COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 2 October 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

The Weekly Settlement is presented with this issue of the Mail.

Mr McArthur, member of an Auckland firm of merchants, and M.P. for Lambeth, is elected Lord Mayor of Loudon.

Twelve insolvencies occurred in Wellington during September, and thirteen in the provincial district.

The Australian team in England are to be presented with a testimonial by fellowcolonists, who now form a considerable colony in London.

Taranaki says Wellington abounds with snobs. What is the particular abounding virtue at Taranaki? Mr A Simpson, manager of the National Bank at New Ptymouth, is appointed “ relieving officer” of tho bank. This will necessitate his removal.

One shilling a day is now given to the Constabulary engaged on road-making.This “ extra ” is intended as an incentive to improve on the Government stroke.

An unqualified medical practitioner at Foxton, Mr J. F. Rockstrow, lately coroner, is being prosecuted for breach of the Medical Practitioners Act,

Shipping at Waitara has increased greatly during the past three months, there being 78 arrivals of steamers and ships during the quarter ended September. This averages one per day, excluding Sunday. An English and Italian Opera Company will visit this colony by way oil Melbourne, arriving at the Bluff about two months hence. The English portion of the company will sing one evening and the Italian portion the next evening.

The captain of the steamer Kangatira, wrecked off Bell Block, has been presented with a memorial of sympath}’ signed by 110 persons representing the commercial interests of Wanganui. Mr J. Duthie, in making the presentation, said there was no more popular captain on the coast, and he was blameless of the disaster. The accident to the Manawatu steamer last Monday night, in a strong wind, near Ivapiti, was the breaking of four holdingdown bolts of the port-side engine, disabling it. The Tui steamer towed her to Wellington.

Piles for the railway wharf at Patea harbor have been lying at Wanganui several clays, waiting for trucks to rail them on to Waitotara. As soon as tbey reach this harbor the construction of the railway wharf will commence. These piles would have come by sea, if fruitage could have been arranged at a moderate rate. It is stated that the largo totara timber is coming from Mr Chew’s sawmill al‘Carterton being'railed to Wellington and broughton by Patoa steamer. MrProctor lias reached Patea, and will join Mr Downes in managing the work.

The Hinemoa arrived at Lyttelton on Monday morning, with fifty sentenced Maori prisoners. During tho passage they were very despondent, and their faith in Te Whiti appeared to be much shaken. Their manner on landing was very different to that of previous arrivals, as they were very quiet, and no singing or demonstration. They will be set to work immediately the same as ordinary prisonersThe natives only under detention have been moved to comfortable quarters on Ripa Island, with a guard of 17 Armed Constabulary.—Tar. Herald.

Our Maiden Aunt has been made uneasy, She sends this curious piece of Patea news from New Plymouth:—•“ During the absence of Judge Shaw at Wellington, no Court lias been held at Patea, and tho business has, consequently fallen into arrear. Judge Shaw is at present there on circuit, and his stay has been protracted far beyond the usual time.” This seems to imply that Judge Shaw has almost taken up his permanent residence at Patea, as the arrears of litigation must detain him bore an unconscionable time. This is the more to be regretted as Judge Shaw must find it a hardship to carry on the arduous routine of existence outside of beloved Taranaki, and away from his Maiden Aunt. It is particularly distressing that his stay should have been “ protracted for beyond the usual time ” at a dull small place like Patea. Our Maiden Aunt may well express anxiety for her judge’s safety during his protracted sta}' at Patea, for the Judge stayed at Patea exactly one day and a three-quarters. Some Liberals at Home are agitating to have a winter session of Parliament in November.

Mr Dale’s weekly sale, postponed from last Saturday, will take place to-day.

Larnach’s,stables at Portobello, Otago’ have been burned down, value £2500. Bread is reduced from fourpence per2lb loaf to in Wanganui. A prosecution against a Friendly Society at Dunedin for not sending returns of statistics lias been withdrawn, the returns being sent in as soon as the summons was received.

Hostilities have commenced in Basutoland. A large body of natives, under the leadership of the Chief Nassau pti, attacked a company of Cape Rifles stationed at Mapeting township, within tho territory.

A collission has occurred between the Turkish troops and Greek insurgents. The latter retired after severe fighting. Cricket. —The Australian team have won the match in London against pro* fessional Players by 2 wickets.

“ Come, Bill, it’s ten o’clock, and I think we had .better be going, for it is time honest men were at home.”—“Well, yes," was the answer, “ I must be off, but you need not hurry on that account.”

An old author quaintly remarks, “Avoid arguments with ladies.” In spinning yarns among silks and satins, a man is sure to be worsted and twisted, and when worsted and twisted he may fairly consider himself wound up. The Maori Prisoners are confined at Lyttelton, on Ripa island, under guard of 17 A.C’s. A report comes that a revolt has occurred among the prisoners, and the guard is being increased.

Tun Inauguration of the Melbourne Exhibition took place yesterday, the Governor opening the building in the name of the Queen. Our cable despatch gives an interesting description of this great colonial event.

Dirt, itch, ringworm, sore heads, and vermin are prevalent in the Industrial Home at Auckland, according to Mr Habens’s report. The matron was incompetent, and the master lacks decision aud other moral qualities. A gentleman has offered to give 500 acres of land a few miles from Auckland to endow a Home.

Three events happened on the last voyage of the Tararua from this colony to Melbourne. Michael Carr, of Southbridge, Canterbury, while sufferingfrom neuralgia, disappeared in the night. Possibly he jumped over in a frenzy of pain. A poor woman iu the steerage gave birth to twins. The purser had to act as doctor and nurse. A gentleman was carried on from Port Chalmers to the Bluff by accident, which ended in his falling in love with a young lady on board, getting married at the Bluff, and returning to Dunedin.

Rioting in Ireland has been serious. A terrible riet took place at Dungannon on Sunday, August 18th, in which many policemen were wounded. Their ranks were finally broken, and they fired buck shot into the crowd, several of whom a most rushed on the points of the bayonets in their eagerness to attack. At Downpatrick a fight took place between the Catholics and Orangemen, the former being worsted. Firearms wore almostincessantly dischargedfrom Sunday till Monday. Iron huts are being constructed for the police near Claremorris, in County Mayo.

Hard Tjmks. —The returns of pauperism in England show that those who are a burden on the poor rates have increased about 7 per cent, during the last two years. The number in 1879 showed an increase of 31- per cent, over 1878, and in the present year the same rate of increase is going onIt is the steadiness of the rate that is alarming. While the general population is increasing at the rate of 1 per cent, the paupers are increasing at more than a threefold rate. Prosperity has been declining during the last seven years, and the reaction at present is fitful and slight.

Assignment. —The following are the particulars of the deed of assignment made by Messrs Bredin and Moncrieff, of Marton, storekeepers, to Mr McMullen, of Auckland, and Mr J. Scblanders, of Nelson Liabilities ; McArthur and Co., Auckland, £842 ; Scblanders and Co., Nelson, £627 ; Rangitikei Permanent Building Society (secured), £2OO ; Waring Taylor, Wellington, £124 ; Zohrab, Newman and Co v Wellington, £9O ; D. B. Lewers, Bulls, £sl ; Taylor and Watt, £lB ;J. Duthie, £l6 ; Kitchen and Sons, Wellington, £l2 ; Qeo. Prince, Zl2 ; Sundries. Z2B ; total, Z2030. Assets : Stock-in-trade, ZI3OO ; section 94, Marton, with store and dwel-ling-house, ZIOOO (subject to Building Society’s claim of Z200) ; book debts, Z950 ; horses, harness, and trap, 15 0 ; section in Stewart Street, Z3O ; household furniture, Z2O ; 5 shares in Building Society, Zl2 ; total, Z3362. The combined fleet assembled atKagusa number 20 vessels with 7,300 men.

To an honest man an oath is of no avail, and to a rogue all the oaths known to Christendom will not make him change his ways. How long will this absurd custom of oath-taking continue? — Echo. Dunedin and suburbs have a population of 31,800, and 179 places at which liquors can be procured, of which 108 are hotels and 71 grocers’ shops.