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Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 435, 14 June 1879, Page 2

A question Las been asked, and although it is not for us to say what must bo done in the matter, jet we will try and advise as to the best ciurse to be taken. There are now many herabors of the Patea Light Horse Volunteer who reside at Manutahi, Kakaraiuea, anc Whenuakura, and the question arises—.in case of an outbreak, would these far-away members be compelled to leave their homes and come to Carlyle? We think not, but that they would be expecbd to pntroll their own districts. Under tlese circumstances, then, it would be well ihata larger number from the out-districts joined the Cavalry Corps, and in case of need each locality would be able to muster a good detachment of mounted men for defence.

We would call attention to the postponement of the sale of Mr W. J. Furlong’s household furniture, &c., advertised to take place at Hawen this day, by Mr F. McGuire. The sale will come of ou Saturday next.

Mr W. Dale will hold a miscellaneous sale at his Mart to-day, commencing at 1 o’clock.

At the adjournjd meeting of members of the Carlyle Harmonic Society on Wednesday last, the following gentlemen were duly elected Trustees for the real property of the Society ;—Mr. R. C. Tenncnt, Mr. Edward C. Horner, md Mr. Samuel Taplin. Resolutions, defining the duties and restrictions by which they are to act, were also passed by the meeting. Major Brown arrived in Carlyle by coach yesterdy morning from New Plymouth, on his way to Wanganui. Seeing the Major with his face tied up, we enquired the reason, and learnd that while riding a flighty horse through the Mountain track on Thursday, he was thrown, and dragged in the stirrup a short distance. Luckily Major Brown had sufficient presence of mind to hold on to the bridle till he extricated his foot from the stirrup, otherwise the accident might have proved fatal. As it was, he was considerably knocked about, having received a nasty blow in the mouth, and a kick in the lag from the horse. The animal was startled, in the first place, by the Major attempting to put ou his macintosh.

At the R.M. Court yesteiday (before Captain Wray, RM.), the following cases were heard C.Dale vJ. Baxter, claim £l6 Is 9d; judguent for amount claimed with costs, to bt paid in weekly instalments of 15s.—j. Mercer v W. Derrett, claim £2O; judgment for defendant, with 15s costs.—Williams & Sons v Tutangi, clain £8 15s 6d;.idjourned to 4th July.— James Mercer v C. Ardern, claim £5; judgment for defendant, with 15s costs. — George Mercer Mas charged by Constable Sbiel with having maliciously broken the windows of theiMasonic Hotel. The act not having been premeditated, and a previous good cha'acter having been given defendant, the bourt only fined him £1 and 9s costs, bat cautioned him against committing anj> such acts in future.

While the coich was on its way up from Wanganui on Thursday, something very strange happened between Kai Iwi and Maxwelltown-ria child was born in the coach.

Captain Wray telegraphed to Wellington for that small but useful article called a bugle, for the use of our Defence Force. Reply from War Department —Got plenty in stock, spoiling for want of use ; but without the money is sent down, you don’t get the bugle. Meanness of the basest kind. This is all the gratitude we receive for assisting a weak-minded Government. A- parade of* the Carlyle Defence Force takes place at 2.30 p.m. to-day, at the back of the Court House, and Government (according to Major Noake, who is now here) will not authorise the insertion of a small advertisement to that effect, to give out-settlers and even townpeople an opportunity of knowing something about it. One hundred and forty volunteers, this being the number of our foot force at the present time, should be treated with more consideration. Wo understand that the majority of the corps have not received arms, but the balance are expected by the Patea to-day, and no doubt will be served out soon after arrival.

We have been informed on reliable authority that four or five flocks of sheep in the Kakaramea District are infected with scab. lauch being the case, we wish to know why the greatest publicity is not given, so that adjoining sheep owners may be on the alert. The Inspector is not to blame, as his instructions are laid down by Act—viz., that every three months public notice shall be given of diseased flocks—but we certainly think that some provision should be made that public notice be given immediately on.a flock becoming infected.

We would recommend now, that arms have been served out to the different local defence forces throughout the County, that targets be at once applied-for, and a regular 'course of rifle practice be gone into. Anns will be very little use to some, unless they are taught to use them properly, and the matter should be seen into without delay.

A mediae, of Kaknramea settlers lias been convened for Monday Jafternoon. See advertisement.

The Havvera correspondent of the Wanganui Herald telegraps as follows, under date June 12 :—“Tito Kowaru and the Maoris on the Plains declare they will not fight, and that if we attack them we must shoot them like pigeons, as they are determined not to fiht on any account. They are now' improving their homesteads on the Plains as if nothing unusual was going on, assuming to laugh at our arming. They are now improving their homesteads on the Plains as if nothing unusual was going on, assuming to laugh at our arming. They refuse to be made cats paws by Te Whili, and will now probably leave him in the lurch if troubles arise at Parihaka. The Government must press matters rapidly. The present display of armed forces is acting famously as an antidote to Te Whiti’s influence. Have the authorities legally demanded Hiroki from Te Whili? The settlers will make great sacrifices to bring matters to a speedy settlement ; but Government must have no wearing suspense.” Over 140,©00 acres have been purchased north of the Kiwitea Block by' the Government. The Manawatu Times says :—“ We are happy in being able to announce that Mr James Booth, Native Land Purchase Commissioner, completed the purchase of the Otomakapu Block on Wednesday last. The block comprises 747,000 acres, and when it shall have passed the Native Lands Court it will be thrown upon the market by the Government. This cannot fail to exercise an important and beneficial influence on this district. The Otemakapua lies north of and adjacent to the Kiwitea Block, which it resembles in many respects. We trust that a portion of it will be set aside for sale on the deferred payment sy'stem, which has worked B© well in the Kiwitea. As it will be in the Kiwitea Biding, the revenue of that riding will be greatly benefitted, for the' soil being of equal fertility with that of Kiwitea, and suitable for either agricultural or pastoral purposes, it cannot fail to command a high price.”

The Wellington Chronicle says “A gentleman who has just returned from the scene of the Maori troubles in Taranaki informs ns that Te Whiti, in sending his followers to plough up the lands of the European settlers, is acting on the advice of Mr George Higginbotham, the great Victorian lawyer,'who has given it as his opinion that the lands have never been legally confiscated. If this is true, it is a pity that Te Whiti docs not bring a civil action to test the validity of the case.”