HAWERA.

Patea Mail, 14 December 1880, Page 3

HAWERA.

The Mail has over 90 subscribers between Manutahi and Stratford. BRANCH OFFICE OF THE MAIL, Monday Evening. Up to the close of the Telegraph to-day, the Land office has been crammed since the morning, and it is so still. Over eighty applicants are booked for deferred payment sections. The town is crowded with strangers, and the prices will be a good deal higher than last sale. Most of the intending purchasers are Auckland and Waikato men ; a good many being from New Plymouth. The sale of the Waimato Plains to take place this week seems to be exciting more interest than the last, notwithstanding the rumors as to the political significance of Tuhi’s crime. There is little doubt but that the Maoris generally view that brutal murder with abhorrance, and intending settlers should not be influenced against settling in the district on account of a solitary crime committed by a half-intoxicated Maori for the sake of “utu.” The hotels are filled to overflowing, “ shakedowns ” being the order of the day, and Waimate land and probable prices the constant conversation. Opinions vary much as to the prices the land will fetch at this sale. Some are of a mind that it will not realise so much per acre as last, whilst others think it will go much higher. For my own part I fancy that there will not be much difference, but if anything the forthcoming sale will fetch a little better prices than the former one. The station-master’s house at Hawora is really to be gone on with, Mr Symo, of this place, being the successful tenderer, but the price has not yet transpired. The Government also intend completing the formation from Norman by to Hawcra forthwith. It has been suggested that some of the leading people of Hawera should represent to the Government the advantage to this district were they to let Messrs Berry and Newman continue their

ballasting from their present contract to Normanby at their schedule prices. It would at least save some months and extra expense, and wc should have the train into Haw r era so much the sooner. The fourth firing of the Hawcra Light Horse, for the officers’ cup, came off on Saturday, Mr Lee being the winner this time with a score of 45. The weather was bad for shooting, as it was continually raining, and the target being very indistinct, particularly at the long range. The sporting community of Hawera wore completely “ sold ” on Saturday. The long talked of match between the Coband Buttercup never came off. The owner of Cob at the last moment wished to postpone the race on account of the rain : the owner of Buttercup went over the course and claimed the money. Each horse had its partizans, and the argument waxed warm upon the subject until it was ultimately arranged that the match was to come off to-day, but as we hardly ever know what to-morrow may bring forth poor Buttercup was buried this morning. Mr Jackson was riding out yesterday, and whilst racing her at a fence she staggered, and attempting to jump the fence she fell dead, jamming her owner’s leg against the ditch, from which ho was ultimately released without being in any way injured. Disease of the heart is the cause assigned for this sudden death.