COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 19 August 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

The Weekly Supplement of 14 columns is given with this issue of the Mail.

The Taranaki County Council notify that it will soon be necessary to strike a rate, to make up for the lost subsidy. Mr John Kelly estimates that the general taxation will, under Major Atkinson’s new system, be about £3O per head per annum for every producer; and out of this enormous levy there will be little returned to local bodies in the shape of assistance. The local taxation, he says, is over and above that of the General Government; and the levies in both directions will be more than producers can bear. He suggests that Road Board representatives should confer with members of the County Council, to devise some new system of local self-government.

Stranding at Waitara.— An official inquiry into the stranding of the schooner Julius Vogel, on the bar at Waitara, has been held at New Plymouth. It was alleged that Captain J. Cullen had not obeyed signals in crossing the bar. He stated, on the contrary, that he crossed safely, although he saw the signal “ Bar dangerous;” and that the wind dying away, the vessel lost her steerage way and drifted on the beach. -He said the vessel was not properly provided with lines. The Court decided that he was not to blame, and that the owners had not found proper ropes and gear. The death of Mr G. Ireland, M.H.R., reported by our Wellington correspondent, creates a vacancy in the electoral district of Waikaia, Otago. Two politicians are already mentioned as probable candidates. One of these is now on a visit to Patea. At the last contest, Ireland polled 230 and McKenzie 168.

Mr Freeman E. Jackson’s stock sale at Hawera is advertised for to-morrow. A Huge Octopus has been seen near Port Chalmers. The master of the schooner Torea says it was the most re. markable looking creature that he had ever seen at sea. It was about a mile off the shore, floating and apparently dead. The vessel passed within twenty yards of it, and the captain states that all hands had a good look at it. The portion visible above water was about Oft in height, that being a part of the body. Its length as seen was quite 30ft, the sides being striped yellow and white. The arms or feelers were black, and appeared to extend fully 50ft from the body. An immense flock of birds were hovering about it. Taranaki is a day behind the fair. The settlers agreed, when it was too late, to subscribe £2O for the Otago hounds to go up this week, and a telegram was received yesterday that the money had been at length guaranteed. Too late; too late. The master of the hounds decided that the pack shall continue their course southward ; and dear old Taranaki is left lamenting.

The gold rush to Okariti, Canterbury, is in full swing, although late advices do not present a tempting prospect. Grcymouth harbor was to receive £21,000 from Government this session, but the vote has been struck out in committee. An official promise is now made that this shall be reconsidered. The Hunt at Kakaramea came off yesterday afternoon, in fair weather, though it looked threatening before the meet. The gathering was very large, and the road was lined thick with spectators on horseback and in conveyances. Mr Mclvor had charge of the bounds, JVTr Bradley, the master, riding as a quiet spectator, his ear being still sore from the accident. About 25 horsemen followed the hounds, and a fair proportion performed well, there being also numerous spills and baulks at the fences. Mr Gower led through both hunts, as he had done at Whcnuakura. The course was found to be rather short, and the best horses did not have a fair chance to show their mettle after getting clear of the ruck. Our sporting contributor will furnish a full account of the hunt for Saturday’s issue. The first run was from Mcßae’s farm, through Hearne and Kennedy’s paddocks, finishing on the hill in Mr Ginger’s property. The second run was from another part of Hearne and Kennedy’s farm, through Powdrell’s, finishing in the road near Williamson’s property, the hounds following the sheepskin up to the hotel at Kakaramea. The Otago hounds are to r un to-morrow at Waitotara, 2.30, and they go on to Forded, beyond Wanganui, for a run on Saturday. The hounds will leave the district about the end of this month. We are informed that Mr Bradio) 7 intends to bring a larger and better pack into this district next season, the experiment having been encouraging.

A once famous figure in Eastern politics, Vicount Stratford de Redcliffe, is dead. He was British ambassador at Constantinople during the Crimean war, and was called by Turks the “ great Elchi.” . Seditious speeches are being made at anti-rent meetings in Ireland. Mr Dillon, new M.P. for Tipperary, has spoken very violently. A vessel in Cork harbor has been boarded by armed bands in sis boats, and having overcome the captain and crew, the marauders stole three cases of rifles. These men got clean off, and are supposed to have been acting under Fenian orders. Ireland is much agitated.

The European Powers, with England, have offered to guarantee to the Sultan the remainder of his territory, if he peacably gives up the portions to be ceded under the Berlin treaty. Cabul is now evacuated by British troops. The crisis at Candahar, the second Afghan copital, is undecided. The relief force, 10,000 strong, is proceeding unopposed, but the Afghans arc now in great strength trying to starve the citadel into surrender.

Taranaki Jockey Club has fixed its race meeting for March 31 and April 1.

Tun Trial of Kelly commences tomorrow at Beechworth. The notorious bushranger and murderer has been quiet in gaol. If the Kelly sympathisers make any uproar at the opening of the trial, the magistrates will hold it inside the gaol. Diphtheria and typhoid fever have been very prevalent in Christchurch this winter, owing to bad drainage and impure water.

New Zealand Wheat is declining in price at Home, the price being 4Gs ex ship. Bankruptcy. — A meeting of creditors of J. Blake, Hawcra, was held at Patca on Tuesday. Mr Ward, barrister, appeared with proxies for G. H. Armstrong, £l7 10s ; J. Cunningham, £1 19s ; J. H. Siggs (firm of McL’Dowie and Co), £1 Is ; JMculi, £1 7s Gd ; W. A’Court, £3 12s ; Mr J. Black appeared for the principal creditor, W. Humphries, £3l Bs. liesolved that Mr J. Cunningham, Hawcra, be creditors’ trustee.

The Burials Bill brought in by Mr Gladstone’s Government lias passed the Upper House, and has been read a second time by the Commons. This long-vexed question as to the right of Dissenters to have their own burial service in graveyards of the Established Church is now in a fair way for peaceful settlement.

Up to the 18th March last, the Government expenditure on “ the unemployed ” in the South Island amounted to £BI,OOO. Another member of Parliament has died suddenly. Colonel Kenny, member of the Upper House, fell dead on Tuesday at Auckland, apparently from heart disease.

Forty-nine A.C’s. at the camps have applied for discharge, on the ground that the ten per cent, reduction is a breach of engagement. This has been granted, and the men arc to have a free passage to Wellington per the Hinemoa. A relief party will take their place.

Mr Fergus has arrived in Patca, in connection with the railway contract. He is interested in the partnership of Messrs Proctor and Downes, contractors for the railway, and they expect to commence operations about the end of this month. An unusual number of strangers areinPatea coking for employment in sub-contracting and labor. A Maori prisoner escaped from gr.ol at Gisborne, and he left word with his relatives that his reason for running away was that the gaol accommodation was insufficient, but as soon as alterations take place in the supply of food and blankets, he promised he would write to the Magisratc and return to gaol. Will he keep Ids promise ?

The Gold Fields on the West Coast of the South Island have drawn a crowd of fortune-hunters, and there is much consequent disappointment and suffering. The paying claims on the Seventeen Mile Bush are all taken up, aud new-comers must either prospect for new finds, or starve, or clear out. There is a mixture of all three, according to reports. Wreck and Fire. —A double mishap occurred to the schooner Sarah and Mary, in Tory Channel, last Friday, being bound from Lyttelton to Hokitaka with produce. While sheltering under Mataura island, her anchor parted in the night, and she drifted towards the rocks. During the sudden confusion a stove was upset in the master’s cabin, and the ship took fire. The crew landed, and at daylight the ship was beyond saving. Captain Forman owned the craft, valued at £3OO, and was not insured.