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Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 463, 1 October 1879, Page 2

The next English Mail, via San Francisco, will close at the Patea Post Office, on Wednesday, Bth October, at 9.30 a.m. Carlyle Harmonic Society’s concert takes place this evening. . Tenders will be received by the Wairoa Highway Board, up to 10 a.m. on Saturday next, for road works. Sale of Stratford sections will take place at New Plymouth on Saturday next, at noon. Deferred payment land in the Ngaire District will be open for selection on Saturday next, at the Land Office, Carlyle; also, at the Crown Lauds Office, New Plymouth,

- Mf"s3. W. Nicbolls, late of the Ship Hotel, Nelson, announces in another column that he has purchased Mr Anthony’s interest in the Waitotara Hotel, where he hopes to meet a fair share of public support.

Nos. 1 and 2 Companies Patea Rifles will (weather pcrmitting)parnde to-morrow evening:, at half-past. 7 o’clock, when a little blank cartridge skirmishing will be indulged in.

A new tri-weekly morning paper, called the Guardian,*was issued at Ashburton on Saturday last. We understand that it ia of decidedly Anti-Grey politics, and has been promoted by farmers and merchants of the district.

Tenders will be received by the Hawera Road Board, up to noon on Saturday nest, for road works at Whakamara.

The Rangitikei Advocate has changed hands, Mr J. Northover having purchased Mr Kirkbride’s interest in that paper.

The Wanganui Herald of Monday quotes from our leading article of Saturday, as follows : —“ It certainly appears strange that a man should have to be re-imported into the arena of theXower House to lead the Opposition.; and,if this has really been done, as rumour has long said it was, it is not very complimentary to such men as Major Atkinson, It is very evident that the Major is not very popular among his party, or at least, could not get it to follow him in such a compact body as would be required to oust the Government.” Those who have watched our actions through the election, would no doubt come to the conclusion that we had turned round on the Major ; but in order to prove that our opinion of Major Atkinson is still good, we would ask our contemporary to publish what followed the above.

It was rumored in Hawera a few days ago that all the cattle on the Waimate Plains, whether belonging' to Europeans or natives, were to be impounded A telegram was sent to Sir George Grey of the affair, and he wired hack direct orders that nothing of the sort was to be done. We do not know how the rumor originated, or by whom the cattle were to be impounded, but it was neverthelesa the talk of Hawera.

It is stated on good authority that a resident of Hawera has been authorised to supply all the Armed Constabulary from White Cliffs to Waihi with rations, without tenders having been called for same. This is a strange proceeding, if true, as Government are not supposed to let any contract over £SO unless by public tender.

Mr Mnnay tvill to-morrow move, —That as soon as conveniently possible, a return should be laid upon the tabic of the House, showing the number of the population (distinguishing Europeans from Maori) and electors, the area of land, and the gross and net valuations of property made under the “ Land Tax Act, 1878,” in each electoral division of the colony. Among the petitions laid on the table of the House on Thursday last, was one signed by 270 residents of the Thames, asking that a tax fnay be put upon all Chinese immigrants on their arrival in the colony.

The first petition on tho subject of Bible reading in school:!, was brought before the House on Frida;,' last by Mr Fulton, the lion member for Fust Talari.

Says “ Snyder Never put a son behind a bank counter. For two reasons —ho may become immoral, and bolt with tho cash and a barmaid, or he may keep Steady till he is a manager, when all hope of future happiness will havc left him. He will be badgeied in office hours for accommodation of some Kind or another. Either to allow an overdraft, or a cash credit, or to discount a bill, or to draw against coming remittances which never come. If he refuses, he makes an enemy. If he complies, lie gets hauled over the coals from head-quarters, and is threatened with being sacked or disrated. Five years in the life of a road laborer is no more than one year of a bank manager. A laborer can go to the bar of an hotel and call for bis pint of beer and .'drink it in peace ; but if a bank manager was to be seen taking a glass of sherry and bitters, be would be touched on the shoulder, or gently pulled by the sleeve, and be asked to do some little bank favor, which it is more than his billet is worth to grant.. It’s all very terrible, and preys on a man’s constitution, which all the glasses of sherry and bitters in creation will not make up for,’’

An exchange says :—“The common belief that a publican is obliged to serve all comers, provided thej’ are not intoxicated, must now be relegated to the category of popular delusion. The Court of Consideration of Crown cases has decided that the right to purchase drink is not included among the inalienable rights of Englishmen. The Judges have laid it down that the obligation to serve applies only to inns, and then only in the case of travellers.”

The’Auckland-iSr/dr’s London correspondent sends particulars o£ an interview with Sir Julius Vogel, who stated that there has never been a greater rush to New Zealand than the present time. Agricultural lobourers in particular are rampant to get there. It is as much as the department can do to find room for them in the ships ® chartered. If only the Colonial Government would give the necessary instructions, any number of really valuable emigrants might be sent.

It may not be gererally known that the wool sorters of England and the Continent sutler frequently from a very painful disease which is engendered by badly gotup wool. Dr. Rabaglioti in commenting upon the subject says:—-'“ The simplest and most effectual, as it would also be found probably to be the most practicable measure for preventing this disease would be the exercise of greater cave and cleanliness in the making up of the bales in foreign parts, Fallen fleeces, or the fleeces of dead animals, ought to be rigidly excluded j at least, if they are packed, they ought to be previously washed with soap and water, or some disinfectant. All the rest of the wool, sound or otherwise, ought also to be subjected to the same process, in order that the scab, parasites, and other filth might be removed before decomposition has rendered them poisonous.”

NORMA N B Y. (from our own correspondent.) September 29. Although Normanby, like other places, feels the general depression, it presents to a stranger a more lively appearance than most other townships, partially owing no doubt to the fact of their being twenty odd Armed Constabulary stationed here, and also to its being in such close proximity to a large camp (Waihi). On Saturday the place was unusually cheerful, it being the day for the monthly inspection of the Volunteers. At 4 p.m. there was a good muster, perhaps better than it otherwise would have been, owing to a telegram from Captain Hempton, Paymaster, to Captain Brett, stating that ho intended paying-the men for their services in building the redoubt,patrolling, &c., tinring what is sometimes called here “the war,” The company is well armed with Snider rifles, and is composed ot a fine smart lot of men, who look as if they could do good service if required. 1 was surprised to see that they have not yet got their uniforms. There is doubtless some good reason for it, but it is to be hoped that they will appear in “ full rig” as soon as possible. Captain Brett is most energetic in looking after the welfare of the corps, and a better officer to command could not, I think, have been selected,

The redoubt, now occupied by A.C.’s, is as good a specimen as I have seen, and I think Maoris or “ any other men” would look twice before tackling it when ■well manned.

I witnessed a parade of the Armed Constabulary at Waihi (about 120 men; the full strength of the station being JSO) on Sunday, and can only say that those who have called them “weeds,” “ruffians,” &c., must bo very prejudiced, or very deficient in knowledge of men. Ido not remember to have seen a finer lot of young fellows anywhere, and from all I can see and hear, their conduct generally is on a par with their appearance. The good people of Norman by are as indignant with the author of the abuse of the A. C.’s as they are at the insinuations that have been thrown out against their Postmaster. On Saturday morning the inhabitants were startled by seeing what appeared to be the body of a man hanging by a long ropo to a branch of the highest tree in the place. On investigation it was found to be a dummy, intended (as explained by a board attached to its feet) for the effigy of an individual who has gained an unenviable notoriety as an agitator ami mischief maker. The figure was left hanging all day, and caused much amusement. Not a friend came forward to remove it. Norman by people appear, as a rule, to desire to live together in all good fellowship, but one man of this description may do a deal of harm in a small community.