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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 392, 18 January 1879, Page 2

Since the Public Works Statement, was delivered last session by Mr • Macandrew, wo have had little faith in any real/ intention on his part to do justice by places outside the limits of Otago. Extracts reprinted at various times from other papers have confirmed our lack of faith. lie is good at talk and gloss for all parts —Otago alone appears to get solid benefit. In the Public Works Statement a groat parade was made of what was intended to be done for Canterbury, a part of the colony too powerful for it to be safe to snub. Thefollowingcxtractfrom speech delivered to his constituents by Mr Wakefield, shows the opinions he holds on the railway proposals as enunciated by Mr Macandrew ; “As to the public works, he might say that Mr Macandrew iiad consulted him early in the session as to the reserves that were proposed to be made along tiie projected railway lines. This land it was suggested should be sold by auction afterthe railways were constructed. The Canterbmy members had a meeting, and they all agreed not to oppose the scheme proposed for reserving land. Another scheme was to run an inland .main lino in Canterbury along the foot of the hills. He suggested that the line should bo taken over tiieolcl Rangitata bridge, and on toTemuka, That proposal was adopted, anil he believed would be a good thing for the district. (Loud cheers) The railways would run through Temuka township, and join Mr Hardy-J ohnstou’s scheme of branch rai Iw ay to Milford, (cheers) When the Public Works Bill was brought in lie saw at a glance that it was not decided what railways would he first made in Canterbury, or wether they would ever be made at all. The real scheme of the Government was to get authority to borrow more 11101103', and also to construct more railways in Otago. The Canterbury railways part of the scheme was a blind. In the schedule to the Bill the Tapanui railway, forinstance, was slipped in as a projected line, although it had then been more than half constructed by the Government without the authority' of the House. The Canterbury members opposed the Bill till it was turned inside out, and the expenditure fixed for each separate line of railway. The original proposal was a most unfair one to spend the available money on railways in Otago solely'. Railways were now being constructed in Otago, and not in Canterbury', and the money being expended on the Otago railway had chiefly' been raised by sales of Canterbury land. Ho did not begrudge Otago her railways. His ideas were not so intensely'local as that, because lie thought Otago had been to a great extent neglected as regards railways. The real fact was Government had no money to construct the Canterbury railways at present. Their financial scheme was a miserable failure, and it had completely broken down.”

A meeting of the Carlyle Picsbyterian Church Building Committee, was held on Thursday' the IGth instant at the residence of Mr W. Howitt, to consider the question of erecting a Church, and compare subscription lists. Present—Messrs. D. Coutts (chairman), W. Howitt, J. Paterson, J. Pender, W. Aitciieson, and A. R. Pye. Mr Pender’s name was added to the committee. Satisfactory progress having been made with subscriptions, it was decided that immediate action should be taken for the erection of a -church, and Messrs. Coutts and Aitchcson were appointed a Committee to prepare plans for a building to bo about 22 xBO feet. Messrs Howitt and Coutts were appointed a Committee to confer with owners of land adjoining the church site as to fencing.

Tho New Zealander in an article on the Legislative Council says—“ In-their rejection of the Electoral Bill, they displayed that amount of insanity which, according to the old Latin proverb, is apt to precede destruction,” and further on it says—“ We can hardly concieve it possible that in New Zealand a purely nominee body can be allowed much longer to exercise aihitrary and unconstitutional functions under the cover of the mere letter of the law, and to arrogate to themselves authority never claimed even by the House of Peers. Polling for the election of a member for the Waverley Riding of the Patea County Council will commence this lay at 9 o’clock, closing at 0 o’clock in the afternoon. Good men are wanted in the Council and settlers would do well to place the man best fitted to represent them at the head of the poll. Mr John Thurling lias been appointed to collect foils at the Waitotara Bridge in accordance with notice previously issued by the Patea County Council. This gentle pressure appears to be the only plan by which the County can persuade Wanganui to give Patea the use of its own gravel pits. The toll will only be collected for gravel which is being taken to repair Wanganui roads with.

The Taranaki Education Board having applied to Government for 500 acres of Waimate Plains land as an endowment for a High School, and been refused, are going to “ Try Again." The Wood’s Reaper and Binder lately imported by Mr W. Derrett, Whenuakura, was started yesterday, on a fine crop of wheat, this gentleman being we believe the first to cut in the district. The day was beautifully calm, and the machine worked well until the afternoon, when unfortunately the sheaf clipper broke.

On Tuesday evening; last, the Dramatic Company of which Mr E. D. Haygarth is lessee and manager, and Mr H. E. Walton (a comedian of high repute) the leading performer, appeared for the first time before a Carlyle audience. Mr Walton as Felix O’Callaghan in the comedy of “ His Last Legs,” kept the audience in roars of laughter, his delineation of the Irishman being superior to anything previously seen here. The other players are good, notably Miss Amy Thornton and Mrs Thornton, whilst the other gentlemen of the company are of fair ability. On Wednesday evening there was a full house, and Mr H. E. Walton, as Pat O’Bryan, in the Irish Emigrant, played his piece to perfection, singing and acting being alike thoroughly well appreciated and applauded. Mr Haygarth, as Tom Bobalink,aNewYork carter (though suffering from a severe cold), had plenty of scope for his versatile powers, and the temptation to which he was exposed by the finding of the lost pocket book (ultimately restored) was finely portrayed. While quite alive to the cleverness and piquancy of Mrs Thornton as Mrs Grimberskin (a puffy, exacting old dame), we must place Miss Amy Thornton next to Mr Walton in merit. This clever young lady completely established: herself in the favor of the audience by the pleasant gracefulness and good taste displayed in the performance of tier allotted and varied task. She was a thorough success, and was well applauded, whilst for her dancing in the second part of the evening’s performance she was compelled to reappear. Other parts in the two pieces presented were well taken. Wo can with confidence recommend all desiring an agreeable change and a . thorough good night’s-enjoyment to visit the Town Hall, Carlyle, on Monday evening, when the company will again- appear in “ His Last Legs,” and “ The Widow’s Victim.” An extra performance is also announced for Hawera to-night, when those who have been unable to attend the two previous entertainments, ought not to lose such an opportunity of spending a few pleasant hours.

A resolution was passed at the last meeting of the Carl} le School Committee protesting against a statement made at the

Education Board, Wanganui, by Mr Foulis, that tho children at Carlyle School had been listless and indifferent to results of examination. As printed in the Mail, Mr Aitchison was credited with being the mover, whereas it should have been, Mr Williams, the latter gentleman having been in attendance at the Wanganui Board, heard the statements made, and felt and expressed himself strongly at the Carl}’l e meeting about it, and it was almost solely on his testimony that the resolution was passed.

Tho anniversary services of St. Andrew’s Church, Wavciley, will take place tomorrow. Soiree and lecture by tho Rev James Paterson, on Tuesday. The Taranaki Herald of January the 11th says:—We are glad to hear that tho tender of Messrs Unrsthouso and Berry, for the Stratford Railway, lias been accepted, tho price being ,-tilG,4fG 13s 7d. Messrs Ilurstliouse and Berry are determined to finish their contract within the specified time, and are advertising fur two hundred pick and shovel men. 'Hie firm have taken the building formerly used by the Waste Land Board, opposite the Taranaki Hotel, as their offices. The Taranaki Herald of January the 13th says :The Natives were never more peaceably inclined than at the present moment. From all directions we hear of their granting concessions to Europeans that had previously been refused by them. They are helping the Europeans to get iu their grass seed and crops ; and we learn from a telegram scut by Major Brown to tbc Native .Minister at Alexandra, that Major Tnke has reported to him from Normanby, Waihi, and Opunake, that he found the settler’s alarms subsiding, and that the natives on the Plains were grass-seed cutting, fishing, good-humoured, and looking forward to next March meeting. There are some in the place who apparently, would wish it otherwise, for wo nolieo that telegrams sent from New Plymouth are appearing in the Southern papers, which insinuate that the natives here are preparing for fighting. After Major Brown’s and Major Take’s statements as to the peaceful and friendly attitude of tho natives, it is to be hoped that we shall no lunger see those untruthful telegrams appearing, as they only tend to damage tho district by needlessly frightening people from coming here. From the Ilangitlkei Advocate we learn that steps are now being taken with the object of inaugurating a Teacher’s Association. Our contemporary suggests that the area of the proposed Association should extend from the Wangaehu to the Manawatu Rivers. Fifteen Teachers within tho limits named, have been communicated with, who are urged to join Association, and thus augment its strength ami enhance its powers ol: self-protection and self-improvement. We think that Patea teachers should follow suit.

Hawera people having secured a Government grant of about one-eighth of an acre of an acre of land as a site for Institute Buildings, and a large amount of money having been voluntarily subscribed, a meeting is called to decide the size and style of building to bo erected thereon. The value of an institution of the kind contemplated can hardly be over-rated. The first inquiry of a stranger on visiting a new place is “ Where is your Reading Room ?” Hawera though having a registered institute, legally appointed officers, printed rules, and some amount of cash, has no building to point to. Decisive action is now about to be taken. All interested in the good repute and progress of the town, should step forward in aid of the projected undertaking. A Press Agency telegram dated Alexandra, January 14tb, says, Nui Haubaura and other chiefs are here to-day. Confidential friends of Rewi’s report that lie feels very much hurt by the way be is being maligned by some of his own people. Rewi declares that he has promised the Government nothing; that he has made certain proposals, which he at present declines to make public, until the proper time—those proposals being entirely "oh -'Tawhaio’s behalf that his relations with the Government will entirely depend upon their being accepted in their entirety. Meantime be stands independent—pledged to nothing. On Wednesday next, Messrs McLean and Co will offer for sale at Hawera, thirty-live town sections, the property of J. Winks, Esq., having frontage to High street and adjoining the Presbyterian Church.

Messrs Thomson and McGuire will to-day offer for sale a number of valuable sections known as the Normanby Extension, also tosvn sections in Hawera, and other valuable properties, to close a partnership.

J. Johnston, aged 45 3‘ears, blind and also under treatment for abscess in the foot,died in the Patea Hospital, on Thursday morning last. Carlyle School will re-open on Monday at the usual hour. The Misses McCutchan, Hawera, resume their classes in music, &c., on Monday. The via Sau Francisco British Mails arrived at Auckland on Thursday. C. A. Wray, Esq., R.M., and H. P. Christie, F,sq., J.P., were occupied on Wednesday last, beforealarge and respectable audience, in the abatement of a storm which had been brewed in the south, and which the parties concerned had come to Carlyle to lull. £3 3s had to be handed over by the storm brewer to the Government money taker, a portion of which was afterwards distributed amongst the audience, the adjudgers being of opinion that the position of the parties should have been reversed.

The N. Z. Times says :—Steam was got up on Tuesday afternoon, the 15th instant on board the new steamer Patea to test the new boiler and engine. The boiler proved to be all that could be desired ; and the machinery worked with the utmost smoothness, and without the slightest hitch whatever. Several gentlemen witnessed the event, and were pleased with the result, stating that the work reflected great credit upon Mr Mills’ establishment. Patea appeal's to be having a run of good tilings in the show lino. At a very considerable expense a well known amusement caterer for the Wellington public (Mr R. W. Carey) procured from Sydney a Diorama of the Arctic World. The Diorama was obtained with the special object of showing in Wellington during the Christmas and New Year Holidays, as a specially attractive show to suit the time of year. Unfortunately for Mr Carey he was too late to obtain a suitable hall as required, and instead therefore of wasting time in Wellington, he resolved to travel with it. There has been a successful season at Wanganui, and though the risk and expense is considerable, Mr Carey resolved to have a run up the coast, and will perform, as advertised, at Hawera on Monday and Tuesday, and at Carlyle on Thursday and Friday next, an afternoon performance being given at both places for the special edification and enter(aimment of the little folks. Although the shows and performances have come rather closely together we anticipate a remunerative trip for the lessee of the Arctic Diorama.

From a letter from Mr Wilson Milne, published in the Chronicle, it would appear that that gentleman thinks we were too hard on him in a late leader. Pity hut he had. forwarded Ids letter to the Mail, the columnsof which arc as free to himself as anyone else.

Mr James Hirst has shown his confidence in tho future of Patea by erecting a commodious receiving and despatching warehouse near to the present wharves, scale of charges for use of which will be found in another coluumn. We tmst that Mr Hirst's confidence will not have been misplaced, and that he will reap a rich reward for his enterprise.

“ How did you catch your cold ?’ “ Why the same as you caught yours—tho same as Betsy Jane caught hers, and the dear little children, and the poor old grandam, and uncle and aunt and neice, not omitting the friend from the South (just now looking for a suitable holding, with tho intention of settling down in Patea for life.) Poor fellow, I just saw him gruel led, covered and tucked in under a hale of blankets, ami his nose tallowed, after ho had been subjected to a hot bath, during which the housemaid got her foot scalded and has threatened to leave. There lias been a great run on Irish Moss since that Mr Walton appeared as Pat O’Bryan, the Irish Emigrant. It was a treat to he present, hut that dreadful draughty hall is a disgrace to tho shareholders. They ought to try and do something to make it comfortable and attractive, instead of leaving it as now. like a great burn. Talk about colds, ami stiff necks, and sneezing —one would think from their prevalency that they were fashionable*. Well, I musu’t stop a?iy longer. I am just now going down to poor old granny with something to soothe her. Drat them shareholders.”

Tlie following have been successful candidates for scholarships under the Wanganui Education Board : under 18 years— James McAlley, Tnrakina, 1201- marks ; under 14 years—John S. Morton, Tnrakina, 150 marks ; Emma Laird, Wanganui, 189i{ marks : under 12 years—Robert Sim. Wanganui, 152 marks ; Joseph Flower, Foston, 173 marks. The Chronicle says :—“ The Board scholarships are seven in number, each of the annual value of £2O ; four of these are to be held for one year only, and three for two years, tiio latter to be awarded to successful competitors under fourteen and sixteen years of ago. At the recent examination—a very searching one—23 candidates competed, only one of whom was under ten years, and tin's candidate failing to obtain the minimum number of marks, the number of scholarships obtainable was reduced to live.