The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays ) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 293, 6 February 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays ) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1878.

The announcement by Mr W. Cowern, of sale of privileges of the Paceeourse, indicates the near approach of the Patea District Jockey Club Summer Meeting. There is every prospect of a successful meeting, as considerable interest is being shown, not only by members of the Club, but also by the outside public. The Ctub itself has grown in strength, and the members who compose it are of the right stamp, and have proved by their action in launching out in various ways that, in racing matters, they moan to protnvss. A tew years ago, races were held on the Waihi Flats, and partook

much of a local character. An attempt to attract a better class of horses, led to the selection of a more central site, and for two years, races were hold somewhere near the site of the present course at Kakaramea. Holding the races about the middle of the district, it was argued, ami was generally thought, would lead to a concentration of effort, and ot course to better races. With Unit view, endeavours were made to get reserve sot aside for racing purposes. The Mokoia. Flat being deemed suitable, was applied for through the Waste Lauds Hoard, ami finally set aside. Instead, however, of being set aside for racing purposes, it was named us a recreation reserve. As such, it could only be leased from year to year, and consequently there was no encouragement to make permanent improvements. Two years or so ago, application was made on behalf of the Club, for the reserve to bo made over to the Patca District Jockey Club. No notice was taken of the application. Failing to get the reserve properly made over, or gazetted as a racecourse, the Jockey Club was not warranted in incurring any expense on it, and with a view of meeting the expressed desires of residents, it was decided to hold races at Waverley, on the understanding that, failing to get legal possession of the Mokoia, the races should the following year be held at Hawera. Waverley was considered too far away, and Hawera held aloof from the races. Next year steps were taken in the direction of securing the Mokoia reserve, which failing, and Hawera still holding aloof, and Wairoa mustering strong in voting power, the races were again held at Waverley. On the Counties Act being brought into force, the Mokoia Reserve became vested in the Comity Council. Application by the Jockey Chib to have the reserve placed under their control, was met by the reply, that the reserve being set aside for recreation purposes, could only be let from year to year. The Club thereupon decided to make other arrangements, and, after due consideration, the course at Kakaramea was leased for a term of seven years. Over £2O has since been spent on it, in ploughing, laying down in grass, &c. Other improvements are contemplated. The course is in beautiful order, and, though small, it has the advantage of being centrally situated, and should therefore he acceptable to all parts of the County. Members of the Jockey Club considered it hopeless to got anything like unanimity of action throughout the County, and any concentration of effort, so long as no permanent or proper course was provided, and the races were liable to be shifted about. Good temporary racecourses may be selected in almost any part of the County, but in order to induce owners of valuable horses to compete, it is requisite that there should be a recognized and properly cared for course, with all necessary conveniences, under efficient and responsible management, and within easy reach of stabling and hotel accommodation. It will bo many years before the requisite accommodation will bo available at, or near Mokoia. The course at Kakaramea is situated on the main line of road, and is conveniently near to Mauutahi, and Carlyle. Stabling, paddocking, and hotel accomodation, to any extent, is bandy, whilst Hawera and Waverley are within easy reach. The County musters a considerable number of racehorse owners, and gentlemen interested in racing, and one strong Club could be formed, and men selected as officers, whose names would be a guarantee of stability. Either one or the other of the townships within the County is too weak of itself to get up attractive races. Hawera tried last year, with a scratch committee of management. While every credit is due to Hawera for the success, as a purely local effort, we cannot overlook the fact, that once the races were over, there was no one to hold accountable for liabilities incurred, and accounts still remain unpaid. In a strong, properly organized club, the executive officers could be smartly brought to account for anything in the shape of mismanagement or neglect of duty. In scratch committees no cue is responsible, and there is no opportunity for redress. We may mention that the present Patca District Jockey Club on being reorganized, took over debts amounting to over £llO, which have all been paid off. The transactions of last year amounted to £416 ; and instead of being in debt, £6 13s -Id was carried forward to credit of the Club. Last year the amount paid in prizes was £260 ; lor the current year the amount advertised is £315, besides which a Derby race has been established, by which another £2OO will be absorbed. Wo consider every encouragement should be given to the Club to continue in the course marked out. Present members, numbering about SO, are taxing themselves heavily, to secure success. If each township would but set aside local jealousy, and throw in for one strong club, the best racehorses in the Colony would be secured, and the race meetings would be a credit to the County, and a source of pride to all. Such arrangements have been made for the coming races as cannot fail to ensure success, and a very lively interest is being taken generally in the coming event. Wo anticipate that the privileges of the course will be eagerly competed for, and the funds of the Club thereby substantially augmented.

Headers will have noticed that a meeting of persons interested in the question of direct steam communication with Wellington and other ports, has been convened for Saturday afternoon, at the Albion Hotel, Carlyle. Speaking broadly, every resident

is interested in the establishment of; direct steam communication with oilier ports. For land owners, it moans the opening - up of fresh markets for stock and agricultural products of every kind ; for importers and retail buyers— working men and others-—it exporters it means minced freight ; and for means a considerable addition to the purchasing power of money, on account of the lower rates at which all imported goods may he retailed. All are interested, and all will be bonefilted either directly or indirectly by the establishment of reliable and direct steam communication with other ports The certainty of being able to ship at payable rates, products and stock of all kinds, in small or large quantities, will gave an immense impetus to ag'ricultmal industry, and thereby enchance the value of land. Larger areas of land will be brought under cultivation, and thus employment be found for labouring men. New and now unthought-of somccs of profit will arise, and working settlers will bo enabled to turn into cash, things which are now allowed to run to seed, rot, or be in other ways wasted. Now is an opportune time to float a local company. The immediate commencement of river improvement, will give a further stimulus to trade, and make the necessity for a locally-owned steamer more urgent. The benefits being so wide-spread, it can scarcely be expected that a few monied men will alone undertake to float a company. To make the undertaking a thorough success, it is requisite that there should be a large number of small shaiebolders, eacli of whom would be specially interested in throwing trade in the way, or even in creating trade, for a locally-owned steamer. Wo trust that very general interest will be shown in this matter, and that preliminary arrangements for floating the company will be taken on Saturday. From what we can gather, there is no specially cut and dried progamnue. The meeting has been called by a few gentlemen, to ascertain if. the general public are disposed to respond, and try to benefit themselves and the County by providing an acknowledged and much felt want. As all would be more or less benefitted, there should be no backward, ness in taking some small share of the responsibility of floating a steam-boat company. Should lukewarmness be shownit will look pretty much as if the County had no self-helpful spirit, but preferred to remain in. a sort of bondage, dependent for the supply of its shipping wants on an over-reaching and ambitions neighbour, from whom little consideration has, or is ever likely to be shown.

The notice of motion given by Mr Taplin, at the Town Board meeting, on Monday evening, is a step in tiie right direction, though, in proposing the sum of £5,000, he may have somewhat overshot the mark. Before next meeting of the Board the matter will no doubt have been well considered. In view, however, of the rising importance of Carlyle, as well as other townships in the County, it is only rigid that works of the kind indicated by Mr Taplin should he taken in hand. We have little doubt hut the proposition somewhat modified will meet general and hearty approval. Mr Taplin deserves credit for moving in the matter. The following entries by local racehorse owners have been made for the MarlonRangitikoi St. Legcr, 1880: —-Mr C. A. Dune’s gr f Leita, by Gladiator —Crinoline. Mr, T. "Powdrell’s hr c Ringleader, by Bapapa —Discretion. A correspondent writes from Ilawcra — i: There is a complaint very general in regard to the inconveniences attending registration. from the distance parties have to travel in this district, through the office being in Carlyle. For instance, a working man at Normanby looses two day, which, at 7s a day, is 14s each -journey. Besides that the Registrar may bo absent. Now, all this inconvenience and expense could be obviated by the appointment of a Registrar either at Hawera or Norraanby. I trust soon to see some appointment made as suggested.”

In advertising columns will bo seen address of Mr G. F. Sherwood, who has been nominated as a candidate for the Patea Harbor Board. Electors, friends and opponents, are invited to meet him at the Court House, this evening. There will most likely be a lively meeting. All at all interested in this important question of River improvement should attend. A special telegram to the Wanganui Herald, dated February 3rd, says—“ After several most satisfactory interviews with Rewiand Tawhiao, Sir George Grey arrived this morning at Alexandra. Rewi has promised to go to Wellington during the Assembly. The Premier and Ministers go to-morrow to To Awamutu and Cambridge, and will reach Auckland on Tuesday evening.” A telegram from New Plymouth, dated Monday, says —Mrs Standish, mother of our Mayor, was found dead in her bed this morning. A number of cases of arrears of school fees were brought before Captain Wray, R.M., at Carlyle, yesterday, Some were paid into Court, in others judgment was given for the Education Board. Evidence m the case Odgcrs v Donghtery, not havingbeen received, was further adjourned until the 12th instant. The Carlyle Harmonic Society has determined to cease the issue of tickets for those nights, namely, the first Wednesday in each month, on winch its practises arc open to honorary members ; but to-night, and in future, a member’s ticket will admit the holder and another. The shareholders of the Hawera Town Hall Company meet to-morrow (Thursday) evening to receive animal report and statement of accounts, and to elect two directors. The proprietor of the Albion Hotel, Carlyle (Mr Haywood), has lately bad the painters at work. Inside as well as outside hast been operated upon. The result is highly creditable to the proprietor for his enterprise as well as to the painter (Mr Dixon) for the manner in which the work has been done. The lettering on the bar windows is especially well done. The Taranaki Jockey Club, determined not to be left in the lurch by its young but vigorous neighbour, has followed Patea Jockey Club’s example, and resolved to have a Derby race. We call attention to notice kindly handed over by Mr Francis Long Carlyle) from which it will be seen that the time of arrival of the Taranaki mail has boon altered, and will now close here on Tuesdays and arrive ou Wednesdays.

As a quorum did not show up there was no meeting oh’ the Patea East Road Board on Monday last, Mr A. Broadbent, draper and clothier, of Hawera, iias issued a proclamation, which all who have ready cash to spare, will do well to make a note of. Crown Lands will bo offered at auction at the Taranaki Institute on Saturday next, at noon. Intending purchasers should be

there in time. MrF. R. Jackson will hold his opening stock sale at Hawera on Friday next. It will be seen from catalogue that a good start is being made. The yards are conveniently situated. The sales will be continued at regular intervals. Cn Sunday afternoon last, a family party went out for a d.ive in a four wheel conveyance. In returning from Manutahi, and when corning down the hill leading to the Gorge, the itorsos going quicker than is usual thereabouts, the vehicle somehow upset, throwing the occupants to the ground. Mr Fish, who was sitting outside with the driver fell heavily, and besides being severely shaken and badly bruised, had his collar bone dislocated. Mrs Fish, who was inside the conveyance with other members of the family, was badly bruised and shaken, the young folks escaping with but a few slight bruises. The vehicle being righted, tire party proceeded to Mr Adamson’s, on Messrs Mcßae and Nicholson’s farm, the driver who was not much injured proceeding to Carlyle. Air Erskine, to whom the horses belonged, was quickly on the way with medical aid. Dr Warren arrived soon after seven o’clock, and rc-set the dislocated limb, and attended generally to the sufferers. The Auckland Herald in noting the departure of Mr Reader Gilson Wood, for England, after referring to the chief events of "liia public life, and to the expected retirement of Sir Julius Yogel, from the Agent-Generalship, says there is an air of probability in the nimour that Mr Wood will succeed Sir Julius Vogel although nothing dclinitc has been made public. The remarks are concluded as follows ; “ If he [Mr Wood] succeeds, as it is said lie will, the present Agent-General, lie will no doubt bo found to render his best efforts for the welfare of the colony, and will not neglect Auckland interests.” A late meeting the New Plymouth Harbour Board resolved that the salary of the Engineer to the Board for the first year should be £BOO, the question of future salary to bo a matter of arrangement. Cleric of Works to receive £3 per week. Tenders for reclamation and levelling on harbour reserve known as Kawa Pah, were accepted at a total cost of £2,200. On completion of work, the ground will bo laid off as building sites. The following extracts are from the Taranaki Herald’s report of Waste Lands Board meeting held on Monday the 28th January ;—“The Chairman stated that lie had written to the Patea Mall and Wanganui Herald m )hc cost of advertising the ‘•Town of Stratford,” and found that whilst the Patea and New Plymouth papers charged from£(> to £7 each, the Wanganui Herald charged £2O 8s ; the insertion being a weekly one until the end of March. On account of this excessive charge the Board decided to withdraw the advertisement from the paper alluded to.—A letter was read from the Undor-iSccretary, stating that the Ministry disapproved of the silo selected for the cemetery at Manutahi (North), by reason of its being within the town boundary.— It was resolved to inform the Ministry of the smallness of the town referred to, and the consequent suitability of the site recommended. —A letter was received from Captain Wray, covering a schedule of the nnsol I lands at Otoia and Opukn block, with estimated cash value per acre of each section ; also, a list of unsold sections in the township of Kakaramca, which might be offered for sale at the same time as the rural sections in the Qtoia and Opuku block. It was decided to request Captain Wray to put a value upon the sections at Kakaramca. The S. F. Newe Letter referring to the Gauges Canal (800 miles in length) which has been constructed in India, for irrigation purposes, and to stimulate the production of grain, and to other similar works in the North-western Prouinces of India, says — “ That these efforts have not been fruitless appears from the result already achieved. Three years ago, India exported 9.000 tons of wheat, the year following,100.000 toils, and the present year a surplus of no less than 300,000 tons is expected. This rapid increase lias taken place, notwithstanding the commodity has to bear a land transportation of 1,500 miles.” It is calculated that on completion of irrigation works now in hand, the grain trade will develop© to such an extent, as to have an important influence on the European markets.

A correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle writing- from Waverley referring to the harvest, concludes that in the district between the Waitotara and Patea Rivers, there will be a surplus of about 8,000 bushels of wheat to dispose of. Oats ■will just about meet requirements. The same correspondent referring to the Momoliaka Block, the survey of which under Mr Sicely, the natives, have threatened to stop, reports being informed on reliable authority that it is the intention of Government to return the land referred to to the natives, and concludes, “ I hope sincerely that the settlers will take the matter up, and that without loss of time. The natives' are becoming more certain every day of getting the land back. Speedy action will probably prevent further complications.” Deputation of the Wellington Education Board is reported to have elicited the following information from the Minister of Education. Mr BMlance explained that of the £50,000 voted for school buildings in New Zealand, £IO,OOO would be allocated to the Wellington provincial district, which would be equally divided between the Wellington and Wanganui Boards, each receiving £5,000. This would be irrespective of the sums already advanced by the Government, amounting to some £7,000. It would be exclusive also of the cost of school sites. The capitation of 10s per child for school repairs, would be paid over direct to the Board, and not to each local_ committee, thus increasing the total capitation allowance (including the original £3 15s) to £4 5s por child. One-fourtb also of the £6,000 voted in aid of normal schools, would be paid to the Wellington Board. The Government also would pay the Inspector’s travelling expenses without charging them anything against the above.

A considerable flock of valuable ewe lambs, purchased by settlers in the Hawera Riding at Mr Jackson’s sale at Easson Brothers farm, passed through Carlyle yesterday afternoon.

The Thames Advertiser hoars from a Wellington correspondent that the Government intend to complete the purchase of the freehold of the Ohinetnnri gold-field, and considers the present a favorable time for so doing. Tha following are the nominatiohs of candidates for tile Patea Harbor Board : Hawera Riding—John Gibson, J. Strachan Greig, James Southby. Otoia Riding— G. F. Sherwood, W. Dale* E. R. Morgan. At Waver!ey there were no nominations. Major Brown, Civil Commissioners, who has for some time been absent from Patea, returned on Friday last. As he went on to Waitotara next morning, it may bo inferred that it was the threatened opposition to the survey of the Momahaka Block that brought him again in the district. The County Council met yesterday. The proposed grant of £IOO for Hawera was thrown out.—Tenders for painting were opened but not accepted. Fresh tenders will be called.—lt was resolved “ That an urgent telegram be immediately sent to the Government asking what act'on has been taken with reference to the action of the County Council re Mouatain Road.” Before the Council separated a telegram was received from Wellington, stating that nothing had yet been done, but that no definite answer could be given as Government bad not decided, and probably could not decide until it could be ascertained what money would be available for expenditure.—The Recreation Reserves at Waver)ey and Mokoia arc to be leased by public auction. —No member of the Council was elected for the Patea Harbour Board, notice not having been given in conformity to the Act.