The Patea Mail. (Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.) TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1880. RAILWAY SETTLEMENT.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 512, 27 April 1880, Page 2

The Patea Mail. ( Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.) TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1880. RAILWAY SETTLEMENT.

The Minister for Public Works has now decided between conflicting claims ns to which side of the river is preferable for the Carlyle Station of the branch Badway to the port of Paten. Mr Ollivcr visited the town three weeks ago, ami inspected the two sides of the river with the object of ascertaining the relative suitability of cither bank for bringing a branch Pailway to the port at the least cost ami with the best results to the district. He received a public deputation representing the town view of the ease, and a private deputation interested, in land on the Whemiakura side. -Mr Ollivcr had placed before him all the facts, circumstances, advantages, drawbacks, present benefits to land frontages, and future benefit to private property. The questions of harbour and town reserves, of tidal foreshore, of bridges and pilings and reclamations were all brought under his notice. Mr Ollivcr pledged himself to consider these things, to appraise each and all at their practical value, and to decide upon the whole case without regard to any other than the public good. Mr Ollivcr has decided, ami his decision must give pleasure to one party and proportionate disappointment to the others. Mr Ollivcr gives answer to the public of Carlyle by proclamation through the official Gazette, and ho therein declares that the new branch Hail way shall go along the Whenuakvmv side, and the Station terminus shall he on the south bank opposite the wharves. The advocates of the Swamp have gained their object; and the public of Carlyle, by which we mean 08 out of every 100 inhabitants, have had their appeal mot by a non passmans. The great majority of the public believed that the natural growth of the town, within its square mile radius ■would be retarded by the counter growth of a Station suburb on the Swamp. We have tried to view this question from an impaitinl standpoint, and onr opinion is distinctly this. Firstly, the natural growth of the town will and must bo retarded exactly in proportion as the land on the .Whennaknra side increases in value for commercial and residential purposes. Secondly, the river frontage now reserved to the Harbor Board, as an endowment for navigation purposes, must lose a large part of its prospective value, by transferring the wharfage facilities and shipping custom to (he south shore, and by adding thereto the now Kailway advantagoes. Thirdly, the.Whennaknra side is manifestly preferable for shipping convenience and for engineering economy; the only qualification being the farther question, whether economy of expendirnre is a sounder consideration than the interests and conviction of a whole population, excepting some dozen units who arc influential and estimable as citizens and neighbors. To please a population, and to promote its manifest interests as a whole, should have been worth, and more than worth, the increased cost of bringing tbc Bailway on to the towm side. But Mr Ollivcr and his cheeseparing colleagues think, or at least have decided, that it shall be otherwise. So be it.

What remains ? Will the local public accept the otTxcitil decision, and “ make the best ou’t?” Or will they agitate anew, ami try farther appeals anil'protests ? Let us put aside all passion, avoid all recrimination as to motives, all insinuations as to subterranean currents of sympathy between Patca residents and Wellington Officials. Drop all these things, and face, present facts. And what are the} 7 V We think they arc these. The question has been re-opened for official decision, at the request of the town ; and the decision being now given, wo should consider the question closed once for all. We cannotsoe a single good object that could he served by farther agitation, or by fresh protest. We can see much probable harm. To agitate afresh would furnish to the Government a pica, an excuse, and probably a convenient one to the official mind, for not spending the money already voted for this branch Hail way. To hang up the question now would be to bang it up certainly till the end of the next session of Parliament; and when a Chancellor of the Exchequer is in difficulties, and a vote like that comes up for revision, the result is almost inevitable, for he would impound it in spite of himself. Let us accept the Minister’s decision, and be thankful—not for the decision, but for the Hail way. By accepting it, the Minister is likely to respond with equal good feeling, by calling at once for tenders to finish the whole branch lino, with bridge, and Station, and wharf frontage. The work would begin just when work is most welcome, in the winter ; and there would be perhaps IpO men brought into the district to spend wages on necessaries, and help local: trade.. This Railway means a circulation - of ten or fifteen thousand pounds in this district within twelve months. The great’mistake from first to last has been that the main line was not brought through Carlyle. We cannot help thinking that .this district ; needs a voice and a vote in Parliament.; ;At present Patea is nowhere ; .-and Newvlfiymouth is ho hub of the colony.

Tim Hail appears to-ti.ny as a tri-weekly newspaper, tins being the first issue on Tuesdays. The publishing oflice is being onlyrgod and improved ; and during the alterations ; the Mail is being brought out its enlarged form amid difficulties aiid obstacles which can hardly be apparent to to the reading public, who receive their newspaper in its finished form without knowing the unusual labour and inconvenience attending its production. The Mail is being printed on a splendid new machine ; and when onr new arrangements arc in complete working order, we shall have confidence in challenging criticism of the Mail as a country newspaper of the first class.

A TniP to Fcnland is promised to the people' of Waverity,' Carlyle, ami Ilawora, when Bachelder’s entertainment reaches these (owns. It is an American combination of amusing novelties, and has been favorably noticed b)- the press in other towns visited.

The Ska roared last night along the coast with a violence quite remarkable, indicating the severity of Sunday’s storm in mid-ocean.

A Fueezixg Company is proposed a 1 Melbourne, to preserve and export moat on the dry air piinciple. A limit half the capital of .tIUU.ODO is subscribed.

Wcoi, is improving in Iho London market. About iia, ooo bales have been offered, and the demand continues firm and active, at rising rates.

Hostilities have again broken out in Afghanistan. About 15,000 Afghan’s have attacked Genera! Stewart’s position at Glmznee, but were beaten back with heavy loss.

A Snow of foals, roots, grain, open to all comers, is to be held at Mnrton on the Ist May.

Father Laiikix, who is leaving this colony for San Francisco, has boon presented with a purse of sovereigns. Plead is reduced to 8d the Hb loaf, at Wanganui. ■

The Shooting Season in this island is fixed by the Gazette as from the Ist May to end of July.

The Land Block known as Ohineka within. Wanganui county, has been sold at £1 5s per acre to Mr Claude Pascal, The quality is reported good.

Sin Dillon Belt, had interviews with Titokowarn and other chiefs on Saturday, in reference to the Plains settlement. The surveys of Maori reserves are proceeding satisfactorily, and at present all is quiet, although much uncertainty prevails among the colonists as to a peaceable termination to the roadmaking. Several dwellings are being erected on sections along the Mountain road, between Ketemaraeand Stratford.

Tun Lease of 000 acres of land near Mamitahi, held under native title, was put up to auction on Saturday liy Mr Coworn, at Ids Patea warehouse. The. auction had an unexpected termination. The land had been leased for Id years, about 7d unexpired, and is part of the Maori reserve Taumahau. It has been held and worked under native title, like so many other blocks in Paten county ; and no difficulty as to right or title had occnred during the year already run. The holder desired to transfer his lease for the remaining term, and of course the lease has now a market value in consideration of the low rental. The sale of loose was advertised in the Mail, and this “ fetched ” some Maoris of the district, who fancied the land itself was being sold. This they were determined to prevent, and coming down to Carlyle in a body of 20 strong, they entered Mr Cowern’s rooms made a great deal of unintelligible noise, and tried with innocent stupidity to prevent a supposed injustice. A number of capitalists from the district, and some from outside, were in the auction room, and altogether the Maori comedy was amusing and rather wild. Finding that the Maori deputation could not be pacified, nor be made to understand the difference between selling a lease for what it will fetch, and selling the feesimple of land, Mr Cowern put an end to the hubbub by postponing the sale. Tun District Co cut, which stands adjourned till to-day, at Carlyle, will be further adjourned to Saturday next, Judge Shaw being required this week to give evidence before the Civil Service Commission.

lire Tin-: Assujnmkxt of Mr Gorva.se D. Hamcrtun, solicitor, formerly of Now Plymouth, an action was brought by guarantors against (he Bank of New Zealand, and a rule mV was granted lerjmring the bank to show cause why they should not deliver up (heir securities to the gnarantoru, amounting to about ;t*'2,GoL', together with securities of Joshua Jones, held by them. The bank had elected to prove as ordinary creditors, and hence this action. Jiigdment was given in the matter yesterday, ns we learn by telegram from New Plymouth ; and the effect of it is that the bank are ordered to surrender to the guarantors all securities held in connection with Mr Ilamcrloh’s affairs. Probably a considerable snrpus will remain to bo handed over to him at the final settlement.

Catti.r Importation from Auckland or from Australian ports is to be protested against, through a memorial from the Patca Agricultural and Pastoral Association to the Government. The spread of plenro-pncinnonia in the Waikato district is so serious a danger to the pastoral county of Patea, that prudential action is not being taken a day to soon.

Thk Patka Stf.am Su siting Company's annual meeting takes place next Thursday, at 4 p.m. This is the second year of the company's operations in promoting direct steam trade between this district and Wellington. We hope they will soon be able to extend their business by adding a second steamer of larger tonnage. The bar entrance will now admit of a much larger craft than the “ right little, tight little” steamer Patca. The largest steamship that piies to Wanganui can now find easy entrance to this river, a fact of winch local residents are proud, as indicating the rapid and satisfactory rate at .which difficulties of the bar navigation are being overcome through the harbor works.

Stormy Wbatueb set in on Saturday, and sevenal driving showers fell on Sunda}', coming at a time when-, rain was much needed in this district. The pastures are still in fine condition, ami visitors passing through Patea must view oiir paddocks of rich green grass with surprise and envy. The weather during the previous ten . days' had been lovely beyond comparison. s

Several Telegrams which should have reached onr office last night, containing the latest reports from vniions parts of the colony, have been delayed by some unexplained cause. Football Season. —The first football contest of the season came off upon the Recreation Ground, on Saturday afternoon, about twenty players being on (lit field soon after the advertised him. Sides wore, chosen by Messrs Norris and Pringle, and for the former Messrs Daseut, Turner, II miter,J. Chadwick, Sinclaire, Webb, Baggett, and Corrigan did battle, whilst Messrs (Joints. 11. Chadwick, F. Powell, Baddcley, 'Paylor, Guerin, Foster, Byrnes and Adamson were the opposing team. The game, which lasted for an hour ami a half, was very spirited throughout, Mr Pringle’s men having much the best of it from the s|art. and scoring two goals, one try, and two touch-downs, to their opponent’s two trys. The skill, activity, and untiring efforts of many of the players was very noticeable ; but as the match was only a scratch one, if would not bo in place to make special comment. The utmost cordial good feeling existed all through, notwithstanding the fact that several nasty little mishaps occurcd, one player getting a black eye, and another dislocating his nose. The Amkici ltlual Snow of this comity is to be held at or near Carlyle, and the local society has decided to make this the permanent centre for its annual exhibitions. This resolution was come to only after a contest, but the reasons for the change wore so manifest (hat even those who "opposed the proposal at Saturday’s meeting will soon see the advantage which this change will bring to the society’s prosperity and to the progress of the district.