COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 23 November 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

Lady Gordon, wife of the Governor, now in Britain, is expected to arrive at Wellington about January. Her health suffered in the tropical climate of Fiji, and she had to return Home,

“ Clericus” suggests that if tne man who was apprehended in the horse case last week had been humming a song that was sanctimonious, such as “ Mary had a little lamb,” his behaviour would not have appeared suspicious to the police.

Mr W. J. Hurst, M.H.R., is proud to continue the possessor of that blackleaded pig which was disqualified from taking a prize at the Auckland show. Mr Hurst threatens an action at law against the judges or against the committee or against the society as a whole —against one or all of them, for denying a prize to so excellent a pig. Mr Hurst swears by bis pig with or without the blacklcad. He is ready to go into any court of law and produce tho pig in evidence to show that the white spots which were blackleaded are no disqualification for the pure breed, but rather “ points ”in its favour. They say down at Auckland that Mr Hurst’s pig resembles that other gentleman with a tail who is “ not so black as be is painted.”

The Bishop of Wellington passed through Patea on Saturday, proceeding north. A Carriage Accident happened on the evening of the Races. Mr Jacomb was driving a buggy down the brow towards Patea bridge with three passengers, also a largo stock of bottles removed from a refreshment booth to be left at the Masonic Hotel. When nearly half-way down, the buggy was passing a team of three horses, at a part where the crown of the road is raised and the sides slope sharply to a low bottom. Each vehicle was going on the edges of the crown, when the team swerved back across the middle of the road, pushing the buggy off the track so suddenly that it had to be run sharp down the side to avoid collision. The buggy upset, throwing out Mrs Mullen, Mrs Delaney, her little girl, and Mr Jacomb; and the pair of horses tore away towards the bridge, but were soon stopped. The passengers escaped with slight bruises and shakes, but the buggy was much damaged. It is understood that the owner of the dray recognises that the accident was due to the carelessness with which the team of horses were managed by bis servant in passing the other vehicle, and he will make good the damage.

The Harmonic Concert on Friday last was one of the most enjoyable entertainments given by tho Patea society. The Town Hall was filled, an agreeable and inspiriting compliment; while tho dashing freedom with which certain performers were “ pelted ” with bouquets, sometimes in showers, must be taken as the best evidence that the society were achieving their mission of giving pleasure to an appreciative public. Tho first hit was made with the lively chorus from “ Masaniollo,” “ Away, the morning’s freshly breaking,” the light and shade being carefully marked, and the unison good. The bluff basso song, “ There’s nothing like a freshening breeze,” was given with adequate force# but rather gruffly. The quartette, “On the banks of Allan Water,” was hardly harmonious, the fault being not in the music, but in the voices, which did not blend. The song “ True to the last,” difficult music rendered expressively, was deservedly encored. The chorus from “ Fra Diavalo,” “ On yonder rock reclining,” was rendered with spirit and vivacity. A treble song, “ Lo, here the sabre,” sung with timid sweetness, was encored, the repetition being given more confidently, and excellently done* Voices of this quality should figure oftener in the society’s solos. An instrumental selection was given by the flute, cornet, flageolette, and piano ; these instruments assisting effectively in other accompaniments. The next song w T as encored deservedly; and the “ Bridal chorus ” from “ Lohengrin ’» closed the first part. This chorus had the Wagner eccentricity of phrasing which needs special education to appreciate its hidden charm. A serenata opened the second part, and was hardly loss peculiar. Its inappropriatoness was made apparent by the utter absence of interest on the part of those whom it was intended to please. The several parts had no apparent connection, and the result was so much labor wasted, “ The warrior bold” was a successful song, encored ; followed by a very pleasing song, “ To-morrow,” encored enthusiastically. The lively old quartette, “Beware,” was given in a humorous style that evoked laughter and an encore. The brightest success of the evening was a song of old-fashioned simplicity, yclept “ Twickenham ferry;’ and so charmingly was it rendered that all the bouquets which had not been thrown were showered now at the feet of the maid who “ hadn’t a penny.” She had to sing again, and hardly escaped another encore, for she deepened the charm of the ferry idyll by rendering a favorite as old and sweet and simple, “ Jeanette and Jeanot,” The “ Rataplan” chorus made a fitting close to a good concert, and its captivating livelinesss was worth all the other choruses put together.

Members of the County Council have received a statement of receipts and expenditure of the Connty from its formation in January, 1877, to end of September last. This return is intended to afford a basis of comparison with similar returns of Road Boards and Town Boards; the object being to ascertain the relative costliness of Jeach system of road administration. These Connty statistics teach nothing by themselves, else we would print them. Direct Steamships to Europe would develop the trade of New Zealand more than any other form of enterprise at present. It is to be hoped the report is true that two of Money Wigram’s steamships have been purchased by Messrs Shaw, Seville, and Co., with the object of starting a direct steam trade. These steamships have auxiliary screws, and are full rigged, so that steam is used only when the wind fails. The practicability of sending Home preserved fresh meat from this colony may soon be tested by experiment.

Cricket. —Hawera v, Patea was a return match, played at Patea on Saturday, in splendid weather, and in presence of a largo number of spectators. The match could not be quite finished, and the result was declared on the first innings in favour of Hawera by 21 runs, Patea only succeeding in putting in the small total of 2G against bowling by no means difficult. The local club seemed to have bad luck throughout. In their second innings Patea got 70 runs—more like their form ; tho’ even here Heenau, by a misunderstanding as to a “ call,” was run out before scoring 1, thus doing nothing in either innings. Playing up to time, Hawera in their second innings were 5 runs behind on the day’s play and had 5 wickets to fall, so they were sure of the game if finished. Their first innings of 47 included 28 by Riddiford, the captain, who batted carefully, and showed great speed between the wickets. Bayly pul together 20 in the second innings. In the second innings of Patea, Read’s 15 andPringlo’s 12 were the only double figures. Petch’s bowling was swift, and would have been more destructive if dead on wickets. The fielding on both sides was excellent. The following arc the scores: Patea—lst Innings. Kitching, b Southey . . , 1 Horner, c Southey, b Bayley . . 1 Ilccnan, b Southey . . 1 Read, c Fowler, b Southey . . 2 Fetch, run out .... 1 Pringle, b Southey . . , 0 Dixon, c Riddiford, b Bayly . . 6 Jacomb, 1 b w, b Bayley . . . 1 Taplin, b Bayly . . . ,1 Dasent, b Southey . . . .1 Tcnnent, not out . . . ,4 Byes 4, leg-bye 1, wides 2 . ,7 Total . . . .26 Hawera —Ist Innings. Flint, b Fetch . . . .4 Innes, c Read, b Kitching . . 0 Farrington, b Fetch . . .1 Riddiford, not out . . . .28 Bayley, c Ilccnan, b Kilcliing . . 1 Cunningham, b Fetch . . .4 Fraser, run out . . . .2 Wauklyn, b Fetch . . , .2 Lysaght, b Fetch . . . . 0 Southey, run out . . . , 0 Fowler, run out . . . . 0 Byes 2, leg-byes 2, wide 1 . .5 Total . . . .47 Patea—2nd Innings. Taplin, c Riddiford, b Southey , . 0 Tennent, b Bayley . . . 0 Heonan, run out . . . .2 Read, c Riddiford, b Farrington . 15 Jacomb, b Southey . . . .7 Fetch, b Bayly . . . .7 Kitching, b Farrington . . .1 Dixon, c limes, b Farrington . . 6 Pringle, hit wicket , . . .12 Horner, c Cunningham, b Bayly . 9 Dasent, not out . . . .0 Byes 9, leg-byes 3 . . .12 Total . . . .70 Hawera —2nd Innings. Cunningham, c Road, b Fetch . . 2 Riddiford, run out . . . .10 Bayley, c Dasent, b Fetch . . 20 Farrington, b Dasent . . .2 Flint, b Fetch . . . .3 Southey, not out . . . .2 Lysaght, not out . . . ,1 Byes 2, wides 2 . . . .4 Total for five wiekets . . 44

Mr Dale will offer for sale 100,000 j feet building timber, on Thursday. Sale op Sections, —Mr Win. Dale reports having held a sale of freehold and leasehold properties at his mart, Patea, on Saturday. There was a large attendance, and the bidding for Patea properties was brisk, but other properties did not move off under the hammer. Some of them are being negotiated for since, and private sales will be effected during this week. The following were disposed of under lease for 21 years : —2lft by 132 ft, Bedfordstreet, adjoining Bank of New Zealand, 11s per foot per annum; 21ft by 132 ft, adjoining previous lot, 11s per foot; 33ft by 70ft, adjoining Mr Jacob’s, tinsmith, 7s Gd per foot; 33ft by 70ft, adjoining Patea Coach Factory, 7s Gd per foot; part of section 3, block 17, -g—acre, £5 per annum ; sections 32, 33, and 31, block 44, 12 perches, each £4 10s per annum ; sections 85 and 37, block 44, 12 perches, each £4 per annum ; sections 17 and 19, block 44, -J-acre, each £5 per annum ; allotment in Rutland-street, T-acre, £5 per annum ; goodwill of lease, 184- years to run, allotment of land in Taranaki-road with building thereon, £77 10s; section 14, block 43, freehold £-acre, £3O ; £-acre in Albany-street, with4-roomed cottage, £137 10s. By private treaty, section 13, block 43, |-acre, £35.

Some annoyance appears to have been caused to certain visitors from Waverley who were good enough to attend tho Patea races. A correspondent says :—“ Like many others, I attended the Patea races on Friday, intending to enjoy a holiday and see how other country clubs managed matters. I found the attendance on the course small and the racing much the same as anywhere else, but that was not what troubled mo. A small stand about the size of two kitchen tables had been erected (shall I say) for the purpose of affording a better view of the course. Several strangers seeing no reason why it should not be occupied helped to crowd it, so far as the space would allow of such a thing. The temporary character was made known by sundry cracks, and a steward then informed some of tho occupants, in terms not quite orthodox, that the stand had been erected for the stewards. One wellknown member of the Waverley Jockey Club being on the platform, this gentleman steward (who by the way is not noted for his humanity) took occasion, in very emphatic language to denounce tho Waverley Club’s office-bearers, to put it mildly, as a drunken lot.” The rest of the letter is a protest, perhaps not too strong but certainly too personal, against the aforesaid exhibition of illtempered discourtesy to visitors. The incident is to be regretted, but Waverley people arc too sensible to regard it as a fair sample of Patea manners.

The last Military Disaster. —Major Hogg, an eye-witness of the Afghan fight at Maijara, writes that it was practically fought with 1400 infantry, 300 cavalry, and six guns. The mere handful of British forces was surrounded on all sides* The men were half dead from exhaustion and thirst, and without the support of reserves, and yet they withstood tho onslaught of 25,000 men ami the concentrated fire of guns, on the open plain, for nearly five hours, without flinching. Then, all of a sudden, as if paralysed with the excessive strain, they were crushed and dissolved like a snow-ball, and, with the exception of a few straggling cavalry and infantry, no resemblance of a military force remained.

Murder. —The Brisbane Courier says, respecting the Acacia Dam murder, that the body of a man, stabbed to the heart, has been found in the Acacia Dam near Matabura, and it is evident that a murder has been committed, and that the clothes of deceased had been burned at the camp fire. No clue bad been found to identify the body. A man named John Raynor was arrested at Bowen Downs on suspicion of having committed the murder, and on the following day Raynor killed himself by cutting his throat.

Mr Hart, M.H.A., of Launceston, receives £BOO per week from the Mount Bischolf and Tasmania Mine, or £41,600 per annum.