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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 379, 4 December 1878, Page 2

We understand that a number of gentlemen have agreed to meet this morning to consult on matters which it is desirable should he brought before the Hon. the Native 'Minister.

Wo understand that the prayer of Waverley petitioners has been acceded to. The Hon. Mr Sheehan promised that K.M. sittings should he held there. We understand that tiie first sitting of the Waverley Court will be held by C. A. Wray,Esq. R.M., on Wednesday, the 18th of the present month, and every third Wednesday afterwards. The Clerk of the Court will attend on the 11 th, but business will commence on tho 18th.

The publication of “ Victims” letter would most likely be followed by an action for libel, as tho remarks would tend directly to damage the “ local industry” referred to.

At last sitting of the Patea County Council Mi King gave notice of motion for next meeting—“ That the metalled road through Hawera he taken over by the County Council as a main line of road.”

Mr John Thomas Blake, of Hawera, has been gazetted an Interpreter under the Native Lands Act.

Returns under the Education Act, for quarter ending the 30th September show for the Wanganui District: No. of schools 42, No. of Teachers 67, average attendance 1,874. The average attendance for quarter ending 30th Juno was 1,894. The total number of public schools in the colony is 741, total of Teachers 1,561, average attendance 47,864.

We regret to hear of a most cowardly piece of larrikinism which occurred between nine and ten o’clock last Friday night. It appears that on that evening Mr Hirst, with Mrs Hirst and the older branches of the family, wont on a friendly visit to a neighbor, after seeing the younger branches of the family safely ensconsed for the night. During their absence, three animals —we cannot call thorn boys—entered the premises and terrified the poor children shamefully—throwing boots, &c., through the windows, and doing: general mischief. We believe Mr Hirst is determined, at almost any cost, to find out and punish the miserable cowards, and he believes he is on the right scent. At tho sale of Carlyle E.M. reserve, quarter-acre section 6, being the third seaward from the main'road, was puchased for Mr Jacomb for £lO5. Mr Dale became a purchaser of the same section last week at £l4O, and will immediately have two buildings erected thereon, which are intended for business purposes. Judging by a piece of the bottom of the ketch Elizabeth, lately wrecked. at Kapiti, which we have been shown,’the wonder is she kept afloat so long. The bottom appears to have been completely honeycombed by insects. A little attention or tar would have kept it sound. Telegrams from Wellington mention the wreck of the ship Southminster, between Cape Campbell and Flaxbourne, from New York, having reapers and binders on board, and about 500 tons Yankee notions. Mr W. Dale will hold stock sale at his Patea Yards to-morrow. Tenders will be received to-day for booth by Normanby Sports Committee. Programme of sports now advertised.

On Sunday last as soon as the tide allowed her to float the s.s. Clyde, which had discharged the previous day, steamed away from Hirst’s wharf. The heavy fresh which has, been coming down the river the last few days having washed away much of the head of the sand spit at the entrance, the steamer was enabled To steer a straighter course to sea than has for some time past been possible. In about a quarter of an hour (half-past one o’clock) ■she returned across the bar with the ketch Agnes in tow, an 1, as seen from an eminence in line with the river, the course from the bar was much straighter than that taken by the steamer on going out, which showed a very considerable improvement in the channel, which, indeed, as judged by the inward course of the steamer and ketch, was but gently curving. On crossing the bar the Agnes headed promptly after tho steamer, and though the speed was very slow on account of the strong current making seawards, the Agnes was towed a safe distance inside the river, where she dropped anchor. The steamer again crossed the bar and in about ten minutes after hove in sight with the ketch Falcon in tow. The Falcon being a heavier boat than the Agnes, very slow progress was made, both wind and current being- against the two vessels. To drag tho ketch well acioss the bar the Clyde had to keep longer on the direct course from sea than when towing the Agnes, and appeared to have run hosrclii close to the river hank under the flagstaff. After a while she headed up towards the breakwater, —the Falcon did not respond but moved gently on till getting dangerously close to the river hank. The Clyde thou turned about, and aided by wind and current, the Falcon setting sail, the two went out to sea again, about a quarter of au hour after crossing inwards. A short time afterwards the Clyde hove in sight again, still having the Falcon in tow. The Falcon was too much for the Clyde to tow against the heavy fresh, and in spite of ail effort she was carried along very gently until she took ground about half way between the breakwater and the boulder bank. The highest praise is due to Capt. Bonner for the pluck and skill shown by him in handling the Clyde and in Lis efforts to set matters right. It was no fault of his that the Clyde was not powerful enough to make headway with a heavy boat in tow and in the face of a strong current. He had, therefore, to leave the ketch and proceeded to Wanganui. A gang of men started at six o’clock on Sunday evening, and took timber from the Falcon. Next morning she floated, but on attempting to haul the vessel against the strong current, tho line parted, and she had to remain until the next tide. In the afternoon about four o’clock she was got safely into the river. Captain Leslie, who has stuck pluckily to the Pa tea trade, has for some time past had a run of ill luck, having lost sails, chains, and anchors. Very much sympathy was expressed in Carlyle on the accident beingreported, tho skipper of the Falcon being highly esteemed. Tenders will be received until Friday, for works for the Hawera Road Board.

Creditors of Mr J. Lyttlo, of Kakaramea, will meet at the Court House, Carlyle, to-morrow.

Tho ketch Agnes, which arrived on Sunday, loft Havelock on the 27th of October, and experienced nothing but a succession of gales until about tho I7th 'of November, and had several times to take shelter under Kapiti. On tho 19th November she ran into Wanganui, where she lay till the 30lh. Then ran for Patea, arriving as above.

The ketch Falcon was towed to Milroy’s wharf on Tuesday morning by the s.s. Clyde on arrival of the latter about four o’clock from Wanganui. Captain Leslie expresses himself thankful for the exertions on his behalf made by Captain Bonner, and for the good service rendered by Captain Calvert (of the Agnes) and Ida crew. Also to the men engaged to lighten cargo who worked heartily and well. Captain Wood, the Pilot, rendered valuable aid from the time of the mishap till the vessel was safely moored within the river. The Insurance Agent (.Mr J. Hirst) was aboard all day Monday, but the extent of damage cannot be ascertained until the vessel lias been beached. Messrs Thomson and McGuire’s sale of the Norrnanby Extension attracted a large assemblage, the Hawera Town Hall being nearly full, and that too in spite of unfavorable weather. The block contains in all about 23 acres, and about 130 sections, not offered for sale at Hawera, have been advertised for sale in Wellington on the 9th instant, by T. K. McDonald & Co. At the rate sections were sold on Saturday the Block will realize about £B,OOO. Telegram was received in town Monday night that a son of Captain Bonner, of the s.s. Clyde, had been drowned shortly after the steamer left Wanganui on Mondaj* afternoon. Mr Sharp and MrT, W. Ferry left Wanganui in a conveyance on Monday night, expecting to roach Patea about four o’clock on Tuesday morning, to break the news to Captain Bonner,. and return with him at once to Wanganui. The bad roads delayed them by the way, and they did not reach here until seven o’clock. It was then resolved to return all together by the steamer. It appears that the two boys bad gone to see the Clyde aw a}', and afterwards stayed to play near the wharf, when the eldest, a fine little fellow of about eight years, to whom the father was much attached, fell into the water and was drowned. Flags on the vessels in harbor, at flagstaff, and about town, were halfmast during the day, as a mark of sympathy and respect for Captain Bonner. The "body of the boy was recovered, but too late to restore animation.

The Manawatu Herald , which strongly opposes the establishment of a ’High School at Wanganui, which it argues will be no benefit to country districts, but a great source of weakness, is very sanguine of the good results which would follow the adoption of a pi-oposition which will be moved by Mr Sanson at the next meeting of the Education Board, which reads as follows : —“ That in tho opinion of this Board, where any school committee shall make arrangements with the head master for instructing a class in the higher branches of education, as set forth in clauses 55 and 56 of the Education Act, 1877, during the fifth and subsequent hours of "each school day, as provided by the regulations of this Board, such school and class shall-be a fit and proper place in the meaning of caluse 61 of said Act, for any successful competitors for the Board’s scholarships to attend, and receive instruction in such subjects, up to the value of any scholarships obtained.” Should the motion not carry, our contemporary says: —“The very best thing Manawatu and Kangitikei can do will be to throw off the shackles of_ Wanganui centralism and demand separation.’"