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Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 491, 14 February 1880, Page 2

Remember Mr Cowern’s numerous land sales, at his warehouse, to-day. Mr Dale will hold sales at his mart, today, of land, household furniture, the whole of the stock-in-trade of the late ,F. J, Smith, &c., Tenders for the second .series of gravel* ling contracts on the Waimate Plains, will bo received at the Public Works officei Hawera, up till noon on Tuesday next. The body of the Maori who was drowned up the Patea River last week has been recovered, and was brought to Carlyl e yesterday. It was in a very decomposed state.

No bids were obtained for Ngaire land, at the sale held at Hawera on Wednesday last; in fact we believe there was no one at the sale.

A tea meeting will be held in connection with St, Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Waverley, on Tuesday next. Owing to the consecration of the Hawera Masonic Lodge taking place on Monday, the monthly meeting of Patea Kilwinning Lodge has been postponed.

The return cricket match —Married v Single—will be played on the Carlyle ground to-day, play to commence at 1 o’clock sharp. An entertainment in aid of the Irish Relief Fund will shortly be given at Hawera. It was the P.D. who committed us to the tremendous assertion that, *• It is a time honored law that five Sundays in February indicate a good harvest.” We wrote * saw.'

It is considered a great piece of impertinence by a certain contractor in this town, for anyone to complain of his leaving a dray-load of nospread earth in the middle of a footpath for days together. A resident in Lincoln-street had occasion to complain of a nuisance of the above nature the other day, and was told by the contractor that it was a pity he had nothing better to do. We have known instances where, by the caralesness of contractors, serious injuries have been sustained by individuals ; and the Town Board, or any other body, on letting contracts, should insist that the work is carried out in a proper manner. Under the bead of “ Notice to Correspon* dents,” the Wanganui Herald of Tuesday last says“ John Lyttle— We have not space to ‘ illuminate’ the reports of the Patea Mail, which, we should imagine, cannot much detract from the standing of our correspondent among those who know him.” What is our mysterious friend driving at. It would look far more sensible if the Herald put its paragraphs into such a form that others could enjoy the wit therein contained ; but the .individual who weilds the pen for that exceedingly correct journal—the Wanganui Herald—apparently wishes to do all the chuckling himself. We are thankful that our actions are being watched by a paper of such high-standing as the Heraidf and we hope to be treated to a few more articles on the “ Ides of March” and hisfriend “Jupiter” before our light goes out.

Tlie public fire'' linger / itiJ liuprcoaion (says the Taranaki Hcrald)Xhht the eecrecy # of the Telegrapfi’Oepni tineht is inviolable. . This happy delusion, however, was 'somewhat destroyed last session, when it was found that the Government had the power to lay on the table of the Bouse any private message thqt might have been transmitted by one person to another-. It : ia triie that the, Ministry were censured for 'their conduct) but thatdid not take from them ,or any future Government the power of doing the same thing again. Another •easy in which the secrecy of thb Telegraph Office has been violated; IB ’reported -by the special correspondent of the Auckland Heralds who telegraphs froni Normanby as follows »“ An instance of gross breach of faith as regards the Telegraph Department, occurring some time ago, has come to my knowledge) information being obtained at first hand A gentleman, acting as agent.for a private individual in the purchase of native land, entered a certain telegraph office, caught! a Land Purchase Commissioner, with whom he was competing with repect tb; the acquisition of a block of land, perusing his (agent’s) telegrams to his principal., He, of course, protested, and the qfpeer in charge, said, ‘I can’t help it; these are my. instructions.’ The agent at once communicated with his principal by telegram, and received a veply.by letter, enclosing a cypher to be, Used in all -future , communications The principal moved strongly in the matter, and it is understood that'a public scandal was avoided and the matter hushed up through the then Government quietly agreeing to allow .the block to bo acquired without opposition. This occurred some time ago, but until now has not been made public., The purchasoralluded to is known as one of tlie largest and shrewdest land speculators in this island. These facts are capable Of proof.” This is such a serious charge that a most searching investigation should bemade into the whole of a circumstances, for if some satisfactory explanation or contradiction is not given to the statement, the confidence the public have in the secrecy of the Telegraph Department will be lost fbr ever.

A correspondent writes : —“ Sir, —The Wanganui Herald, of 4th and sth, contains an advertisement from' the Secretary of Education Board, to the effect lhat a meeting is to be held at the School-house, Carlyle, on February 19th, at 7.30 p.m., to elect a school committee for ensuing year. If you are not going to advertise it, will you kindly mention it as a local, or people will know nothing about it.” We intended giving a local on the subject this issue, but the above will answer the purpose. It is exceedingly strange that advertisements concerning this district should be inserted in a Wanganui paper, more especially as very few people see it.