COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 28 September 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

Another Chance in the mail service is announced to-day. Entirks.-Mcssi-s Chalmers and Donald’s purc-bred Cfydcsdalo Conquerer will travel between Patea and Maxwell Town. An Earthquake in Chili, South America) has caused great destruction. Two bun. dred deaths arc reported ; but details arc wanting. The West Coast Settlement Act has been translated into Maori, and copies wore distributed at Parihaka on the 2nd September, by Mr K. S. Thompson, interpreter, instructed by Mr Bryce,

The population of the United States is forty-nine millions, by' the census just completed. The census of Great Britain is to be taken next year.

“ A general feeling of disgust, if not of horror, has arisen here (Wellington) on reading Judge Shaw’s sentence on the Maori fencers.” So says “ Fiat Justitia,” and he calls for the impeachment of Mr Bryce, Major Atkinson, and Mr Rolleston, “ for causing such an atrocious Act as the West Coast Settlement Act being placed on the statute book.”

Only three out of twelve sufferers in the Uimutaka disaster now remain in Wellington. Mrs Pyc, injured in the spine, may be able to move in a month. Mrs Phillips is able to move a little, but will be under treatment several weeks. James Crouch, severely cut about the head and face, is recovering rapidly in the hospital. Other victims of the disaster are under treatment at their homes or in the care of friends. Selectors who desire laud on deferred payments can obtain from the Land Office at Patea a printed statement of conditions. The selector must reside on his section within six months after issue of license and must within the first year cultivate not less than one-twentieth of rural land or one-tenth suburban land, increasing in this ratio each year up to six years, by which time he must have made substantial improvements to the value of £1 per acre on rural land, or £lO per acre suburban land, besides cultivating at least threefourths. The license to occupy is five years for suburban land and ten years for rural land ; and the yearly fee in advance is one-fittb the price for suburban land and one-tenth for rural land.

‘ The Wellington Harbor Board want a secretary, salary £260 per annum. The ' “ Dream of Eugene Aram ” has been recited with tine effect at Wellington by Mr Read, an amateur elocutionist. Patea Busyness. —Mr T. North has purchased a section next the Bank of New South Wales, for erecting a drapery shop on an extensive scale. A temperance hotel is likely to be built in Patea shortly. Mr J. J. O’Dg a, lately storekeeping at Wanganui, lias opened premises near the wharves as Pier Dining Rooms, He catered for the Bachelors’ Ball on Friday. A rumor about the Bank of Australasia opening a branch at Patea needs confirmation.

The Sentence on 65 Maori fencers who were tried at New Plymouth last week was two years’ imprisonment in Lyttelton gaol, and each to find a surety in £SO to keep the peace six months. The Judge added that the length of time they would be kept at Lyttelton depended on the behaviour of those Maoris who remained on the West Coast. This is curious. Probably the Judge meant to hint that if affairs on the Coast become more pacific, the full term of two years will be shortened. There is common sense in that.

The Bachelors’ Ball at Patea has been one of those successes which nobody disputes. We may say without irreverence that the company included the elite of the district, though we know nothing so difficult and few things so dangerous as to catalogue the aristocracy of a colonial town. It is a pleasant and comforting fact to know that they were at the Town Hall on this occasion ; and our aristocratic readers will be able to say whether the company was select enough for their taste, and whether they kept the dancing up to an aristocratic hour—say a quarter to five next morning. These complimentary balls arc a cheerful feature of colonial life. A bachelors’ ball is a sort of match-making “bee,” and mateb-making ought to be the be-all and end-all of a bachelor’s existence. If a bachelor is not good at getting In’s friends married off his hands, what is he good for? The great mistake of his life is that lie puts off till next year what ought to be done this. A bachelor who helps to get up a complimentary' ball docs a good thing ; but he leaves a better thing undone when ho fails to tumble head-over-ears in love with one of the fair invitees, and persuade her to name the day. That would be an invitation of the proper sort, a regular domestic “ bee,” with honeyed felicity ad libitum. Yet they don’t do it, these bachelors. They think they know better. It is at least satisfactory' to hear that Friday’s ball is likely to thin the ranks of Patea bachelors. Some of them were so impressed on that occasion with a sense of the whole duty of man, that they are determined to turn over a new leaf. One good turn deserves another. The Committee of Bachelors (alas, that they are not all committed !) have published a graceful form of thanks to those of the public who had the good sense to accept invitations. This is like gilding refined gold or painting the lily. The credit is on the other side of the ledger. The Committee held a meeting on Saturday evening, and finding that the liberal levy on bachelors had produced a surplus after all expenses were paid, they resolved to hand the surplus to the funds of the County Hospital. It has been their fortune to be able to give the ball of the season—a little crowded, perhaps, but brisk and jolly.

Kifle Firing.—Tlie tliircl competition for Williams’s Martini rifle took place on Saturday, at the Patea range. The winner was Mr D. McLean, of Wavcrley. This being the second time in succession that he lias won the trophy, it now becomes his absolute property. On reference to the scores at the former competititions, we find that for three competitions Mr McLean has made the highest aggregate total, his score being 137; Mr King, of Patea, second with 134; and Mr Kitching, Patea, third with a total of 132. Appended arc the scores made on Saturday:— yards: 200 300 400 T1 Mclean, Wairoa - - 15 16 15 46 A. King, Patea - - 18 14 14 46 A. Black „ - - 15 14 16 45 C. Dasent „ - *l6 16 12 44 J. Kitchiug „ - - 17 16 11 44 McDonald, Wairoa - 18 17 9 44 W. Kitching, Patea - 19 15 8 42 J. Black „ - 13 12 15 40 M. Carey, sen, „ - 15 13 12 40 H. Chadwick „ - 16 15 9 40 D, Williams „ - 15 17 7 39 R. Prouse „ - 15 9 12 36 D. M. Harris „ - 12 15 8 35 G. Harden „ - H 12 10 33 C. Prouse „ - 13 8 0 21

Dr Moran, of Dunedin, says he honestly believes that secular education will prove ruinous to the country.

Free Trade in America is being advocated by the New York Herald. That eccentric and amusing journal is at least independent of any political party.

The 11 coming Premier” is Mr Seddon, M.H.R., of Hokitika, a new star in politics who is to attain the zenith of his brilliancy within five years. This prophesy is made by one John White, of Kumera.

A meat-freezing company at Melbourne have chartered the steamer Protos to take a shipment of frozen meat to London. The Orient Company are fitting up one or more of their largo steamers with refrigerating machinery for keeping the meat frozen during the voyage.

The N. Z. “ Illustrated Annual ” is a new publication projected at Auckland. Mr M. Mosley will be editor, and among the contributors are Marcus Clarke, Vincent Pyke, Thomas Bracken, and others. This Christmas annual will appear in December.

Madness is no bar to a divorce. This has just been ruled on appeal in London. A husband became insane, and the wife misconducted herself. The husband petitioned —perhaps he had a luminous interval—but the wife’s counsel objected on the plea that if the husband regained his reason he might want to live with his wife again. The counsel did not suggest that the husband might, in such case, be more likely to insist on a divorce when his wife's misbehavior became known to him. The court however granted divorce.

The Co.vxjmct for military rations on the West Coast for twelve mouths, from Ist October, is let to Mr John Stevenson, contractor, Hawera, at 10{ per head per diem. This includes all forces under the control of the Defence Department located between the Patea and Mokau rivers. It is not known by the tenderers whether this contract will include the “ unemployed ” in the district. Mr Stevenson passed through Patea yesterday on his way to Wellington to sign the contract. His tender is considered remarkably low. Mr W. Dale tendered at 11£, Mr McGuire (present contractor) at 11J, and Mr Taplin at Is. The contract which expires this month was not let by public tender.

Styi.k. —“ It would be the quintessence of ridiculous funking to entertain the idea that this colony would not again and soon assert her claims for attention from afar.” This is the deliverance of the N.Z. Times. What it means we may guess, but do not know. The language expresses no intelligible idea. It is the language of a person of small education, who is captivated with the sounding bluster of big words. If the N.Z. Times would be a worthy imitator of its great namesake, it should begin by addressing its readers in language which its readers can understand. The most obvious characteristic of leading articles in the London Times is polished simplicity of language. Instead of “ funking,” it would say cowardice ; instead of “ quintessence,” it would use a short phrase of good Saxon. The writing in man}' colonial journals is done by persons who are not journalists, but have drifted into the profession just as men who failed in other pursuits were apt to become schoolmasters under the old system. “ Brummagem metal” is very common.

Cricket. —The opening match of the season, married v. single, was played at Patea on Saturday, 12 a-side. After one innings for each team, the match was suspended till next Saturday week. Scoring : SINGLE. Pringle, hj Fraser 111111111111111 11111111112 ... 27 Drake, run out . . . . 0 Horner, b Fraser 1111111 . . 7 Fetch, hit wicket 212111111 . . 11 Coutts, c Baggett, b Fraser 11111 . 5 Heenan, b Taplin 211211141311211 27 Gibbons," b Croft .... 0 Dasent, c Jacomb, b Taplin 12 . 3 J. Kitching, c Jacomb, b Taplin 11 2 Turner, b Dixon 1 1 Head, b Taplin 12 3 Forster, not out 111 . . . 3 Byes, &c. .... 2 Total .... 87 MARRIED. Tennent, b Coutts 111121111 . 11 Fraser, b Fetch .... 0 Dixon, c and b Kitching 112 . . 4 Croft, b Coutts .... 1 Jacomb, c Pringle, b Dasent 21111 112111 .... 13 Taplin, b Pringle 2113 ... 7 Baggett, run out 11131 , . 7 Beere, b Pringle .... 0 Owen, b Kitching 111 ... 3 Christmas (sub), not out 11 . 2 Cowern, c Kitching, b Pringle 11 . 2 Eyton, b Pringle ... 0 Byes, &c. ... 5 Total .... 55

The next edition of the New Zealand Stud Book will be issued next March. . Good crops are reported from all parts of the United States. The Dundee whaling fleet has had great success 1 his season. Jesuits driven from France have made two settlements in Wales. £SOO is on hand in London to back Trickett in the match against Hanlon. The cattle plague appeared on August 15 on farms in Lancashire. The Chinese workmen in Massachusetts are striking for higher wagcs 9 and forming trades unions. St. Julien, the famous trotter, has made a mile in 2min lli-sec. He was recently purchased by Vanderbilt for 50,000d01. There have been heavy importations of gold to New York from France and England . A hurricane in Jamaica caused great destruction. Thousands are homeless, and a famine is imminent. Three hundred officers and men of the Royal Marines have been ordered to Irelafli. of connecting New York with London by telephone is to be tried, using the French cable for the purpose. The ex-Emprcss Eugenie intends to quit Chiselhurst, and take the remains of the late Prince Imperial with her. A New York street car was recently invaded by a gang of robbers, and the passengers despoiled of their watches and money. The American Treasury is considering whether or not Sara Bernhardt’s theatrical wardrobe, consisting of 57 dresses, shall be admitted free of duty. Herbert Spencer, writer on political economy and philosophy, will make a tour of the world next year. He first visits the United States. Elliot offers to row cither George Hosmcr, the American, Blackman, Boyd) orLaycock over the Tyne course for £IOO to £2OO a side. M. and S. Collinson, of London, offer to stake £IOOO against a similar sum that Dr Tanner will not fast 40 days and 40 nights, the brothers Collinson to watch. The iron masters of the West of Scotland mot at Glasgow, and resolved that all furnaces in the country belonging to firms represented at the meeting be blown out at once. A miner has died from extreme heat in the deep working of the Comstock silver mine, Nevada. Owing to the heat, it is found impossible to continue the south drive in the 3,000 ft level of the Belcher mine. Ata homorule demonstration in Glasgow a serious riot took place while the procession was passing the Orange Lodge. The police were overpowered, two badly’ injured, and not expected to live. One was speared. The Neio York Tribune's correspondent says : —“ When Lord Lytton landed from India, the Queen summoned him to Osborne, where he had a ‘ bad quarter of an hour.’ It is now known that he advised a declaration of war with Russia,when Soltikofl! went to Cabul.” Both these statements arc palpably untrue, but they suit American digestion. England employs 424 first-class steamers in the foreign trade of the United States, America employ’s only’ about 61, and leaving out the Cuban and Mexican trade only 14 or 16. The figures are startling. A convention has been called to discuss this question, and will meet at Boston on October G. Ice.—A new industry has lately come into existence on the West Coast mountains, Middle Island. On the banks of Lake Lyndon, between Christchurch and Hokitika, may be seen an ice house, full to the roof with large blocks of ice obtained from the lake adjoining. Itis the intention of the enterprising dealers to dispose of their winter gathering during the summer months in the City of the Plains, or wherever the public most desire to cool their sparkling or still moselle, their creams or jellies, or their hot coppers. “ I never saw such bad times as exist in Wellington at present, and it will be years before the place recovers. The population has decreased at least 4000. There are over 400 houses empty’. Rents are reduced from 30s to 15s per week. Land has fallen from £ls to £7 per foot, and I see .no sign of a rise taking place. No building, no work; and the people clearing out every day : such is the present state of the Empire City r . There is, however, plenty of money in the hands of solicitors to advance on mortgage, but no security is fornlcoming.”— Cor.