The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 382, 14 December 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1878.

- School inspection was made by E. Foulis, Esq., Inspector for the Wanganui Education Board, at Whenuakura on Tuesday last, at Carlyle on Wednesday and Thursday, ana at Kakaramea yesterday. We have not yet bad opportunity of inspecting the tables of results. The Civil Commissioner (Major Brown), Mr Williams, Honi Pibaraa, and others of the party which accompanied the Hon Mr Sheehan southwards from Patea, returned to Carlyle yesterday. Foresters are requested to meet on Wednesday next at Carlyle. At a teachei’s meeting on Wednesday night, it was determined to hold the annual Wesleyan Sunday-school treat on Boxing Pay, at Kakaramea. ■ The commotion amongst the natives on this coast appears to be working to a head. Numbers of mounted natives, evidently iron, far places, have been passing northwards through Carlyle during the week. The native settlements between Carlyle and Hawera have furnished their quota, very many being met en route bag and baggage tor toe North. We cannot, of ci. am*, say what the meaning of this nioi'ejuent is—it may be only an extraordinary consultation. M> after consultation with a few friends, has been canvassing for the names of settlers willing to form a Cavalry' Corps at Patea. From the number of names given in, several of whom are old cavalry men, the movement looks like being successful. A meeting will be held to consider the matter in detail, this evening, at the Albion Hotc'.

A big roll up of Havverans is called for Monday evening, in the Town Hall, for the purpose of taking steps to have the District Land Office removed to Hawera. The notice convening the meeting is very influentially signed, and we have no doubt but what the response will be hearty. Hawera is noted for its go-aheadism, and we rather, suspect that the people have been stirred to action through the shortsighted greediness of Taranaki people in desiring to have sale of Waimate Plains land held there, instead of at Hawera or Carlyle, as suggested by us.

The s.s. ‘ Clyde arrived off Patea River about seven o’clock last night, and was expected to enter the river on the tide at ten o’clock. Of the £BOO voted by the General Assembly for prizes to be divided amongst Volunteer Corps, according to nominal strength on the 31st October, 1878, £ll has been allotted to Taranaki ; £25 18s to Wanganui; £9 18s to Rangitikei; and £4l 17s to Wellington. In acknowledging the receipt of copy of Willis’ Wanganui Almanack and Directory from the local Agent (Mr W. Dale), we are pleased to note a very considerable improvement in the get tqa and arrangement of the varied and useful information which the Almanack contains We understand that the whole work has been compiled and printed at the Caxton Office, and we must say it is a credit to the town of Wanganui, as well as to the printer.Horsey men and others in the Wairoa District are of opinion that it is time a Jockey Club was formed, and that they should have a race meeting for themselves. The question will be considered at the Wairoa Hotel, Waverlcy, on Tuesday evening next.

At the Carlyle Court, on Thursday before C, A.Wray, Esq., E.M., John Lyttlo, was summoned by Sergeant Whelan for a Breach of the Sale of Liquors Ordinance in selling on the 14th November without a license. Fined 10s and costs 9s, witness 10s, horse hire 10s. Mr Crornbie, a coraraisstoner under the Land Tax Department, arrived at Patea, from Wellington, on Wednesday, for the purpose of arranging districts and appointing Valuators for Patea County. From Waitotara to Patea River, including the Town of Carlyde, Waverlcy, and Waitotara, as also the 2Glh and Wairoa Road Boards, will form one district. From Patea River to Waingongora, including 24th and 25th Road Districts, will form another district. In the latter are included the townships of Kakaramca, Woodville, Manutahi, Mokoia, Hawera, Normanby, and Ohawe. Mr Crornbie left yesterday for Hawera, whence he will proceed to Taranaki. We lately called attention to the general unsuitableness of the Post and Telegraph Office buildings at Carlyle—cramped, inconvenient, and quite unfit for the present requirements of the town and district, and that patching had been carried on to such an extent that the only way properly to meet present wants was .to replace the old by entirely new buildings. A petition is now in the hands of Mr D. M. Harris, at the Institute, for signature, calling the attention of the PostmasterGeneral to this and other matters in connection with the Post-office requiring attention.

A Carlyleite, at the Bazaar on Thursday night, bought up several tickets for the Christmas Tree at Gel each, and disposed o£ tho same immediately afterwards, at a profit of Gd a ticket, which he carefully placed in his own pocket. There appears to bo an idea that Kimble Bent cannot bo taken up and punished for deserting from his colors. How unfounded this idea is will be obvious to any one who takes a little pains to consider the question. Bent has committed an offence against the laws that he enroled under for service, and tike other offences against our laws, he cannot be relieved of the penalty be has incurred, even by the Queen herself, until he liao been tried. She can then exercise the prerogative of mercy, should she see fit to do so. The idea that ho cannot be punished, arises mainly, we think, from the fact that when the Imperial troops left the colony, all the rewards offered for the apprehension of deserters were cancelled. Mr Cowern will sell site of Normanby school teachers residence to-day at Hawera.

Mr Dale will soli timber and blacksmiths tools at his mart, Carlyle, to-lay.

Tenders for additions to the Albion Hotel, Carlyle, will bo received to-day.

Tenders for the lease of 300 acres will be received by Mr Dale to-day.

The Taranaki News in an article on the late cattle show, and to the necessity of keeping up the flesh of cattle in winter, says ;—Swede turnips are of easy cultivation, and if the best seed be obtained their growth is enormous. Perhaps there is no place in the world so well adapted to their cultivation as this, the produce here being from 40 to 50 tons per acre. With a , few acres of these valuable roots a farmer may laugh at the winter, his cattle may abound in food all the year round, and not as now feast during certain months and fast during the others, and now be in a state of obesity and anon in a state of leanness.

The working men of Wellington are taking - active measures to induce Government to prevent a large influx of Chinese to New Zealand. A petition has been drawn up setting forth the disadvantages in very plain terms, copies of which are being circulated throughout the colony for signature, to be afterwards piesented to Parliament.

The Union Steam Shipping Company have undertaken to convey competitors to the prize firing to be held at Nelson, under the auspices of the New Zealand Eifle Association, at half the usual rate of fares.

There is a lot of buying and selling by weights and measures within the Patea County, and j r et there are no standard weights and measures to test if the right weight or measure is being given. Of course the country raakers-up of butter would not think of robbing the townsfolk of even fractions of an ounce, nor would . town tradesmen be guilty of playing off against the country people by giving short weight or measure in articles purchased. In any case there are no means of testing in either one case or the other. We think for the satisfaction of tradesmen and for the protection of all parties, an occasional inspection of weights and measures should be made, and for that purpose Standard ■weights and measures should be provided.

Having secured the services of a Firstclass Tradesman of large experience, J, Cunningham can confidently assure his already numerous customers, that all orders entrusted to him will be executed with neatness and despatch. Boots repaired on the premises.— Advt. H66

The Eangitikei Advocate has been enlarged to the size of the Wellington morning papers, and will in future be published three times a week’ The step just taken is solid evidence of the wonderful progress that district has made during the last few years.

“ Barracoota,” who writes under the heading of “ Beach Combings,” in the Wanganui Herald , is hot on Kimble Bent. He happens to bo a little out in some, points, particularly so as regards the feelings entertained by the natives towards Bent, as he would no doubt discover did lie venture to say before some of them what he has written : “ After a lapse of years we hear again of an arch scoundrel in the person of Kimball Bent, who deserted over to the enemy during the last outbreak on this coast, and thereby rendered himself liable to the punishment of death should he again fall into the hands of his countrymen. The fellow has been m ire than suspected of taking an active part in the destruction of life and property which.took place at and after the time of his desertion. For him to now assert he never took part in those atrocities is simply a piece of pure impudence, and I feel sure that whenever he does fall into the hands of the Government he will be dealt with in strict conformity to the merits of his crime. In the meantime ins protectors seem to be getting anxious that ho should “ seccesh” again and go to the side he so basely deserted from ten years since ; they arc sick of such a worthless scoundrel, and think it is high time they were quit of him. He will find there is no “ statue of limitations” for such crimes as his, and that whether he remains in his present distasteful state of semi-slavery, or gives himself up to be dealt with according to the laws of his own countrymen, he will be looked upon as infamous and unworthy of consideration.

The Oamaru Mail sa} r s :—“ A seam of pottery clay of a vrey superior class exists in St. Andrew’s Guliy, near the coal-pit. It is very hard, compact, and fine in grain, and of a bluish color, and has been tested in Dunedin, and is slated to be equal to any English production for the manufacture of ware.”

The Canterbury Times while satisfied that the Volunteers, as evidenced by the late review in Dunedin, are moderately effective, says that, in face of the gloomy aspect of European affairs, they are not numerically strong enough, and suggests the calling out of the militia for service for a few weeks in the year. The New Zealander says —His Excellency the Marquis of Normanby, has been appointed Governor of Victoria. He is expected to be in Melbourne to attend to his duties by the end of January next. There was a rumor in the air on Friday, that His Excellency, the present Governor of New South Wales, Sir Hercules Robinson, would be the successor of Lord Normanby in this colony. His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to form the Volunteer Artillery Corps into an Administrative Battalion, under the title of The New Zealand '•Regiment of Volunteer Artillery. There are 10 batteries in the colony.

There are about 300 names on the roll of the Working Men’s Club, in Auckland. Application has been made under the Patents’ Act, by Horatio Bunting, of Christchurch, for an invention “ for reaping a standing crop, making bands of straw, and binding the same therewith into sheaves.” Also by William Andrews and J. N. Thomas, of Christchurch, for improvements in hedge clipping machines, to be worked by steam or horse power.