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Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 422, 3 May 1879, Page 2

New Zealand statistics for 1877 are at last to hand. We cull a few figures from the vast mass in the hope that they may interest some of our readers. There were in the colony 16,856 births, two per cent, of which were illegitimate. There were 3,114 mafriages, 4 per cent, of the men and 8 per cent, of the women signed with marks. Three of the happy persons were over 70 years of age, and three under 15. 812 vessels, of 388,568 tonnage, entered our ports. Tbc value of the imports was £6,973,418. The exports were £5,488,000, of thi5£1,496,000 was in gold. Up to the end of the year New Zealand had exported gold to the value of £33,765,194—ab0ut 300 tons weight. The year produced 64,481,000 lbs of wool, valued at £3,658,938. Trade with Victoria amounted to over £2,000,000. The total trade, of the colony is £32 11s s£d per head of the population. Every five Maoris are supposed to use as much European goods as two white men. Over 13,000,000 letters, 8,000,000 papers and 81,000 postal cards passed through the PostOffices. Mortgages on land exceeding a total of £5,000,000 were registered. More than 777,000 acres of Crown lands were sold. The aggregate amount sued for in Law-Courts during the year was £338,750. Summary convictions on various charges were over 16,000 in number; thirteen men were sentenced to terms of 10 years and upwards ; 3 were sentenced to death. Hanging was the most popular method of committing suicide, as four out of seven chose it. The figures relating to meteorology show what an endless variety of climates New Zealand presents. Hokitika had 214 rainy days, and 1364 inches of rain fell. That is eleven feet four inches. Southland had 222 rainy days, and only 43 inches of rain fell, —less than a third of the quantity that fell in fewer days at Hokitika, This indicated a perpetual mist, very congenial to the Caledonians. The rain fall at Christchurch was only 234 inches, and at Cape Campbell only 16*mches. The heaviest day’s rain was at Napier, where more than inches fell within twenty-four hours. This was about a fifth the rainfall for the year at Napier.

Mr McGuire will hold a sale*of merchandise at Nonnanby, to-day.

The three men mentioned in last issue as having been locked up, were brought before A. 0. Croft, Esq., and H. F. Christie, Esq.. J.P.’s, on Wednesday. They were dealt whh as follows:—Lame man, fined os and 2s costs, or twelve hours in gaol_ — fine paid. Assisting friend, dismissed with a caution. Protesting friend, fined 20s and 2s costs, or twenty-four hours’ imprisonment—no money—lock-up.

We would direct attention to Messrs McCarty & Hunger’s new advertisement in another column. We understand that the firm have purchased the freehold of their present business stand for £3OO, and intend extending operations. From samples of work turned out, we should imagine that Messrs McCarty & Hunger have a thorough knowledge of their business, and we feel sure that anything in the blacksmithiug lino entrusted to them will be faithfully done.

Tenders will be received by Mr E. Horner, up to Wednesday next, for the erection of two cottages in Carlyle. Also, by Mr T. Eyton, for the erection of a fourroomed cottage. Messrs Francis Symes and T. W. Fisher having been nominated to fill the vacancy in the Harbor Board, Waverley Riding, a poll will be taken at the Waverley Town Hall, on Tuesday next, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tenders will be received by the Carlyle Town Board, up to 4 p.m. on Monday, for gravelling and kerbingfootpaths. The Carlyle Debating Society will open the season with a literary and musical entertainment on Thursday evening nest, at the Council Chambers.

Tenders will be received by the County Council, up to 4 p.m. on Tuesday next, for the erection of Hospital building. Also, for gravelling on main road. By advertiscmt elsewhere, it will be seen that the A.C. at Opunake intend celebrating the Queen’s Birthday, by holding athletic sports and horse racing. The usual monthly meeting of the Patea Kilwinning Lodge, will be held in the Town Hall, on Wednesday next, at 7.30 p.m. Visiting brethren are invited to attend.

Messrs Williams and Sons have just received direct from London, a splendid assortment of Hornby’s double and single furrow ploughs, and other agricultural implements.

A swagsman was seen walking up the road arm-in-arm with Sergeant Whelan, yesterday. They were both reeling about a good deal, so we want to know what’s the matter. The R.M. will probably find out to-day. For the information of those interested, we publish the following telegram respecting the Hawera Acclimatisation Society, the limits of whose jurisdiction is the Patea County: “To Mr W. 11. E. Wanklyn, Secretary Acclimatisation Society, Hawera —The notification of the registry of your Society will be published in the Taranaki Herald in a few days. The Secretary can then issue game licenses, the fee for winch is twenty live shillings. —H. Pollen, for Under-Secretary.” As the official notification will be published in a few daj's, we would advise those who are desirous of obtaining licenses to apply to Mr \Vankl_yu at once. Wc would also suggest that sompone he authorised to receive applications in Patea and Wavorlcy. Even Governors may suffer from the carelessness of officials. The Marquis of Normanby has been in Victoria more than two months, has travelled in the colony, opened railways, received numerous addresses, and made numerous speeches, and yet it was only in the present week that he was sworn in as Governor of his new charge. This was owing to the non-arrival of his commission as Governor of Victoria. His Excellency has probably been somewhat uncomfortable all this time.

A year or two hence and these colonies will be all ablaze with loyal enthusiasm. They will be crying out for union and for a king. They will bo swarming with special reporters, and special artists. There will be some great shooting excursions, some rather expensive balls, some crowded levees , and some late hours. The chief towns will consume enormous quantities of gas, and spoil acres of vellum with bad and tedious, but loyal, and therefore Queen’s English, Address writers will go blind with over work. Flags and wine will be in great demand. Mayors will con their grammars, and their wives will learn a lot of big words to let off in a string. Bald heads will be in fashion. Ladies will vote thera-“-or at least one of them—charming, and will beg upon their knees, and weep for a dance with the wearer of a bald head. They will pick up his cherry stones as precious relics, and buy the glass he drank out of, the knife he used, or the chair he sat upon, at fabulous prices. Vendors of all manner of “ Tricophorous ” and “ Hair Vigour n will be ruined, as none but the bald will obtain the fair. We will not keep our readers in suspense any longer—the Prince of Wales has promised to visit the colonies.

The Southern press is earnestly advocating the early meeting of Parliament. July, it is urged, is too late, and to begin business so late in the year, only causes hurry and muddle at the end of the session. Moreover, money will be wanted, if the public works are not to stand still. The revenue will fall short, the Banks will be unable to advance, and there will be no money till the loan is raised. If Parliament does not meet before July, much time will be lost, and the loan could hardly be raised this year. All this is very true, but the Premier fixes the date of the meeting of Parliament. There are .few men who hasten their own end for the benefit of their heirs.

It appears that at last the day of vengeance has come upon the Zulus. _ After the terrible disaster of Rorke’s Drift, the position of the British seems to have been very critical. Another disaster that befel a convoy, only about halt of whom escaped, did not improve matters. Time, however, has brought help, and now a great body of the enemy has been attacked and routed with great slaughter. The Zulu king would like to make peace, and perhaps indulge in a war’of words, but the Government will accept nothing but an unconditional submission. The Dutch Boers of Transvaal, who were annexed to the .British Empire so much against their will, did not relish the idea of having to serve against the Zulus, and have accordingly revolted. This revolt, it is to ..be hoped, will die a natural death in the face of the great forces of British now-at hand. If it has to be put down by force of arms, the Boers will appear in the character of martyrs, and the event will afford a point to many a sneer at the British name.

We would direct attention to alteration in the mail notices tor the Carlyle Post Office, by which it will be seen that mails for Wanganui will in future close twice daily—viz., at 9.80 a.rn. and 7.30 p.m. Besides the usual daily mail for Haweru, which closes at 1.30, p.m., a tri-weokiy coach will be run, mails for which will close at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. New Plymouth and Inglewood mails close at 1.30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

The Now Plymouth Harbor Board have received intimation from London that it must forward a fresh set of debentures, as those sent are invalidated by the Harbor Act of 1878. The Board will consider the matter at a special meeting to-day.

At a meeting of the building committee, held on Tuesday last, to open tenders for the new Presbyterian Church, that of Mr D. M. Warren was accepted—building to be completed by the end of July. The Wanganui Herald of Thursday, says—“ By the unfortunate muddle made in the nomination of the Patoa candidates, that County is again unrepresented on the Education Board. Mr Peacock was nominated by the' Mars Hill Coramitte without bis written consent being obtained, and therefore the voting has been somewhat mixed. Committees in the three southern Counties finding Mr Peacock’s name among the. nominations, voted for him as being a Patea candidate. Patea Committee understanding that Mr Peacock was not really a candidate, did not vote for him, and so btought about the result recorded in our report of the proceedings of,the Board. However, another vacancy has been caused by the retirement of Mr Peake, and a chance is now given to Patea to putin a representative. The Committees should agree as to the candidate, and we feel sure he will be supported in the other Counties. A proper distribution of the representation, by which Patea should receive two scats, must now wait, for another election.’’ WANGANUI EDUCATION HOARD. We take take the following from the Chronicle report; The usual monhtly meeting of the above Board was held at the Board’s Office, Taupo Quay, on Wednesday. Present: Messrs W. H. Watt (in the chair), Fox, Ross, and Major Noakc. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

Before the reading of the voting papers, a protest was read from the Mountain Committee against Mr Peacock’s return, on the ground that Iris written consent had not been obtained by the Committee which had nominated him.—The Secretary stated that lie had heard from other sources that Mr Peacock’s consent had not been obtained. —Some discussion ensued as to whether the fact would invalidate the rest of the elections, as Mr Peacock’s name appeared on the nomination papers.—lt was agreed that the nominations wen' not at all invalidated thereby.—The papers having been called over, it was found that Messrs Snelson and Halcombo headed the list in the order named, while an equal number of votes were recorded in the cases of Messrs Baker and Peacock. The Board gave their casting vote in favor of Mr Baker in consequence of the protest against Mr Peacock’s return, although it was felt to be unfortunate that Patea should bo again left unrepresented. An application from Mr W. Aitchcsou for £l2, In payment for six desks, resulted in a discussion regarding the advisability of retaining the dual desks introduced by the Inspector. The Secretary,in answer to a question, stated that the desks made on the model supplied by the Inspector cost £ 1 18s each, while those made on the model supplied by the head department in Wellington were made in some of the country districts for 17s 6d, and in town at 27s each. The desks objected to by the Carlyle Committee were made after the latter model, by his authority. From what he could gather, the desk portion was rather high for the seat, but that was n delect which could be easily remedied.

The Inspector impressed upon the Board the fact that this was a matter of no little importance. The desk introduced by him was made on the model of those used by the London School Board, and was constructed on physiologocal principles. He had found on bis visits to the different schools that three different styles of desks were being authorised, although the Board had adopted only one. He was aware that the qnestiou of cost was a serious one, but the well-being of the pupils was above every other consideration, and he trusted that, whatever the Board’s decision, it might be based on physiological grounds, and that uniformity might be secured.

The Secretary stated that the Wanganui" Committee objected to the expensive desk, and that Mr Fearnley, the now head master, had requested that in future any new desks required should be made ■without backs, and to seat four pupils. The Inspector stated that Mr Fearnley had informed him that he had not a single objection to the desks, except on the score of expense, and also that the slope was rather too great. ® Mi’ Fox suggested that a deputation be appointed to consider the question, and to visit the different schools personally, to inspect the desks while in use by the scholars. This course was resolved on, and the Chairman, Mr Fox, and the Inspector were appointed to visit the schools for the purpose, and to report at next meeting. Mr Peake sent in his resignation as a member of the Board, which was accepted with regret.