HAWERA.

Patea Mail, 31 March 1881, Page 3

HAWERA.

The Mail has over 90 subscribers he hr ecu Manvkdd and Stratford.

bra yen: office of the m ajc Monday Evening (delayed)

Major Atkinson’s address to his Xormanbj- constituents on Friday attracted a good attendance. The chair was taken by Mr C. E. Gibson. At tbe close, the Major was well questioned upon local matters, principally by Messrs Robson and Inkster. The former pointed out tbe great inconvenience the out ridings suffered from tire present s\ 7 steni of County management, and that their interests were entirely neglected for that of the County town. Mr Inkster argued against the large vote for education, and thought that it was sufficient for the State to give the people a good sound education, and that after that should parents desire to send their children for higher branches they should pay for them, and not the public. Major Atkinson said be bad heard both sides of these questions argued during Ids visit to the district. In the matter of the County v. Road Boards, tbe question was entirely in the ratepayers’ own bands. He thought the education system required some alteration, but not altogether in the way Mr Inkster suggested. He was in favor of the higher branches of education being taught by the State. In answer to a question re approaches to the upper Waingongoio bridge, he was afraid he could not promise they would be made. JTe thought the settlers should put their hands in (heir pockets a little. [I believe a deputation waited upon him after about this matter, when they received a more favorable reply.] Mr Martyn and a friend had rather a nasty buggy accident on Saturday. It appears that when leaving town for home the horse bolted off, and the reins were pulled out of Sir Martyn’s hands. Turning the corner on the south road the buggy capsized, throwing the occupants to the ground. They were picked up and conveyed to Owen’s Hotel in a senseless condition, where Dr Richards was soon in attendance. Sir Martyn, lam glad to say, is about again now, but Sir Aitchburn is still confined to his bed, having received some very bad scalp wounds as well as being badly shaken It was some time before he regained consciousness.