COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 21 December 1880, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

The Mai r. will be published on Friday evening before Christinas, to enable the staff of this office to enjoy the luxury of a full Holiday on Saturday. Advertisements received later than Friday noon cannot be inserted in the Christmas number. The Mail will not bo published on the Tuesday following Boxing-day, but will appear on the Thursday as usual. A company for deep-sea Ashing is being formed at Christchurch, with a capital of £ 1000. The death ol Mrs J. McLaren, who came here with her husband fifteen months since, occurred on Sunday through the bursting of a blood-vessel. An elopement at Tlmam is reported. A married bricklayer has carried off a married woman ; and children arc left in both cases. Francis Williamson, bankrupt, had an interview yesterday with the creditors’ trustee in the estate, concerning hook debts and the post-nuptial transfer of property. Over a hundred thousand pounds will have been received by Government as cash for the Waimatc Plains, when the sales arc concluded this week. The armed occupation of the West Coast will have cost quite an equal amount during eighteen months, so that the colony gets practically nothing by the double operation. The parties who do get a benefit are the Harbor Board of New Plymouth, who will be entitled, under a provincial law made by New Plymouth politicians, to mulct the colony in the amount of twenty-five thousand pounds, being onefourth value of the land sold. That’s the sort of “ ordinance ” which New Plymouth regards as divine ! The Govekxoi! is expected to pass through this district early in February, He will commence his tour of the colony in January, starting overland to Napier, on to Turanga, down the Waikato to Auckland. He will embark from the Manakau in the Hincmoa, and landing at New Plymouth will travel through the West Coast, proceeding overland to Wellington. He will again embark on the Hincmoa for Lyttelton, and will cross the ranges to Westland, going southward by sea to the Bluff to receive Lady Gordon on Her arrival at Invercargill by Melbourne steamer. The pair will travel together to Wellington by w r ay of Dunedin, Oamaru, the East Coast towns, and Christchurch, returning to Wellington about the end of March.

Moxdav after Christmas will bo observed as a bank holiday. The duty on oatmeal imported into Victoria is doubled. Some of the Opunaki township sections were bought by members of the A.G, force stationed in the district. At Otaki, Mr A. J. Hadfield’s sheep have increased a hundred per cent. — just doubling his flock. Honi Pihamn, who had to be in Wellington during Tuhi’s trial, had luncheon with the Governor, and was warmly received as a friendly chief. Judge Hansford's widow and family have been granted a donation equal to one year’s salary, and the money is to be invested for the children’s benefit till they become of age. It is said Miss Kate Kelly “ and her brother Jim ” arc to make a round of New Zealand as travelling curiosities. Does it need a birch rod to make these creatures decent ? A clergyman puts the evolution theory in this way : “ Leave me my ancestors in paradise, and I will leave you yours in the zoological gardens.” But is there not a self-seeking exclusiveness about this arrangement ? Fielding Caledonian Sports Committee are offering £l4O in prizes, and this sum is claimed to be the largest offered by any club except Dunedin. Wellington offers only £SO; Patea offering about £7O. A strike of printers at Christchurch has continued some days. The difficulty is in the Lyttelton Times office; but as the paper continues to issue as usual, the men have probably made a miscalculation.

Cadtain DiLi.ox.of the s.s.Kennedy, was found dead in his berth on .Saturday. He had left Nelson in apparently good health on Friday, for Grey mouth. He was 40 years of age, and unmarried. Heart disease is supposed to have caused death.

Query by School Inspector: “ What were the principal difficulties which troubled Queen Mary in the latter years of her reign ? ” Local scholar wrote answer Urns. “ She found after she died that she had lost Calais, and that her husband did not care for her.”

Natives interested in the purchase of the Kaitangiwhenna block by Government were in expectation of payment yesterday, and a number of them assembled in Patea, including Taurau’s people, Whcnuakuras, and Waitotara natives. The expected cash did not arrive, but the official dispenser of coin is reported to be on Jus way here, and Wednesday is now spoken of as payday.

The Wanoanui Almanack is a credit to the publisher, Mr A. D. Willis. It comprises a directory of the West Coast, from Ngairc to Foxton; and though errors might be pointed out in the Patea district, the directory is useful and mostly accurate. Mr Willis might have been expected to know that the Mail passed to a now proprietor some time ago, though his directory conveys a different idea. Errors which the public can correct for themselves will do no harm. The almanack contains much useful information relating to this district.

Haud Times, —Speaking of farming in the north of England, a Home paper says :—“ln a conversation I had with a North Durham relative, who had been a farmer nearly fifty years, he told mo that 1879 has been much the w’orst year in his experience. He had just threshed the produce of 8 acres of wheat, and the beggardly result was 80 bushels, which lie sold at Is per bushel. This will not half cover expenses, oven if the farm were rent free. He had also a good number of acres of potatoes winch did not average more than 1 ton au acre, and sold at £7 a ton would entail a dead loss of at least £5 an acre. This is a sorry outcome after fifty years of careful industry. Why, if a twentieth part of my friend’s capital and labor had boon invested in New Zealand or Manitoba, be would have been a wealthy man years ago.”

A mooting of fire insurance agents

was lielii in Patea last night, at Mr Horner s offic*', to consular the claims of the fire Fire Brigade. Eight companies wore represented, and the agents agreed to recommend a donation of £D per company lor the coming year, equal to £4O ; and a permanent yearly allowance on condition of the Brigade’s efficiency being maintained.

The Patea Cadets had a shooting tournament on Saturday for the year’s championship. The champion prize was a cup and £1 cash, the second prize a cup valued at IDs, the third IDs cash, the other prizes being gifts by townspeople ranging in value clown to 2s. The ranges were 100, IDO, 200, and 300, G. Gowland made the highest score of 03. Following arc the scores :

The second-class Cadets also fired five shots at each range, as follows : TI. Prize. D. Carey 8 2s 6d W. Col won 0 2s A. Hall 2 Is W. Hirst 2 Is The prizes were distributed on Saturday evening in the Council Chamber, by Miss A. Hirst. The Cadets had also prepared a compliment for Captain Black in the shape of a silver pencil-case.

SroiiTiKu.—Acceptances for the Wellington cup were received on Friday as follow:—Foul Play fist, Betrayer Bst olb, Natator Sst lib, Volunteer Bst, Hailstorm 7st (Sib, Libeller 7si -11b Grand Duchess 7st 51b, Virginia Water 7st 51b, Randwick 7st lib, Venus Transit 7st lib, Badsworth 7sfc, Lady Emma 7st, Norseman 7st, Governor Gst 121b, On Dit Gst 81b, Sir George Gst Gib, Luna Gst 51b, Mischief Gst 21b, Dan ost lib, Satellite sst 151b. Owing to the top weight not accepting, all weights have been raised one pound.

School Phizes were distributed at Patca on Friday to those scholars who had obtained passes in the Inspector’s examination. The prizes, which were chiefly books, had been given by parents and residents in the neighbourhood, and were divided into two classes for those who had passed first or second in the various standards, as follow: ruizi; list. 6th Standard.—lst : 11. G. Wray ~ „ 2nd: Alex. Patterson sth Standard.—lst: H. Coutts ~ „ 2nd : Agnes Patterson 4th Standard.—lst: John Holthoin „ „ 2nd : Ilardwiekc B. Dyer 3rd Standard. —Ist : Prudence Black „ 2nd ; J. McKittrick 2nd Standard.—lst; Eva Dixon , ( 2nd : William Ewing Ist Standard. —Ist : William O’Brien „ „ 2nd ; Elizabeth Davis SPECIAL PHIZES. Best needlework : May Black Best sewing (under 12 years) ; Ellen Aitchison Best Mental Arithmetic in school : James McCarty 2nd best do : J. lloltham Best drawing : J. McKittrick Most regular attendance : 11. Baddeley „ „ Amelia Maurice Special for neatest papers at examination : Agnes Patterson Elementary Science : Agnes Patterson Best handwriting, Standard 11. : Alice Butler Best arithmetic, Standard 111. : Eugene McCarthy Best map, Standard IV. : Robert Aitchison Best arithmetic, Standard I. : Lucj' Carey General proficiency : Jessie Aitchison Most credit (considering age) : Martha Ussher.

The talented Hart family perform tonight in Patea. Mr H. A. Arthur and Mr Carrie announce Christmas specialities. Mr F. E. Jackson bought six sections at Friday’s sale of township lots. The Times states that a new' German bank is aiding an established line of steamers between Hamburg and Australian ports. The young Duke of Newcastle, who has reached the age of sixteen, has applied to the courts for permission to many. The Turkish Government has dismissed Frank Ives Sucudamore, C.8., from his position as Director-General of the Turkish Postal and Telegraph Service, owing to serious personal irregularities. Scudamore was formerly director of the telegraphic service of England. On October 27th, a fierce south-western gale prevailed along the coast of England, and IGO vessels of all descriptions were wrecked and many lives lost. Much damage was done inland from the floods. The Sussex and -Warwickshire lowlands were covered with water for miles.

An extraordinary scene occurred in the Limerick market-place. A farmer who had taken possession of a farm from which another had been evicted, offered some butter and oats for sale. Merchants and brokers alike refused to purchase from him. He was obliged to take the produce away with him.

At a distillery in Independence, Mo. America, a large wooden still full of boiling mash burst, and three men were completely cooked by the hot liquid. They lived a few moments in terrible agony, their eyes being put out and their flesh falling from their bones. Mr Bradlaugh is attacking the English perpetual pension list. He finds that the descendants of Lord St. "Vincent have within a century received £200,000, and so have those of Lord Rodney ; £BOO a year is still paid to the representative of Sir Thomas Charges, nearly £400,000 have been paid to the Dukes of Wellington, and the Duke of Marlborough is in receipt of the perpetual pension of £4OOO a year.

Rodaxow Watches —Attention is called to the price-list of the Ilodanow Manufacturing Co., of Boston, published in another part of this issue. It will be seen that the prices quoted are immensely lower than Englishmen are accustomed to pay even for inferior watches. The firm was established in 1849, and has gained prize medals at the Exhibitions of London, Paris, Vienna, etc,, for excellence of manufacture.

rts. Hep. Tl. Prize. G. Gowland .. . 54 — 54 Cup ami £1 Fred Schultz.. 50 4 54 15s, Odgers C. Lett . 47 6 53 15s TV. Davis .... . 36 12 48 12s 6d M. Chapman.. , 46 — 4G 10s, SergtKitohing C. Dasent . 40 6 46 10s TV. I. Baxter.. . 33 12 45 6s R. Carey . 40 4 44 4s 6d, Kenworthy II. Davis . ‘29 12 41 4s 6d, Donnelly W. McCarty. ..30 — 39 4s 6d, Neill F. Sherwood . .. 32 6 38 4s 6d, North G. Dasent .. 33 4 37 4s, Gower A. Baxter .... .. ‘25 12 37 3s, Sherw’d G. Howilt .... — 36 2s 6d, Kells J. McCarty . .. 27 8 35 2s, Adams R. Whelan ... .. 21 12 33 2s, Davis