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Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 474, 8 November 1879, Page 2

Mr D. Smith, having had a large number of sheep driven over the cliff by dogs, notifies in another column that poison will in future be laid on his run, known as the Rifia Range, In our report of the rifle match between Waverley Light Horse and No. 2 00. Patea Rifles last issue, we gave the wrong ranges. Instead of 150, 200, and 300 yards, it should have been 200, 300, and 400 yards. Messrs Fraser and Tregear have been appointed agents in Patea for the Colonial Insurance Company , The creditors in the bankrupt estate of James Hirst, are requested to meet at the office of Messrs Chadwick Bros, on Tuesday next, at 3 pan.

The residents of Hawera and surrounding district are reminded of the Rifle Tournament which takes place pn Monday next.

A trotting match for £lO a-side, between Mr M. Byrnes’ black mare, and Mr Lyttle’s mare, will jtpko place ,pn Saturday pext. The horses will start from Carlyle, and trot towards Kakaramea.

We fiaye received the following communication from the Secretary of the Wanganui Education Board (Mr A. A. Browne), which explains itself•“ 1 have been asked by Government to make it as widely known ap possible, that any teachers Wishing to present themselves at the forthcoming examination, for the purpose of obtaining classification in March next, must give notice to the Hon. the Minister of Education before the Ist January. Proper forms of application may bp had on application to. me.”

Mr G. McLean will hold a large stock sale at Hawera. on Tuesday next.

The return cricket match—Eleven-v. Eighteen—will be played on-the Carlyle Ground on Monday, when play will commence at J p.m, sharp. The Rifle Tournament to bo held on the Carlyle Rifle Range on Monday, promises to bo very attractive, numerous prizes, of great and small value, having been given for cornpetitition. Watches and revolvers are amongst the most costly, whilst live pigs, sheep, and poultry are not to be despised. Nominations close to-day, bo all who intend to compete should be in time.

Mr W. Cowern’s monthly Kakaramea stocß sale takes place on Wednesday next, when a fair number of cattle and sheep will be offered. After the stock sale, Mr Cowern will sell, on the Racecourse, the saddling paddock as it now stands, and 60 river posts.

Owing to Monday being a public holiday, the meeting of the Patea West Road Board has been postponed till the following Monday, 17th instant. The Harbor Board have also postponed their meeting till the following day (Tuesday, 11th.) At the R.M. Court (befor G. A. Wray, Esq., R.M.), the following cases were beard : —A. Wood v. F. Richards, claim £22 lor damage done to fence ; adjourned till 14th November, defendant to pay costs, £4 lls.—H, Young v. Thomas Wright, claim £1 for killing three ducks, and wounding several others ; judgment for plaintiff for 10s, and 5s costa.

By reference to our Council report, it will be seen that £lO has been voted to Mr F. McGuire for his services while in Wellington on County business. We are informed that Mr McGuire has very generously handed this money over to be invested in a silver cup, which will be open for competition by the rifle within the county. We did hear that tiie A.C. Force would be allowed to compete with the Volunteers, but the arrangements are not publicly known as yet. The only objection to the A.C. Force firing for the cup is, that they are not permanent residents, and wo presume the cup would have to be won two or tlnee jmnrs in succession by the same man before it became the property of an individual. In that case, we fear that a great deal of trouble would be experienced if the Cup wore won one year by an A.C. man, and then he was removed from the district. It is for the denor to say, and we have no doubt bo will decide the matter in the best way.

The Hawera Institute may now be said to be open to the public, and besides securing colonial publications in the shape of newspapers, &c., the Committee have ordered periodicals and books from England. There is not the slightest doubt that this institution will be appreciated, not only by the residents of Hawera itself, but also by travelers who may visit that town; and wo congratulate those who were so energetic in the matter.

The soiree given in the new Presbyterian Church on Wednesday evening last, brought a large number of young folks, as well as a sprinkling of elderly people, together. Tea was announced forG o’clock, and on entering the church, one could not help being struck with admiration at the tastefully displayed tables, which seemed to contain everything that was good. Flowers were plentifully distributed around the room, and added greatly.to the general appearance. About 150, old and young, sat down to tea, and ample justice Was done to the tasty viands. The following ladies presided at the tables, some of whom also provided the good things that were obtainable :—Mcsdames North, Coutts, Paterson, S. Dixon, W. Dixon, Potto, Adams, Keys, Schultze, Howitt, Brodie, Ussher, Jackson, Aitchison, and Pender ; Misses McCarty, Coutts, Hill, Howitt, Schnltze, Sparks (2), North, Dixon, Aitchison, Black, and others. After all had finished tea, the church was put in order for the public meeting, which was well attended. The Rev Mr Tony occupied the chair, who paid a few complimentary remarks to the Presbyterians of Carlyle for being the possessors of such a handsome little Church. The Revs Fairclough, Allaworth, and Treadwell followed, all of whom were atlentively listened to ; Messrs Coutts and Aitchison also addressed a few remarks to the meeting. During the interval between the speeches, the choir sang .some very nice sacred selections. Great praise is duo to those ladies who provided the trays, as well as those who assisted, and we believe that all who attended the soiree left the tables perfectly satisfied with the treatment they received. While on Church matters, we might mention that besides donations in money, several other very liberal gifts have been made—such as material for fencing, by Mr Coutts; a very handsome chandelier, by Mr H. F. Christie ; besides other gifts of smaller value. We understand that the total cost of the building, fittings, &c., amounts to about L 430. The Committee have been obliged to borrow to the amount of L 250, which is, still a debt on the Church { it therefore behoves our Presbyterian friends to bejtr in.mind the text set them On “Wednesday "evening, Attempt great things,” and clear off the debt on Itheijr Church as soon as possible.

The New Zealander of Monday last says : —“ A providental and most miraculous escape from serious consequences, if not instantaneous death, happened to a gentleman and his groom who were travvelling in a two horse vehicle in the Patea district recently. One of the bridges across a wide river bed was in course of repair, and a space pf abouc thirty feet wide was removed to be replaced, but the workman neglected to place a light upon it to warn any travellers who might be proceeding in that direction. The gentleman in question, had occasion to cross the bridge after dusk, and upon reaching the gap, although the persons in it did not observe what was before them, the horses made a leap to get over it, but fell between and alighted thirty feet below in the river bed, there being, fortunately, little water in tbp river at the time. Strapge to say, the horses and vehicle landed in an upright position, not a strap being broken or an occupant being_ disturbed., Had the instinct of the animals not guided them at the critical moment, it is easy to conceive what might have been the consequences. £We give this paragraph as communicated.]" —We don’t beljeye it.—JJail.

In the Upper House, while speaking of the desirability of more accurate returns of our exports being made; Mr Waterhouse said that he did not believe that our exports had increased during the last ten years, and that the supposed increase Was due only to higher valuation. Surely this is madness without method.

Mr McLean had given notice to move, “ That on account of the hardening effect the exemption from all taxation has had on the human mind, the Island of Kawau be included in the county of Rodney.” This, of course, was a thrust at Sir George, who explained that as his estate could not be connected with the main land either by railway or by road, and as there were no public roads on the Island, the whole of which belonged to himself, there was no justice in making him pay taxes. Mr McLean, however, had his coarse joke, and walked out ot the House when the motion camo on.

About the beginning of December (says the Taranaki Herald) the railway as far as Stratford will, we learn, be opened to the public. This will bo another link in the chain of railway communication between New Plymouth and Wellington, the gaps for the present being filled by Cobb’s coaches, which will run daily to and fro, thus enabling passengers from either end to cover the distance in two days. The time-table it is proposed to use on the line being opened to Stratford, could, we think, hardly be bettered, and should suit the convenience of everybody. Passengers for Wanganui will leave town at seven o’clock in the morning and reach Wanganui at ten minutes to eight in the evening, doing the journey in tbirtoßii bodrs.