The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, .NOVEMBER 28, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 274, 28 November 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, .NOVEMBER 28, 1877.

The passing of the Patea Amended Harbor .Bill will be the means of putting new life into the people of this County, It may not bo, by a long way, all that is required, but it is a step in the right direction, and innumerable benefits will follow even the partial carrying out of proposed works. We thoroughly endorse the sentiments of writer of the letter signed “ Onward,” which will be found in another column, and have little doubt but it will be read with approval by every person interested in tbo progress of this county. Sound advice is given which we hope will be followed. * ! Let there but be a strong unity throughout the County, on this matter, unaffected by outside opinion, and there

is no fi>ar of tho result. - ’ The remarks as to tho manner in which leading men in Wanganui will view the question of Harbor works at Patca, is, probably, but too trim ; and as regards looking outside for aid, it is only necessary to remind readers of the stand taken against the introduction of the .Bill in the Lower House by Mr Ballance, of V» anganui—the professed friend of I'alea —a gentleman who sought to represent lids district in Parliament for that he desired to aid its progress and development. Ho voted against the Bill. Depend upon it, the more this County relics on itself and concentrates its strength, the more rapid will bo its progress. It is useless to look either to outside men or outside newspapers for aid. They have other objects in view and other interests to serve. Let then a new leaf be turned over, and hearty liberal support and encouragement bo given to the men who have ever shown themselves zealous to advance local (that is County) interests. Copies of the new Act are not yet to hand but the following remarks made by tho lion Dr Pollen, in moving .the second reading of the Bill in the Upper House, give a fair summary of tho Amended Act, and will be useful at the present time. Tho Hon gentleman said :

It was introduced into the House of Representatives by the Hon Major Atkinson, who had'rcqucsted him to take charge of it in the Council. Honorable gentlemen would remember that last year there was an Act passed called tho Patea Harbour Board Act, which provided for the administration of the harbour and also supplied a modest endowment of land —in all, a liitlo more than 3,000 acres—for the use of the port. The object of the present Bill was to correct an error in the appropriation of the laud which was made for the harbour, to make an alteration in the constitution of the Board, and to provide for granting an additional endowment of some 200 or 300 acres forming the foreshore of the Patca River and of tho beach at the approaches to it. In the schedule to tho Act of last year there was included a section numbered 5G3, containing 300 acres of land. After tho Act was passed, JOM jiTViOOOtI 111 WCI’O 111 t.llUtCtl iOl tlig transfer of this land, it was discovered that the particular piece of land had already been granted, and was private property. It was proposed by this Bill to release that land —to amend the schedule by leaving out that block and snbstßnting other blocks of land containing exactly the same quantity—namely, 300 acres. It appeared, also, that two other blocks of land, 320 and 5G5 in tho schedule of the Act of last year, were erroneously described as to their boundaries and as to the quantity contained in them. It was proposed by this Bill to make that correction, and to define anew these two blocks that were proposed to be set apart last year. The Patea Harbour Board, as constituted by tho Act of last year, consisted of two persons appointed by the Governor, the Mayor of the Town of Patca, the Chairman of the County Council, ami two persons elected by the governing body, which was interpreted to bo the Patea Borough Council or tho Highway Board, whichever was in existence at the time. Tho alteration proposed to bo made b} r the Bill was that one person should be appointed by tho Governor, two persons elected by tho governing body, one person by the County Council of Patea, and one person elected by the ratepayers of each of the ridings in the County of Patea The former members were elected for two years, and the time for the election was fixed for the second Monday in January. The 3rd clause of this Bill proposed that the members should be elected for one year only, and that the time for the election should be the second Monday in the month of February. After tho large endowments proposed to bo given in the Bill, [Bluff Harbour] the principle of which the Council had just affirmed by allowing it to ho road a second time, he was almost ashamed, on behalf of such an important district as Patea, to be obliged to ask for such a very small quantity of land as was contained in the schedule to this Bill — namely, not more than 200 or 300 acres. The lands proposed to ho granted were portions of the foreshore of the river and of the bead) at the entrance to tho harbor, which might be reclaimed by the works the Board would bo authorized to carry on. Ho thought there could be no objection to the Bill being read a second time.

Quite a crush of schemes for settling people on Crown Lands are being brought forward in various parts of the North Island. The Fookes special settlement scheme has been thoroughly successful, all the land having been applied for. From the Manawatu Times wo learn of the formation of a company, the object of which is to purchase a block of land from the Waste Lands Board, get it surveyed, roads formed, &c., so that it can be retailed in sections for settlement. The first application of the company for a block of land near Fitzhcrbert Town has been refused, but another offer will shortly be made, with, it is hoped, better success. The Thames Advertiser , in a useful article on the subject of Special Settlements, showed itself rather in favor of Government undertaking the responsibility of forming roads, and generally making Crown Land available for settlement, in preference to land being sold in blocks to capitalists, to be retailed at a higher rate. The idea lately expressed by our Resident Magistrate (Captain Wray) in a letter to the Taranaki Waste Lands Board, recommending that Government land should be sold on the deferred payment system at auction, is quoted with approval. The Advertiser, however, recognises the lamentable failure, so far, on the part of the Government, in peopling land, and instances what good management in that direction would have done for the Thames, and allows that at present there is scope for private enterprise. The recommendation of Captain Wray, has the merit of being just to all, while* at the same time meet-

ing tho requirements of the poorer or working-class portion of the people—the men whom, of all others it is most desirable, should be induced to become land owners, and who would make the best of settlers. Wo also hear that a Wellington paper has commented favourably on Captain Wray’s recommendation, and that the idea is therefore likely to carry weight.

We would call special attention to outline report of proceedings of the Patca District Jockey Club, which was held on Saturday last. An excellent programme was drawn up, and a spirit of enterprise exhibited, which shows immense faith in the immediate future of this magnificent district. A District Handicap Race of £IOO was decided upon, to which a sweep of £5 will bo added*. The preliminary steps for bolding a Derby Race, also of £IOO, were taken. The Jockey Club evidently does not altogether believe in keeping to old ruts, and has struck a new idea in the shape of a Handicap Trotting match, which will be run for the lirst time at the coming meeting. Striking out boldly at the present time is the way to establish firstclass races, by encouraging local breeders and attracting good horses from outside the district. The Jockey Club has spared no pains to secure a good course, in a position convenient for the whole county. Tho site is midway between Kakaramea and Carlyle, and is an excellent piece of running ground, with a main road frontage on tho one hand, backed by a gently rising and low range of hills on the other, from which a good view of tho whole of the course can be obtained. The ground has been leased by the Club for seven years, and has been ploughed, grassed, the course marked off, and in other ways improved and laid out attractively. It is evident the Jockey Club members have faith in the district, and intend to spare no pains to make the course attractive, and the race meeting something for the residents to look forward to with interest and to be proud of. Wo have no doubt hut tiio general public will heartily and liberally aid the Jockey Chib in efforts now being made to place Patea County Races well to the front.

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BILL FINALLY PASSED. A special telegram was received from New Plymouth, last night, as follows: “ Tho New Plymouth Harbor Bill passed the Legislative Council yesterday, A division was taken on the third readingresulting in favor by 13 to 7. There were a few unimportant amendments which were agreed to by the House last night. A meeting of the Patea Kill wining Lodge will be held on Friday next (St. Andrews day), for the installation of officers. Major Brown (Civil Commissioner) arrived in Carlyle yosterdaj'. The Rev F. W. Isitt, Superintendent of the New Plymouth Circuit, will preach in the Wesleyan Church, Carlyle, on Friday evening at half-past seven o’clock. The Waverley Town Board has been gazetted to meet on tho 28th inst. (to-day). Wo understand that prompt steps arc being taken to utilize tho power granted by the Amended Patea Harbor Bill. Action is being taken to secure the services of an Engineer whom there is little doubt the Board will unanimously approve of. Mr Harry Seymour, one of tho proprietors of the New Zealand Sun, arrived in Carlyle yesterday from Hawera, having come overland from New Plymouth. He speaks highly of the country through which ho has passed, and having just done a tour of the whole Colony may be pronounced a capable judge. A narrative of his journeyings will appear in the Sun.

The Banks at Hawera and Carlyle will be closed on Friday (St. Andrew’s day.) Letter from Secretary of the Hawera Cricket Club shall appear in next issue. Mr William Coworn will bold cattle sale at Hawera to-day. Mr C. W. Govett, solicitor, New Plymouth, has appointed Mr F. McGuire (Hawera), and Mr De G. Fraser (Carlyle), agents for him in this County. We learn by private letter that the Taranaki Agricultural Show will be a large one, and will be far superior to the previous one. There will be a number of special prizes to be competed for. Over 196 enterics of exhibits have been made. Our Hawera correspondent speaks hopefully of sports which have been arranged for New Years day. We learn that already £SO has been subscribed, and that it is expected quite £IOO will bo collected by the date fixed for the sports. Hawera gives plenty of evidence of go-aheadisra. The Taranaki Herald says—We hear that Mr Young has sold the line of coaches running between Wanganui and New Plymouth to Mr Henry, who is now sole proprietor of them. The coaches will not run three times a week here until the Mountain Road is made. We bog to acknowledge receipt from the Government Printer of second portion of New Zealand Statistics and other Parliamentary Papers. A meeting of the Katemarae Small Farm Association will be held at Novmanby, at half-past two o’clockto-morrow. Business to be considered is announced as of the most vital importance to members of the Association, and all are requested to be present. The Manawatu Times mentions the formation of a company, the object of which is the buying of land from Government and retailing it, after making it recessible by roads. The first application to the Waste Lands Board has been refused, but another offer is about to be made for a block of land in the neighborhood of Fitzherbert Town. The Carlyle Sports committee met on Monday evening, Mr James Lett in the chair, when detail business in connection with the Patea Christinas Sports was transacted. Programme will be found in another column. Some of tlm committee are going to make it their special business to look after the juveniles, and are now engaged collecting funds to provide suitable prizes.

A meeting was held at Mr C. E. Gibson’s store, Normanby, on Thnnsday, the 22nd instant, to consider the advisability of arranging sports —Waihi-Normanby, for Christinas time. The following officers were elected :—President, Captain J. T. Marshall ; vice-president, Mr O. E. Gibson ; secretary and treasurer. Mr T. W. Ollivier ; conmittee, Messrs H., Gibson, W. Sutton, T. Ollivier, C. Hurrell, John Hobson, J. Barrow, and A. Brett. It was decided to hold the sports on the 26th December. The selection of ground &c. was left the committee.

A public meeting will be hold at Manutalii on Saturday next, to elect member of cemetery committee in place of Mr Foreman, resigned. A well attended meeting of the Patea District Jockey Club was held on Saturday last, at the office of the Hon. Secretary (W. Cowern, Esq.) H. E. Mcllao, Esq., was voted to the chair. After minutes of previous meeting had been read and confirmed, the programme for the coming races was drawn up, including Patea District Jockey Club Handicap of £IOO. It was also decided to have a Patea Derby of 100 sovereigns, to which will be added a sweep of £5. This event will be run at the annual meeting 1879-80 —enterics for the first Derby (yearlings) will be made with the general enterics in February, 1878. At the same time enterics of colts for the 1880-81 Derby will also bo received. A Handicap Trotting match was decided upon. It was decided that handicappers should be chosen from the Stewards. —A meeting of Stewards was also held at which detail business was transacted. Application has been made to the Taranaki Waste Lands Board by Captain Skeet and Mr Thomas Bayly, jun., for 12,000 acres of land on the north side of the Patea Hiver for a Temperance Special Settlement. Bona fide occupation to be insisted upon, no occupier to hold more than 200 acres. A letter after the style of those which have proved so distasteful to many readers has been sent referring to Major Atkinson, Mr Sherwood, and ourselves. The writer has enclosed Ins name for Mr Sherwood if it should happen to be applied for. If he will send his name to be appended to the letter it shall be inserted—not Otherwise.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Carlyle, yesterday, before C. A. Wray, Esq., K.M., and H. E. Christie, Esq., J.P. —F. J. Stewart, of Ilawcra, sued G. F. Sherwood, of Om-lyle, for .£2O, amount due on dishonored promissory note. Mr Roy appeal ed for plaintiff. The plaintiff’s evidence went to show that the defendant had signed promissory note for ,€2O in settlement of a claim. The promissory note had subsequently been dishonored-, and the money had not since been paid. The defendant, who appeared on his own behalf, asked for an adjournment to enable him to bring a cross action (Tor services rendered as agent for plaintiff) the time since summons had been served having been too short to allow him to prepare case and procure evidence, one witness for which was in Wellington. In cross-examination plaintiff admitted to having engaged defendant as agent for certain transactions, and of having introduced plaintiff to one or two gentlemen as his agent in certain matters, but had never appointed defendant as his general agent, and had fully paid for services rendered. U1 Innately judgment was given for plaintiff with 19s costs, solicitors fees not being allowed, the Bench remarking ihnfc in so simple a case solicitor was not required. Claim to bo paid within ten days. Mr Roy, solicitor for plaintiff, pointed out that the claim being for €2O entitled him to some recognition from the Bench. —S. Taplin sued T. Irwin for €ls 12s amount due on promissory note. Defendant admitted the debt, and offered to pay €1 per week, which being agreed to by plaintiff, judgment was given accordingly. A letter from Mr Dale, and reports of school examinations at Carlyle, Kakaramea and Manutahi, are unavoidably held over.