COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 26 August 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

Mu Biiyck passed through Patea yesterday, on his way to Waimate Plains. The Otago hounds will make two more runs before departing South.

New Zealand securities in the Home market are improving. Governor Robinson and family sail for the Cape on the 3rd September.

Westland streams are to be stocked with trout.

Music.—Collier and Coy’s representative (Wanganui) will visit this district next month, as advertised.

The telegraph lines are down in the South Island about Kaikoura ; and the Wanaka left Wellington yesterday with telegrams for Lyttelton. The Bale organized by the Harmonic Society came off on Tuesday night in the Patea Town Hall. We are informed the attendance was just numerous enough to be pleasant for dancing, about seventy persons being present.

The charge of embezzlement by an assistant clerk of R.M. Court relates to the court at Masterton, not Marton, as erroneously reported in some papers. Two pilots have been dismissed at Dunedin by the Harbor Board, because they refused to take a laden ship, the Van Dicman, over the bar when, as they said, it was dangerous. The Harbor master look her over, but she bumped slightly.

Hknukusox, the accountant who committed suicide, was formerly a member of the Canteibury Education Board. Miss BHgb, bis paramour, who also look poison in the hotel at Wellington, is the daughter of a stonemason at Christchurch, and was a schoolmistress. He bad been twice married, the first wife being alive ; and be promised marriage to Miss Bligb. Mu Daub reports having sold at the Patea Sale Yards yesterday, 100 fat wethers at 14s per bead, 2 cows and calf ,£lO 10s, and 7 pigs at 10s each. At Auction Mart last Saturday an assortment of fruit and other trees fetched fair prices) chaff Is 8d per sack, Brahma stags 5s Gd to 7s each, potatoes (is per sack, oatmeal 14s Gd per 100 lbs, onions l;f-d per lb, clothing and sundries realised fair prices. Axotjiku Dkkjcat of British troops has occurred at Candaliar. A garrison of nearly three thousand British, including the remnant of the force which was routed by Ayoub Khan’s Afghan hordes, has been shut up about three weeks in the citadel at Candaliar, a relief force being on the way. The garrison bad provisions which would not admit of a long siege, and some anxiety' must be felt by' this time as to their ability to bold out. One sign of weakness in this direction is that a strong sortie has been made, either to obtain fresh supplies for the citadel or to feci the enemy’s strength with a view to breaking out. The result was disastrous. Our lastnigbt’s news say's 14 officers werckilled and “ many men.” Wc must construe the brief message to signify that the sortie party fell into an ambush, and few escaped. It is doubtful bow far the particulars are accurate, because our troops at Candaliar arc surrounded by a besieging force, and any report of unsuccessful lighting must have reached Calcutta through Afghan sources. It is to be hoped the present dismal story is exaggerated.

Tuk Cu.MMiTTiiE of the Patca District Agricultural and Pastoral Association held a prolonged meeting in Patea yesterday. several paddocks being offered on lease, and much time being spent in visiting and ncgociatiug. There were present Messrs Chapman (president), O. Hawes, Gibson, Pearce, W. Gower, E. M. Honcylicld, I). Fleming, C. Symcs, and A. Hunter. It was slated that, as the result of friendly canvassing, the roll of members had been increased lirom to XO Oj and that considerable support comes from Hawera, while it is hoped the WaverIcy settlers will respond with equal liberality. Proposed by Mr Fleming, seconded by the President, and agreed to, a parade of entire horses be held on Saturday, September 18. Members’ horses will be charged 2s Gd, and non-members’ horses ss. llesolved to lease the paddock of H. I. Davis, near Patea, term about Diyears. The annual show was lixed for Thursday, November 4, and a sub-com-mittee was appointed to superintend erection of yards, &c. A programme is to be drawn up on the Ist September. Horticulture is to form a part of the annua' show, and several prizes arc already offered.