COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 7 December 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

The Patka Garrick Cluu anuoiinco their first dramatic performance for Thursday week, December IGtli. The programme comprises three dramatic pieces. A native land block named Mangotuhu, in Pa tea County, comprising 01,200 acres, is to be the subject of inquiry at a sitting of the Native Land Court at Pa tea, date not fixed. This appears to be one of the blocks for which the Government have advanced a certain sum in cash, but the purchase of which is not to be completed, except a sufficient area for the amount advanced. The Agricultural Show at New Plymouth last week indicated a decreasing public interest. The Herald says: “ The following statement of the receipts at the gates for the Cattle Show during the last four years will be found of interest, as showing the support given by the public to the Agricultural Association at each Show :—1877, £35 15 3d; IS7S, £3l 15s; IS7D, £22 3s ; 1880, £2O 10s.

A new car for conveying grain to market at a small cost is patented by an American. The weight of the grain is reduced to a trifle by Idling a hollow boiler and rolling it on the rails instead of drawing so much dead weight. Four large cylinders, each forming its own wheels, are connected to form one long car. The grain is found not to suffer by the friction of being turned over and over, but rather cleaned and improved. This new grain car is roofed over to enable the train-men to pass across the rolling cylinders. A scientific journal says:—“ All railroad men who have rode upon it, and carefully noticed its action, unqualifiedly endorse it, and it is claimed thatthe great problem of the present day has been solved by the invention of the Prosser car. It has made it possible for our railroads to transport the millions of bushels of grain now in the bursting cribs and elevators in the Western States to the starving millions of Europe at a cost so low that the water lines cannot compete—made it possible to carry ten bushels of grain for what it now costs to carry one,” This invention will bring into marketable value many tracts of country which are too remote from markets to make grain worth the cost of carriage. This method of cheap transit by reducing cost of haulage should be applicable to some other articles of export besides grain. Grain carts for public roads might be tried on the same principle, constructed of very thin iron, with a raised tire round each end to serve for wheels.

The ship Lochnagar, which grounded at Gisborne, is got oft'.

Mu Cowekn’s stock sale at Kakaramea to-morrow will include over 300 head.

Tenders are invited for the railway formation from Normanby to Hawera. Nothing is said about tenders for the southward section from Wavcrley to Patea harbor.

The stranded schooner will be in a condition for launching over the Patea breakwater about Thursday. The timber slips are now being laid for the experiment.

Mu F. B. O’Neill, architect, Hawera, invites commissions from settlers in the district. He has prepared plans for several houses to be shortly erected on the Plains. Williaji Hours commences this month to manage the Patea Boilingdown Company’s works on his account, the property having been transferred. We believe the price is about £IBOO. He is likely to do well, and has certain practical ideas for developing a local export. The Trial of Turn, the murderer of Miss Dobic, is placed in the calendar of cases to be taken at the Wellington circuit sitting of the Supreme Court, commencing next Thursday. The Opunaki case is the last in the list, and is likely to be taken on Saturday or Monday.

At the Patea 11.M. Court on Friday, before Mr Wray, R.M., John Murphy, of Patea, was fined £1 and 15s costs for striking J. F. Maher, of Kakaramca; and was also bound over to keep the peace for six months, Thos. O’Shaunessy, of Kakaramea, farmer, summoned Mr J. Daniells, railway contractor near Chapman’s road, for unlawfully rescuing three horses which had been lawfully seized for being impounded. The case was a dispute as to grazing. Th rce horses had been grazed at a certain price per week. The dispute arose as to a fourth horse. The complainant claimed for four, and he seized three horses to enforce payment. The defendant rescued them, and was summoned for doing so illegally. The case was dismissed on defendant paying costs. Ckiokkt. —An interesting and rather close game was played on Saturday between the Public Works offices and banks on the one side, and eleven of the Patea Club on the other. A return match is arranged for tin's day week. Saturday’s scoring was as follows : Public Works—First Innings. Owen, c Taplin, b Jacomb . . 12 Bariball, b Kitcbing . . .2 Ileenan, b Kitcbing . . .7 Contis, c E. Horner, b Kitcbing . 12 Baggett, b Kitcbing . . ,0 Tcnnent, b Arundell . . .12 Dasent, c Dixon, b Arundell . 0 Hunter, b Kitcbing . . .0 Beere, c Dixon, b Kitcbing. , 0 Forster, b Arundell . . .0 Hymns, not out . . .1 Byes 5, log-bye 1 . . 6 Total . , . .52 Second Innings. Tennent, c Taplin, b Kitcbing .18 Hyams, c Black, b Kitcbing . 0 Ileenan, b Dixon . . .0 Baggett, c and b Dixon . . I Owen, b Dixon . . . .2 Dasent, b Dixon . . .4 Coutts, run out . . . .0 Bariball, c and b Kitcbing . . 1 Beere, not out . . , .0 Hunter, c and b Kitcbing . . 0 Forster, b Dixon . . ,1 Leg-bye 1 . . . .1 Total . . . .28 Patea Ceub—First Innings. Kitcbing, c Hecnan, b Coutts , 2 Drake, st Heenan, b Dasent , 1 Dixon, c and b Dasent . . 8 Shields, b Coutts . . .4 Arundell, b Coutts . . .11 Jacomb, b Dasent . . .0 Taplin, b Bariball . , ,7 Black, b Coutts .... 0 E. Horner, b Coutts . . .1 Turner, b Coutts . , .0 Fergus, not out . . , .0 Byes 5, leg-byes 2, wide 1 . 8 Total . . . .42 Second Innings. Dixon, c Heenan, b Coutts . . 4 Arundell, b Coutts . . .6 Black, c Dasent, b Coutts . . 2 Kitcbing, b Heenan . . .4 Jacomb, not out . . .8 Fergus, b Heenan . . .0 Taplin, b Hecnaa . . .3 E. Horner, not out . . .7 Byes i, leg-bye 1 . . ,5 Total for seven wickets . 39

Petroleum speculation is increasing in Poverty Bay. A new spring in the ■Rotoruatuku block is in process of transfer to Mr W. Clarke, who started the South Pacific Petroleum Oil Co., . which is working ground near Gisborne. . Mu F. C. Barker announces the commencement of business in Patea ns auctioneer, stock and estate agent, &c. His business experience in Canterbury should be a good introduction to this district, which appears to offer plenty of room for energy and capital. The new editor of Punch, Mr F. C. Burnand, is a Roman Catholic. The leading comic journal was once noted for the severity of its attacks on the Roman Church. It is curious to note what a number of conspicuous appointments have been obtained lately by Roman Catholics, from the Viceroy of India downward. Mr Gladstone has seriously risked his popularity by going so far in this direction. Of course the mere religious profession of the individual has no significance in itself, but so long as the British constitution is professedly Protestant, there will be the old jealousy or fear of a foreign political influence being exerted from Rome, It would be better for the general harmony if religions profession could be disregarded in official appointments; but, on the other hand, practical politicians make a serious mistake when they ignore or run counter to public susceptibilities. The Tokai (Japan) Times says that a shock of earthquake is probably felt in some part of the island every day.