The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 260, 6 October 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1877.

At Ilawcra, to-day, J. Stracham Greig& Co will sell balance ot" goods remaining from last sale. To commence at 1 o’clock.

Ratepayers are reminded by the Collector of the Patea West Road Board that rates for the current year are overdue, and that a settlement is required at once.

Mr W. Cowern will hold an important stock sale at Kakaramoa on Wednesday next, when a considerable number of cattle will be offered. Particulars in advertisement.

Tenders will be received up to noon on Monday next, at the office Patea West Road Board, Carlyle, for felling bush and clearing cart track. Mr James Davidson, of Hawera, who was chairman of meeting lately held in that township, and at which resolution was passed urging Government to take immediate action in regard to the Mountain Road, so that the coach might run that way the coming summer, has at last received replj from Major Atkinson. The Major has been unwell for some weeks, hence the delay in replying - . The answer is a very satisfactory one, and to the effect that Government is fully alive to the importance of opening the Mountain Road to traffic, and that the matter is still under consideration. A definite answer cannot however bo given till several important measures now before the House have been settled.

The scare caused at Hawera on Monday last, by the blowing down of the frame work of the Ilawcra Town Hall building, as also the damage in the shape of sundry breakages in the studs and plates, has been overcome, and on Wednesday last the structure was successfully raised. The contractors have, of course, been put to considerable extra expense. In the matter of new building, Hawera is particularly flush just now. In addition to the Town Hall, there is the Bank of New Zealand still in hand. Mr Furlong is also having a new front put to his premises. An addition is being made to the shop lately occupied by Mr Adams, the butcher, and there are several small cottages being erected.

At the County Council meeting, hold at Carlyle, on Tuesday last, Mr James Davidson gave notice that he would at next meeting, “That the keeping in repair of the main lino of road from Waitotara to Waingogoro be let by contract for twelve months.”

At the Supremo Court, Wellington, on the 2nd of October, Mary Ann Trueman and her daughter, Mary Leonard Mudgway, indicted with the murder of a male infant, on application of Mr Travers, who defended the prisoners, were tried separately. Mudgway was found guilty of concealment of birth, but sentence was deferred until her mother is tried.

The Chronicle says—“ A project is on foot to erect by public subscription a monument in some conspicuous place in the cemetery, a tablet to the memory of those who lost their lives by the Avalanche disaster. The matter is being warmly taken up, already a considerable sum having been subscribed.”

A correspondent writes—“ Reference to undivided funds and properties of the Carlyle Rifle Volunteers, reminds mo that the affairs of tire Hawera Light Horse Vol nnteers have never been properly wound up. Money was subscribed by individual members, and cloth obtained for the purpose of making uniforms for members of the corps. The company lias been long since disbanded, yet tire cloth has never been used, noi lias the money subscribed been returned to the contributors. Now, I am of opinion, that it is high time the chief officer, formally and satisfactorily wound up the company’s affairs. The cloth, which was obtained, might be disposed of privately, or sold at public auction ; and the proceeds, added to cash subscribed, might then be fairly apportioned between the gentlemen who formed the company, and handed back to them. It would even be better to hand the whole lot over to some public institution than leave the affair unsettled, and ultimately for the money to be totally lust. At present, it is open to be thought that the officer appointed to command is hanging on to the money and cloth.”

A correspondent writes from Whenuakura —“ While riding along the road on Wednesday night at 11 o'clock, I was startled by a sudden light on my right, and turning, 1 saw the last of a magnificent meteor, about half the apparent diametor of the moon. It remained in sight for an instant, then suddenly disappeared, when G or 7 degrees high midway between the planet Jupiter and the Southern Cross. If any of your readers observed it throughout its entire course, perhaps they will make it known.”

The Auckland Herald says—A statement appeared in our commercial columns recently which deserves more than mere passing notice, viz., £i That the value o'i! the yield of gold from the whole colony for the half-year ending June 30, 1877, reached nearly three quarters of a million sterling, amounting, in fact, to £731,712.” In view of this, it is not to be wondered at that the colony progresses notwithstanding the gloomy forebodings of certain croakers who would not be ill-pleased to see it in a state of irrecoverable bankruptcy, so that their evil prognostications might bo realised. With our untold resources in the shape of gold, coal, timber, w'ool, &c., and an unrivalled climate, wo make bold to say that this colony possesses inherent vitality which will compel success far beyond what her most sanguine or ardent admirers might reasonably expect. The introduction of three-quarters of a million of new money as an addition to the circulating medium of the country will do far more real benefit than twice that amount borrowed from a foreign money-lender, and the interest of which would as a matter of course be spent away from here.

The Wanganui Chronicle under the heading “ Defective Memory,” says : “The Patea Mail gently chides us for referring disparagingly to the Chairman of its local bodies. If our contemporary will look up its own files, a few months back, it will find that it is only lately it has become a convert to his immaculate excellence, and taken to singing pains of praise on his behalf. We prefer to speak of public men as we have known and found them ”

An exchange down South publishes the following unique advertisement, which was requested by the writer, should bo localised .—Reward, —Lost or Stolen—A rid kaf. He ad a with spot on 1 of bis behind leggs. He was a she kaf I will give 3 shillings to everybody wot will bring him horm at wonst —-T.M,

PATEA EAST RCHD BOARD. A meeting of the above Board was held at the Council Chambers, Carlyle, on Monday Inst. Present—Messrs Dasent (chairman;, Horner, Nicholson, Symcs, Riddell, and Gower. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Correspondence—Letter from Howie Bros., offering to pay rates when they receive account for same.—From James Southby, resigning his seat on Board. — From County Council, stating they would not recognise claims for repairs of road. Tenders were opened as follows : —For Otouto Road—Richard Pronso, £ls 10s ; J. Rolfc, £24 10s. Putahi Road—Oliver Robertson, £BO. The secretary read a copy of the conditions of sale of suburban sections on the Whenuaknra Block, sold on the 16th September, 1875, according to which the term within which applications may be made for roads through the said lands is five years. Proposed by Mr Nicholson, seconded by Mr Symes, and carried—“ That the secretary be authorised to apply to Mr Cowcrn to hand over to the 26th Road Board all moneys due and received by him for rates, on account of the said Board.”

Proposed by Mr Horner, seconded by Mr Symes, and carried —“That Mr W. Dcrrett be appointed a member of the Board in place of Mr Southby, resigned.” Proposed by Mr Nicholson, seconded by Mr Horner, and carried—“ That Richard Prouse’s tender for Otouto Road work be accepted for £ls 10s, the same to be completed within six weeks from the signing of the contract.” Proposed by Mr Symes, seconded by Mr Riddell, and carried—“ That if Oliver Robertson’s tender refers to the Putahi Road, it be accepted, and that the secretary be instructed to make the necessaiy enquiry.” [Since the meeting, it has been ascertained that Mr Robertson’s tender was for

Pntahi Road, and it lias therefore been accepted]. Proposed by Mr Horner, seconded liy Mr Symes, and carried —‘‘That security be given for the Putahi contract to the amount of £25 ; work to be completed within three months from date of contract, to the satisfaction of the Board.”

Proposed by Mr Hornei, seconded by Mr Nicholson, and carried—“ That in all contracts for road works, a clause be inserted to the effect that in case any dispute should arise between the contractors and the Board, such dispute shall be settled by arbitration, in the usual manner.”

Proposed by Mr Nicholson, seconded by Mr Horner, and carried—“ That the secretary be instructed to apply to Government for a road 1 chain wide on the top of the Patca River bank, on the Wliemmkui'A Block, from the Patea Bridge, towards the Heads, so as to meet the road that runs under the cliff." Proposed by Mr Symes, seconded by Mr Nicholson, and carried—“ That Messrs Fraser and Treg'ear bo instructed to report upon the best method of crossing the Hukatcie creek, to Mr Prousc’s land.” Proposed by Mr Symes, seconded by Mr Riddell, and carried— 11 That 50 chains of bush be cut on the Putahi Road, leading to Mr Duncan’s land.” Proposed by Mr Horner, seconded by Mr Nicholson, and carried —“That one or more tenders bo called for, at per chain, for ploughing and fun-owing portions of Little Taranaki Road ; also Nicholson’s Road, as far as entrance gate ; also Shehan’s Road, to Horner’s gateway ; also cleaning llax on Iluhatero Road, and making cuttings, as recommended in report of last month.” The Board adjourned.