The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 264, 24 October 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1877.

It Is just about twelve months since any public sale of Government land in this district took place. A portion of the Otoia-Opaku Block was auctioned on the 2Gth October last year, and in spite of the fact that but little provision was made for the opening up of roads through the block, the bidding was spirited and the sale was a decided success. (Several of the lots then bought have since changed hands at considerably higher prices. It does seem strange that the demand for land proved by that sale to exist hereabouts should not have stimulated the authorities to prepare another block or portion of the same block for sale early in the spring. Very • many newcomers have settled down in Patea during the past year. The increased activity in farming operations lias helped to draw a number of working men, both to the country and to the different townships throughout the district. At Hawera the increase has been great, while at Waverley it is believed the population has doubled within a comparatively short time. Carlyle, the slowest moving of either of the townships, has considerably increased its population during the twelve months. At Normanby there have been many additions, whilst Manutahi has shown itself progressive. The increased population makes it nil the more desirable that land should he put in the market early. The Taranaki Land Board, having within it no representative from this county, appears to be unacquainted with, or totally indifferent to, the requirements of this part of the provincial district. Blame can scarcely bo attached to individual members ot the Board.

They arc resident in and near Now Plymonth, where their interests lie, anti, naturally cnongh, do not look far beyond their own boundaries. Certainly a survey party was engaged at Mokoia during a portion ot the worst part ot the winter, at when survey work "was difficult to perform. Lately again, a surveyor and party has started the survey of a very small patch at Whakamara, applied for ns a special settlement by the Messrs Gane, This is far from sufficient. Settlement on a large scale is required, and provision should be made for cash and deferred payment buyers. The present and ever increasing demand for land should warrant the Board in paying more attention to this part of the country. Numerous private sales have lately taken place—of largo and of some small yet valuable properties. 11 only facilities were offered for settlement to men of small means population would quickly double and treble itself, and the Native difficulty would grow beautifully less. There can bo no doubt but a large addition to the population here would materially aid the Civil Commissioner in his negotiations with the Native hind owners, and help on the settlement of the Waimnte Plains. Pa tea is not only placed at a disadvantage as regards the Taranaki Waste Lauds Board, the jurisdiction of which extends over part of the county, hut is even in a worse position as regards the Wellington Waste Lands Board, which has control of Crown lands in the other portion of the county. Placed at the extreme boundary of the two Land Board Districts it is cared for by neither. Tiiis is not as it should be. Patea, in educational matters, lias shown itself to be possessed of capacity for managing its own affairs, and, latterly, the County Connell ha? shown itself to be quite competent to deal with more extensive trusts. It is essential to the progress of the district that Crown lauds available, should, as speedily as possible, ho put in the market. The Taranaki Board is too much engrossed with the Moa Block, and land along the Mountain Hoad nearest its own county boundary, to give much thought to tin's part of the Patoa County. Since the office over which Captain Wray formerly presided has boon absorbed by the Taranaki Waste Lands Board, the difficulty of obtaining reliable information about land under the control of the Board, has been great. .People arc seldom disposed to go all the way to New' Plymouth to make inquiries about land situated in Patea County. Yet they cannot obtain information required unless they do so. Writing on such matters is out of the question with most' folks. The difficulties thus thrown in the way retard settlement. The district has struggled against disadvantages long cnongh, and it is time new and better arrangements were made. The Messrs Gane, in applying for land at Mokoia, have had to pay several visits to New Plymouth, and unless the Board refuse to farther entertain the application, they will have to make several more visits. What is required is an office at Carlyle, where particulars as to land could be obtained and purchases made. A kind of sub-board, composed of two or perhaps three persons, to meet occasionally, would be able to manage land business within the county: or, for that matter a paid officer could be appointed—some one w r ell acquainted with the district—who could take charge of the office and devote his whole time to advancing settlement. Such an officer, responsible to the Board, would be .able advise as to land under the control of the Board. A Board of Advice, in connection with the County Council, or even apart from that body, could do useful work in promoting the settlement of land in Pater. County. The necessities of the case could bo mot in several ways. The Taranaki Board either knows or caves but little about the wants of this district, and if it desires to still hold control, must do something move than has yet been attempted to promote settlement. A letter in another column in reference to land at Mokoia ought to convince the Taranaki Board of the necessity of turning attention this way. From want of knowledge or will the Board is missing the opportunity of adding considerably to the land revenue. A very strong feeling is growing up in regard to this question which will result in direct appeal being made to the General Government. Since the above was in typo, intimation of intention to agitate for land for Small Farm Association has been received.

deferred payments when so many persons are ready to pay cash for it. All are anxious for the block to bo sold at auction, when it is believed a good price will be obtained, and if the proceeds are spent on the main block (about 75,000^acres), roads can be formed which will give value to the bush land, and lead to its being taken up promptly at from 30s to £3 per acre. Persons who have been back in the bush report it as being in the main light, and easily cleared, yet containing an abundance of timber for building and fencing purposes. The small block is now being divided as nearly as possible into 50 acre sections, water being given to each section. A good lino of road has been discovered, which when formed will allow’ of roads being struck out in almost any direction through the bush in straight lines, as the general lay of the bush land on the inland side of the 3,000 or 4,000 acres now being surveyed, is almost level. Though the Messrs Gane may not secure what they desired, the thanks of the cummnnity are due to them for calling pointed attention to the very valuable block now awaiting settlement.

If additional argument were required to show the urgent necessity of land being thrown open for settlement, within the Patea County, it will be found in the expressed opinion of the gentleman who have signed advertisement convening a meeting at Normanby, for Saturday next, to consider the advisability of forming a Small Farm Association. The advertisement represents over fifty signatures. It does not follow tliat all of the number require facilities for procuringl.and, but all are strongly impressed with the necessity of opening the land to settlement on easy terms to men of small moans. We trust that the meeting will be well attended, and that the gentlemen wbo have taken the initiative in this matter, will not relax their efforts until the objects indicated have been attained. As a correspondent from Hawora observes “ Now is the time to appeal to the Government as Sir George Grey professes to be a father to the small settler, and contends that the tiller of the land shall have an interest in it. Now is the time to lest ins Government, and ascertain how far professions will bo carried into practice. If the Government is true to its professions then a suitable block of land will be immediately set aside for a Small Farm Association.” The writer goes on to say it would be most unfortunate for the district if the whole of the land between Normanby and the Patea River should be put up at auction, as it is well known that several parties intend logo in for one thousand acres each, if the land is sold Iqy auction. The correspondent concludes— t; I trust this will not happen, an 1 in place of seeing some thousands of sheep and cattle and only half a doxcu people, we shall see a few hundred industrious settlers on the land,” We entirely sympathise with the objects in view, and trust that such unanimity will be shown that Government may bo compelled to take heed, and in some form or other provide land for bona fide tillers of the soil on easy terms, and that promptly.

At inquiry into the wreck of the Jane Elkin, held at Carlyle before O. A. Wray, Esq. , R.M. on Friday last the following opinion was recorded—“ The loss of the said vessel was an accident to bo attributed to the dangerous nature of the Patea bar to vessels taking it at neap tides, but that it does not appear from the evidence that there was anything in the state of the weather, tides, or vessel’s draft of water which would have justified the Harbourmaster in refusing to allow her to take the bar, it having been shown that on a former occasion the Jane Elkin had crossed in safety in a less depth of water, and with the wind in a less favourable quarter. Further, that everything appears to have been done after the vessel struck, and that the want of appliances prevented her being successfully floated, which was the best chance of saving her. The vessel being under the Harbour Master’s directions when she struck, the fact of the Master neglecting to take soundings does not appear to have had anything to do with the casualty.”

Mr Andrew’ Young, of Wellington, is the successful tenderer for the mail servicebetween Wellington and Wanganui, twice weekly, for £475 per annum ; and Wanganui and Hawera daily for £2OO per annum ; Hawera and New Plymouth, thrice weekly, £BOO per annum. The Taranaki IJerald says : —The opening services of the Anglican Church, lately erected at Inglewood, took place on Tuesday, the 16th instant. The church will seat about 100 persons.

A general meeting of the creditors of Mr 0. Brown, late publican of Hawera, will be held on Thursday the 25th instant. Subscriptions to the Patea County Land and Building Society are clue and payable this evening. Mr F. 11. Jackson will bold a large cattle sale at Wanganui to-morrow (Thursday)—see catalogue. We have been given to understand that the plans of the proposed Patea River Improvements will be thrown open for public inspection at the County Council Chambers, on Saturday next. All persons interested will therefore have an opportunity of seeing for themselves what it is proposed to do. The Patea West Road Board evidently moan business as to the collection of rates. Defaulters had better take heed. See advertisement.

The extraordinary succes of the Rev Father Hcnneberry’s Mission at Wanganui, delayed tlio departure of His Lordship Bishop Redwood and the Missionary Priest for a couple of days. They are now expected to arrive at Carlyle, to-day, and to-morrow (Thursday) services will be conducted as announced in advertisement. A cottage has been taken near the Patea Bridge where His Lordship and the Rev Father will reside during their stay at Carlyle. It is reported that over 500 persons signed the temperance pledge at' Wanganui during the mission. The Bay of Plenty Times saj s We learn that Mr' E. G. Norris, has, within the last few days, disposed of his splendid block of country at Aongatete, containing 300 acres, to a Mr Charles Thomson, of Hawera, Tnranaki.

Mr S. Taplin, Secretary of the Patea Cricket Chib, has received a letter from the Tikorangi (Taranaki) Club, stating_ that it is the intention of the Team to visit the Agricultural Show at Waverley, and that they are anxious to arrange for a match with the Patea Club. A committee meeting will be held to-night to consider the challenge.

The meeting at Waverley on Frirtay evening last in connection with the Wesleyan Church Extension Association was fairly attended. Other attractions in the district, and the auction sale in the afternoon, made the attendance smaller than otherwise would have .been the case. Mr Bridge, who occupied the chair proved to be the right mail in the right place.

The Indian Famine has stirred the sympathies of the Waverley people. We hear that the handsome sum of £45 was collected by] Mr G. W. Nichols in the course of a couple days. That gentleman applied himself energetically to the collection of relief. Mr W. Dale, of Carlyle, collected ,£7 13s Gd for the samo object, and the amount was forwarded to Wanganui yesterday. Now Plymouth has come out handsomely and expects to send over ,£2OO.

On Friday evening, a concert will be given at Waverley Town Hall, in aid of Cricket Club. A varied and attractive programme has been arranged including vocal and instrumental music. Some line old favorites in the shape of songs, duetts and glees, as well as a fair number of new pieces, will be performed. A pianist and violinist will also add to the attractions. Altogether it looks as if Waverley was going to show up in musical talent on the occasion, and we hope to bo able to report a bumper attendance. In his last monthly report to the Taranaki Waste Lands Board, the Chief Surveyor reported that the settlement surveys were now progressing favorably, and that lie anticipated having 15,000 acres completed before the end of the year, besides the re-snrvcy of the Hua and Waiwakaiho Hundred. Next month he hoped to commence the survey of land on the Mountain Road, south of the Patea River, and which, owing to the level nature of the country and good character of the soil, would doubtless find ready sale. The block of land at Whakamara, Patea District, now being surveyed, contained about 3,500 acres, nearly half of which was open fern land, and judging from the number of inquiries about it, was likely to command a good price. A correspondent writes—“ One law for the rich—another for the poor. At the Carlyle Court yesterday morning Major Turner was summoned for allowing cattle to wander on the public streets, no one being in charge. The Major, who was walking about on his own verandah, out of the rain, said ho was in charge. Considering that the cattle were in the street and the Major almost in his own house, and a considerable patch of ground and a ditch and bank fence between himself and his cattle, it is marvellous how lie could consider himself in charge. At all events ho could not have had much control or the cattle would not have been on the street. The case was dismissed. R. Erskine, charged with allowing three horses to wander, excused himself on the ground that while he was catching one horse in the paddock, the other two ran away. lie was fined 2s 6d per head and costs. The Major was let off, but all the rest charged with allowing cattle to wander were lined. That’s what I call one law for the rich and one for the poor.” On the second day of the Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s Show, the weather was fine, and over 2,000 persons were present. The first day was wet and only sheep were exhibited. Many members of the Assembly went to Napier specialty to attend the show. The Canterbury Turns referring to agricultural news by the mail, says : —The English harvest is a general failure, and the wheat is of inferior quality. Australian and New Zealand arc bought to mix with English wheat, for milling purposes. An early season in Russia is expected. The available grain from the disturbed territory is arriving by railroad through Germany, via Marseilles, where large stocks arc accumulating. There is an abundant harvest in France and Austria.