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Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 514, 1 May 1880, Page 2

A Supplement of 14 columns of literary selections, general news, and a story, is given with this issue of the Mail, and will be continued every Satnrdaj".

Major Atkinson is to be invited, by requisition, to visit his constituents before the opening of the session. Representatives who need to be pressed with requisitions are not of much use to the districts that elect them. Whoever understands the true interests of Patea cannot have much.to say in defence of things done, or of things left undone. The Major’s illness hss been suggested by report. Ho has been slightly unwell, hut is now better. Wo hope to sec him in Carlyle shortly, hut there is no certainty about that.

Mr William Dale was married yesterday, at New Plymouth, to Miss Ford, sister to Mrs A. Black,. The happy couple a'e expected in Patea to-day.

Homwafd Brindisi Mails were delivered in London on Monday.

Parihaka country is being invaded by the road-makers, who have gone five hundred yards across To Whivi’s boundary without any opposition.

Tins Patea Steam Shipping- Company’ annual meeting was held yesterday, when some lively discussion took place as to the loss of £3OO subsidy through neglect. The year’s accounts were not ready for presentation.

Gas that is cheaper than water, and of superior illuminating power, is said to have been discovered by an inventor in Victoria. A company lias been formed to secure and work the patent. How soon will Carlyle be able to try it?

“ J. P.” asked why the 45th clause of the Sheep Act is not enforced by the local inspector, and why he shows no sign of activity. We are informed that the inspector has submitted various matters to the Colonial Secretary, and is wating to bo officially informed of the course to bo taken. The inspector will then bring the whole business before the District Court at one sitting.

Native Superstition. —We hea~ from a private source that the cause of the natives abandoning the Manawatu ferry is that they got an idea into their heads that a flood even more disastrous than that which recently caused so much damage in the district, was about to occur. In the interest of the public, however, we think it advisable that someone should be placed in charge of the ferry possessing not quite so much superstition, and considerably less impudence than the natives at present holding the position.— Post.

Wheelwrights are increasing at Carlyle. Messrs Macarty and Hunger have, added a wheelwright’s shop to their business as -smiths, and are turning out light carts for draught purposes, finished in very good stylo. It is pleasing, to see tradesmen taking a proper pride in their work, a policy which pays better in the long-run than the. flimsy art of making things to sell that won’t wear. American work, as imported in this colony, is particularly smart and light in stylo, but it is a style that farmers don’t patronise a second time, as a rule, for the light American products hang together too short a time to be worth the money. The carts made in Carlyle, so far as; wc have noticed, are made on the English pattern. . They are neat but durable, and neither lob heavy for the work nor too flimsy for steady wear.; Intelligent and honest workmanship goes a long way in these matters.

A Land Sale of Crown sections look place in Wellington on Wednesday. There was little competition, only seven comparatively small Jots being disposed of, realising a total of £330. In the Wliareama Block, section 888, containing 60 acres, and section 890, containing 195 acres, were disposed, of at the upset prices, namely £3O and £9B respectively. A section of 208 acres in the Waitotara district was sold for £lO4, the upset price. Town section 879, Palmerston North, containing 1 acre 1 rood, also wont at the upset price of £37 10s. The only lots that realised more than the upset price were the following suburban sections, each containing 4 acres 1 rood, in the township of Palmerston :—No. 1037, £26; No. 10,391, £3O; No. 1041, £42, The upset price in each case was £42.

, Liverpool has now got a bishop, under the scheme started by the late Mr Torr' M.P. Canon Ryle is appointed/ the salary being £3,500. ' Half U Million, reported to have been given by the Baroness Burdett Coutts to the Irish Relief Fund, turns out to be a myth. The amount• was probably an exaggeration of her contribution df £SOO.

Mr BaliAnce will address his constituents at Wanganui on the sth May,

The Wellington; Railway will be opened as far, as Grey tow a, near Masterton, on the 14th May.

The Ivakaramca Library is to be ns sisted by a [public'entertainment.

Two Publicans have been fined for supplying liquor on Sunday, in W. !!!ngton, to persons who wore not bom/■ k travellers.

At Kai Iwi, George Lynch has been arrested for stealing a number of pigs from natives.

Butchers at Palmerston are said to make a profit of over four hundred per cent, on the sale of mutton.

Mu W. L. Reeck is said to intend contesting the seat for Waitaki, near Timaru, vacated by Mr Hislop. An opponent says Reece was “ a shocking nuisance” in the last Parliament.

A Crowded Asylum for lunatics is a melancholy fact at Wellington. The hospital in that city is also too full, and beds have to be made on the floor.

Pabihaka Beef walked through Carlyle yesterday, in the shape of a dozen big bullocks, : drivon north by six mounted Maori disciples of Te Whiti. Is the old chief laying in stores, and for what ?

The Patent Slip at Wellington receives increasing business. The slip dues last year were £1,422, and the Government subsidy is £2,450.

A Grand Idea is taking practical shape. All the Orient line of steamers arc being fitted with ice chambers for conveying perishable articles from Australia to Europe. Cannot the same facility be afforded to New Zealand by Money-Wigrain’s steamers that are now plying direct? This is a great question for Patea, the chief grazing district of the colony.

The Ladies’ Christian Association at Wellington had an income last year of £322. Most of this is spent on a home for orphans, there being 14 inmates. Another object is the rescue of unfortunate women. Mothers’ meetings are hold and clothes made np, those being distributed to distressed families.

Mn Olliver has been “ stuck in the mud,” at Poverty Bay, and lie was fast for two hours. He had to walk several miles before he could procure assistance. It is presumed, therefore, that some of the public money will be showered upon the Poverty Bay district.

Canard Harbor is said to require di edging, and that the now loan of £IOO,OOO is to be applied energetically in harbor works. It happens, however, that the loan is for waterworks of another kind, that of supplying a good drinking fluid ; and those flowery speculations about “ admitting the largest sized Home vessels” are mere moonshine.

The Alleged Swindling at the Auckland races, by designedly altering the numbers of the two totalisors, lias caused sharp discussion on the policy of permitting mechanical betting machines to be used. The racing stewards ought to keep them under strict observation, for the india-rubber honesty of betting men is proverbial. Betting machinery is an abomination under any name or device. The proprietors of the two machines have been remanded, and the facts will be gone into at the Auckland Police Court to-day.

“ Parson Fellows” in a Storm.— Another good story is in circulation about the Rotomahaua’s celebrated passage with the church dignitaries from Wellington to Lyttelton n fortnight ago. On the arrival at the latter port after her long and stormy trip, one of the passengers casually remarked to the captain, who happened to pass by, “Rather a rough passage, captain !” The gallant skipper replied in a rather aggrieved tone, without his usual bonhomie, “Well, what on earth could yon expect with all those parson fellows on bo: rd-” Here one of the stewards frantically seized the captain’s arm and drew him aside, saying, in a hurried whisper, “ Why, sir, didn’t yon know ? That was the Bishop of———-you were talking to about the * parson fellers !’ ” The captain abruptly turned round and beheld the episcopal “ parson fellow,” evidently retailing the conversation in high glee to some other members of the cloth, who were convulsed with laughter at the story, so he thought it best to beat a hasty retreat. ,

In the Bankruptcy of J. and C. Fleetwood, of Wanganui, the statement of accounts showed liabilities £14,000, and private creditors of J. Fleetwood £l6O. : The assets are stated at £21,830, as follow :—Mataongaonga, 600 acres of frehhold, valued at £3000; 438 acres freehold, valued at £4380 ; 35 acres leasehold, £SO; Mangawhero, 1115 acres freehold, valued at £9575; 800 acres leasehold, valued at £6OO ; Mangamahu, 1009 acres leasehold property, valued at £1000; stock and tanning implements, £3225. Creditors have resolved “ That Messrs. C. and J, Fleetwood be requested to assign their estate for the benefit of their creditors to Messrs W. H. Watt and F E, Jackson.

; The Suhreme Court is sitting at Wanganui this week, and a number of cases sent for trial have been disposed of. Joseph Henderson, charged with unlawfully wounding Thomas Poole with a shoemaker’s knife, at Maxwell town, was found guilty of only a common assault. The jury could hardly agree, and considered the case from 10.30 a.m. till midnight. William Moore, charged with uttering a forged document with intent to defraud, was found, not guilty, Cyril-Grace and William David were each sanfenced to six month’s hard labor for stealing a watch and pendants from a Maori while asleep in a railway carriage: Edward Dooley, aged 19, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for, forging a letter. ,

WiiE s.s. Somerset, Homeward bound, touched at Aden on Thursday.

The District Court will sit at Carlyle to-day, when several eases will be adjudicated upon by Judge Sliaw. A Theft of £4O from a cash-box happened at the' Wellington Hotel a few days ago.

About L 60,000 remains to be spent on roads jn ilus island, from the votes of last session.

Mb. J. Geah, butcher, Is shipping from Wellington about 550 cases of preserved meats and soups, for England. Mr.’ D. Cameron, of Moroa, has broken his collar-bone in an upset from his buggy.

Unemployed are becoming very numerous in Canterbury and Otago. The railway stations show crowds them waiting for a chance job.

The Torpedo Corps at Wellington is to be supplied by the Admiralty with steam pinnaces. The crops numbers seventy-four.

A capsize of the coach near Foxton took place last week. Several of the passengers walked on to catch the train, but missed it.

The Scheme for settling- a number of working men along the east coast, in connection with the, pi-oposed railway, is favored by the Government to this extent. They will not undertake to find a body of settlers in employment or rations, but intend to give every facility to those taking up land to obtain employment in the construction of roads and railways in the vicinity of the various settlements.

The Rangitikei candidate is having all the fun to himself. The venerable Knight is so doughty a champion when he does come out, on a cold-water platform, that nobody dare say him nay. Ho stands unopposed, Mr C. L. McLean having declined to appear The nomi| nation is fixed for Wednesday next, at Marton.

At C \rlvlb R.M. Court yesterday, Messrs Skelley and Co. were fined 3s and costs for allowing a horse to wander. The following civil cases, unopposed,-were disposed of:—G. C. Rosa claimed from H. Axup £ll Os on a dishonored cheque.; Judgment for plaintiff by defoult, with costs. G. A. Marehant, of Woodville, c’aimed £2 4s from J. Pope, of Hawera. Judgment by default, with costs. Bills for the coming session are in preparation by the several heads of Departments.

We understand that the Government measures for the coming Parliamentary session are in course of active preparation, and that some are practically complete already, it being the intention of Ministers to introduce as many of their bills as possible at the commencement of the session, in order to facilitate and expedite the transaction of the very large a mount of weighty public business which must claim the attention of Parliament on this occasion.— Post,

The Cabinet.— lt is understood that all the members of the Cabinet will have assembled in Wellington by the end of this week, or the beginning of next. W« believe that the long talked of appointment of an eighth minister will in aU probability be made shortly after the reassembling of the Cabinet. Rumour is still quite at fault as to the name of the “ coming man.” All sorts of wild guesses have been hazarded, but \ye are inclined to suspect that they will prove very wide of the mark. The closest reticence is preserved by Ministers on the subject-— Post.

“ Success to the Boy,”—ln these hard times it is refreshing to hear of a paterfamilias who rejoices, in right down earnest, at seeing an increase in the number of his olive branches. Last week a resident at Feathorston not only rejfciced at such an event, but made it the occasion of rejoicing to all his friends and acquaintances. The settler in question has been hitherto blest with girls only, to his great disappointment, as he had set his heart upon a man-child. Mrs —, a week or two ago, presented her lord with a bouncing boy, ami the heart of Mr . was glad, very’ glad. He immediately went to Mrs Toogood, of the Club Hotel, and ordered a spread, at which expense was to be nnconsidered. Invitations wore sent out in all ; directions, and the banquet came off with great eclat. “ Success to the boy” was drunk in bumpers. The happy parents were likewise toasted with “ three times three,” and “many more”.—Post. A prisoner was being sentenced at Wanganui Supreme Court, for a violent assault on Dr Earle, and the following scene occurred:—The Judge said: “Yon have pleaded guilty to a very serious charge, and it is necessary that a severe punishment should .be'inflicted on yon.” Prisoner: “Do as you like. I will pray fori yon. You can make it ten years if you like The doctor and magistrate are two b- pigs. , I don’t care a d (A great deal more in- j| coherent raving fell Jrom the prisoner). His Honor thereupon'said he would not sentence the prisoner then, and ordered him to be brought up again. He got two years.

The Homestead Act.—Mr. R. E. Evendon has been lecturing at Wellington on land settlement under the Homestead Act. He states that, on going thoroughly into the whole matter, about 100,000 acres are available for bona fide settlers under the Act, and that there will shortly be about 200,000 acres of good land for sale on deferred payments in allotments of various sizes, while for cash at least 3,000,000 acres can bo purchosed in the North Island alone. He has also ascertained that' the Government will convey families froe of charge to the various settlements, and in some localities settlers will have opportunities of employment; on the public works in the neighborhood of the settlement. About L 60,000 also is to be spent on roads in this Island.

Twenty-seven addresses from Bulgarians have been presented to Mr Gladstone. The General Election in England lias been", watched with very great interest upon the Continent. The enormous majority obtained by the Liberals, and their immediate accession to power, is regarded by European statesmen as an indication of \ the'intention of England to assume her bid position of isolation.