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Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 526, 29 May 1880, Page 2

The Weekly Supplement will bo issued with the Mail next Tuesday. The Recreation Ground at Waverley is gazetted under the Public Domains Act.

Parliament was opened at Wellington yesterday, by a Speech from the Governor, setting forth the Ministerial policy, with a statement of the condition of the colony. Reduction of expenditure and Royal Commissions are the two leading ideas of the Ministerial programme. No allusion is made to the Redistribution of Scats Bill.

A Balance of £1,000,000 will be available for new public works in the com in sr year, according to the estimate of Mr Kelly, M.11.R.

Th e lease under which Mr Ross holds the Recreation Ground is to be cancelledThe Town Board resolved last night to relieve him of an inconvenient holding rather than grant him permission to sub-let in small leases. They agreed to allow him £lB (rent due) as compensation for fencing, &e. Mr Ross may accept this as preferable to remaining as he is. He had asked for £IOO compensation for improvements. This the Board considered excessive.

The Contract for the two smMl bridges and two brick culverts required on the branch Railway was signed yesterday by the successful tenderer, Mr Harris, of Wanganui. There was some delay as to the exact dimensions of the bridges; but that being settled, the contract was signed at the tendered price, £1043 12s Gd. Mr Harris will commence operations immediately, and probably ho will freight a ship for Patca with the required timber.

Sir John Cooue has increased his estimate for the New Plymouth harbor works from £200,000 to £285,000. This will seriously cheek, if it do not stop, the very risky project.

A “ Simi’leton ” wants to know what Commissioner Bryce is doing' with 800 men under arms, “ when the Commission is supposed to have settled all the disputes with the natives by giving them all they desired.” Local Bodies in various parts of the colony arc uniting to bring, pressure on the Government for renewing local subsidies. Mu F. 11. Jackson’s stock sale at Hawera took place yesterday. The yards were fairly tilled with stock of good quality, and the attendance was large. Prices were in favor of the seller throughout, and every lot was sold under the hammer. The auction was a capital one, and satisfactory to the vendors. The entries were: Cattle, 151 head, fat bullocks fetching £8 2s Gd ; cows, £u us to £G 7s Gd; IS months’ store steers, £3 us; yearlings, £2 Jus; milch cows, £5 2s Gd to £7 7s Gd. Sheep ; G39 were penned; fat ewes fetched 7s Gd ; stores, us 9d. The Town Boaud Elections promise to bo lively. Six candidates are nominated for three offices; and the day of election is fixed for next Thursday. Ratepayers within the town area may record their votes between the hours of nine and six. George F. Sherwood was nominated by Thomas Heywood and J. E. Keys. John Whelan was nominated by Thomas North and George T. Potto. William Dixon was nominated by R. A. Adams and F, Scarfing. W. Dale, jun., was nominated by R. Currie and R. A. Adams. James Lett was nominated by T. North and G. T, Potto. S. Taplin was nominated by R. A. Adams and 11. F. Christie. The two retiring members arc Mr Taplin and Mr Dale; and the contest is practically for the third vacancy. The Fiue Brigade in Carlyle are completing their equipment, so as to be in a condition to meet emergencies. They have got a score of buckets, with graplings and ropes; and an alarm bell is ordered (on credit), and is about to be fixed on a plot of land near the Court House, granted by the County Council. There is some expectation that a fireengine formerly required at the Government buildings in Wellington may be granted tor use in Carlyle ; and though this is very uncertain, it is more probable that the Brigade will be allowed the use of a vacant store-house on the Government reserve behind the Court House. There is some anxiety as to funds. About 22 suberibers have enrolled as honorary members, promising annual donations of a guinea each; the Bank of New South Wales has also promised and paid two guineas ; and the Bank of Now Zealand is understood to be responsible for the same amount annually. There are also suberibers who are not members, cither acting or honorary, and this fist ought soon to be very large. It comprises at present nine contributors, who promises sums of about half a guinea each. The local insurance companies ought to contribute liberally to a Fire Brigade ; and wo understand that the Union, the Standard and the National Insurance Companies have promised to subsidise theßrigadc to the amount of one third their subscription fist, so that these three equivalent moieties make a total equal to the total of public subscriptions. If the Brigade gets £SO a year from the public, it can reckon on £SO more from the companies conjointly. There is a fourth insurance company in the town, and this may be expected to contribute equally with the others. What the Brigade wants at present is some ready money to pay for articles of equipment already obtained, and for other articles ordered. The bell will be a loud clapper when erected on high poles, but there is not cash in hand to pay for it. The suberibers who have kindly promised will only need informing of the state of affairs to ensure prompt remittance of funds. Wanganui Harmonic Society! gave a a concert on Thursday, the selections being miscellaneous. They have found cantatas go otf heavily on previous occasions. The annual ploughing match of the Taranaki Agricultural Society took place on Wednesday. The weather was bad. The first prize for double furrow ploughing was won by W. Grey ; the first for single furrow, H. Allenbury. The South Australian Parliament met on the 27th.