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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 314, 20 April 1878, Page 2

Yesterday being a general holiday, no telegrams were went through from Wellington.

Wo arc informed by telegram from Now Plymouth, that tiie drawing of pnzos on the Art Union principle, for subscribers to the Taranaki Budget, resulted in the prizes being well distributed over the provincial district. Mr J. Eawkin, Kakaramea, drew prize for picture <l The Young Artist’s First Work.” Mr J. Miiroy drew “ Sky Terrier ” after Landseer.

A Press Agency telegram of the 12th instant says —Mr Dickson leaves Auckland shortly, to superintend the Carterton contract on the Wellington and Mastcrt.on railway, and resigns bis seat in the Borough Council.” Mr Dickson is the gentleman whose tender for the Patea Breakwater was accepted. He should arrive here by coach to-day.

John Knowles, Esq., Under-Secretary Public Works Department, who is now making a tour of the coast from Wellington to New Plymouth, was in Carlyle on Wednesday last, and part of Thursday, and availed himself of the opportunity of seeing the site of the proposed Palea Breakwater.

Ilural land in the Otoia-Opaku Block lately offered for sale, and which did not find purchasers, will bo open for selection on and after the 11th May. .Miss Leaf, the celebrated Vocalist, and Mr Heed, the great Instrumentalist and Comic Vocalist, whose performances were so favorably reported on by the Wanganui Press, will appear at Waverley this evening ; at Carlyle on Monday and Tuesday ; and at Ilawera on Thursday and Friday next.

Tradesmen at Hawera have agreed to close their establishments at eight o’clock every evening, except Saturdays. The sale of 606 sections of Government land in the provincial district of Wellington, will take place on Tuesday nest, the 23rd instant, at Wellington. The land comprises sections in the Hutt, Ohaviu, Pahautanui, Manawatu, Wanganui, Featherston, and Mauriccville Districts. Also, the Township of Carnarvon, Lower Ferry, Eaiigitikei, which has been sub-divided into Town and Suburban Sections. Volunteer scrip may bo exercised in the purchase of any land included in the above sale.

The Rev P. W. Fail-dough, Wesleyan Minister appointed by Conference for Patea, arrived at Carlyle, on Wednesday last. The rev. gentleman preached at Wanganui on Sunday last, and will commence duty here to-morrow. The Rev T. Gf. Hammond, who passed through Carlyle a few day ago, in single blessedness, left New Plymouth for his new preaching station at Hokiangai, on the 11th instant, accompanied by bis wife, having been married on the 9th instant, to the eldest daughter of Dr G. St. George, of New Plymouth.

• Mr J. Lyttle, of Kakaramea, has revised his list of charges for blacksmithing and wheelwrighting work, as will be seen by new advertisement.

We call attention to business notice of Mr C. H. Beresford, Nonuanby.

Census returns for Patea County are a long time showing’ up. Such long delay will make the agricultural, returns practicalls useless. We have been given to understand that the population of Carlyle is over 000, and that the population of the County is nearly 3,000. Hope comfct returns will soon be available.

Yesterday (Good Friday) was observed as a close holiday at Carlyle. Shops we;e all closed and tradesmen took the opportunity, with their families, of plcnicing or visiting country friends. Of course the unfortunate newspaper fellows were hard at work all day. Post-oflice was closed, and Sunday hours observed in Telegraph Department. It is stated that Mr F. Hunger has refused £350 for town section at Norm an by. Look's as if properly was being valued in that locality. The building on the section is of small value.

Mr Jones, blacksmith, &c,, Carlyle, having met with fair encouragement, has determined to erect commodious business promises near the Bank of New Zealand, Carlyle. This gentleman lately made new elevators for Messrs Stevenson and Co.’s threshing machine, and effected other repairs which gave general satisfaction, and spoke well for his capabilities as a workman. ,

The residence of Mr John Burke, farmer, Kakararnoa, was burned to the ground on Thursday morning' last, nothing but the chimney now remaining standing- Mrs Burke was Jast to retire on Wednesday night, and took the precaution, as usual, to extinguish the fire. About lour o’clock on Thursday morning, the family were aroused by a crash in the kitchen. Getting up to see what was the matter, the kitchen was found to be all ablaze., The children and other inmates, were at once hurried out. It was impossible to save anything in the back part of the dwelling. Some few aitides of furniture and belongings were saved from the front rooms. A few minutes later, and it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to have rescued sleepers in the back part of the house. The loss is estimated at TICK) —no insurance. The wind was blowing strong at the time, hut in-a direction away from the barn and other outbuildings. [n the barn were about 100 sadcs grass seed and newly threshed oats. On settlers becoming aware of the disaster, ready help was offered. Efforts to extinguish the fire wove futile. All to be done was to save few things which could be reached handily. The family will locate temporarily in one of the outbuildings. It is believed the lire must have originated with the chimney.

The eutc!tainment in aid of: the Kakarainoa Town Hall, which took place on Thursday evening, pro veil thoroughly successful. Visitors were present from Whcnuaknra and Carlyle on the one side and Manutahi on the other. Woodville was represented in force as weli as Ivaka ramca. Entertainment and dancing committees were appointed, and the arrangements appear to have been carried out well. So many able and willing workers voluntarilly stepped forward to aid in any way required, that it would be difficult to know who to award chief credit. Mr E. M. Chapman ■was assiduous in his attention to the musical portion of the programme: other members of both committees were also attentive to their self imposed duties. The young blood had partitioned a portion of the hall off for stage, fitted up a showy curtain—a sort of drop-scene, which worked admirably—and bad decorated the Hall with taste. The tinkling of bell, followed by rising of curtain, disclosed raised platform, piano, chairman, and decorations at back and sides- comprising British Ensigns and other van-colored flags, artificial and natural flowers and evergreens, and other adornments, the whole being well lighted up with reflector lamps. The best efforts of all the workers (without disparagement to said workers) proved dim and nisli-light like in contrast with the fair ladies, fashionably and tastefully attired, who occupied fully one half of the space allotted to the audience. .The Hal! was full.’ Henry Williamson, Esq., occupied the chair, and after the opening pianoforte overture, made a veiy short statement of Hall affairs. Some few expected performers were unable to keep their engagements, but a good programme of events was efficiently gone through, Carlyle and Kakaramea amateur talent being well represented and heartily received—honors about equally divided. A number of performances wore encored: some calls were not responded to,, others though shied at could not be resisted. The comic songs and recitations were all enthusiastically applauded. The instrumental duet (violin and piano) had to be repeated, also the sweetly sung song, “I love my love.” There was not the slightest show of flagging interest throughout. The first part being over, the audience cleared out while seating and temporary stage were removed preparatory to dancing. Hot coffee, tea, and other refreshments were provided under cover outside the Hall, thus leaving all possible space for dancers. All being ready dancing commenced and was continued with zest till early in the morning—Passion Week notwithstanding. Thanks are due to the ladies who so ably presided at the piano, to violinist, vocal performers and all concerned, for the really enjoyable entertainment .given. The addition to the Hall funds should be i substantial. ,

Mr W. Dale will hold sale of merchandise and sundries, at his mart, Carlyle, today, at two o’clock.

From Parliamentary returns, the status of the four principal Orders of Friendly Societies in the Colony are shown to be : Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, 5,675 members ; Foresters, 3.523 ; Hibernian Society, 271 ; llechabites, 257. The ratio per cent of total expenditure to total revenue is : Oddfellows, G7*7 ; Foresters* 76 - 5 ; Hibernians, 93 - 2 ; Kechabites, 82’7. A Press Agency telegram dated Dunedin, April 18, says—A writ for £-2,000 was served yesterday on the proprietors of the Daily Times, at the instance of Mr C. 13. Haughton, for an alleged libel contained in a leading article in the Times of the loth March, and in a letter signed “ Morality ” which.appeared in last Tuesday’s issue of the same journal. The entries for the dog show at Christchurch, number 300, including dogs from Oamarn, Timaru Dunedin, and Nelson.

A Press Agency telegram, of the 17th instant from G-rahamstown, sayl—A digger arrived in town to-day from the Upper Thames with some very good coarse gold and two gold bearing specimens obtained front a new locality. He has shown the gold to the County authorities, with the intention of either claiming the gold reward or obtaining assistance from the County Prospecting Committee. Several parties prospecting are said to have obtained payable returns from alluvial or reef wash.

The following reply to a correspondent appeared in the Canterbury Times —The most profitable sheep to boil down are old ewes, as they yield much more fat in proportion to their weight than wethers. It is a great mistake to boil down poor sheep; the fatter they can be made before killing the better. A fairly fat merino ewe will yield from 12 to 201b of tallow ; and the cost of converting into tallow should not exceed Is per head, including the cost of packing boxes. We cannot speak positively as to the returns from cross-bred sheen, but think they would be at leastdouble the returns from merinos. The cost of converting would bo greater as they are mure bulky. It would be about Is fid per bead. The Canterbury Times says —A most exciting scene occurred at Cooper and Bailey’s menagerie and circus on Monday morning. In accordance with the general custom, some of the animals, secured with chains and stout collars, were taken out of their cages for exercise. Upon taking out the prairie wolf, the animal in some manner managed to' slip the collar over his head, and instantly there was a scene of the greatest confusion, the helpers climbing up poles and mounting on to the tops of cages to escape the chance of an ugly bite. For some time the efforts to secure the animal failed, but at last he rushed into the cooking tent, whore Mr Ayniar lassoed him very cleverly. The young fellow who has charge of the wolf then placed him in the cage, but as lie was attempting to pass a collar round In's neck he was bitten severely. He courageously endeavoured to grasp the wolf with his other hand, when in a moment that also was bitten, and with equal severity. It will he some little time before he loses his mementos of an exciting chase.

The Taranaki Herald of the 12th instant says —Judge Fenton, of the Native Land Court, arrived here yesterday by the steamer from Auckland, for the purpose of hearing a number of native claims. The Court was hold in the Institute, and was opened this morning’. The Civil Commissioner (Major Brownj and Mr Parris were present in .Court. There was a large number of natives present, who were well dressed in European garments, and who sat and listened to the evidence of each case as it was taken down, and who were quiet and orderly during the whole of the tedious proceeding. We shall give a resume of the cases as they are proceeded with, in future issues.

The Canterbury Times says —In his address on Thursday, Dr Somerville referred with some feeling to the difficulties in which mothers who had babies were placed when they wanted to attend his Mission meetings. His difficulties in the Colonies were not equal to those encountered in an apostolic journey recorded in Holy Writ. He had not met with the troubles of Paul —mosquitos and babies bad been bis difficulties. No children in arms could be admitted, not that they did not want them — ho would kiss all the children—but he did not want them in a large assembly, where they were sure to disturb every one. Again, he bad had considerable audiences of dogs, and he hoped none of those would be permitted to find their way into the meetings. Dr Somerville intends to facilitate the observance of order, by appointing numerous enthusiastic young.men to be stewards, and it may be relied upon that those in Christchurch will hud abundance of open air accommodation for babies and dogs, though those in other places may have been unable to cope with the mosquitos.

The Grey River Argus says—We are informed that the Government have constituted the whole of the West the Heapy Paver, in the north, to Jackson’s Bay in the south, one police district, to he placed under Mr Inspector James, who is now on his wav north to make the necessary arrangements forthe transfer of police buildings and property.

Tenders for erection of store for Mr J Gibson, Carlyle, will bo received to-day.

Mr F. R. Jackson’s usual stock sale will take place at Wavorlcy to-day.