COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 2 June 1881, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

This Road Board- election for Patca West is fixed for next Thursday.

Mail's for Kakaramea, Hawcra. and the north will close at Patea at 1! a.m. instead of 11.30. John Lyttlis, formerly blacksmith at Kakaramea, was amongst the passengers who perished by the wreck of the Tararau. He was 37 years of age. Mr Anderson, cabinet-maker, Wanganui, intends opening a branch warehouse at Patea. Mr Howitt has completed enlargement of his bakery premises, and has added refreshment rooms, where hot coffee &c. can bo had. Mr Dale’s opening sale in his new stock yards, opposite the Auction Mart, takes place to-day, the entries being 362 head.

The second monthly stock sale of Messrs Nolan and Co., at Hawera, takes place on Friday, the present entries being 160 head. The Town Hall building at Patea is now transferred to the rear site, and is placed on the blocks. It is probable that the building will continue to be used for public purposes. Agents for the Public Trustee have been gazetted as follow —William Dale, for Patea ; Albert Barnes, for Wanganui, and W. M. Crompton, for New Plymouth. There is now hope that Messrs Webster and McKeliar’s flour mill near Hawera will bo in operation two months hence. All the machinery is now on the ground, and is in course of erection. A poor fellow at Wanganui was “ had up” as a lunatic because he was heard to say there had been a terrific fight among Major Kemp’s Maoris. That being his oidy delusion he was released. He is not the only “ lunatic at large ” who talks wildly on some subject. By proclamation in Gazette there have been reserved at Opunaki 26 town sections for municipal endowments, 10 town sections and 1 suburban section of 13 acres for primary education, and 4 town sections for school site. A report from Christchurch Hospital to the Patea County Council states that W. Hudson is remaining to have the second eye operated on shortly ; and that Dr Wilkin's operation on one eye (that not touched at Wellington) is completely successful in restoring sight. Mr George A. Merchant, who is owner of a 300 acre section on the Mountain road, being anxious about approaches, and hopeless of either the Ngaire Road Board or the Taranaki Land Board moving in the right direction, has applied to Major Atkinson for certain wo 'k to bo done on the StratfordOpnnnki road. The Major promptly referred the matter to the Hon. Mr Rolleston, who promised attention. In his reply to Mr Merchant, Major Atkinson said “ this is not really a Government road, nor does the Government regard it as such. In their desire to facilitate the settlement of the country, they undertook the cutting of the roadline, and the opening of a rough track; but the funds available are limited, and I fear it will be impossible to dp more than the work you ask for.”

Letters by the’Frisco mail reached this district on Tuesday. Scarlet fever continues prevalent in Wellington. A woman of ill repute was found drowned in Wanganui river yesterday. She had sailed in the Wakatu the previous night for Wellington. Mr T, Fergus, now in Patea, is mentioned as a probable candidate for Dunedin city at the next election. We believe this political gossip is premature. A journal at Wanganui has taken to inventing new days in the week ; calling them by names “ which no fellah can understand.” The first span of the railway bridge crossing tiie Patea river at the bend is now in position, the scaffolding being removed Work is proceeding with the middle span, which may be fixed about a week hence. This structure promises to be a pleasing object in the valley landscape, and an engineering success as to lightness and strength. All that area of land in the provincial district of Taranaki, comprised within a circle formed with a radius of six miles around the summit of Mount Egmont, containing 72,382 acres, has been reserved by proclamation for the growth and preservation of timber. Forest lands in other parts of the colony have been reserved for similar purposes. We b-arn from a reliable source that Mr Thomas Russell, formerly of Auckland, now in London, is known to have made a profit of £750,000 by speculating in the rise and fall of Turkish bonds on the London Stock Exchange. The operation extended over two or three years, when the Eastern question was active. What Americans call a clean steal appears to have been made in this district by a Waitotara native chief named Mihaka Rererangi, one of those claiming in the Kaitangiwhenua block. Sir W. Fox was at Waitotara last week, and discussed the reserves question with several chiefs of the Coast. The Commissioner promised to enquire also into the theft oi £ISOO paid by Major Brown in ’7B to Mihaka for distribution among his people, but kept all to himself. Sir William again promised reserves to Tauroa and Komine, and to secure Hukatevo pah to Tauroa, now held only by lease ; these to be conditional on the eel weirs being removed. A deed of assignment lias been executed at Patea by Mr W. Williams, as a sequel to the action gained by Mr North for drapery supplied to natives on general instruction from Williams, to the value of £IOOO, The deed was signed yesterday, and it hands over the assets to a trustee, to he realised and divided for the benefit of creditors equally. A meeting of creditors is called for June 22nd, and if the assignment be accepted as a full and satisfactory surrender, the creditors may give the debtor a full discharge from liability. It is not yet known what amount in the pound the assets are likely to realise, Jhe Catholic Bishop of Wellington will be in Patea on Saturday, and will bless the foundations of the new Church on Sunday. The Bishop had a hearty reception yesterday at Wanganui, a procession receiving him at the wharf and conducting him to the Catholic Presbytery. An address of welcome, printed in gold on blue satin, was presented from parishioners of St. Mary’s; and the Bishop made a lengthy reply, referring to his visit to Europe and interviews with the Pope. Addresses from other Catholic bodies in Wanganui are to be presented. It is expected that Bishop Redwood’s reception by his people in Patca will be not less cordial. Bialiff’s Wages. —At the R.M. Court, Wanganui, on Tuesday, an action was tried between Henry Axup, plaintiff, and the Bank of Australasia, defendants, to recover £3B 4a 9d as alleged overdraft for bailiff’s wages, etc., when in,possession of the plaintiff’s cattle and sheep at Waver.--ley, under a bill of sale given to the defendants. In the end judgment was given for the plaintiff for £l2 15s fid, with £2 13s costs, and £1 Is solicitor’s fee. The late Captain Garrard was engaged to Miss Buckingham, of Emerald Hill, Melbourne. The shock caused her a serious illness, and she remained insensible I for a considerable time. * A young man named Harris,-whilst out rabbit-shooting at Nelson on Saturday,, had his hand shattered through the bursting of his gun. Tenders have been accepted for additions to the Canterbury College, to cost £6290. The Wanganui Benevolent Society spent in relief during the year £4lB. Fifteen persons in Wellington filed declarations of insolvency during May.