COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 14 October 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

An Entertainment at Kakaramea is announced for Tuesday nest. Tenders are invited for carting materials to build a lighthouse at Cape Egmont. A Concert at Waverley is announced to be given in aid of the Presbyterian Church fund, on Friday week. A ferry at Mokonui river, Hokitika, was drowned on Tuesday, while crossing with two packhorses. The sale of Mr H. Young’s house and seventeen years’ lease of garden and good orchard, on Poverty Flat, is fixed for Saturday. Petty mischief is practised by natives near Parihaka. While the working parties

are in camp, the natives tumble wheelbarrows into streams, smash drain pipes, and similar mischief. Is this what Mr Bryce calls repentance ? The long expected outbreak in Burmah has commenced. King Thcobaw’s tipsy debauchery has brought on a crisis in the relations between the British portion of Burmah and the rest of that large empire. One thousand Burmese had assembled to attack a British garrison, as reported by cable last night.

Lank Sold by the Taranaki Land Board during nine months ended September realised in cash £G,BBB. Thirty-one rural allotments on deferred payment 2864 acres, were sold in September; also 95 acres for cash. Defaulters on deferred payment during September were John Parker, section 194, Moo ; and Win. Carter, section 204, Moa.

The cricket team who arc to play in the Palea match on Saturday arc ; First Eleven—Messrs Jacomb (captain), Arundell, Pringle, Keenan, Dasent, Coutts, Tennent, Fetch, Kitching, F. T. Horner, and Dr Croft. Twenty-two—Messrs Taplin, (captain), Dixon, Baggett, F. Bead, Beer, Owen, Drake, Nicholson, Turner, Cowern, A. Black, May, O’Grady, E. C, Horner, Houghton, Eyton, Shields, Forster, Gibbous, Barabel, W. Kitching, Gentlemen, Read jun. All hands are requested to roll up to time ; and the match will bo resumed on the Saturday following, if not

finished next Saturday, More Taranaki Scheming. —Mr Bullen, sub-inspector of police at New Plymouth, and Mr Goodall, sub-inspector at Wanganui, have been cashiered at a month’s notice. . It is understood that a subsequent order has been issued enabling the discharged superior officers to remain in the service as sergeants. The Wanganui police district is to be tacked on to New Plymouth. It would have been more convenient for the West Coast as a whole to have the centre placed at Wanganui. Why should the whole Coast be worked from the remote end farthest from civilization ? Is this Coast to be parcelled out to suit the political interest of one member of the Cabinet, or to suit the great majority of the population. Which ?

Four officers of the Native Department at Auckland have received notices that their services will be dispensed with.

Is it right that the Auckland Land Board should sell 17,500 acres at To Aroha for 32s an acre, to the agent of 45

Lincolnshire farmers ? Other persons in the colony are not to have land at the same price, nor is public competition permitted. The agent offered 80s ; the Land Board wanted £2 ; and ultimately a bargain was struck at 32s an acre for 17,500 acres, the 45 farms averaging nearly 400 acres each, on which 225 adults arc to bo settled. Meanwhile an agent sent from Auckland to California has boon arranging for persons to leave Auckland who have been unable to buy land under £2 an acre. Is it fair ?

The Government, in carrying out their rigorous policy ot retrenchment, have sent notice to the following Sub-Inspectors of Armed Constabulary in the North Island that their services will be dispensed with after the end of the present month : —SubInspector Pardy, of Auckland ; SubInspector Kenny, Thames ; Sub-Inspector Bullen, New Plymouth ; Sub-Inspector Goodall, Wanganui, These reduction are being carried out regardless of personal considerations, and will probably give rise to some public dissatisfaction. Sub* Inspector Bullen since lie has had charge, of the Taranaki District, has proved himself a very efficient officer, and has placed theforce on a footing very different to what he found it.—Taranaki Herald.

Released, rut not Contented,— From a conversation which occured between a native interpreter and some of the natives who had just returned from Dunedin, there is little hope of the imprisonment bearing any salutary effects. The interpreter told the natives that he hoped they had learnt a lesson by their recent Imprisonment, and that they would now settle down quietly on their land and not interfere with the Europeans, for if they again broke the law they would he more severely dealt with under the new law now in force. One of the natives said he did not care for the new law, as it was made by the Pakeha ; if it had been made by Tc Whili he would obey. He further said that if he were imprisoned for thirty years, he still would obey the commands of Te Whiti.—Taranaki Herald.

CuMi'UMK.vr for Mr Brvce.— The Wanganui Herald says:—“Bravissimo! The last new act of t he administration is to tack on Wanganui to the Taranaki police district. This is (he official act of Mr Bryce, who is the Ministerial head of the department, the same Mr Bryce who in conjunction with the Herald fought for twelve years against the dominancy of the city of Wellington, Of course the independence has been exchanged for the privilege of being associated with a party in office, the leaders of which party he denounced in the severest terms only two years previously, but we never thought he would have turned round upon himself to betray the interests and independence of Wanganui by tacking it on to the tail of Tai anaki. This is the strangest act of all this extraordinary somersault in politics.”

Fire at Wanganui.— lt has been decided not to hold an inquiry into the late fire at Mr Duthie’s house, Wanganui, the cause of the disaster having been ascertained beyond the shadow of a doubt. When the lire was first noticed it was in a cupboard or safe close to the kitchen chimney, and the conclusion wo stated in our first notice that the disaster was similar in origin to the Rutland fire, has been borne out by subsequent investigation. The brickwork dividing the range from the woodwork of the cupboard was originally about 34 inches thick, but to enable a hot water pipe to bo taken to the bath room, the brick work was cut away until not more than an inch and a half remained to protect the woodwork. By some moans, whether by earthquake or a knock in the cleaning of the range, the thin piece of brickwork gave way, leaving a hole some three inches square. This hole led directly to the woodwork of .the cupboard, and a

fire became only a matter of time and any slight exciting cause. This was given on the evening of the disaster. The servant new to the house, wishing to put out the kitchen fire before retiring to rest, pushed in the dampers. The smoke and heat being thus prevented from passing up the flues to the chimney found vent through the hole mentioned, and gradually found its way about the house. Mrs Duthie noticed the smoke and asked the servant the cause. The girl replied that she had pushed in the dampers to put the fire out. Mrs Duthie then instructed her to pull them back and let the fire burn itself out in the grate. The dampers were accordingly pulled back, but the damage no doubt had been already done.— Herald. A new journal, The Craftsman , devoted to matters connected with Freemasonry, will shortly be issued at Christchurch.

Mit Bradlaugh has> been pronounced by a leading English Judge to be one of the best lawyers in England.

The borough of Parnell presented its Mayor with a silver cradle on an addition to his family. “ Courtship is bliss,” sighed a young lover.—“ Yes, and marriage is blister,” snarled an old bachelor.

The Bombay Gazelle states that the gross capital of the eight companies already started for the purpose of gold-mining in the Wynard amounts to £900,000. The organ for the Christchurch cathedral is to be built by Messrs Win. Hill and Son ? of York Road, London, at a cost of about £ISOO. At Dunedin, a bill rendered by a Scotch landlady to a young lodger ran thus : “Mr Dr to Mrs Mac To four weeks’ hoard and lodging at 32s Gd, £G 10s; two pills, 2d ; total, £G 10s 2d.” A reduction of 50 per cent, in the education allowance at Invercargill has resulted in the School Committee resolving that they cannot carry on the schools. The recent gold discoveries in Auckland district were in a block of 7000 acres alloted as a native reserve. The Government are taking steps to verify the discovery.

A distressing accident has happened to the It. M. at Greymouth. Having got a new appointment at Ashburton, he was about to start, when when he got arrested for debt. Poor fellow ! And a magistrate, too! In the account of the wreck of tho ship Eric the Red, near Capo Otway, it is stated that the vessel and cargo were valued at £40,000. Tho amount realised at the sale of the wreck was £4lO. The Auckland Herald states that Mr Ehrenfricnd, Mayor of the Thames, who recently paid his creditors 20s in tho £, received from his Dunedin creditors an acquittance engrossed on parchment and a silver tea service.

Intelligence from tho Azores states that a disturbance of.the earth has occurred in the island of St. George, resulting in the formation of another small island of about 18,000 square yards, and distant GOO yards from the shore.

A man was struck down by paralysis in a Michigan sawmill. He fell across a log which was being sawed, and was carried with it slowly but surely to the saw. Ho was conscious, but utterly helpless. The saw had cut half way through his arm when his awful predicament was discovered .

Ixciuja.sk of Coal Output.—The mouth of September has been reckoned the dullest of the dull in Kawakawa, yet, strange to say, without many being aware of the fact, more coal has been exported within the past month than in any previous like period during the twelve years’ existence of the colliery.

Thk Australian Cricketers were entertained at luncheon at Holbom Viaduct Hotel on Monday last by a number of colonists and others. Over 120 persons were present. After the usual toasts had been drunk, Mr Sargood, of Melbourne, presented Murdoch with a silver loving cup, and the other members of the team with silver tankards, in commemoration of their tour.

Overhead Railways.— A new plan has been patented in the United States for moving cars on elevated railroads by means of skates or runners sliding along a smooth rail. It is claimed that this invention will avoid the jarring and vibration which are so destructive to both the fixed and rolling stock where wheels arc used. The skates are each provided with a chamber for containing a lubricant, and are fitted with wearing slips, which can be readily removed and replaced when, they are worn out. The inventor asserts that a train may be moA r ed on the plain track with less power than is now required to move cars provided with wheels.

Wretched Rivalries. —The Dunedin Herald , in a vigorous article on railway management, says :—“ We would once again protest against the miserable jealousy of its neighbors that is shown more or less by every town in the colony. Invercargill hates Dunedin ; Dunedin vexes Christchurch ; the North Island denounces the South ; and the South Island mistrusts the North. At home, New Zealand is very generally supposed to be an unimportant district in Australia. In New Zealand, every city—almost every town —strives to monopolise the trade and public expenditure of the colony, and seeks to build itself up by the ruin of its rivals. We sometimes question whether a true national feeling can ever be evolved from such unpromising materials.”

Patea R. M. Court. Tuesday, before Mr C. A. Wray, Dr. Croft, and Mr Christie. CATTLE TRESPASS. Mr Alfred Palmer, Whenuakura, summoned Mr F. O’S. McCarthy, fell-monger, near Patea bridge, for damage to a fence by permitting cattle to trespass, and for special damage. Mr Hamerton appeared for complainant. Alfred Palmer deposed : I am a farmer at Whenuakura, occupying sections 74 and 75 during 12 months. I know the defendant’s cattle, but have seen them on my property only lately. On the sth I saw 15 and a bull loose, and on the 6th there were 21. They had jumped the ditch and bank fence, making a big gap. It is over

four months, since any other owner’s cattle trespassed there. The fence was secure before Mr McCarthy's cattle got in. The fence is planted on both sides with furze, I saw them break eight gaps, and other gaps had been mended by Mr M'Carthy’s men. On Tuesday the sth, I told Mr M'Carthy that I had put his cattle out. He said “All right; I will send a man to repair it.” Next day no repair had been made. On the day following I saw other cattle in, and tried to secure them, but they jumped the fence. I saw him afterwards and said “Unless you mend the fence to my satisfaction, I will summon you.” Previous to this, Mr Collins had sold a bull to Mr M'Carthy, on account of its getting into my place. That is the same bull I put out the other night. The fence was being repaired this morning, but his men do not understand sod fencing. Some gaps have been repaired in a passable condition, but other

gaps would take a man nearly two days to repair properly. One of his cows was in last Friday and Saturday, and jumps the fence every time. Two pounds would not compensate for the damage and grass and loss of my time. Cross-examined by Mr McCarthy : I instructed Mr Hamerton to take any proceedings against you he thought proper. (Letter handed to the Bench by Mr M'Carthy.) One of my cows has been out of that paddock two months, and I suppose it went out with your cattle. My cow has not been going backward and and forward. The Bench : What do you estimate the damage at now ? Complainant: I took a practical fencer there this morning, and will call him. Hugh M’Loughlin deposed: I think about two days’ work would put the fence in proper condition. The work which was being done this morning was not done in the way I would do it. Some of the repairs done previously wore not properly done.

Cross-examined by Mr M'Carthy ; The new gaps done within a few days were not repaired as well as the old gaps. The fence would be better for the ditch being dug out and the fence being raised. Some gaps have no furze in them. The usual wage is 8s a day. Mr M'Carthy ; I acknowledge that my cattle broke into this place, but I would like to call witnesses.

Ulick Burke, for the defence, deposed : A portion of the fence was very well repaired, but another part was not well done. Mr M‘Carthy said he would have the repairs done properly. I cannot exactly say that the fence is better than it was before.

Rd. Coghlan deposed : On the 7th inst. I and another man were sent by Mr M'Carthy to repair the gaps. I put old furze in all the new gaps this morning, after Mr Palmer had been there, and all the gaps have been repaired in a work-man-like manner. The value of our work would exceed £2.

E. Holmes deposed: I assisted to repair the fence. Furze was put in this morning. The bank is higher than before. The- ditch on Mr M'Carthy’s side has been cleared out. I don’t think any more could have been done to repair the fence. I have done about 20 chains of ditching and banking during my life. Mr Hamorton said he would reduce the claim for work to 16s, some of the work having been done properly. But damage had been suffered, and he must claim for grass, for loss of time, and for decreased value of the fence.

Mr Mc'Carthy said he had sent men to repair the fence immediately on being told of the trespass, and no man could do more. The value of work already done was more than £2. His were not the only cattle in the swamp that could trespass into Mr Palmer’s paddock. He had done all that one neighbour could expect from another. The Magistrates conferred, and Mr Wray said : The defendant does not seem

to be aware that it is his dutj’ as a landowner to keep his cattlejn his own place ; and it is not enough to repair the fence. Every man is bound by law -to take care that his beasts do not trespass on the lands of his neighbours. Mr Palmer put up a fence for his own use and benefit ; and if his neighbour allows his beasts to knock this fence down, it is no defence to say he

has repaired it, because when a fence is once destroyed it is not so good as before. It has been shown that since the amount of damage was assessed at £2, some work has been done, and the plaintiff has agreed to reduce the claim. The Court will therefore give judgment for the sura of £2 for trespass, for loss of grass, and so on ; and also 16s as damage to the fence not yet repaired ; with costs. There will be no professional fee in the case. The Court fees were 11s, the expense of three witnesses summoned £1 4s, and the fine £2 16; total £4lls. The money was paid.