HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 253, 12 September 1877, Page 2

HAWERA.

TOWN BOARD. A meeting of the above Board was held in the Secretary’s office, on Monday, the 3rd instant. Present; Messrs Davidson, Baker, McL’Dowie, Tait, Bamford, and the Chairman. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Correspondence letter from Town Clerk to proprietor of Patha Mail request ing a reduction of charges, with reply thereto; Eraser and Trcgear’s letter again came on for consideration re application to be installed as Engineers and Smveyors to the Board —It was finally settled that the matter of appointment should be left an open question. Proposed by Mr Bamford, seconded by Mr Davidson, and carried, “That ail rents duo to the Board on Town Reserves, be collected forthwith.” Proposed by Mr McL’Dowie, seconded by Mr Davidson, and carried, “ That the lease concerning the cricket ground, be returned to Mr Bate, as chairman of the Club, for correction.” Proposed by Mr Baker, seconded by Mr Bamford, and resolved, “That all watertables and drams extending from the Great South Road to the nearest portion of Mr M. Hunter’s land, and running through the town, bo cleaned; and also that two culverts he laid, one at the corner of section 2, and the other at the corner of section 3, both to be laid in the centre of the road. It V'as resolved that tenders for the work should be opened on the 10th instant, and that fourteen days should bo allowed for the completion of the work. Messrs Bamford, McL’Dowie, and Baker, were appointed a committee to plan out the works. Accounts passed for payment —Tompkins, 30s; clerk, £7 10s; Patea Mail, £5 13s Gd. The meeting adjourned. STEALING BRANDY. At the Court House (Native Office) on Wednesday last, James Dick was charged before Captain Wilson and J. Livingstone, Esqs., J.P.’s, with having stolen a bottle of brandy the previous evening from Thomas Lloyd, proprietor of the Empire Hotel. Witnesses were examined, who testified to the theft, and the piisoner was sentenced to three months with hard labor. INSTITUTE MEETING. The last meeting of the members of the Institute, held on Wednesday evening, was more attractive than usual, and the announcement of such an ail-absorbing subject as “ Woman’s Rights,” was sufficient to draxv a large attendance of members, besides a number of the fair sex as visitors. Dr Cole (Pie Merit) took the chair. Mr M. D. King was elected secretary, vice Mr Havre, who had resigned on account of removal to Nonnanby. The debate was opened by Mr King, in a long, amusing, and instructive speech, in favor of the extension of the franchise to women.

Mr Havre logically, though very briefly, replied against such privilege being granted to the fair sex. Tlie debate was afterwards entered into with humor and spirit by Messrs Tregear, Hoy, Bate, Smythe, and Orchiston. Mr King replied ; after which the President summed up in an able manner. In consequence of the unusually large attendance, although the evening was far advanced when the debate closed, it was decided to extend the time, when Mr Tregear gave one of his much admired recitations, and the meeting closed after a side-splitting piece read by Mr Deane, in his usually happy style. It was announced that next evening would be devoted to readings and recitations. Mr Roj'' has promised to introduce a debate on the “ Confederation of the Colonies ” at an early date. BODY AND WRECKAGE. Capt. Wilson received a communication fron (Sub-inspector Gudgeon, Opunake, on Thursday last, stating that according to telegraphic instructions, he had made enquiries and searched the Harriet Beach for human body which had been reported as seen, and had interviewed the natives who gave the information- It appears that a Maori and his wife were proceeding along the beach to Taranaki on the 23rd August, when they saw what appeared to be part of a sheep washing up and down with the surf. A nearer inspection by the wife showed it to be a portion of a human body, from the waist upwards. The head was beaten to pieces, hair gone, right arm gone, and fingers of left hand. The husband at first thought it was a fish, but said afterwards that his wife was right—it was a human body, that of a male European probably 12 or 14 years of age, judging from the size of the chest. Later on the same day, a boat was seen by another Maori, who corroborated the statement that the body on the beach was that of a European boy. A boat, some oars, and fragments of packing cases, were found washed ashore, hut there were no names on any of the articles. Sub-inspector Gudgeon believed the boat to have been but little injured on first washing ashore, but it was

broken up when he saw it. Marks and numbers on packing case lid washed ashore were copied. The body could not be found, and had probably washed away by the tide. CRICKET CLUB MEETING. A meeting of the Hawera-Waihi Cricket Club was held on Friday afternoon last, at the Native Office, when there was a fair attendance. Mr Lukis was voted to the chair. The Treasurer read statement of position of the Club, and sundry accounts were passed for payment. On the motion of Captain Kenny; seconded by Mr F. Riddiford, Mr G. Bayiy was elected Captain for the coining year. One of the rules was altered reducing the committee to five inclusive of the Secretary, three to form a quorum. Mr J. R. Laj-saght was elected President, and Mr T. Mason Vice-President. A Working Committee was elected as follows Captain Kenny, and Messrs Riddiford, Lukis, and G. Bayiy. Messrs F. Bayiy, Riddiford, and G. Bayiy, were elected a Match Committee. Mr W. G. White was elected Secretary and Treasurer. The name of the Club will in future be “The Hawera Cricket Club.” It was agreed that the Committee should draw up rules, and the meeting adjourned. HAWERA ROAD BOARD. A meeting of the above Board was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday last, at the office of the Board. Present; Messrs J. Winks (in the chair), Wilson, Cooper, Goodson, Muir, and Hunter. Minutes of last meeting read and confirmed. A letter was read from Mr Moorcroft, in reference to proposed right-of-way through his laud towards Mr Muir’s, explaining that as he was intending to go into expensive sheep breeding, and being then in the midst of lambing, it could not reasonably be expected that he could at present allow right-of-way through the paddock, which was a Uvge one, comprising eighty acres, ns it weird cause him considerable loss, lie thought it would be hotter for the Board to spend money on the permanent road, rather than on what could be bat a temporary right-of-way. Proposed by Mr Hunter, seconded b y Mr Goodsou, and carried, “ lhat £SO be granted for cuttings on road leading to Mr Muir’s land.” Resolved, That the Chairman get cutting at Waller’s corner repaired. Resolved, That not more than the sum of £lO be spent for cutting on Obangi Road, near Tawhitu. Resolved, That tenders be called for culvert and earthwork on Katene Rond. The Board adjourned. PUBLIC MEETING AT HAWERA. In response to advortisment convening public meeting at Hawera, to consider the question of urging Government to at once take steps to clear and complete formation of the Mountain Road, to enable mail coach to run that way by November next, there was a good muster of substantial settlers and townsfolk, ou Saturday last. On account of Board meeting being convened at the same hour, some delay took place in commencing the meeting, which was held in Mr Furlong's billiard room. Mr James Davidson being voted to the chair, explained the object of the meeting, and referring to past action in regard to this important matter, explained that a deputation 'from New Plymouth was then in Wellington, with a view of getting definite promise from Government to at once take steps to make the Mountain road trafficable. Mr Standish who had passed through Hawera on the previous Monday, was about to interview Ministers ou the subject, and any resolution passed by that meeting in favour would carry weight. Mr F. McGuire proposed, and Mr Thomas Robinson seconded, the following proposition —“ That this meeting forward telegram to the Hon Major Atkinson, asking him as a matter of the greatest urgency, to complete the formation of the Mountain Road, between this and Inglewood, so as to enable the mail coach to run that route by November. Present subsidy by way of the beach £I,OOO. Parties prepared to do it by the Mountain Hoad for £SOO. A small sum will be sufficient to complete necessary work through the bush.” It was urged by one of the audience that it would be impossible to get the work done by the time stated. The mover explained that competent pexsons had gone over work, and calculated the cost and time it would take to complete the formation. He himself was prepared to enter into heavy bonds to complete the work by the time, if it was at once started. It would greatly benefit the district if the coach could be got to run that way during the summer, and if once it was started, he had little doubt but the advantages would be seen to be so great, that it would become a necessity, and steps would accordingly be : taken to enable the coach to continue running that way winter and summer. The proposition moved by him would greatly strengthen the hands of Colonel Trimble, and others of a deputation now in Wellington who were anxious to see the road opened. They could not do better than work with them.

The motion was. put and' carried unanimously. _ , : The Chairman then explained that it was proposed to send .copies of the resolution to the Hon Major Atkinson, to bring under the attention of the Minister of Public Works, and to each member of the deputation then in Wellington. It would therefore be necessary to collect money to pay for telegrams and advertising, which was accordingly done, and the meeting

adjourned, the Chairman and Mr McGuire being entrusted with the forwarding of the telegrams to Major Atkinson, Colonel Trimble, Mr Isaac Bayiy, Mr Standish, and the other member of the deputation.

LEW PLYMOUTH AND THE HARBOUR. A rußX.ro meeting, convened for the purpose of giving the country people a chance of expressing their opinions on the Harbour Question, was hold ou Thursday in the Odd Fellows’ Hall, New Plymouth, when Mr. H. Brown T»as voted to the chair. Mr. Courtney was the first to address the meeting, and moved, i£ That this „ meeting is of opinion that the construction of a harbour here is of vital importance to the agricultural and commercial interest of the district; that it is satisfied with the rating powers of the Bill now before the Assembly, and would cheerfully bear the taxation.” Mr. R. G. Hughes seconded the resolution, after which Mr. F. U. Glodhill and Mr. W. J. Wells addressed the meeting, Mr. W, Humphries proposed hi second resolution —“ That this meeting emphatically condemns the private agitation against the New Plymouth Harbour Bill, and asserts that Colonel Trimble’s petition has emanated from no public meeting or representative body ; and further it is ot opinion that a very largo proportion of the signatures have been obtained through misrepresentation.” Mr. McLean seconded it, and carried. An attempt was made to show that no farmers were at the meeting, but the forest of hands held up showed that such assertion was incorrect. Petitions showing acreage and sworn to by J.P.’s is being signed. The country settlers have taken up the matter heart and soul.