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Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 428, 24 May 1879, Page 2

Attention is called to an advertisement in another column by Mr Tyree, who announces that he has opened rooms in Hawera for the “ production of lirst-chiss photographic work.”

Nomination of Carlyle Town Board members will take place to-day.

We would remind our Hawera readers that Mr James Bridge’s new goods have arrived.

Mr Sheet, dentist, will pay a professional visit to the Patea district early in June.

A Rink Club having been formed, a muster is requested at the Town Hall tiiis evening. Those who wish to join are also invited to attend.

Dr Percy left Carlyle by coach on Thursday for Wellington, from whence lie will take ship for the old country. For the short time the doctor has been in the district, it is astonishing the number of friends he has made, which was fully exemplified by such a large muster to wish him “good-bye for tiie present, and a speedy return to Patea.” Dr Percy, we believe, goes home on private business, and intends, if health, &c, admits, to return in about five or six months ; and it was the hope of every gentleman assembled on Thursday morning that we should again see the doctor’s face amongst us. Three hearty cheers were given, and the coach drove off.

A start has been made with <he footpath curbing in Taranaki Road. At the debate on Thursday evening, amongst the spectators, Were a number of quarrelling dogs (real dogs), and it was suggested that as Chinamen were very partial to that kind of food, a few be imported. Noisy boys are bad enough, but a pack of snarling, snapping dogs is ton times worse.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court) Hawera, on Tuesday last (before C. A. Wray, Esq.,) the test cases of Natives v. S. Taplin, to decide the dispute as to the purchase of grass seed fr®m Waimate Maoris, were heard. One case, affecting only a few unimportant claims, was given against Mr Taplin ; but the other, which decides the remainder of the Native claims, was given in Mr Taplin’s favor. We understand that appeals have been lodged against both decisions.

At the meeting of the Debating Society on Thursday evening (Captain Wray presiding), a very' interesting and animated discussion took place on the Chinese question. Mr Tregoar fired the first shot, by moving “ That it would be advisable to impose a poll-tax of £2OO on all Chinese immigrants to this Colony,” which he followed up with a good argument against the introduction of these gentry. It was not the few that we need fear, but the vast hoards that could be poured on these shores, and ultimately we should be over-whelmed. There were other parts of the world where room could bo found for Chinamen, and let them form a colony of their own. No, they did not care about this ; they would rather gather the fruit of others. It was an evil that should not be permitted. Mr Tennent followed, with an amendment that the word “not” be inserted after “ would,” and, in an excellent speech, tried to shake the good impression made on the members of . the Society by his opponent. Messrs Hirst, Weiss, and Fairclpugh, also spoke for the amendment; whilst Messrs Sherwood, Black, and Williams argued for the resolution. On the question being put, the resolution was carried by 15 against 11, amidst great applause. A fair number of non-members were present. If the above is to be taken as a sample of the debates for the session, then some very pleasant evenings may be looked for. After the audience had dispersed, a meeting of the Society was hold to elect office-bearers for the ensuing year, when the following were unanimously elected : President, Captain Wray ; Vice-President, Mr Sherwood ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr J. Black; Committee, Messrs Fairclough, Tregear, Thomson, and Tennent. A very hearty vote of thanks to Mr J. Black, for the manner in which he had canducted the affairs - of the Society, brought the meeting to a close.

To-day (24th May) being.the anniversary of the birth of Her Victoria, will be observed as a public holiday. . As a proof of the depth of water on the Patea Bar, we might mention that the s.B. Irishman, from Wanganui, crossed without touching on Thuisday last. A correspondent from Manutahi, writes on 17thMay:—A public meeting was held in the Block House to receive a statement of accounts, from the' Block House Committee ; and to discuss various social and political matters relating to the district. A pretty good nurnbeF assembled.' After the Block House/ business was settled, County and Road Board politics were briefly talked about in an informal manner. Cricket Club business received some slight notice, and it was resolved to have some amusement for the winter months. A Committee was appointed to arrange two entertainments a month —one to be a Quadrille Assembly, the other to consist of music, songs, readings, &c. So if the programme is carried out there will be a social meeting every other week for four or five months.

Land jobbery seems ,to be done on a gigantic scale in Queensland. The new Government seems to have a warm side for squatters. In order to allow them to obtain at their own . terms a renewal of pastoral leases from the Grown, it has put up for sale at short notice, the lease of 12,500 square miles' of cdphtry. . The reserve is £2 per square, rnile or tliree farthings per acre. This vast area.of territory, as large as the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which has a population of - four ndllions, and nearly equal to a seventh of the Colony of New Zealand, will all be disposed of in one day. The sale \vill take place simultaneously in several districts. The lots will run from twenty to three hundred square miles. The short notice and the simultaneous sale are evidently intended to allow previous' tenants to take it up again on their own terms. _ There has been a good deal, of indignation, and a good many deputations, but to no purpose. The New Zealander of Monday last, says:—The prospects of payable gold being found on the Wairarapa side of the Tararua ranges appear to be steadily improving. The latest news is to the effect that two settlers who had visited a quartz reef near the source of the Wiaingawa river, in which they had, on a previous occasion, found indications of copper, had no difficulty in getting the color from alluvial stuff taken -from the bed of a small stream which runs over the reef, although neither of them knew anything about the process of washing. MrWilliams, who is an experienced miner, left town for Masterton on Saturday, for the purpose of examining the reef, and should his report prove favorable, steps will be taken toturnittothebestaccount. Aprospecting party has gone up the Kuamahanga river, where several quartz reefs are known to exist, while another is about to be despatched by a small company which has lately been formed.

A correspondent to the Wellington Chronicle , signing himself “ Twenty Shillings,” says : —“ The present times are evidently out of joint when bankers resort to an effort to make private detectives of their customers. At foot herewith I append a circular issued by the Colonial Bank to its clients, and which for impertinent com marid lias rarely been equalled, while the system it inaugurates is so opposed to all British ideas of honesty and fairplay, that it deserves —as it will assuredly receive—the condemnation of every upright business man in the community. It lias its' amusing side also, for the Bank evidently forgot to enclose a list of its customers to whom they had given overdrafts or discount accommodation —an absolute necessity for the informant to have before he can act the spy with success. The directors of the Colonial Bank ought to be ashamed of themselves. I am sure no other body of directors would have so far forgot business prudence as to act with such,unheard of raemn si." The following is the circular referred to in the foregoing letter:—“ The Colonial Bank of New Zealand, Wellington, 13th May, 1879.—Y0u are requested to give me immediate notice of any insolvencies, or meeting of creditors of your customers when the Bank interested, either by discounting bills ‘jor indirect!}’. —Yours faithfully, B. Browne, pro Manager.”