COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 4 November 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

The Homeavard ’Frisco Mail leaves Wellington on Sunday, and will close in this district to-day.

Mr De G. Fraser’s resignation of sub lieutenancy of Rifles is gazetted.

Shooting. —The half-yearly competition for tlic McGuire cup takes place at Normanby next Saturday. Mu Barker, new settler in Patea, has entered for the Agricultural Slioav four bulls, 12 Lincoln sheep, and two Berkshire boars.

Lloyd’s Hotel at Hawera Avas transferred to Mr J. H. Cook, of Wellington, on Monday, under lease with power to purchase.

Inspector James, who has taken charge of the West Coast police district, passed through Patea on Tuesday to Ncav Plymouth, on his first official inspection.

Messrs Mitchell and Napier have leased their Waverley farm to Mr Jardine, lately from Scotland, who took possession on Tuesday. It is understood that the lease is for 21 years, and the rental about 13s 6d per acre.

Major Atkinson and Mr Rolleston went in the first train to Master! on on Monday, and at the luncheon the Colonial Treasurer said the duty of retrenchment was unpleasant, but if persevered in the colony would easily meet all its engagements. Mr Rolleston said the land needs opening lor settlement, and could support millions instead of thousands. The colony cannot afford to enter into new schemes at present. Lord Beaconsfield is credited with another of his jokes at a rival’s expense. We don’t believe he said it exactly as reported, but that’s no matter. He was asked “ What is the difference between a mishap and a misfortune?” His answer was, “ Well I should call it a mishap if Mr Gladstone were to fall into the Thames, and a misfortune if anybody were to pull him out again.”

A Public Holiday will be observed in Patea to-day. All business places are expected to close at noon at latest, the banks and public offices being closed all day. Fine weather will make the Agricultural Show a success. Sheep are to be on the show ground by eight o’clock, cattle by nine, and other exhibits by 10 a.m. Admission to the ground will be 2s 6d before 12 o’clock, and Is after. The leaping of horses will begin at three. Members and exhibitors must procure tickets at the secretary’s office before 10 o’clock, or they will be charged for admission. The dinner is announced for 6.30. All members and others attending the dinner will require tickets ; and members of the committee have to pay like the rest. Even if the weather be unfavorable for a large attendance at the show, it is to be hoped the members nnd supporters of the Association will make an effort to attend the dinner as a compensation, for the committee’s arrangements may entail a loss if the number at dinner be less than they had necessarily to provide for. This public dinner ought to be the pleasantest part of the Association’s programme.

A Fire at GreytoAvn has destroyed the Rising Sun Hotel. The Death Sentence on the Fiji murderer at Auckland is commuted to imprisonment. Natia t es attempted yesterday to stop the GoA T ernment Engineer on the road near Parihaka. A Cricket Match betAveen Patea and HaAvera teams is fixed for Saturday, at Hawera. A brother of Jacob Joseph, Wellington, has died at San Francisco Avorth a million sterling. Kelly the bushranger has boon found guilty of murder, and condemned to be hanged. Major Kemp’s re-appointment as assessor is already cancelled. His name Avas gazetted “ by mistake ! ” Correspondence from Normanby and Kakaramea is held over till Saturday. Also report of Patea Town Board meeting. Mr Proctor, astronomer, gave a lecture on Monday night to a croAvded audience. He is to lecture in Wanganui next week. The proclamation of a road past the Hospital, as proposed by the Patea Town Board, is to be formally opposed by the County Council. The next Licensing Court for the district of Waitotara and Patea is announced to be held December 7th, at Patea. The Fire Bell Avas rung on Tuesday in Patea, to test it in the iicav toAver. The structure seems wellfinished, and the bell’s position is suitable to the toAvn.

The sale of toAvn sections in Feilding and Palmerston, offered yesterday in Wellington by Messrs Dwan and Co,, fetched good prices.

The Okoiawa village sections, the few which had been applied for, were offered by auction between applicants yesterday at Ha worn, and the priority for village allotments was decided by lot. No appreciable interest was shown in this Tillage scheme, which is a failure as a separate settlement. A County 1 Rate of sixpence in the pound is to bo levied for the year ending March next, and to be payable in December. A committee examined the Engineer’s report, and rocounnended that £I9OO is the least sum required to keep the County road in passable repair to March next. The Council resolved nevertheless to raise only £I3OO by a rate, there being less than £SO to add to it from other sources. Where the balance is to come from, nobody knows. If the committee’s opinion be worth anything, the County road will require half as much more—namely, another threepenny rate—to prevent the road from lapsing into such a ruinous condition as to require future outlay in metalling most of it over again. A nice outlook for next winter ! When winter weather sots in, any extensive repair becomes impossible till summer returns. The Whitehalllteciew states that the Prince of Wales has insured his life in the Prudential for £40,000 and pays £BOO a year premium. If this is correct H.R.H, has got the business done cheap, and in an office which is always willing to pay.