COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 5 August 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

Grazing Lease. —The Recreation Ground at Patea lately field by Mr Ross has been let by tender to Mr J. E. Keys for grazing during a term of three months, for £4 10sMr J. Collins, dairyman, also tendered at £1 per month.

Tenders for ploughing and harrowing, &c., on a portion of the Patea Recreation Ground were received by the Town Board to the number of two, namely from H. I. Davis, £22 14s 6d ; and from P. Cqwern ami party, £l9. The tender of Mr Cowern was accepted, and the work has now commenced.

The Prosecution of Mr Winehcomb, the Waverley collector, for alleged embezzlement, occupied the R.M. Court at Patea the whole day yesterday, and resulted in an acquittal. This was perhaps not unexpected by persons who had formed an intelligent opinion on the case. It is not suggested that the ease was not a proper one for Magisterial inquiry ; but the difficulty of proving embezzlement or constructive larceny was such as to justify a doubt respecting the propriety of the legal procedure. A moral certainty is often insufficient to constitute a legal certainty.

County Council. —At yesterday’s meeting of the Council, it was proposed to rescind a resolution passed in July for reducing the honorarium of members from £1 10s to 10s. It was intended to follow this up by substituing £l. The Council, after a long and warm discussion, carried on by candle-light, divided on the motion to rescind, and the numbers were found equal. The Chairman cut the Gordian knot by voting against change. The allowance remains, therefore, at 10s per meeting. The Wesleyan Church at Patea is beingenlarged by an addition of lift, at the pulpit end ; and the added space will accommodate 40 more sittings. The work is being done on the Canadian “ bee” principle ; and it lias been quite invigorating to watch the volunteers working “ like bees,” some sawing timber, some nailing up the boarding, some fixing the roofshingles, others laying the flooring, and all seeming to enjoy the experiment of volunteer co-operative church-building. This “ busy bee ” was really interesting* There was something healthy and invigorating about it. Each worker was giving his day to the bee, and laboring harder and more cheerfully than ho overwrought for wages. Perhaps it should be no surprise that the reverend shepherd of the Wesleyan flock was also trying his hand quite lustily at the same occupation as was erst followed by him of Nazareth.

Hospital Steward. —Mr D. Donley was appointed yesterday, by the County Council, as steward of the Hospital, his wife to act as stewardess, at a salary fixed by fonder at £B4 a year. There were ten applications by tender, and though several wore below that of Mr Donley, the majority of the Council considered his to be the most desirable appointment.

Local Drama. —Our Wellington Correspondent telegraphs last night that Mr Hoskins and Miss Colville intend visiting Patea ; and he anticipates this will be a great treat to lovers of the legitimate drama.