COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 15 July 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

The Outgoing Mail, via San Francisco, will close in this district on Friday, for the up coach to New Plymouth. Superintendent Bullen has been at Patea this week, on his usual inspection oj the constabulary. Six Vessels crossed the Patea bar at night, during the past mouth. The bar is better now than at any previous time.

The Contract for the new Wharf, on the town side of ■ the river, was signed yesterday. Mr Dickson must complete the work within five months, and he finds sureties for £SOO, besides depositing five per cent, on the contract price.

The Steamek lately out direct from England to this colony lias been sold by the Money Wigram Coy. This may indicate that the experimental trip of a direct steamer was not successful' financially. We think it more likely that the Norfolk was sent here pending her sale, previously resolved on, and that the recent trip did not affect the matter either way. The Chinese are to be blocked out from Australian colonies, by joint action of Victoria and N.b. Wales. A conference is to be held (according to our latest cable despatch), to devise means for stopping this obnoxious immigration. The other colonics are likely to co-operate. It will become the duty of New Zealand to join such a union, for the Heathen Chinee is not wanted here. Reductions are likely to be made in the police force at the smaller settlements along the West Coast. On (lit that the police station at Manutahi will bo one of those to bo closed, to economise expenditure. It is understood that the Government have issued instructions for a revision of the police expenditure throughout the colony, and a number of stations in small places are to be closed “ till better times.” It is also intended, we believe, to reduce the pay of the constabulary by 10 per cent, all round. These measures of retrenchment are disagreeable, coming after a period of lavish expenditure ; but the candle is not to be burned at both ends any longer—or rather any shorter.

Mr James Lett has again entered on the business of the Patea Steam Chaff and Firewood Factory in Meredith-street, Mr Fred Cowern having retired ; and Mr Lett’s son will manage the mill. We believe the price to be paid for the land block now being inquired into before the Native Lands Court, that of Kaitangiwhenua, is about £25,000. The block contains, approximately, about two hundred thousand acres, most of it very good for settlement.

Totara is found, by tests at Auckland harbor, to be much superior to Australian jarrah for piles used in wharf building. Our correspondent telegraphs last night that piles of the latter used six years ago were worm-eaten, while totara piles driven sixteen years ago remained quite sound. The Chairman of the Patea Harbor Board sailed for Wellington yesterday, and is likely to be engaged some weeks in carrying out certain instructions of the Harbor Board as to raising funds for continuing the harbour improvements, and other matters affecting the prosperity of the port. We observe an explanation is attempted as to Major Parris's position as judge of the Native Lands Court at Patea. The explanation is quite accurate, so far as the explainer’s information enabled him to form an opinion. But the explainer has not been fully informed of the facts, and is entitled to consideration on that ground.

The Native Lands Court resumed business at Patoa on Tuesday, Major Heapby presiding as judge, assisted by an assessor. Mrd’Alton, of Nornitinby, acts as interpreter. Major Brown is watching the interests of the Government, and Mr W. Williams is conducting the cases on behalf of those natives with whom the original bargain to purchase was made. The.block into the native ownership of which the Court is inquiring is that of Kaitangiwhenua, bordered by the Waitotara river. Four witnesses were heard yesterday, three from Tongahoe and one from Whenuakura. The case of the opposing natives, who arc trying to make out tribal claims to the land, is nearly complete. This block was to have been inquired into before the Wanganui Court, but has been transferred to Patca, together with two other large blocks originally gazetted to be inquired into at Wanganui. Wood Pavement for streets is likely to be tried at Wellington, A proposal is to be considered for paving Willis street with wood blocks, injthe style of so many business thoroughfares in London. The plan is costly, but the result is excellent. Blocks are cut into small cubes, about 9 inches deep by 4 inches across the ends. These are laid on a smooth concrete bottom and the interspaces are flooded with hot tar mixed with fine gravel. The blocks set firmly and wear well. The pavement is always clean, smooth, noiseless for traffic, not very slippery in wet weather for horses, and is the best hitherto tried. The latest variation on it is to lay a bottom of asphalte instead of concrete, laying the blocks thereon. This drains the water towards the sides of the road, beneath the blocks, and prevents the wood from rotting quickly. But any such expensive refinement of the system is necessary in this climate.

Messrs Money Wigram have sold the steamer Kent to the Spaniards, leaving the Orient line in possession of the Australian trade.