The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAY

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 283, 1 January 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAY

In Saturday’s issue wo reprinted sum- » niary of proceedings which householders will be called upon to take under the new Education Act, for the purpose of electing local school committees. Until school committees hate been elected the business of the Patea Education District will be " ' conducted by the members of the Patea - • Education Board as previously constiThat body has fixed Friday, the 4 th January, as the day for the election of local committees throughout the district. Meetings are called for Nor-.

man by, Hawcra, Manntalu, Kakaramea, Carlyle, and Whenuakitra. We trust that every householder in the County will heed the notification, and show by their presence that they are interested in the all important matter of education. From the following 1 definition of the term “ householder,” as per Education Act, it will be seen that the term has a much wider signification than generally attaches to the word “ householder”:

“ Householder” means every adult male or female person, who as owner, or tenant lessee or occupier, occupies uses or resides in any dwelling-house shop or warehouse or other building in any district, or every parent or guardian who is liable to maintain, or has the actual custody of, any child. Females are equally entitled to vote with males, and are equally eligible to serve on local committees or on the Education Board, and the term he or him used throughout the Act includes and stands for she or her. Local committees have very large executive powers, and it is very desirable that the best talent in the various districts should be elected* A representative of the Patea Education Board will be present at the various school-houses, on Friday evening, to explain the working of the new Act, and each will no doubt have valuable advice to offer as to mode of conducting the elections and course of action to be pursued in the future. It is not only of importance that good local committees should be elected, but also that the County should be ably represented on the Education Board, the meetings of which will be held in Wanganui. It requires not only such as have business capacity, but such as have time to spare to attend frequently at the Board’s meetings, where the controlling power, as regards what shall be done in the district, is centered. By electing good local com mittecs, there will be a better opportunity of securing good representatives on the Education Board, Unless Patea County householders act judiciously and unanimously in this matter, we shall bo practically unrepresented on the Board. Each committee will be entitled to nominate two qualified persons as members of the Board. The six school committees, which it is proposed to form in Patea County, may each nominate two different persons, or they may each nominate the same two persons, to represent the County in the Education Board. There may be forty (more or less) local school committees throughout the Educational district, which comprises the four Counties of Patea, Wanganui, Eangitlkci, and Manawatu. Whatever the number of local committees may bo, only nine persons, out of the whole lot nominated, can be returned as members of the Education Board—the nine having the highest number of votes. Each committee will be supplied with a list of all the persons nominated, and will be requested to vote for not more tbau nine of the persons who have been so nominated. As before remarked, each local committee in the Patea County may have its special fancy, and each may vote for different men. Or the committees may consult together and agree to vote each for the same two men to represent them. In the former case the votes may be considered as entirely thrown away. In the latter case there will be some chance of the County getting a representative on the Central or Education Board. We trust that the meetings called for Friday evening will be everywhere well attended by representatives of both sexes. Very much has been accomplished in Patea County, in the way of providing schools, teachers, and appliances, by the gentlemen forming the Board now about to cease. Whether or not the work they have so well begun will be continued to the extent aimed at, will depend upon the action of householders throughout the County—first in the election of local committees, and afterwards in the selection of representatives for the Central Board. If each person entitled to vote, will only take the trouble to try to understand what is required, we shall have no fear but there will be genei'al agreement as to the line of action to be adopted, and all will be gainers.

To-day, being the first of the new year; will be observed as a general holiday. We are publishing a day before the usual time on that account, and wish all a Happy New Year, Attention is called to advertisement signed by Mr W. Cowern (Secretary of the Patea Education Board), convening meetings throughout the County for Friday evening, Kakararaea sports will take place on the Reserve to-day. Sports at Hawera will be held to-day. Tenders for lease of Threshing Machine will be received up to Thursday next, by Mr W. Dale (Secretary of the Patea Steam Threshing Company). Tenders will also be received for supply of team of horses for the season, for moving the machine about the district. Holiday at the Carlyle school will extend to Monday, 21st January, on which day school duties will be again resumed. The building of the new Hall has had the effect of stimulating the men of Hawera to action in a new line. They are now about to form a Dramatic Club. All interested are requested to meet at the Native office, at seven o’clock on Friday evening. Imellectual as well as Athletic Associations appear to thrive at Hawera. The next move will be the formation of a Harmonic Society, as there is considerable musical talent in the district.

An effort is about to be made to secure the use of a Threshing Machine at Hawera for the early part of the coming season. A meeting to arrange preliminaries has been convened by Messrs Steiiart and Brett, and will be held at LlojM’s Hotel on Thursday evening. We have to acknowledge receipt from the Government Printer, Wellington, full set of Statutes passed during the late session of Parliament. Edward Hardcastle, Esq., has been appointed Census Enumerator and Superintendent Collector of Agricultural Statistics for the Census and Collection of 1878, under “The Census Act, 1877,” for Wanganui and Patea Counties. James B. Lawson, Esq., has been appointed for Taranaki County. From to-day a daily mail service will commence between Wanganui and Hawcra. The coach from Wanganui will arrive a little earlier than heretofore. The mails will therefore be made up earlier. Tenders for the supply of coal for Hew' Zealand railways were accepted on 19th December. The lowest tender accepted was the Taupiri Company (Auckland) at 4s and 6s per ton. The highest was W. and It. Williams, £2 7s for the supply of Greyraouth coal for the Foxton line. Eight tenders of Now Zealand coal have been accepted, and seven for Newcastle coal. The Wellington Argus of the 27th December says : —Charles Clark, whom it is not flattery to call “ the great lecturer,” at the close of his visit to IVellington, will proceed by coach to Foxton, and thence through Palmerston, Bulls, Marton, Wanganui, Patea, and Hawcra, to New Plymouth j lecturing at each place en route, Mr Clark then proceeds to Blenheim, and concludes his New Zealand tour with Otago. xi Press Agency telegram says: —The following changes will be made in the Police and Armed Constabulary forces from and after the Ist January, The latter are to be a purely military body, with Colonel Lyon in command, with his head-quarters in the Waikato district. The police of both islands will revert to their purely civil functions under Commissioner Shearman for the North, and Commissioner Weldon for the Middle Island. The Auckland Weekly News has come out with a new and attractive pictorial heading. The Christmas and New Year’s Supplement, issued on the 22nd December, contains a very correct likeness of the Marquis of Norman by, and a number of original tales and sketches suitable for the season.

The Wellington Argus, remarking on statement of receipts and expenditure on railways in New Zealand, which has just been published, says :—“ It appears that the total length of railways open for traffic throughout the colony is 924 miles, and there has been expended on them a sum of £142,310. Against this there has been received £166,932, leaving a profit on the year’s working of £24,622. The percentage of expenditure and receipts therefore is 85.26.

The Auckland Herald reports the opening of another 10£ miles of the Auckland to Waikato Railway, from Ngaruawahia to Hamilton. About 200 persons went from Auckland by special train, and were met at Hamilton by over 1,000 Waikato settlers. The Auckland Herald in reporting the public reception of Sir George Grey, on his return from Wellington, says .-—Never before since the proclamation of New Zealand as an integral part of the British dominions has a demonstration of such magnificence as that of Wednesday been accorded by the colonists to any one of their public men, and certainly on no previous occasion (excepting perhaps on the arrival of H.R.H. Prince has tho’public feelingsopowcrfully manifested itself and risen to such a fervour and enthusiasm of expression. The greeting which the Premier and his Auckland coadjutors received was an ovation in the full meaning of the terra* and the exhibition of public approval which characterised to a marked degree the proceedings was certainly the direct outcome of the heart.

PATEA EDUCATION BOARD. A meeting of the above Board was held at the Secretary’s office (Mr W. Cowern) on Saturday last, 29th December. Present —Messrs Middlemas (chairman), Peacock, Dale, and Coutts. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Proposed by Mr Peacock, seconded by Coutts, and carried—“ That in reply to Mr Dyer’s application, he be allowed one week extra holiday at Christmas.” Proposed by Mr Dale, seconded by Mr Coutts, and carried—“ That meetings of householders take place at the schoolhouses Normanby, Hawera, Mamitahi, Kakaramea, Carlyle, and Whenuakura, on Fiiday, 4th January, 1878, at 7 o’clock, for the purpose of electing school committees for each district.” Proposed by Mr Coutts, seconded by Mr Peacock, and earned—“ That the following gentlemen be requested to represent the Board at the forthcoming election of school committees —D. Coutts, Whenuakura ; W. Dale, Carlyle ; W. Cowerr,* Kakaramea; H. S. Peacock, Manutahi; T. Middlemas, Hawera ; J. Robson, Ketcmarae ; with power to appoint deputies.” Proposed by Mr Middlemas, seconded by Mr Coutts_, and carried—“ That the Secretary obtain printed copies of all that portion of the Act required for the guidance of the Board’s representatives in the elec-

lion of school committees* and also for' guidance of committee in the election of Board." The following tenders- for additions to Hawera school, and a gate at Normanby, were laid before the Board :—Syme, school £216, gate £6 (declined) ; Duffel Bros., £220 (accepted) ; Strang and Searling, £234 10s (declined). The following tenders were received for making 50 dual desks : Syme, 38s (declined) ; Strang & Searling, 60s (declined)* Duffell Bros.,- 29s for large, and 27s for small (accepted). , The following tenders were received for gymnastic appliances Duffel Bros., £ls 10s for each school (accepted) ; Syme, £l6 each for Normanby and Hawera (declined) ; Strang & Searling, £2O each for Normanby and Hawera (declined). Proposed by Mr Peacock, seconded by Mr Coutts, and carried—“ That the Carlyle school, Kakaramea school and house, Manutahi school and house, Hawera school, and Normanby house receive one coat of No. 1 paint. Tenders to be called forthwith.” The Board adjourned until Thursday, 31st January, 1877.

PATEA DISTRICT JOCKEY CLUB. The following nominations for the forthcoming summer meeting, have been handed to us by the Secretary (W, Cowenq Esq.) for publication : Flying Handicap. T. Qninlivan’s Reduction T. Quinlivan’s Redeemer f C. A. Dline’s Tuna C. A. Dune’s Gladiola W. H. George’s Resolution Thomas Rowe’s Sky Blue William Handley’s Flora McDonald Richard Wheeler’s Expectation John Burke’s b g Lapland J. D. Powdrell’s Queen of the Vale J. D. Powdrell’s Carlyle J. Gilligan’s b g Stanley Patea J.C. Handicap. T. Quinlivan’s Reduction C. A. Dune’s Tuna W. 11. George’s Resolution Thomas Rowe’s Opawa Thomas Rowe’s Sky Blue William Handley’s Flora McDonald William Handley’s Tainuri Richard Wheeler’s Expectation George Stockman’s Otawa J. D. Powdrell’s Queen of the A r ale J. H. Pollock’s g g Folly Handicap Trot. W. Wheeler’s Winfred Thomas Rowe’s Maid of Chester R. Kilgour’s Morsel D. Carroll’s Black Boy D. Carroll’s Quickstep Chadwick & Belcher’s Onr Pony Chadwick & Belcher’s Black Ella