PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1880.

Patea Mail, 2 September 1880, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1880.

Parliament was prorogued yesterday afternoon. Mu Brack is reported to he ill at the A.C. camp. A farewell levee will bo held on Saturday, by Sir Hercules Robinson, on the occasion of his resigning the Governorship. Mu Brack has decided upon the erection of a lighthouse at Cape Eginont. Probably a detachment of A.C.’s will ho sent to the spot without delay. A road is to be formed from the Stoucy River route to the lighthouse.

Tin: Hakmoxic Society's Co.nckut' is postponed to u Inter date than was lirst intended, A number of events in Patca arc occurring - about the same time, and it is desired to have the conceit on a date suitable to all parties. Household furniture is to bo reckoned as part of the “ property” subject to taxation above LSOQ value. Other personal effects, such as watch-chains and umbrellas, arc to be exempted when the final schedule is issued. Tin-; Hospital Ur; port for the month of July, forwarded by Dr Keating- to the County Council, states that 5 patients were admitted during the month, and 7 discharged. Those remaining in Hospital arc:—W. Brown, ulcer; J. Boyle, phthesis; Cr. Barron, rheumatism ; S. Lloyd, bronchitis ; A Probert, pneumonia. Six of the “ unemployed ” got on the spree on Saturday night last, after their fortnight’s pay; and as they did not turn up on Mondaj' morning at the usual time they lost their billets. Another batch of 30 arc on the way from Wellington. Another all-night sitting of the British House of Commons has occurred in connection with the annual vote for the constabulary in Ireland. Some Home Buie members stonewalled against the vote until noon next day, when the tired members adjourned the obstruction farce till nature could recuperate. Tuk Pinxcr. Axt) PitixcKss op Walks intend, it is rumored, to visit the Melbourne Exhibition, and the troopship Serapis is said to be under preparation for the voyage. If this pleasant report he confirmed, we may expect to see the Prince and Princess in this colony before their return. Tuk Wakatu s.s. has been badly beaten. She left Wellington on Wednesday, 25th, at 7 a.m., with N. W. wind, which increased to a gale. Took refuge in Queen Charlotte’s Sound, remaining till Saturday, and arriving on Sunday at Wanganui. The Patca s.s. left Wellington on the 25th, at same hour, and reached Patea next morning, and in spite of the gale entered the harbor safely. She discharged, reloaded, and proceeded to Nelson, whilothc Wakatu was still sheltering; and the Patea i-eaehed Nelson on Sunday about the same time that the Wakatu was entering Wanganui river.

The SAEAitv of the Agent-General in London has been reduced by a thousand a year. Mr Reader Wood proposed, in committee, to, reduce the vote (£1,000) for that department by £I,OOO. Carried by 27 to 2S. The Premier said the reduction was so serious, being in addition to the 10 per cent., that the Government would have to consider what could be done. Mr Sheehan protested that persons who had just voted against Vogel were worshipping him three or four years ago. He would not be a party to jump on a man because he was out of the House. Those who drank his champagne and ate his dinners were now the men to jump on him. Mr Sheehan’s passionate outburst was of no avail. The reduction was passed. Small-pox has made its appearance in San Francisco in a mild form.

The Government have a scheme for encouraging forest culture, and preventing wasteful destruction of bush. Tut: Countv 'Council, at their meeting yesterday, decided to fix the inspection fceforslaughler at boiling-down establishments at 2s Gd per thousand head. Tenders for uniforms required by the Patea Rifles have been opened, that of Mr It. A. Adams, Patea, being the lowest. His contract lias been accepted. “ Owing to the impassable road between Hawera and Stratford,” says the Taranaki Herald , Father Grogan has been unable to visit the Catholic community at New Plymouth for a length of time. At the Patea ILM. Court yesterday, before Captain Wray, John Robert Evans for having over-estimated Iris capacity for storing liquor on the previous night was fined ss, or 2-1 flours’ imprisonment.—■ Andrew (Jriddis, another unfortunate, was charged under the Vagrancy Act with having been illegally on the premises of Messrs Williams Brothers, on the night of the 31st August. The accused said he supposed the charge was all right, hut the R.M. took a different view of the matter, and after hearing Sergeants Donovan and McGrath in support, sentenced Criddis to one month’s imprisonment in Taranaki gaol. Prisoner, who seemed to be in a state of somi-dmnkennes, called the sergeant a “bog-trotter” and some other names; and then, addressing himself to the Bench, said “ Why didn’t yon make it six weeks, sir ?” Constable O’Brian hurried the pri. soucr from the box, or probably he would have gained the two extra weeks. Sergeant McGrath slated that a number of complaints had reached him about men sleeping under haystacks at night time, and he iiad heard that the prisoner was one of them, but he had no direct evidence against him.

The Destruction by Fire of the Rutland Hotel at Wanganui is one of those calamaties peculiar to an cia of wood. The alarm was given about -1 o’clock on Tuesday morning. One of the servants, W. R. Tuck, sleeping in a room over the kitchen, awoke with a sensation of choking, the smoke coming up the lift from the kitchen. He got through a window and dropt outside just as Haines were throwing up forked tongues from below. Alarm being raised, all the inmates were soon astir, rushing frantically towards the passage for exit from the building. Smoke was everywhere, and fire was heard roarbig and crackling in the darkness. Some ladies escaped with scant clothing. An effort was made by commercial lodgers to use the hand-hose inside the hotel, but the flames spread too fast, and all parties had to retreat to the outside. Fire engines were got to work, and six streams of water were soon pouring oil the hissing pile. The weight of the water did smother the fire eventually, hut at daylight only the hollow shell of the building was standing. Several articles of metal had been melted where the lire had got partly hold. Generally the whole interior furniture, fittings, and property were destroyed. The proprietor, Mr F. W. Evans, had lately spent a large sum in enlarging and improving the hotel, making it one of the best-appointed on the coastlie was unfortunately uninsured except upon an old policy of L2SU, a mere trifle towards the heavy loss he lias sustained.

Puuce Skiuieanj' Doxmvax, now stationed at Patea, was presented with a complimentary address by the principal residents at Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, on the occasion of his leaving for Patea. The address stated that “ We, the undersigned residents of Kawakawa, having heard with regret that you are about to leave us, take this opportunity of expressing our warmest esteem for you, whom we have always found to be honorable and upright, both in your ollicial capacity and private life. At the same time, wo cannot let the present opportunity pass without presenting Mrs Donovan with this tea service, as a small token of respect. Wishing you and your family every future prosperity, we remain yours faithfully, T. P. Moody, J.P., W. Henry, J.P.,” and others. The speeches made on the occasion were of a very complimentary character, showing that Sergeant Donovan had won the esteem of the people among whom he had been placed, and that they were reluctant to see him removed. It is desirable that his relations with the people in this district may hot be less agreeable. Officers in bis position cannot be too strict in interpretation of the primary duty of an officer, that of impartiality. Judging from what was said by J.P.’s and others at this pleasant leave-taking at the northern coaltown, Sergeant Donovan has distinguished himself for this very quality. That is a good introduction to new friends.

Miss Nkilson, the eminent actress who died recently in London, had been suffering from heart disease. Three deaths of persons over 80 years of ago occurred during July in Wellington Province. Football teams of Wellington and Auckland are to have a match at Auckland, probably on Saturday. Telegraphic communication with the South Island has been restored after more than a week’s interruption through the recent storms. Local industries are to be encouraged by a sum of money placed on the year’s estimates for the purpose, a portion to be a bonus on cement manufacture, A new hotel in Dcvon-street, Now Plymouth, has boon built on the site of; the old Ship Hotel, and is a handsome piece of architecture. The owner is Mr J. Paul. The time for sending in Property Tax returns is extended to the end of September, and new forms are to he issued. It is enough to have to pay the tax, but to bo worried about it in this fashion is intolerably vexatious.

American Meat is being shipped in only small quantities to Europe. Ice is too high in price, and several ocean steamers have removed the refrigerating machinery to make room for live emigrants there being a renewed influx to America. Mr Waterhouse says that if the Government go on imposing stamp duties at the present rate, it will not be long before every citizen will he compelled to wear a stamp on his back, “ under a tremendous penalty.”

The Creditors of Malcolm and Co,, timber merchants, will meet next Monday* to vote on a deed of assignment to Babbage, Gale, and S. C. Cross. The debts are leturned at £12,332, and the assets at £12,182. A company is in course of formation at Wellington for working these saw-mills.

A public breakfast for nearly four thousand guests has been given in London to celebrate the opening of the Royal Albert Dock, on the Thames. Five hundred waiters served at the tables, and there were .150 cooks and carvers ; also 25,000 forks, a ton of knives, 24,000 glasses, 15,000 plates, 2,000 baskets of strawberries, five hundredweight of grapes, and altogether 1,000 pyramids of various fruits. The caterers were Messrs Spiers and Pond.

The Panama Canal Scheme of Mons. De Lesscps has created some enthusiasm among speculators, who have been working up the value of shares. Ex-President Grant has declined the presidency of the company, on the plea that shareholders will receive no returns during their lifetime. In other words, the Nicaragua canal scheme is favored by American politicians, as being within the radius of United States influence. De Lesscps promises to finish the Panama canal in six years, being the same period as the Suez canal.

Tenders for the new hotel near the Railway station at Batea harbor have been opened, and that of Mr Iloltham, Patea, is accepted for £875, this price being ex. elusive of fittings, stabling, &c. Wo are informed the building will have a good architectural appearance, and be a credit to the conspicuous site it will occupy on the Station approach, at the junction of two roads. The approach road is to cross the creek by a broad bridge, anil the hotel will be just across the bridge where two roads diverge, one to fho station, the other to the building sections known as Oarlylc extension. The hotel is to be ready for occupation by the middle of December. Advertising. —Riley Brothers, drapers of Sydney, have spent £37,000 in advertising in six years. Commencing in a small way. they now employ 200 hands, and have many branches. The firm commenced advertising largely in 1874. In May of that year their receipts were £4O a month. By April of the following year they had risen to T, 1017 a month. They increased their advertising with their business, and in May 1875, the receipts had risen to £2OOO a month In 1879 the business was lose upon £150,000. The South Australian Government arc suing the Insurance Companies f0r£25,000 as compensation for the railway material damaged in the Hyderabad, which was wrecked on the Otaki beach two years ago. The railway plant in question has been purchased by the Government of South Auntralia from Canicrbury. Steps have been taken in New York towards holding an International Exhibition there in 1883.