HAWERA.

Patea Mail, 2 October 1880, Page 3

HAWERA.

[from our correspondent.]

BRANCH OFFICE OF THE MAIL , Friday Evening.

All accident which might have proved very serious occurred yesterday afternoon. Mr Watts, cabinet-maker, who had just returned from Waitotara with a wagonette and a couple of horses, was unloading at his shop, when the horses started forward. Mr Watts ran to their heads to stop them, but at that moment a case of glass fell from the vehicle and the noise startled the horses, which went off at full swing) knocking Mr Watts down and causing some bodily bruises. The horses went some distance till they turned a corner and capsized the wagonettee, turning one of the wheels inside out. The horses were not much injured, but Mr Watts’s loss will be rather serious, as the case of large sheets of glass was smashed to pieces ; also a bedstead was much injured, besides damage to the wagonette. Visitors are arriving daily to inspect the Plains, and the hotels are again beginning to make shake-downs. It is anticipated that during the next month Hawera will be as busy as ever. A couple of gentlemen arrived on Wednesday, inspecting the country in order to report to friends at Home. They are taking a tour throughout Hew Zealand, and express themselves charmed with this district.

Mr Chetwynd is surveying and taking the levels for a bridge over the Waingongoro between Nonnanby and Manaia. This will be a great boon to the Hormanby people, as without a bridge the road from their township to the Plains would be to a great extent useless. It is reported that the Government has accepted McGregor’s offer of an advance of £SOO towards this work. Although quite recognising the liberal offer of Mr McGregor, and pleased that the moneyjcan be got for this urgent work, people think it a peculiar way of carrying on Government operations by borrowing a few hundreds from private individuals, particularly as the building of this bridge would immediately pay for itself by the increased price obtained for land adjacent to this road. Eighty men from Pungarehu, under Captains Gudgeon and Fortescue, were expected to , arrive yesterday at Manaiai where they will be stationed. The public works contingent are making rapid progress with the road towards Hormanby. They will have to shift camp, as the place where if is at present is on tabooed ground, and the natives object to the pakeha desecrating the burial places of their ancestors.

Mr Parris and Captain Wray visited the Plains on Wednesday. The Hawera Light Horse paraded on Wednesday, but owing to the bad weather and other circumstances there was but a poor attendance. Major Noake inspected the men.

There is to be another cricket match in about a fortnight, viz., Normanby, Waihe and Ngaire v. Hawera and Mokoia. The sides when picked shou]d be evenly balanced, and a close contest should result.