COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 24 July 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

Business at Hawera is yery slack at present. The absence of so many natives at Parihaka during the past week would increase the dullness. At Patca, on the contrary, shopping has been rather brisk since the Native Lands Court sat. The expectation of railway works commencing and of men coming to the place has tended to give local business an impetus. The state of native matters along the coast ought not to disquiet anybody. Capitation. —Enquiries are made by Volunteers lately connected with the disbanded company in Patca, as to the capitation money due to them. Major Noake states that the money is now in the hands of the Captain of the late company, but as the grant is the property of the company, and is intended to cover cost of clothing and arms, and of incidental losses or damage, the Captain will not be able to determine what amonnt is due per man until all rifles are returned and accounted for. The Captain will be answerable to the Government for all arras issued to the company. The Batch of Men sent from Wellington by the Government were set to work at the side of the Junction Station on Thursday, levelling the permanent way under the direction of a foreman. Major Noake superintends the encampment. The men are cooking and sleeping in canvass tents near the river bank. None of the 22 have found it worth while to leave and provide for themselves ; but this is likely to happen so soon as the railway formation near Patca harbor is commenced by Messrs Proctor and Downes. A second batch of unemployed are expected to bo forwarded from Wellington next week, for employment on the line near Kakaramea.

The Railway Works at Patea Harbor are likely to be commenced about the end of July. The contractors, or one of them, has been in Wellington early this week, arranging about the forwarding of certain timber which the Government undertake to supply. The supply of ironwork will also be an important sub-contract to be arranged in advance. Enquiries have been made in Patea, on behalf of Messrs Proctor &. Downes, as to the prices of ironwork on the spot. Various persons in Patea district are prepared to take portions of the work by sub-contract, such as bridgebuilding, excavation for Wharf, formation of permanent way, and road-making. The fifteen months allowed for completing the whole work under the Patea contract will not leave any margin to be wasted, and the contractors will probably finditnecessury to employ a considerable staff of men on the whole work, in sub-sections or otherwise, to finish by the middle of October next year. A penalty attaches for delay in the completion. The Pall Mall Gazette states that the agitation in Victoria against Chinese is preposterous, but believes that eventually the Chinese will populate tropical Australia.

Father O’RAly, aged 81, died at Wellington on Thursday. A Draper at Wanganui protests by advertisement against the “ persecution of Paul.” Is it Paul of Tarsus, or the other Paul? Major Atkinson was the only Minister who voted on the Chinese immigration bill. The Opposition say the other Ministers were afraid. Kakaramea. —An entertainment is advertised for nest Tuesday, and various vocalists and readers are contributing to amuse their neighbors. The Kelly Family dined together last Christmas, and the police knew the fact, but kindly left them alone—so say the Melbourne papers. A Spiritualist in Sydney, a well-known lawyer, claims to have the gift of healing. He makes the lame to walk and the blind to see—so says the Sydney Telegraph. There is something wrong either with that Telegraph or with that lawyer. A Deputation of 18 working men applied yesterday at the Patea Public Works office for employment. Mr Hunter said ho had telegraphed to Wellington ■ for instructions, but the answer was not to hand. We hear that the tickets for Saturday’s entertainment, as a finale to the bazaar at Patea, are going off, the ladies at the stalls having done a stroke of business in that line. They find “ that’s the ticket” to sell. No Canteen is allowed to be opened at the camp of Government immigrants up the valley. Major Noake objects to any such temptation being put in the way of poor men earning merely subsistence wages. Wo think he is right. Tenders for Firewood to be supplied to the camp of Government pensioners or immigrants, employed on Railway works at the Junction Station, wore received received yesterday by Major Noake thus: —Mr Chapman, 31s Gd per cord, rata; Mr Slattery, 28s 6d ; Messrs Hanson and Delamore, 275. The last-named was ac ccpted. Patea R.M. Court. —There were no cases yosterdaj-. The following cases were disposed of on Tuesday ;—Mr J. Whelan was fined 3s and 7s costs for allowing a horse to stray in the town streets ; Mr W. Williams was fined for allowing six horses to wander, in the sum of 2s 6d each and 7s total costs ; Mr Geo. Calvert was fined 3s and 7s costs for allowing one horse to wander,- Civil cases : Mr D. Hurley, Woodvillc, obtained a judgment summons against G. McKay, of the A.O, force at Waihi, for £3 13s 4d and costs, to be paid within a month, or 14 days’ imprisonment. Mr W. Colson, butcher, obtained judgment by default against T, Rogers, tinsmith, Hawcra, for 15s lOd.

The Union Fire and Marine Insurance Company's third annual meeting has just been held at Christchurch. A balance of £18,058 was available for dividend, after putting aside £2,900 towards unadjusted losses. A dividend of 10 per cent, was adopted, and £SOOO was carried to the reserve fund. ' The Chairman said : The premiums have increased, and though the amount of the increase has not been very large, that is owing entirely to the action of the directors, who made up their minds to accept business only at rates they consider payable. Competition has been very keen in New Zealand, and in some places there has been a perfect scramble for business. In this we have not joined ; had wo have done so, the balance sheet now presented might have shown a loss instead of the present result. Having the reduction of expenses in view, the directors have decided to close the branch office in Wellington, and conduct the business there through an agency. After a three years’ trial, we find that the oraount of business done does not justify the expenditure. The assets of the Company show very satisfactory figures. Last year [ referred to the question of calls, and then stated that possibly no more would be necessary. I am glad to say that the result of last year’s buuiness has confirmed the opinion then expressed. In conclusion I will refer to the recomendations contained in the report which are that £7500 be paid in dividends, £SOOO be carried to the reserve fund, and that the balance be carried forward. It must be gratfying to you to find that, notwithstanding a trying year, the directors have been able to augment the reserve fund by a substantial amount, and pay a satisfactory dividend. The report and balance sheet were adopted. The company’s agent at Petea is Mr S. Taplin.

Natives have been using the telegraph wires to a remarkable extent during the sitting of the Lands Court at Patea. Their messages are written in Maori, as a rule ; and the men seem to enjoy sending and receiving lightning messages as a kind of toy. It is so easy to telegraph, whereas letter-writing is a serious business to sit down to. Maoris and pakehas are much alike that way. Maori-Pakeha. —Mrs Wilson, wife of Major Wilson, received £SO yesterday as her share of money distributed among natives of her tribe, for a land block adjudicated upon by the Native Lands Court. We are informed that Mrs Wilson handed back the £SO to her people, saying, “ I know I am not entitled to this money: take it and divide it amongst yourselves.” They did. But is not this self-denial very uncommon among white and colored claimants in these parts ? A Tanqi was held yesterday at the native village near the Whenunkura bridge. A young man had died at the age of 26, and when the natives at the Patea Lands Court heard of it, a howling wail commenced outside -the Court, disturbing the business. It is remarkable how many natives are afflicted with asthma. Wherever a crowd is gathered, the loud wheezing of individual members may be heard distinctly by going among them. Their indiscreet exposure to night air after sitting in heated whares is the principal caiuse of this common ailment.