The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1880.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 500, 17 March 1880, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1880.

The state of the Comity roads demands earnest attention at this last gasp of the slimmer season—;t season which, with regard to plentiful labor, low wages, and fine weather, could scarcely be surpassed lot road making purposes. We cannot begin without bestowing a word of praise upon the County for having undertaken as much work as it has. If every inch of the main road is not first class during the coming winter, wc will net blame the Conned. Considering how the Comity has been robbed of its revenue, and considering the extreme slowness with which the Government attend to the County’s wants, we think that a praiseworthy amount of improvement has been effected and undertaken. If it should appear to any that some of the work—for example, the Manawapon—has been left until very late in the season, wo would point out that in that particular case there lias been some excuse for delay. Irrespective of the question of being in a position to pay for the work at an earlier date, the Council was unwilling to adopt the very expensive course to which it has boon driven, while any hope remained of discovering gravel of goon qn dity within a reasonable distance of the Manawapon. But we do not know why the improvement of the Mountain Ito id was left so late that a bonus lias to bo offered to get It done before the winter sets in, although we do not doubt that enquiry would find a sufficient reason.

W • presume there is a general agreement among our renders as to the expediency of the work undo-taken. When there are not sufficient funds to re-gravel <>r re-sand, as the case may he, the whole of the main road through the Comity there must, of course, be some judgement used as to what portions are to be left undone. No doubt every portion of road has its advocate, and it will be quite imnossible to please everybody, but on the whole, wc think it will be granted that the best has been done. The Mountain Road work, we believe, does not make any claim upon the ordinary revenue of the Comity, and therefore cannot be an eye-sore to any ratepayer. As the work proposed to be done there consists only in making the worst parts of the road passable, wo think that the Government can barely escape the charge of penuriousness, when the growing importence. of the Mountain Road is considered. Nearly all along that road the traveller hears the stroke of the axe, indicating the progress of settlement. There is a saw mill in full operation about six miles from Normanby, and small dwellings are springing up, where, a few months ago, there was nothing bat virgin forest and kaw-kaws. We also remember that ihe daily coach between Stratford and Kai iwi is a great achievement even in fine weather and on good roads, and may become an impossibility on bad roads. It is probably the intention of the GovernuKMit, in offering a bonus for the completion of the railway before July, to about four miles this side of Stratford, to run the train on, over those four miles, and so lessen the coach j .urney in the depth of winter. At the same lime it is noteworthy that some, at least, of the road improvement, for which a bonus is <dso offered, is taking place over those very four miles. However, wo would bo glad to see both the railway and the road pushed on more rapidly than they are, and would suggest the employing upon the Mountain lioad a detaclnn ml of the unemployed from Wellington, or, indeed, of the unemployed fio.u the Paloa County.

Respecting tire Manawapon contract, wineli is by far the greatest undertaking of the Council with County funds, and which may appear to some parts of the County a very extravagant, and lavish piece of ohli.iy, we are hound to say that the best in Mug made of that very unfortunate hill-side. The rate paid—its per yard lot i he first-class metal used, ii no doubt hi.-, ■. ut that was quite an-

avoidable. The M-mawapou has been a j constant source of expenditure ami worry I to the Council, r<iv 1 has made thousands of virtuous travellers do what the iarmy j . I ill in Flanders, and after all the expen- | diture and worry, the mud only seemed deeper. Half measures would not do with the Mauawnpou, avid it ims therefore been decided to expend upon it one large sum that will rendei unnecessary any further large expenditure for years to come. Next year, it may be reasonably hoped, the Alnnawapou will require no expenditure of County revenue, the whole of which may then he devoted to other portions of the road. So that, although it may deduct a little from the quality of those other portions for the present year, the. Manavvapon job will, in the end, prove the key to the difficult problem of maintaining good roads through this County. The utility of the work undertaken to the south of Carlyle cannot be doubled. There were many shockingly bad places in the roid last winter, notably between Wnverley and Waitotara, and even those portions that were only a little bad last year would he very bad this year, il left ns they were. Wo have to congratulate the town of Carlyle on the great improvement in its streets, but we are sorry that the excellency only extends to the Post Office, liven the late pleasant rain was sufficient to indicate to those interested where the bottomless sloughs are lobe in thecoming winter. There is every prospect, il something is not at once done, of a wretched piece of road north of the Carlyle Post Office, This may be inevitable ;if it he, all wo can say is that we heartily regret its being so. While speaking of the north end of the town, we would like to suggest the formation of a footpath for the accommodation of the numerous residents who are taking up their abode in that direction. Should the road be loft as it is, it will bo almost impassable lor pedestrians. While treating of the roads, wo would like to say a word as to two secondary, yet important things. First, the drinking troughs. The well-known horse’s friend in the Manntahi Gorge has been enlarged and deepened so that two or three animals can drink at once without any danger of emptying it. This is a step in the right direction. Bat, as there is every natural facility, why should not these throughs be made every two or throe miles along the road ? It may seem a small matter, but these troughs would be an immense boon to man and beast, and would onlj involve the outlay of a few shillings each. Our second suggestion is that Patea, in a very small matter, imitate the old fashioned County of Taranaki, and indicate on the bridges the names of the streams, and the distance, each way, .to some well-known centre. A stranger may travel a dozen limes through this County without learning its geography, except from hotel signs, and without having any idea of distance except that afforded by his watch and his stomach.

A general feeling of dissatisfaction seems to prevail from Carlyle to Hawera, owing to no steps having been taken by Government to avail themselves of the money voted by the House last session for the construction of the railway within this Comity. Numerous letters are appearing in the Taranaki papers on the subject, and many writers are inclined to saddle Major Atkinson with the whole of the blame. We cannot shut our eyes to the fact that there seems to he a desire on the part of the Government to throw this dislrietover, and if our member stands quietly by, without holding up a- finger against such injustice, we should not hesitate in attributing all the blame to him ; for he, and ho alone, is responsible to the settlers, and having made himself acquainted with their wishes, ho should endeavor, by all fair means, to secure for them that which they deserve—more especially' as the contemplated rail-way-works would not be only a local benefit, but a work of vast colonial importance. We are aware that the branch line squabble (if wc may so term it) has hung up that portion of our railway for a time ; but surely- there is abundant work on the main line, for which contracts ought to have been accepted by Ibis time. A public meeting is in contemplation here to discuss matters connected with public works, when no doubt resolutions will be pul demanding that Government at once pioceed with works in this County. Tuo settlers have a right to demand tins, for day by day- they ev, other less important places furnished with railways ; and unless something is done to show that we are not indifferent to our bread being taken by the strong, wo may- never get that which we are justly entitled to—-our railway.

Messrs Duncan McGregor and John Winks were nominated at Huwora on Saturday last, for the vacant seat in the Patoa County Council. A poll will be taken on the 27th instant. We notice that Messrs McCarty & Hunger have made an alteration to their business premises, where it is intended to carry on coach, buggy, and dray making, the necessary appliances for which have already arrived, A man named Brown, cook at the breakwater works, has been missing since 11 o’clock on Sunday morning. He was last sjen leaving the wharf in a boat for the Heads, and the boat was afterwards found without an occupant on the mud flat. Very few people believe that the man is drowned, as he is supposed (owing to having been summoned for a debt of about £43, which case was to have come off yesterday)to have bolted. A man answering Brown’s description was at the Whenuakura Flotel on Sunday, and also at Waveriey, but no farther traces can be found of him at present, although Constable O’Brien was down that way on Monday making enquiries. Doubtless the missing man will turn up in some unexpected quarter—not the Patea JUiver,

At the H.M. Court, yesterday (before C. A. Wray, Esq., U.M.)* Francis Mullen was charged by Sergeant McGfrath. with committing a breach of u The Taranaki Sale of Liquor Ordinance, lood,” in unlawfully keening open the bar of the Masonic Hotel for the sale of alcoholic liquors between the hours of 1U p in. on the fith and 2 a.in. on the 7th March, Accused stated that he had only served boarders and travellers with diink, and h6 was under the impression this was allowable by law. This being the lirst otfenee, the Bench dismissed the ease with a caution,—The following civil eases Were heart! ;—Skelley v Leona Dare, judgment summons £4 (is 4d ; to be paid within a month, or 14 dajs imprisonment. —W. Dale vJ. Goodfelluw, claim .£l9 16s, dishonored promissory note ; judgment for plaintiff by default for amount claimed and Ifla coats.—Skelley & Go v M. A. Vincent, claim iil 11s 6d ; judgment for plaintiffs by default for amount claimed and Ins costs. —S. Tapiin v J. Jlrown, claim £47 17s IUI ; judgment for plaintiff by default for amount claimed and 39s costs.

Mr Joseph lv«ss, proprietor of the Ashburton Mail, appeared at the Magistrate’s Court, Ashburton, on Friday last, on a summons to answer a charge of having unlawfully and maliciously primed and published a certain false, scandalous, anil defamatory libel of and concerning one E heard George Crisp, solicitor, Ashburton, in the Ashburton Mail of the 26tb February. Mr Branson appeared for the prosecutor, The defendant conducted his own ease. A six column report of the case is given in the Mail, which occupied Iwo days at the conclusion iff which defendant was committed for trial, anil admitted to bail on his own recognisances.

There is now n wild boast show in Carlyle, comprising several interesting specimens. Speaking of the show, the Wanganui Chronicle of the 15th says : Mr I’arnnin l ink the Tasmanian Devil (an interesting and ngly-looking animal) and its companiims on to the race-course yesterday, and did a very lively stroke of business. Tne animal he describes as halfcut half-monkey is a most extraordinary looking thing, hut what its parentage is we cannot venture to say. The two tortoises are also well worth seeing.

The following are the principle prize' takers at the Nelson Rifle Meeting :—Purnell (Wanganui), £4(3 and a silver medal ; Thomas (Thames), £45 10s., champion carbine belt, and (lie gold medal ; (Jkey (Taranaki), £4l, champion ride belt, and gold medal ; Paynter (Nelson), £56 and the ride challenge cup ; Somerville (Wanganui), £sl, silver medal, and carbine challenge cup ; Rogers ( Blenheim), £27 10s and asilver medal ; Buckley (Christchurch) £24 ; Smith (Dunedin). £22.

The Hawke’s Bav Herald has been examining the list of bankrupts who have filed in Napier during the last three years. The number of bankruptcies and assignments amounted to 150, and our contemporary estimates the toll thus levied by the credit system on the trade of Napier during the period named at £200,000 ! Dividing the loss by the population it gets about £ls per head for every man, woman and child, as the amount absolutely and irretrievably lost in three years by the credit system ! The I.Jerald adds—“ Well may we have cause to talk about • bad times.’ When the teal cause of these ‘bad times’ is acknowledged—when the credit system is reduced to more reasonable and safe proportions—it will be a grand day for the honest people in Napier." A Yorkshire justice not long ago, committed the same mistake as is alleged to have taken place in Doherty’s case, at Blenheim. A baker named Htaveley was committed to Wakefield gaol on the charge of refusing to have Ins child vaccinated. Tim penally assigned by the Aetforthis off nice is simple imprisonment but the justice, in signing the warrant) forgot to strike out the clause imposing hard labour. When, therefore, Staveley arrived in Wakefield gaol, his hair and beard were cut, and he was subjected to penal dicipline, hut the mistake was discovered before he was sot to hard labour. Staveley brought an action for illegal imprisonment. The justice had paid 2d into Court, and the jury returned a verdict for the defendant, but added that the plaintiff luul been harshly treated.