Untitled

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 532, 12 June 1880, Page 2

A Weekly Supplement of 14 columns is given with this issue of the Mail. Acceptances . for the Wanganui Steeplechase Handicap close to-day. ; The First Sitting of ■ the Native Lands Court, under the new order for transferring native business from Wanganui to Carlyle, will be held at the Carlyle Court-house on the 7th July. The Patea S.S. Comp ant’s adjourned annual meeting was held yesterday, when the Balance-sheet . was presented and passed. It showed a net profit of £1,200 on the year’s trading. The total. business .transactions represented £5;928, besides the usual mail subsidy of £BOO. Mangold Worxzels have been selling.- in. Wanganui . for £2 :10b per ton, whereas they were recently changing hands in .this district at ; 25, -It? is a question of facilities for transit. 1 4

The Patea steamer arrived at Wei-:, lingtori at 9.30 a.in. yesterday, and will probably deave there this evening, to arrive af Patea on Sunday at 1 o’clock. She will leave this port for Wellington on Monday, at 1 p.m.

Mb Milroy was re-elected Chairman of the Town Board, by a unanimous vote, at a special meeting held last night. .

Postmasters’ and Telegraphists’ Salaries in this district are reduced by Government, as part of the retrenchment policy. At Carlyle the reduction is from £145 to £120; and cadet from £IOO to £9O; at Wavcrley from £l4O to £125 ; at Waitotara, from £145 to £135 ; Normanby from £l2O to £IOO.

The County Council is likely to be placed in an exceptionably favorable position by the proposals for rating native and Crown lands, described in Major Atkinson’s scheme of local taxation. The advantages accruing to this County may be stated in detail in our next issue.

Loan for Public Works.—Wc intended to point out (if pressure of telegraphic nows had not prevented) that the difficulties of the Carlyle Town Board, and of other local bodies in this County, are likely to be removed by the new facility for borrowing which is provided in the scheme of local finance, introduced by the Colonial Treasurer. Local bodies will, under that scheme, have power to borrow to any extent, limited only by the willingness of the ratepayers ’to tax themselves for repayment.

“ Special ” Correspondents in the House for the various newspapers include these : Saunders, Canterbury Press; Fox, . Ranyitikei Advocate; Wakefield, Timaru Herald; Bain, Southland Times; Reid, West Coast Times; Shepherd, Nelson Colonist; Do Lautohr, Dunedin Star. The colonial press should not lack early and correct information of that inner life of Parliament which politicians who have been in” can so well understand. A journalist inside the charmed circle has or should have access to the earliest hints of things that arc going to happen, and should learn much recondite knowledge of the secret history of those bills and motions that don’t quite reach the maturity of'open proposal. Parliament is a useful school to the wise, but a distressing whirlpool to the weak-headed.

The Garrick Club (Carlyle) held its first meeting .on Thursday, at the Albion Hotel. A very full “ company” of umatuer Thespians appeared on the boards, to take “ parts” in the opening piece, yclept t: the Roll Gall,” When the roll had been called, the drammarians (a-hem !) entered on the stage business with almost professional playfulness. Officers were elected, including president, vice-president, stage manager (a manager who really believes that all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players), a property-man (vide the property tax), a secretary, and a treasurer (this last a sort of colonial treasurer). The members of this “ powerful company” resolved to hold a series of weekly rehearsals, which will bo private in the first instance, after which they will appear for “ positively the first time” before a public audience in Carlyle —other engagements to follow.

The Committee of Petitions appointed at,the recent, public meeting had a second conference on Thursday evening, and approved the form of three petititions relating, respectively to County representation, to the Railway works, and to the, Plains settlement. Tlie petitions are to be taken to, the various districts in the County for signature, beginning at Carlyle, and they will then be forwarded for presentation to the. House through Major Atkinson, as member for the Egmont district. Some expense will be incurred in getting the three petitions engrossed; and also in having them'taken by one. or more suitable, agents for signature at the centres of population and in the outdistricts. It is also intended, in due course, to' forward to every member of the Lower House a printed copy of each petition, with a circular letter bespeaking favorable consideration of'these important subjects. The'printing will be done at cost price, to help the movement and lighten the expense. The resolution re the port of entry is to be brought under the notice of the proper department at - Wellington, as being a matter of .departmental policy with which Parliament could not be asked directly to interfere. The committee will press this matter with all practicable .zeal. The expense .of the work which the committee have undertaken will not be serious—possibly some £lO .or £12,; anda .small.subscription will be solicited from every well-wisher to the success of these matters, which are so important to the County as a whole. A shilling contribution given. to the agerit who carries the 'petitions for signature would be sufficient to enable the committee to carry, their work ; to; -an issue, and we hope to a successful issue. Any balance would : be handed to the County Hospital, The petitions will be ready for signature next week.