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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 357, 18 September 1878, Page 2

The Public Works Estimates \vere_ circulated in the Assembly on Friday night, a summary of the same being published in New Zealander next morning, from which we cull the following -.—The total expenditure is set down as £2,222,067 18s 9d, as against £2,293,740 9s 9d voted the previous year, including for immigration, £162,073; public works,departmental, £17,611 13s4d; railways, £1,176,500; surveys of new lines of railways, £20,500; roads, £106,612 8s lid; land purchase, North Island, £150,918 3s 6J; waterworks on goldfields, £52,85055; telegraph extension, £29,700; public buildings £241,305; miscellaneous public works, £214,397 8s; charges and expenses of raising' mans, £30,000; lighthouses, £19,600. The sum set down for Napier-Manawatu railway is £72,000, of which £/o,rb3 is Dtiug ujji iiitai L'ui land cunt construction, and the balance for departmental expenditure. £150,000 is appropriated for the Wellington-Woodville lino, £147,787 being for land and construction. The estimate for the Waitara-Patea lino is £55,000 —construction of land being £53,813; Patea-Manawatu North, £130,000 —construction and land, Xiie amount set down for surveys of new lines in the North Island is £6,000, and for the Middle Island, £14,500. In the vote appropriated under the heading ‘ roads,’ the sum of £13,500 is set apart for roads to open up lands before sale in Wellington. Opening up roads and constructing bridges through land recently purchased, (North Island), £15,000 ; extra expenses, Native Land Court, £5,000 ; purchase of land and expenses, £130,168 3s 6d. £IOO,OOO is the sum estimated for school buildings throughout the colony.

The following items are on the Estimates for 1878-9, now before the Assembly,under the heading Law and Justice;—Carlyle and Hawera—Resident Magistrate and Sheriff (also Land Officer, £2OO, and traveling expenses, £54 15s), £2OO ; Clerk (also Clerk District Court, £3O), £l2O : travelling allowance, £5415s ; Bailiff, &c., £100; Interpreter(a!so Contingent Defence, £52), £52; travelling allowance, £2G; Office Cleaner, &c., £24. Postal — Hawera (also telegraphist, £115), £BO ; Manutahi South (also telegraphist, £135), £2O; Opnnake (also telegraphist, £135), £10; Patca (also telegraphist, £135), £7O; telegraph cadet, Carlyle, £9O ; Harbour Master and Pilot, Patea, (also Inspector of sheep, £25), £100; Land Office, Patea, £200; Clerk, £B7 10s. Tenders for building will be received by Mr Morecroft, Hawera, until to-morrow. Tenders for bush falling at Stratford will be received by the Commissioner of Waste Lands, Taranaki, until 4 p.m. of Saturday next. Mr F. R. Jackson will hold his usual stock sale at Waverley on Friday next.

Messrs Thomson and McGuire’s sale of valuable building sites, Hawera, will be held on Saturday next. The ss Clyde arrived from Wanganui on Sunday last, and towed in the ketches Falcon and Wild Duck. Also towed the ketch Huon Belle to Milroy’s wharf from near the river’s mouth, whither she had been taken the previous Wednesday for an overhaul and repairs.

A favorable opportunity for relief is now afforded to all requiring the attention of a dentist by the presence in Wanganui of Mr J. Greenwood, who may be consulted at Messrs Williamson and Co.’s, chemists, Victoria Avenue. Mr J. S. Capstick, Wanganui, having a few tickets still to dispose of for bis grand art union, solicits purchasers.

The N.Z. Times of the 14th instant, publishes a full and corrected report of Major Atkinson’s speech on the second reading of the Land Tax Bill.

On Sunday afternoon last a new-comer, Mr J. Hill, in ruling out towards Kakaramea, got thrown from his horse. Until examination by Dr Warren proved otherwise it was feared the collar-bone was broken, the hurt being so painful. The out-cry for timber is stimulating Messrs J. Hudson, Guy & Co., who are starting a saw mill at Kakaramea to action. The bad state of the roads has rendered it impossible for them to get their 14 horsepower engine brought up from Wanganui, so, with a view of saving time and getting to work early, they are arranging to get the engine brought direct to Patea from Nelson. They have also ordered, and are expecting delivery shortly, of first-class planing and moulding machinery, by McDowell & Sons, of Dunedin. The machine will be capable of plaining 16 inches by 4£ inch, and is made extra strong for colonial work. All iron work for the mill is being made at the Phoenix Foundry, Wellington, and no time will be lost in getting the same here and in position. All requisits for the supply of timber for building purposes are therefore coming, and Patea district will soon be in the position of being able to supply from within itself timber for building purposes. We understand that the timber of this district is of a more durable nature than that usually imported-

The Assembly was occupied on Monday night, until 2 a.m., in committee on the Electoral Bill. The women franchise was dost by 36 to 28 votes. The two years residential clause, was retained , against proposed amendments shortening the term, by 34 to 16 votes:" The two years residential clause applies equally to property and nOn-property holders, Messrs McLean and Broadbent have purchased the premises and stock of Mr W. J. Furlong, Havvera, and intend trading from the Ist October, on the principle of “ good goods at low prices.” At the R.M. Court, Cailyle, yesterday, before Dr Croft, and F. C. Baddclcy, Esq., J.P.’s, George Knowles was charged by Constable Burrows, of Waverley, vith stealing a bottle of brandy valued at ss. Prisoner was committed to Wanganui gaol for one month.

The hon Mr Holmes, speaking in the Legislative Council on the 11th instant, said —The farming interest required con-’ sidoration, for it was most undoubtedly the most important interest in the country. In a few years the grain produce alone would be 60,000,000 bushels a year.

On the 11th instant, a committee of the whole House was formed to consider of a respectful address to bo presented to His Excellency the Governor, requesting that provisions may lie made for the payment to Road Boards of one-third of all moneys that have accrued or may accrue on account of the sale of land on deferred payment within any Road Board district since the passing of the Land Act, 1877, whether such lands v'ere purchased prior to the passing of the Act of 1877 or not. This resolution, in a somewhat amended form, was ordered to be referred to the Waste Lands committee.

Mr Beetham moved in the Assembly— That an Engineering Department should be organised to act in conjunction with the Survey Department, engineering survey to precede sectional surveys to ensure the best lines of road being laid off through all Crown lands.

The Napier Telegraph, in concluding a series of articles on llie Public Works Statement in winch it shows how large has been the expenditure on railways in the Middle Island as compared with the North Island, says—“ After a most careful perusal we have come back to our first conclusion, that it is the worst, the baldest, and most partial Public Works Statement that in this oolony has ever been put forth.”

Goldsborough’s Melbourne Circular, of 2nd September, reports favorably of first instalments of this season’s wool, from the Riveriua district. From cable reports of August sales in London, a prosperous year is anticipated, “ with plenty of competition in the colony for all the wool that can be offered.”

The Amended Juries Bill proposes that militia officers shall be required to serve on juries. The only exceptions proposed, arc Bank managers. The Wellington Special correspondent to the Napier Telegraph , wired on tholUlh instant—“ Some robberies have been committed by Maoris on settlers at Opnnake, and after securing their booty, the thieves lied to Te Wbiti, the Maori prophet, for shelter and protection. Te Whiti declined to give them cither, and drove them from his settlement, and told them they must look out for themselves and expect no mercy if caught. The Government have forwarded instructions to have the culprits followed and arrested.”

Telegrams received last night froinWellington as to business in the Assembly during the afternoon, mention that several petitions re Education Act had been presented by Catholics.—An amendment is to be moved in the Electoral Bill to prevent votes being given for more than one district.—Government promised to consider during recess the laying out of towns by private persons.—Consideration of the Electoral Bill occupied the remainder of the sitting.—An amendment to exclude female ratepayers from voting was rejected by 41 to 23.—1n clause as to persons eligible for election to the' House of Representatives women were excluded.

The September issue of the “New Zealand Country Journal ” to hand, contains as usual a large quantity of miscellaneous information invaluable to persons engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits. Under the [leading of Sporting Notes, horsey men will find very useful information.

A general meeting of shareholders of the Hawera District Building and Investment Society is announced for Friday evening. The shares have been freely applied for. All interested should attend.

“The New Zealand Stud Book of Draught Horses ” is the title of a book which will shortly be published under the auspices of the Canterbury Agricultural Association. Mr Robert Wilkin, the compiler, announces that the book will contain nearly 400 entries. The ss Clyde is announced to arrive at Patea and take her departure again to-day.

Mr E. J. Morgan, who lately sold has Woodland’s farm, has succeeded in purchasing 1,400 acres of open land in the Urenui district, Taranaki, from Mr H. J. Honeyfield. For a neighbor he will have Mr Dickie, who, on selling out at Waverley, purchased land at Urenui. We understand that Canterbury men are investing in farms around New Plymouth. Taranaki wants a lot of new blood to shake them up and out of their sluggishness. Pigs, owners unknown, rooted up and destroyed, on Monday night, half a ton of potatoes on Mr James Clague’s property, Whenuakura.