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Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 535, 19 June 1880, Page 2

A Weekly Supplement of 14 columns is given with this issue of the Mail. A New Region of Hot Springs has been discovered in the Taupo country, as reported in our telegrams. The geysers are reported as of surpassing beauty. The Meeting at Hawera this evening should bo largely attended ; for the subject to be ventilated is one of vital interest to that “ capital of the Plains ;” and a decided expression of public opinion in the district is desirable, for the information of politicians at Wellington. An Entertainment is being promoted in connection with the bazaar about to be held in Carlyle, in aid of the Catholic Church building fund. It is probable that some members of the Harmonic Society will, with becoming liberality, contribute songs and glees, assisted by other vocalists from Wanganui. An invitation is also to bo given to members of the Garrick Club to contribute recitals from memory, and perhaps a dramatic selection in the shape of some little plot or dialogue. A “ soiree” compounded of these elements ought to be attractive to a liberal-minded public. In matters of this kind, no denominational feeling should be allowed to mar the purity of a common charity. A Native Meeting has been held at Waitotara this week, at which Major Brown, Civil Commissioner, proposed certain compensations to the tribes for land taken for Railway purposes. Their expectations seem to be large, for they refused the offers made by the Commissioner, and preferred to take their chance in a contest at law, or by arbitration. The unsettled claims will be heard before the Native Land Court, to be held at Patea early next month. The Railway Works at Waitotara are progressing appreciably. Four miles of the permanent way on this side of the Waitotara river are nearly ready for ballasting, and the line may be completed and opened up to that point in three or four months. The extension to Waverley should be ready, from present appearances, for running trains up to Waverley within nine months. Some sanguine residents about Waverley are calculating on seeing the first engine soon after Christmas. The bridge at Waitotara has been delayed through the late flood, and since then for want of timber; but the first span of . the superstructure is in position, and all the piles are driven. The line is ballasted nearly the whole length from Kai Iwi to the bridge. It is still a risky calculation to say how soon the two ends of the Main Line will meet. Patea stands midway in the hiatus. We are the naughty children who give the paternal Government so much vexatious worry, and we are put off to the last. Other districts, better behaved, are eating their cake; while naughty Patea is not allowed to taste. Is it-fair ?

Nelson Copper. —lt is with the greatest pleasure, says the Colonist, we learn that the further testing of the Aniseed Valley mine proves the lode to be improving both in width and thichness. The width of the lodes has now increased to four feet, and it is, therefore, clear that the quantity of ore must be .very considerable. We learn that there is every probability of sufficient capital being forthcoming to carry on operations on a scale of some magnitude, and we anxiously await the commencement of remunerative operations, being confident that the encouragement which one success will afford * will lead .to 5 . greatly 4T iucreased attention ’to the' uhdouhtecT mineral wealth of this district.

Distress is still severe in Ireland, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin has telegraphed to the colonies for more help.

The Session at Wellington will terminate probably about the end of August—barring accidents. The Creditors of T. W, Mace, New Plymouth, find the assets are about £585, and the liabilities £326. The deed of settlement is to be set aside.

Another Journalist has entered the House. Mr George Jones, editor of the Oamaru Mail, has just boon returned for that town, against Mr Reid, a Royal Commissioner, and Mr Roberts, an independent Liberal. Mr Jones is an advanced Liberal.

The Parihaica Meeting is of special importance this month, being the anniversary of the native ploughing “ and what came of it.” There will have been much talk at Panhaka probably as to how the exiles in Dunedin gaol arc faring under the care of a pakeha Government. Our report of tho meeting on tho 17th is not yet to hand.

“ Fair Play” has sent ns a letter on that too-much-discnssed subject, the right of football clubs to use the cricket-pitch at Carlyle as part of the Recreation Ground, over which residents have a eommom right to play any kind of game. This letter is too long lor insertion on a worn-out topic. We are obliged to say that our public columns have been too much occupied with a matter which affects a few individuals, but is of no great interest to the general public. The Town Board are endeavouring to provide a suitable space of ample area for football play; and the wrangling may now cease with advantage to all concerned. Pressure of news compels a decision to close our columns to farther correspondence on this subject, at present.

No Waste Land was sold iu this County during May. Seventy acres in the Ngaire district, section 35, have been purchased by Thos. Twiggs, at £1 10s per acre. The Land Board have granted the following applications for deferred payment holdings in the Ngaire district, there being only one applicant for each section: —R. O’Donovan, section 2, block, 7, containing 53 acres; H. P. Smith, section GO,- block 6, 61- acres ; J. J. Plows, section 3, 156 acres i W. O’Brien, section 4, 100 acres; Jas. McKenzie, section 7. 109 acres; J. Batie, section 9, 60 acres ; P. Stewart, sections 4, and 8, 290 acres ; W. B. Snork, section 55, 65 acres ; R. M, Morrison, section 57, block 6, 63 acres. The transfer of section 166, Moa,from James Williamson to Peter Hunter, jun., was allowed.

Farmers of the substantial class are flocking to this colony, partly under pressure of hard times in Britain, partly through the reports of trusty delegates who have visited these islands. A number of them have come by the Norfolk, now at Wellington, the second steamer out directly from Home. Will some of these moneyed yeomen kindly run down to the Patea County, and see things for themselves ? They’ll not regret the trip. Their difficulty will be to understand how so fine a district could have remained so little known outside. If the superb land of Patea, and the splendid climate of this coast, do not strike these British yeomen as a revelation of the land of promise, their expenses shall bo paid back. Natives arc dying out at a rate so rapid, that the causes are a puzzle to observers. Major Brown, in' his official report upon this district, says the native mortality in the past twelve months has been heavy. He estimates that in two years the natives settled on this coast have dwindled from 3,440 to about 3000. That is to say, they decrease at the rate of one native in every 15 per annum. The births fall short of the deaths by that number. Here is an arithmetical problem for a bright school-boy. Suppose the Taranaki, natives number 3,000 at this date, and they decrease annually in the ratio of one in 15, how many years must elapse before the Taranaki natives are extinct!

A Man who had been well educated, but was starving in the streets of Dunedin, wrote a letter stating that he intended to kill himself to end the misery of his position. He was found dead, having taken poison. A jury wore asked to say whether this was a case of felo de se. They considered, and returned a verdict that the man destroyed himself while in a state of temporary insanity. A verdict of that kind would apply to almost any rash crime. It would apply equally as a defence to an action for a breach of promise of marriage.