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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 301, 6 March 1878, Page 2

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

The following tenders for painting bridges were opened by the County Council yesterday-- W.Dixon, £9Bl7sGd(accepted); W. G. Basset, £395 (declined). We call special attention to Mr F. R. Jackson’s largo sale of thoroughbred horses, &c., at Wanganui, on Saturday nest. Since the announcement first appeared of sale of Messrs Mcßae and Nicholson’s valuable pedigree horses, other important additions have been made, as will be seen by reference to advertisement. Inquiry as to the legality of election of Mr G. F. Sherwood, as member of the Patea Harbor Board, will be held before C A. Wray, Esq., E.M., on Friday next. Ratepayers arc reminded that election of member for the Patea Harbor Board, Waverley Riding, takes place to day. Polling hours from 9 a.m., to 6 p.ni. The sittings of the District Court will be held at Carlyle to-day, before His Honor ..Judge,Kenny, commencing at 11.30 a,m. '

At the Carlyle Town Board meeting held on Monday evening, Mr Taplin, who had given notice oi! a motion to borrow £5,000 for street and other town improvements, deemed it advisable, in deference to the wishes of a number of friends, to reduce the amount to £2,500. He still however thought £5,000 none too much, and pointed out the advantages likely to accrue from the expenditure. There seemed to be unanimity as to the principle of borrowing, but differences as to the amount and manner of proceeding. A number of suggestions weie offered, and amendments proposed, none being directly opposed to borrowing. It was finally agreed to borrow £2,000. All the members, except Mr Adams, spoke on the question. The latter contented himself by ejaculatory insinuations during the time others were speaking, and was several times called to order. Finally, Mr Adams voted for the motion he intended to vote against, and the vote being’ claimed he left the meeting. While all were agreed as to the desirability of borrowing for town improvement, there were strong evidences of cross purposes amongst the members, and the difficulty of coining to an agreement, lay rather in personal feeling, than in want of unanimity about the necessity for borrowing. However, as a decision has been coins to, wc trust the personal element will be thrown aside, and that all will pull together, and help to get the money well spent.

A deputation of Nonnanby settlers, consisting of Messrs C. E. Gibson, F. 11. Brett, F. Hunger, and F. Finlayson, waited on the County Council yesterday, and explained the wishes of settlers, whom they had been sent to reoresent, in regard to the proposed construction of the Mountain Road. Mr Gibson spoke at tolerable length, and reviewed past action on the part of Government and of the settlers, in regard to the question. Settlers had been repeatedly assured that the line would go through Nonnanby, and had been induced to build, and spend money in other improvements, solely on the strength of the assurances which had been given. Mr Gibson pointed out the relative advan-tag-es and disadvantages o£ tlie different routes, and stated that Nonnanby people would bo quite satisfied if the road were continued from the end of present metalled road, through Nonnanby, and then along line on which telegraph poles had been erected. By following lino indicated, there would be no compensation claims, and metal being handy, a saving of fully £4OO would be elfeeted. If the County Council decided on the route indicated it would satisfy every party.

At the R.M. Court yesterday, before C. A. Wray, Esq., R.M., and Dr Croft, J.P., the adjourned case of ITonni v Jacomb & Cowern was decided. . The claim was £2 10s for work performed. After a lengthy hearing judgment was given for defendants with costs £1 19s, and witnesses expenses £4 13s. —Several rate and otiaer cases were paid into Court.

A petition was started at mid-day on Saturday, at Hawcra, foi presentation to the County Council asking that the original line of Mountain Road might be adhered to, instead of turning off and through Nonnanby. Nearly 120 signatures were obtained in about eighteen hours. Mr Davidson was put in charge of the petition.

The adjourned case of D. 11. Williamson v John Cheyne, claim £3O damages done to a horse at Waverley Agricultural Show on 15th November, 1877, has been settled out of Court b} r defendant purchasing the the injured animal, and paying all expenses that have been incurred in the above case.

The Chronicle says —The Chairman of the Wanganui Harbor Board received an official telegram on Monday, stating that the Government had approved of the plans forwarded by the Harbor Board. As the Board have made very satisfactory arrangements with the National Bank for an advance of £40,000, we believe that tenders will be called for immediately for the first three sections of the river improvement works. Things look healthy so far.

Wo call attention to notice by the Secretary of Patea East Road Board as to payment of rates. All ratepayers whoso rates are unpaid by the 31st March will not be able to vote at an election for the General Assembly.

The Masonic Brotherhood are reminded that meeting of Patea Kil wining Lodge will be held at the Town Hall, Carlyle, this evening.

A cricket match between Hawera and Carlyle Clubs was played on the Carlyle ground on Saturday last, resulting in a victory for Hawera. The Hawera team scored, first innings, 13 ; second innings, GO—total, 73. Carlyle team, first innings, 21 ; second innings, 46—total, 67. The following represented Hawera—F. Bayly, Corrigan, White, Hargood, Davis, Riddiford Johnston, Hamilton, Mason, Lukis, Lysaght. Carlyle team —Kitchen, Horner Courts, Fraser, Jacomb, Fetch, Williams, Bagget, Dasent, W. Dixon, Taplin. The tallest single scores were W. Dixon 17 for Carlyle, and Riddiford 14 for Hawera. No other double figures.

The Arawata arrived at the Bluff yesterday, with the Suez portion of the English mail.

We are indebted to G. I). Ilaraerton, Esq., who arrived at Carlyle last night, to attend the District Court Sittings, for a copy of Monday’s Taranaki Herald.

The Grey River Argus of the 25th February, devotes nearly ten columns of close print to Sir George Grey’s speech, dc.ivered at Grcymonth. The meeting was the largest over held at Greymouth.

The Waimate Star says —Although the reapers and hinders are so lately introduced, there are a great many of them already in operation, and, as a rule, they arc giving greater satisfaction than was ever anticipated.

The Manawatu Times says—Wc learn that the iron rails have now been laid between lialcombe and Greatford stations. 'l’iiere only remains a small gap between Marton and Greatford, which will soon bo closed in. Then railway communication between Foxton and Wanganui will he an established fact.

The Thames St(cr remarking on Major Atkinson’s address at New Plymouth,says —lf Major Atkinson be still regarded as leader of the Opposition, he is remarkably reticent as to the intentions of the Opposition. In this course, however, helms the notable example of Sir George Grey before him, for when the latter was in opposition ho persistently declined to disclose his policy. We should gather from Major Atkinson’s address, that the Opposition next session will play a waiting game, and that no decided action will bo attempted until parties have settled down, and the units of the Opposition have assumed a concrete form.

A hospital has been erected at Rangitikei, the land for which was given by Mr Bull, and the building erected by public subscription. About £l5O is required to pay oil liabilities (£69) and for furnishing the building. The County Council at its last meeting refused to vote the amount which had been asked for by' one of Hie Councillors. The building cannot therefore be used at present for hospital purposes.

A considerable slice of what was understood to be Rangitikei County lias been added to Wanganui County. The Chairman of the Rangitikei Council, from report in the Advocate, seemed inclined to blame the local member, and said —Ho thought that Mr Ballancc had done a great deal for Wanganui in getting them votes for this and that, but lie had done nothing for Eangitikei. Mr Evans confessed that he was looking forward to discovering that a great piece of roguery had been practised in respect of the boundaries, for it was evident that the suggestions for the present boundaries must have come from some one possessing a thorough knowledge of the country. At the same time, he repudiated die idea that the member for the district bail been privy to the transactions. An endeavour is being made to get the boundaries re-adjusted.

The Wanganui Herald of the 4th instant saj’s : —Our L y atoo nvighhouns have </i«played commendable energy in initiating harbour improvements for that river. Already a contract is advertised for constructing a concrete wall at the south side of the entrance, the clfect of which will no doubt immediately bo beneficial, and it will form part of a more extensive scheme when a pier to further confine the channel is erected on the north side. With the volume of water in the Patea, there can be no doubt thatthe channel may be very much deepened to the benefit of the whole county, for so soon as it is made available for cattle steamers it will at once add to the value of stock throughout the district, since driving as at present to Wanganui or Waitara means loss of condition and expense. So far as Wanganui is concerned its trade with the district will not be affected. Freight at present is 30s per ton by sea; on completion of the railway, taking 5d per ton as the average charge per mile, the carriage for forty miles to across the Patea will bo sixteen shillings and eightpence. But Patea merchants buy largely elsewhere, and probably if ten feet of water is secured, a steamer will be built to trade with Wellington and to carry stock to the West Coast. We notice a meeting was recently called in Carlyle to form a local steam company. Such an object it most desirable, and we wish its promoters every success.

The Wakatip Mail says—ln his speech the member for Mount Ida said : “He need not say much on general taxation. Sir George Grey was pledged to equalise that. For the working man’s shilling, we must have the idler’s pound. There were plenty of men amassing five or ten thousand a year, who paid less taxation than very many in that hull that night The rich land proprietor must bear his fair burden.” We can cap his statement (says the Saturday Advertiser) by mentioning one landowner —Mr Clark, of Moa Flat —who has let bis estate and flock for £20,000 a year, and who does not pay one farthing towards our taxes.

The Napier Telegraph says —A number of Uriwera natives lately arrived in Napier on a visit to Tareha. These natives come from the heart of the wildest parts of this Island, and have very little communication with European settlements. Some of them went to the railway station, and for the first time in their lives saw a locomotive engine and train. Their astonishment was most amusing to witness. Information fromJßerlin is to the effect that Bismark is determined to break up the French Exposition. To accomplish this he will urge Russia to demand impracticable terms, so as to necessitate English interference. Germany will then send a force to aid Russia. France, he believes, would not bo able to resist this opportunity to attack Germany, whereat he would turn on France and complete the work begun in the Franco-Prussian Avar, and which did not IcaA’O Franco sufficiently,broken to suit Germany.