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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 390, 11 January 1879, Page 2

Perseverance brings its own reward Wanganui people appear to be very persevering in the matter of securing slices of Patca land as endowments. There is now every prospect of tl ei; perseverance being'rewarded. Wanganui is about to get £IO,OOO worth of Momahaki land for High School purposes. With the advantage Wanganui possesses of having a Member of the Ministry who is a hearty worker for its good, though not actually represen ling Wanganui, it appears readily able to obtain aid for roads, £3,000 voted and banded over promptly—Patca portion of same vote still unobtainable. 'Wanganui obtained land for Harbor .Endowments in plenty, and with promptness—Patea’s application at the same time for a very small endowment, and in spite of most persevering effort on the part of the Chairman of the Harbour Board, refused, and its settlers almost rebuked for presuming to ask. Wanganui asked for permission to pick tiie eyes ns it were out of the only block of open and superior Government land in the County south of the Patea River for an endowment for the special benefit of the Town of Wanganui : application favorably entertained and on the point of being granted until strong representations from Patea against the confiscation led to hesitancy in acceding to the request. The visit of the Native Minister was taken advantage of by the Patea deputation to represent the injustice ot proposed confiscations of Patea land, especially after the treatment of the northern part of the County by Mr Macandrow. The Native Minister seemed to appreciate the position, and entered his protest against the proposed taking of Momahaki land for the benefit of Wanganui. The Native Minister is now and has ever since his visit to Patea, been overwhelmed with work. During his busyness Wanganui encroacbors have taken fresh heart, have applied and are about to get £IO,OOO of Momahaki land. We would just point out that there are but about 6,000 acres of open and superior quality land in the Momahaki Block. There are certainly 12,000 acres of excellent partly clear and bush laud, the remainder being ordinavilly good. It is the pick of the land Wanganui wants. And it is the pick of the land Wanganui is about to obtain. Throwgji, we presume, the good offices of the friend at Court, and who was found voting against the Patea Harbor Bill—session before last. We think it high time, a Vigilance Committee was formed for Patea County with representatives in each centre of population. Unless we are misinformed steps in this direction have already been taken. It is high time too. Patea is awkwardly circumstanced, situated as it is at the fag end of two Provincial Districts, and being divided, so far as representation in Parliament is concerned, between two Electoral Districts, the members for which are not resident in, do not appreciate, and are probably lukewarm towards Patea wants, may in fact look upon Patea in the light of a pest, always craving for things out of reach or to which it has no right. Patea wants can only be properly appreciated and represented by Pateans; and, lacking a local Parliamentary Representative, it should have a Vigilance committee, with a capable and trusty man as delegate or medium of communication with Government. The present contemplated, almost assented to seizure, should hurry on those in favor of forming a Vigilance Committee.

Since the above was in type wo have obtained more positive information as to

the contemplated handing' oyer to Wanganui of Mom ah ald land. The Chairman of the Patea County Council haying been apprised of what was being done, came specially to Carlyle yesterday, and after inquiry and consultation with a member of the Council, despatched the following tele-gram : Carlyie, January 10, IST9. J. G. Holdsworlh, Commissioner Waste Lands, Wellington. I am informed that you intend to set aside land in tin’s County for Wanganui High School'.' Please inform me by wire if this is true. ' Awaiting reply. F. McGuire, Chairman County Council. From the tenor of the reply below it will be seen that Mr McGuire was not too soon in making the inquiry he did : Wellington, Jnnuaiy, 10, 1879. Chairman County Council, Patea. Section not yet determined. Collecting information for guidance of Land Board. J. G. Holds worth, Chief Commissioner Lands. The following telegram was also despatched to the Hon. Mr. Stout Carlyle, January 10, 1879. The Hon, Minister of Lands, Wellington, I have been informed that it, is the intention of the Government to set aside land in the" M omabaki Block, or somewhere else within this Comity, for the purpose of endowing the Wanganui High School, under danse 15 of “Tiio Wanganui High School Act, 1878.” Kindly inform me explicitly and in detail of the present intention of Government in this matter. Awaiting reply.

F. McGuire, Chairman County Council. The following reply from Government is, if anything, corroborative evidence of the intention to seize Pa tea land. Cautiously worded though it is, the intention is nnniistakeahie : Wellington, January 10, 1870. F. McGuire, Ksq., Chairman Patea County Council, Pa tea or Ha warn. The Hon. Mr Balhmcc directs mo to say with reference to your telegram, Government have come to no decision as to Retting aside land for Wanganui High School. Deserves will probably bo s>-*i aside in the Provincial District of Wellington, inclusive of the M.omahaki Block, for secondary education, but not for the Wanganui High School in particular. CiIARf.ES M. Cuombie. Wo should think the above will bo sufficient to commend our opening remarks to readers, and show the necessity for action, Mr McGuire, by his presence in Carlyle yesterday, has shown how fully alive iie is to the necessity for prompt action, ami we have to thank him for famishing copies of the above telegrams.

The following telegram has been kindly handed «v«i iw puniication.—Jlami'ion, January 10th, 18/0 —G, F. Sherwood, ivsq , Patea.—Drawings and spccilieations for Patea Gaol now r,.v!v. Gust. -‘"GilO. Will decide matter on my return—J. Siieeiiax.” Sub-Inspector P.niivn, A.C. Force, who was lately put in charge of the Taranaki Police District, paid hi-; lirst visit to Patea this week. Judging by his appearance, as well as by the great 'mange from strife and lawlessness to orderliness ami safety which followed his appointment to the Thames, Mr Buller is the proper man for for Taranaki at the presmu. somewhat threatening times. By making himself thoroughly acquainted with the district and its requirements, and wc believe this is the object of In's present visit, ho will be in a position to advise as to new buildings, the disposition of the Force, &e., and to act should emergency arise. We may venture to hint that, additions to (he Force at, or at townships near Carlyle are now lesirable.

The ketch Agnes sailed out of the Patea IMver on Wednesday last, though the wind might have been blowing from a more favourable quarter. Using of light draught, she was not forced to keep to the now voiy crooked channel, but was enabled to cross over the points of the sand spits. The Wild Duck was ready, hut as she draws more water, she will he compelled to keep to the channel, and will therefore have to await a more favourable opportunity. Wo regret that more rapid progress is not being made with the breakwater. The want of timber, has hindered tho construction of a hopper barge, which is required fur use. and which should have been now ready for service. The timber, we understand, is not yet all on tho ground. We regret to see the host season of the’ year slipping away, with hut little show of the work of construction progressing. As will he soon by adve-rtisoment the sixth ordinary Concert of the Carlyle Harmonic Society will he held on the 22nd instant. The music to he performed consists of Mozart’s glorious music of the Twelfth Mass, which we fee! sure will he' appreciated by tho public. Tho second part consists of some very attractive glees, trios, duetts, solos, and instrumental music of a lively character. As an additional attraction the society intend presenting extra tickets at tho door to every person who attends, which will be consecutively numbered, and a drawing on the Art Union principle will take place afterwards—prizes to consist of a telephone and other useful articles, so wo may reasonably expect a crowded house. The Committee of tiie Patea Mutual Improvement Society were to meet last night for the purpose of arranging a programme for the coming winter.

The following cases wore heard at Carlyle, on Wednesday, before Ur Croft, and H. F. Christie, Esq., J.P.’s. M. McCarthy v F. O.’S. McCarthy. Claim £l3 IGs. Judgment for plaintiff for £6 0s 9d, and costs 255. W. A. G-. Winchcomb vD. Taylor. Claim, £3 9s. Judgment for plaintiff for amount claimed and costs 32s,including witness, 20s. Two other cases were withdrawn. On Friday, before C. A. Wray,.Esq., R.M., D. Smith v J. Woods, judgment summons for £9 11s. Ordered to he paid in monthly instalments of £l, commencing on the Ist February, or in default or payment of any such instalment, to he imprisoned for one calender month. 11. Uickell v A. Wood. Claim, £6 10s. Judgment for plaintiff for £5 IGs Cd, and costs 15s, with solicitor’s fee, 21s. Messrs. McLean and Co., will hold stock sale at Hawera, on Tuesday next,.the 14th instant.

We understand that Mr G. F. Sherwood intends shortly to remove from Carlyle to another part of the District.

By the last English Mail we received a copy of De Bernardy’s Next of Kin Gazette , from 28 John-street, Bedford How, London, W. G. Under the heading of Australia and New Zealand, are about twenty-four persons lately advertised for. Mr It. B, Hamilton, of Manutahi, started on Tuesday to drive through the Mountain Track in a buggy with Ids family. We believe he is the first to face tliis groat undertaking, and hope no inquest will bo required. The following telegram, received since the above was in type, shows that the journey has been successfully, accomplished, and that Mr Hamilton may claim the credit of being the first to travel the Mountain Road in a private conveyance, the mail coach having only made two or throe trips before him. The telegram is dated Inglewood, January 9th, 3.80 p.m. and reads ;—“ Arrived hero at three o'clock with buggy Loin Normanhy. Road passable.— lt. D. Hamilton.” We sh-ill expect soon to hear of others following suit.

We understand that F. E. Hickson, Esq., Sheep Inspector, has issued clean certificates for the whole of their Hocks to Mr T. Mason and Mr J. Winks, both of Hawera.

Three rows are agate in New Plymouth at the present time, between 1st —The Commissioner of. Lands and the Receiver of Land Revenue ; 2nd—between the Harbor Board and its Engineer; 3rd—as to whom most credit is due for the successful floating of the steamer Haurald, which lately grounded at the entrance of the Waitara River. A little over two years ago, the Rev. Mr Isilt, Wesleyan Minister, with other goody goody people, insisted on stopping the proposed running of Sunday trains, or having a row about it. The fight was a long and bitter one. Judging by the following extract from a letter in the Herald., another storm is brewing—- “ Some time ago an attempt was made to ‘Top the running of trains on a Sunday o i religions grounds, and to stop young men amusing themselves by rowing boats o i a Sunday in the ornamental water in the Recreation Ground, and now an attempt is being made to dose the doors of the Reading-room on the only day in the week a working man has time to go there to read the papers." Wc beg to acknowledge receipt of a ropy of the Taranaki Almanac, price one .'-hilling, which contains Directory for New IV,-mouth, as also the Patea District, and other useful information. Mr Whelan and Mr Kenworthy have copies on sale. The following areas have been set apart a the Momahaki Wairoa survey District, We liugtou, for sale on deferred payments : —Block 8, section 2 — 105 acres 3 roods ; do do 4. 77a 1r ; do do 8, BGa Ir; do do 12, 128 a Ir. Block 9 section 2 182 a;do do 5, G2a Ir ;do do 6,122 a 2r; do do 7, oijoa ;do do 12,47 a2r ;do do 17, COa 3r ; dodo 18,56 a -Ir ; do 21, 80 2r ; do do 22, BSa 3r; do do 24, 5Ga Ir.

On account of a number of almost savace aCacks which have laieiy been made by Wellington and other papers mi the Hon. William Fox, charging him with writing Idlers and articles against I lie present Government for publication in Home and colonial newspapers, that gentleman has taken the trouble to avow that be knew nothing whatever of the particular articles or letters specially referred to until lie saw them in print and that he had never written a line for some of the papers to which ho was asserted to he a regular contributor. His ion,or which appears in the Wanganui Chronicle concludes ; —” My present exposure of (he deliberate falsehood of the [ Wellington] Chronicle will probably bring down on my head another of his articles, hut I shall not. trouble myself to notice his attacks again. The value of them will he estimated by nil candid persons by the specimen of deliberate falsehood, of which on this occasion I have convicted him.”

Tho following is a Press Agency telegram dated Alexandra, Gth January ; —One of the most important native meetings held for some lime past will bo held on Friday next at Hawea, Ivopua. It is called by the Ngatimaniapoto chief's, including some of Bewi’g relatives. They are disgusted by newspaper reports of lands having agreed to he granted for railway purposes, and wish native land? to be once more formally handed over to Tawhiao, and he given sole jurisdiction. The encroachment of pakehas and half-castes into and occupying native lands is also to ho taken in consideration. Uewi has hotu invited to attend, and he has requested that his pakcha Sheehan also he allowed to he present. This has been agreed to by Manuhira and others, if the Native .Minister should think proper to attend.

Of eighty-one sections of Government land, Blocks 1. and 11., Ngairc, situated within the Taranaki County, on the Mountain Hoad, submitted to public competition at New Plymouth, on Saturday last, only thirteen or fourteen are reported by the Herald as having been sold. Mr W. Dale, of Carlyle, purchased the following in Block I.—Section 8, 21a. Or. 24p., £B, (upset £3 10s per acre) ; Section 9, 21a. Ir. Gp., £4 2s Gd (upset, £3) ; Section 10, 2Ga. Ir. Gp., £3 6s (upset, £2 10s); Section 11, 21a. 2r. 5p., £8 (upset, £4) ; Section 12, 30a. 2r. 13p., £4 10s (upset, £3 10s.

A new public ball, combined with business premises, is about being erected in New Plymouth, by Mr W. R. Townsend, having a frontage of 41 feet 6 inches, by a depth of 150 feet. Mr Scott is the successful tenderer, at -£2,249. The hall will be fitted up as a Theatre.

In reply to a deputation at Wellington, about the railway station site on the reclaimed land, the Hon Mr Macandrew mentioned that a route for railway line, Hutt-Waikanie, had been discovered by Mr Climie, C.E., which would open up most excellent land for settlement, and which could be constructed, including stations and rolling stock, at about £6,000 per mile. The N.Z. Times says—Mr Ciimie’s line starts at Kaiwarra, passes along the left bank of the Kaiwarra stream, till Mount Misery is reached, when it strikes for Johnsonville district, and thence to a place known as the Halfway House. “ From this point to Porirua Harbor the country is easy, and the ruling grade will not bo more than 1 in 180 or 190. The lino then skirls the bay till it reaches Pauhautanni. Further than this has not yet been surveyed, but it is believed that with very little trouble the line could be carried across a shallow part of the harbor, and taken along what is known as the Puhe Huhe bridle track, the total elevation of which is, say, 270 feet, passing through a native reserve, until junction with No. 3 line at Paikakariki is effected.”

The adjourned meeting of the Patea Cavalry Corps will be held at the Albion Hotel, this evening, at 7 p.m., for election of officers, &c. The Wellington Post says:— Thecriminal statistics of Wellington for the last three are instructive, and they must be gratifying to lovers of peace and good order. Notwithstanding that the population of Wellington has nearly doubled in this period, the number of criminals, lias decreased over 30 per cent. The committals were as follows 187G—men. 512 ; women, 104 ; 1877—men, 436 ; women 91; 1878 —men, 358; women, 72. The inmates of the gaol now number 70, or about three in every 1000 of the population. The Inspector-General’s classification of Otago teachers has produced general dissatisfaction. It is said that very few of them intend to abide his decision. It is understood (hey will hold a meeting to insure joint action in the matter. A native chief named Rangi Mold Awa (as interpreted to us—the day Moses was taken out of the rivei), belonging to the tribe of which the well-known and highly respected Tauro.i is head, died at the settlement, two miles from Carlyle, on Thursday. His age was fifty years. The natives have purchased a handsome coffin in order to bury deceased after the Pakeha fashion. ’ ' A cricket match, Taranaki v Thames was played at Grahamstown on Monday, ami resulted in a victory for the former by 102 runs. In two innings Taranaki scui’ed 204 ; Thames, 103. The tenders sent in from Now Plymouth for the Stratford Railway contract were as follows Berry and Newman, £16,446 ; MoGon agl e,£ 18,575; G1 end i n ning, £ 18,462 ; D. Wilkie, £18,871.