COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 25 September 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

The Weekly Supplement of 14 columns is given Avith this issue of the Mail. Major Atkinson has returned from NeAv Plymouth to Wellington. The Premier left Wellington yesterday to spend a Aveek in Canterbury. Patea Bachelors’ Ball held last night in the Toavu Hall, Avas a brilliant success. The yacht Foam capsized in a squall in Wellington harbor on Thursday, but all hands Avere rescued.

An Illicit Still has been seized at Paiaka, ManaAvalu, in possession of Charles Reardon, avlio is in custody. Mr J. Johnston’s run at Kohi Gorge, near WaA r erley, is infected Avith scab. A run adjacent to it had been infected previously.

Religious Instruction in common schools is being promoted by an association at Auckland, Avhich has invited the co-operation of the Catholic clergy. A Robbera 7 on board the Rotamahana occurred betAvecn the Bay of Islands and Auckland. A dratver in the purser’s cabin Avas found broken open, and £6O missing.

Resolved “ that the thanks of the Paten Pastoral and Agricultural Association bo tendered to the N. Z. Loan Society for the donation of their cup, and to those other gentlemen who have so liberally subscribed to the special prize fund; and avails itself of this opportunity to express a hope that the ladies of the district will also lend their kind assistance and cooperation towards making the produce and horticultural departments in the coming show ®a success.” This resolution was adopted at the last meeting of the Committee, and we would call attention to the desirability of making the show an occasion for exhibiting every article of local produce or manufacture. Cattle and sheep must be the main-staj' of an agricultural show ; but the interest of the general public would bo enlisted more effectually by adding to the show of live stock a miscellany of articles representing the capabilities of every industry in the County of Patca. Each trade has its specialities, and it is as important to show what the local trades can produce as it is to show the produce of a farm. This must be clear, that if a mixed show will attract and please the bulk of the people) that is the way to secure a financial success. We are town and country, and a worldly-wise Committee would cater for both.

Cadixet-making is an industry which ought to receive extensive development in Patca district. New settlers arc flocking up ; land blocks are being opened ; and houses must be furnished. Those settlers who have got on” are now in a position to “encourage local industry” by making their homes more comfortable and attractive than they could be expected to do in the early days of settlement. ManY of our substantial settlers are in a position to indulge a natural desire to make their homes in a now country equal to homes they remember with affection in the old. Penurious saving becomes stinginess after a man lias attained a fair prosperity, and it is his duty to his family to make them as comfortable as bis menus will permit. These are the men who ought to “ encourage local industry” by spending moderate sums in furnishing and decorating their homes with taste and cosy comfort. Furniture is being made at Patca in a style that deserves liberal encouragement. The native woods make up with excellent effect, and cabinets of local manufacture arc highly creditable to the skill, taste, and enterprise of the proprietor of the Egmont Furniture Factory. Mr Arthur’s experience at Jackson and Graham’s, the famous furnishing house in Oxford-street, London, is an advantage to a new district like Patea, where settlors with taste and means would feel ill-served if put off with coarse work. We consider it a proper matter of public interest that the excellence of a local manufacture should bo made known; and various samples of Mr Arthur’s work in cabinets and ordinaiy furniture are excellent, and we think cheap. The native honeysuckle is a charming light speckled wood, more effective than bird’s-eye maple, and equal to satin-wood. Mottled totara is made up in dark shades, with rich marking. The most effective local timber for furniture is rimu, from the Kakaramea bush, choice parts being equal to the richest walnut. Mati makes up like mahogany. Pukatea is a pleasing light wood for bedroom suites. Black rairi is the darkest native timber, and rich in appearance, though hard to work ; this being also plentiful at Kakaramea.

The Evening Coach gets to Patea very J late. It starts from Kai Iwi instead of j Waitotara, but surely this will not continue, | now that the railway is Avorking up to Waitotara. The coach ought to reach Patea by 8.30 at latest.

Mr E. B. Pearce and Mr J. D. PoAvdrell haA-e been nominated by the Patea, Pastoral and Agricultural Association as judges of blood stock at the Wanganui Agricultural ShoAV ; and Mr Wilson as a judge of sheep.

District Courts are “on their trial.” The GoA r ernment have obtained statistics of the extent to Avhich these Courts are used by the public in the several districts. In the district of Taranaki during the first six mouths of this year, there Avere 38 civil cases and 1 criminal trial, the Court sitting at New Plymouth and Patea. It is reported that the district judges will be reduced to Ha'c, three for the North Island and tAvo for the South. The Wellington Post says : “ It is likely that the Avork of the District Courts will in future lie chiefly in the smaller towns and country districts, and that in the cities and larger toAvus the Supreme Court and Eesidcnt Magistrate Courts—the latter presided over by tborongly competent and legally-trained Magistrates—Avill exercise most of the functions uoav performed by District Courts.”

Occupied Land along the missing link of railway between Normanby and Waverley is officially reported to be 57,720 acres of freehold, valued at £345,400 ; besides Crown lands 20,00 acres, worth £BOSO, and 2280 acres of natives land, worth £22,220 ; being a lotal acreage of 80,000, valued at £370,670. This is the area which will be served by the proposed link of railway, and no account is taken here of the lands not yet occupied, but which will be equally served by the railway when occupied. The whole white population from New Plymouth to Waitotaro was reported to bo 10,370 in 1878, and must bo much larger now. The sheep in the same area were icported to be 148,000, cattle 44,124, and horses 5128. This official return was compiled in 1878, and presented to Parliament in connection with the vote for railway construction. A Branch Clothing Stoke is opened in Patea to-day by Messrs Hallenstein Bros., of the New Zealand Clothing Factory} Dunedin. They have retail branches at all large towns in the colony, and they intend to work the West Coast district from Patea. Their policy is to manufacture every clothing article within the colony, and they profess to sell a single garment at wholesale price. Their speciality is ready-made clothing, and they show a good stock so far as temporary premises afford space. Business extensions of this character are apt to induce jealousy at first, but it is a common experience that in a growing district the opening of new shops is hardly felt after the first few weeks.

Mr Dale’s Saturday sale of merchandise and sundries at Patea is postponed till next Saturday. America has now nearly one hundred varieties of native grapes under cultivation, and more than eight hundred of pears.