over last year. The teams were excellent specimens of horseflesh, well harnessed, and suitable for the work. The appearance of the teams was considered to speak volumes in favor of the prosperity of the district, as good and well cared for cattle is always a sure sign of advancement in a farming community.