NORMANBY.

Patea Mail, 11 September 1880, Page 3

NORMANBY.

[f u u m o u a c on uk s r o x d en t.] Friday Evening. On Sunday 7 last, Archdeacon Thorpe held a service here, in the Presbyterian Chapel, the use of which Avas kindly 7 lent for the occasion. The service Avas well attended, and it would bo a great boon indeed if it could be regularly repeated. Seeing the state that the Church finances are in, I suppose it is too soon for us to think of having a church of our own, but I am sure it would be eagerly welcomed by many inhabitants. It is not creditable to the Church of England that it should he so much behind other denominations in enterprise. The Presbyterians have managed to build and support a nice little chapel, and surely 7 Church folk can do the same. There arc quiet but unmistakable symptoms that our town is making progress. A new settler, Mr Gray, is erecting an oven and bakery 7 in the main street, and I belieA'e there is to bo a small grain and produce store behind. The want of such a place has been long fell. Mr George Mitchell, too, has opened a saddle and harness shop, and seeing the number of settlers there soon Avill be on the Plains, and already 7 arc in the Ngairc district, he should obtain a fair share of business. A deputation consisting of Messrs Brett, Finlayson, Gibson, and McGregor, Availed on Mr Bryce, on Thursday, with reference to making the bridge oa 7 cv the Waingongoro, which it seems is not to be done at present by 7 the unemployed, who arc engaged only in forming the road on the Plains. Mr Biycc acknowledged the usefulness of the Avork, but pointed out that the Government arc hard up. and that if the matter rested solely Avitii him it Avould quickly be done, y 7 et ho could only 7 lay it before his colleagues. Mr D. McGregor offered to advance £SOO for the Avork if he could be guaranteed by a toll on the bridge ; and this, as the Minister said, Avas certainly Avortb considering, Some time ago Mr McGregor Avas reproached for caring nothing more for the town than what he could make out of it. His offer is a practical proof of genuine interest and public spirit. IlaAvera politicians having put forward their claims to the possession of a District Land Office, it Avas felt there Avas a field open for enterprise, and accordingly the aboA 7 c-named gentlemen dreAV the Minister’s attention to the fact that Normanby is a more suitable place for the office than HaAvera. But the Minister who had so genially bantered the Hawera claimants could but smile at the Normauby 7 deputation, and promise, as in duty bound, to lay 7 the matter before the proper Minister. We Avonder if Mr Bryce has heard of the American deputation, who represented the claims of their native toAvn, consisting of three dwelling houses and a closet, and situated in the midst of a SAvamp, to have an officer of jmblic Avorks and an inspector of nuisances appointed. It is said that Free-thought is gaining ground in this neighborhood, but seeing the fervent belief in tire Gospel precept, i‘ Ask, and ye shall receive,” I doubt the free-thinking. The Ngairc Road Board will meet next

Wednesday, their first business being to appoint a chairman. [Noth. —In a leading article on the proposed separate County, the chairman of the new School Committee (Whakamara) was inadvertently described as chairman of the ncAv Board. The error would be obAdous.—Eu. Mail.]