LATEST TELEGRAMS.

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

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[per press agency.] PAR LIA M Jfi N T A R Y.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON. October 23. Last night, the Destitute Persons Bill was partially considered in Committee. The remainder of the sitting was spent in Committee on Miners Bill Amendment, to make miners rights 10s instead of 20s per annum, and w r as lost by a largo majority. Progress was reported at clause (54. The House rose at 12.5 a.m. The business before the House this afternoon was of a miscellaneous character, but little of real interest. In replying to questions, Government stated that during the recess they would earnestly .consider the question of restoring the police of the Middle Island to their former status as peace officers, and that Government intended to introduce a Bill to amend the present Disqualification Act'. Government Buildings, 8 p.m. Major Atkinson lias just intimated that he will, to-morrow, give notice of a vote of want of confidence, and had moved that the House adjourn. He complained of the delay in going on with the Land Bill.

Mr Sheehan is replying. The motion for adjournment was negatived, Mr Sheehan saying that it was better lo go on with the business. If they remained in office, the Land Bill would pass this session. If they were to die, they would die fighting. WELLINGTON. October 23 A fire and sad loss of life occurred this morning, about 4 o’clock, in a house close to the Princess Hotel, occupied by Mrs Johnson (whose husband died a short time ago) and her five children, three boys and two girls. The alarm -was given by Mr Header Wood, who lodges on the opposite side of the road. Mr Cattel, who owned four of the houses burned, tried to force his way where Mrs Johnson and the children were, but was driven back suffocated by smoke and flames. No water could be obtained. Five houses were burned down, and the hotel was much damaged.

The bodies of Mrs Johnson and the five children were found in a space of about eight feet square. It is supposed, they were suffocated. AUCKLAND, October 23. The Loan and Mercantile Agency report, under date London, 12th October:—Wool market unchanged to date; 85,000 bales have arrived. The tallow market is quiet. Mutton. 40s Gd; beef. 39s 6d. The wheat market is quiet, foreign arrivals heavy—Adelaide, 68s; New Zealand, 40s. Leather—Speculative demand is brisk, best side MASTERTON. October 23. This afternoon James McDougall, aged about fifty, was arrested for attempted rape on a young child.

TO NEW PLYMOUTH AND BACK BY THE MOUNTAIN ROAD. The following interesting and useful account of the present state of the Mountain Road, has been kindly furnished by-James Hirst, Esq., who has just made the journey ■there and hack ;

According to promise, I give yon a few jottings from my journal of a trip to Now Plymouth and back, by the inland route, I am the more Hiupoeorl to do bo i'nviu (.no fact that, before leaving hero, I found groat difficulty in obtaining any reliable information or advice as to the state of the road, &c.

I left Carlyle about 10 a.m. on October 12, and, having ca'lerl at several places along the road, I took my departure from Mr McGuire’s, Norman by (distance from Carlyle about 25 miles), at about 2.45 p.m., at onco entering the bush lino. The bush for. some distance, say two miles, is very level, and a road could be formed at a very trifling expense. 4bout this place a rather steep hill relieves the monotony of the road, hut by making a slight deviation to the left, a very easy grade could be got* At the foot of this hill are several native cleavings, and a small river, I believe the Tawhiti, is crossed by a very passable bridge or culvert. From thence the road winds gradually up a gentle grade to the high level, where the bush commences in real earnest. The road, though rather rough from roots and stumps, I found very easy and comfortable to travel, the quality of both soil and timber being the best I have seen anywhere in New Zealand. 1 regret that 1 am unable to give you accurately the distance from point to point. About four miles from McGuire’s, there is a short but steep descent, and at foot a slab culvert, which is in a very bad and dangerous condition. At tin’s place I had to dismount and load my mare, and, if I remember rightly, this was the only place where I thought it necessary to lead my horse. About a mile from there I came to the Mangawhcra River, over which is a capital bridge—the approaches to which are so far completed as to allow a horseman to cross comfortably. After a gentle ascent the high level is again reached, and with the exception of three or four little hills and hollows —at none of which cuttings and embankments of more fhan a mean of ton feet would be required, the road is level to the Patea River —184 miles from Hawera, and l-bj- from Inglewood. At this place, which, by the way, is crossed by a very good truss bridge, 1 saw a few men at work, and enquired from them where the bad road was, and was told that I had passed the worst of it. I went about one mile further, and anchored for the night at Mr Fitzpatrick’s Accommodation House. This was about 6 p.m., making say 3-j- hours from Normanby. I had been told that the accommodation there was something dreadful, but I found it quite the reverse. 1 met with every attention, kindness, and civility. After seeing my gallant steed well fed and groomed, and indulging in the luxury of a good wash, I sat down to a veiy excellent tea, to which I did ample justice ; and about 8 p.m. was shown into a very comfortable bedroom, with all the fixings clean and dry. After a good night’s rest, I turned out at 4 a.m., and enquired the charge, which was the very moderate one of ss—tea, bed, and as good a feed of oats as I ever saw put before a horse. I took my departure from there at 4.30 a.m., and passed shortly after a flock of sheep en route for Waifar*, driven by Mr E. Bayly, Mr Treweek. and others.

From Fitzpatrick’s to Waipuku, the country, though equally good as on the Nonnauby side, is rather more broken—several small creeks crossing the road, but none of them would cause any difficulty in the formation of a road.

At Waipuku I found a splendid bridge, just finished, but the approaches, though I suppose now completed, were not then passable, and the descent into, and the ascent from the river, were very bad. At this place the working party kindly invited mo to a pannikin of tea and bread and batter, which was very refreshing. This bridge is, 1 believe, 7i miles from Inglewood. From this point I consider that though the road improves, the quality of the soil falls off.

At Wangamawhiti Eiver, five miles from Inglewood, is a largo clearing, (belonging to Colonel Trimble on one side of the road, and other settlers on the opposite side), and clearings are passed at intervals all tbc way to Inglewood. The. railway works are in progress to about this point, and are progressing favorably. The road also, is, to a great extend, formed. Cottages arc seen at intervals all along, and some very neat gardens. I remarked a very pleasing arrangement on the principal bridges, i.e., the distances to Inglewood and Hawera, neatly and legibly painted. I reached Langley’s Hotel just as the breakfast bell rang —7.30 a.m., and after feeding my horse, sat down to a capital spread I arranged to leave my horse in a paddock near Inglewood, and sauntered round the township till 12 noon. Had dinner, took my seat in the train at 12.40 p.tn., and arrived at New Plymouth at 2.10 p.m. I do not know the number of passengers who were in the train, but think from 40 to 60. The fare, I think very reasonable, 2s lOd second class—3s 4d first class. Owing to the jolting of my horse, over roots, &c„ I made up my mind that, if invited to occupy the chair at a public meeting that night, I should be compelled to decline ; but no meeting taking place I was spared the necessity. I noticed very great improvements in the town of New Plymouth, both as to buildings, streets, and footpaths—since my last visit, two years ago. I think my opinion about “ our harbor” was asked for about from a hundred to a thousand times during the afternoon —but not knowing had to look mysterious.

On Sunday J attended service at St. Mary’s Church, and was ranch pleased to sec such a large respectable congregation —but the musical part of the sendee has fallen off nluchly. On Monday evening I attended a Quaddrille Party, and for an elderly man hopped some. I was shewn a bouquet, as being very handsome, but such was the galaxy of female beauty present, that I had to take the flowers into another room in order to sec them —the moon is beautiful when the sun is absent; and such with that there burich of flowers.

After a very pleasant visit, I left New Plymouth at 12 noon Tuesday, reached Inglewood at 1.40 p.m., found my horse ready for me, dined, and left for homo about 2.30 p.m., reaching Fitzpatrick’s in time for a capital tea at 5.30 p.m. Left there at 4.30 a.ra. following morning, arriving at Normanby at 7.30 a.ra. I road in your paper a short time back,an opinion given at a meeting at Hawera, to the effect, that ttie inland road could be made available for the coach in about sis weeks. I did not believe it them —I do NOW. If my memory sures me right, a promise was made by Government, that tho road formation should be carried on siraultainously from both ends —(I am not good at spelling and have possibly spelt the last word wrong)—this promise has been carried out, for 1 noticed three men at work at Mangawhcra, i.e.,Patea end—and I should think 100 about Inglewood to Waipuku. No doubt the three men at work at this end will bo able to do an immensity of work, and the profits derived from them by the storekeepers, butchers, bakers, &c., will vastly increase the trade of Patca. Yet I do not think this will make up for broken promises and unredeemed pledges, &c. At the risk of boring you and your readers, I will give you a rough summary of my costs from Carlyle to New Plymouth and back. Imprimis—Dinner self and horse at Hawera, 4s ; tea and bed, self and horse Fitzpatrick’s, ss; breakfast and dinner self Inglewood, 3s 6d, half charge horse, 3s ; railway fare to New Plymouth, 2s lOd. Total —18s 4d. Of course same returning. In conclusion, I must remark that, through the whole journey, up and down, j met with the greatest kindness, civility, and attention, and that the charges were in each and every case moderate.

JAMES HIRST. Patea, October 18th, 1877.

OPENING CPICKET MATCH. At Carlyc, on Saturday last, the opening match of the season was played between Married and Single. The weather was not very promising early in tho day but cleared up about midday. The ground, however, was damp and slippery. The Teams mustered in fair time, and the play was kept up with spirit throughout the day. The married folks proved victorious. Mr F. Bayly acted as umpire for the Singles, whilst Mr C. Dasent acted on behalf of the Marrieds. Dr Croft captained the married men and Mr Jaeomb the single men. Tho following are the scores:

MARRIED. Ist Timings. 2nd Innings. Tcnncnt, b Jacomb ... 9 cF, H. Horner, b Horner 0 W. Co worn, run out... 1 c & b Jacoinb 5 Gnyatt, b Horner ... 1 notout ... ... 1 Fraser, c Kitchcr b Jacoinb 3 b Horner ... 0 Dr Croft, c Horner b Jacoinb 0 run out 10 Taplin, b Horner ... 7 b Jacoinb ... 0 Rhodes, b Jacoinb ... 0 c Kitchen b Horner 0 Keys, run out 0 c E. Horner b Horner 2 TV. Dixon, b Jacomb 15 b Horner 10 Baggett, run out ... 0 c Dascnt b Jacomb 4 Baddely (A. Dascnt) ost Jacomb ... 0 Byes, wides, &c. 7 Byes, wides, he. 8 Total 43 Total 40 SINGLE. Ist Innings. 2nd Innings. Harris, b Gnyatt ... 3 Dascnt (s) nt out 1 Kitchen, c Baggett b Fraser 7 b Fraser ... 0 Coutts, c Dascnt b Fraser 10 b Fraser ... 0 F. T. Horner, b c Dixon b G-uyatt ... 3 Taplin 2 D. Williams, b Fraser 10 1b w, b Taplin 5 Jacoinb, b Fraser ... 0 c Taplin bFraser 8 Turner, b Croft ... 1 cDascntbTaplin 0 B. Dascnt, c Taplin b Fraser ... 3 b Fraser ... 1 E. Horner, b Fraser ost Fraser ' ... 4 O. Symes, not out ... 5 cDascntbTaplin 0 F. H. Horner, b c Cowcrn b Fraser 0 Fraser 1 Wides, byes, &c. ... 10 Wides, byes, he. 2 Total ... ... 04 Total ... 24