COUNTY NEWS.

Patea Mail, 18 June 1881, Page 2

COUNTY NEWS.

Mr Parris intends shortly to visit the Mokau district for the purpose of pointing out to natives the boundary of the confiscated iand, and generally to negotiate matters in connection with the opening up of the Mokau block. Bishop Redwood has just published throughout his diocese a pastoral letter giving the conditions under which Catholics can obtain the plenary indulgence granted by his Holiness the Pope in the form of a general jubilee The Bishop left New Plymouth by train on Wednesday, and will preach at Hawera to-morrow. He is expected to preach again at Wanganui on the 26th. A football match will take place at Manutahi, commencing at half-past two o’clock to-day. A county team to play against Wanganui at Patea will be selected after the match.

The Wanganui Exhibition Committee are intending to hold a calico ball. Seven Parihaka sections will be open for cash selection on and after Monday. Sunday opening of the public library at Auckland is agreed to by the City Council. A return for the financial year ended March 31 last shows unauthorised expenditure, £18,956. Tenders for various works and for planting trees in the Patea Cemetery will be received until Monday. - A meeting to consider the advisability of .taking action to amend the Dog Tax Act will be held at Wavcrlcy at seven o’clock to-night. A supplementary Home mail to catch the ’Frisco steamer will leave by tin’s afternoon’s coach for New Plymouth. An open air meeting of unemployed was held in Wellington on Thursday, when it was decided to petition the Minister of Public Works for work. GuKVMonTH Ki.kotion.— A telegram of the 16th says the returns arc not all in, but Mr Weston’s election is certain, by a considerable majority. The contest tinned entirely on the education fjnestion.. Discharged soldi era who claim land under their discharge, are requested to send in their discharges or full particulars to Mr Xifhros, Harrison Street, Wanganui, not later than Thursday, 23rd instant, when the petition will be ready for signature. Native.—The steamer Stella arrived at New Plymouth, on Wednesdaj. with 38 prisoners from Hokitika. They nave gone to Parihaka, and together -vhh those released a lew weeks ago- wko> been staying near Op.inaiv*. wave tops rad e before Te Whit; a* hB xtwetir.vr yesterday. Mains. —The City of Sydney, with Loudon mails oi the Ibrß May. let’s ’Frisco for Auckland oa the -ith rust. She should reach Auckland on San-:ay, the 26th. The Australia, with May colonial mails, arrived at ’Frisco on the 14th, two days in advance. The license for the Railway Hotel, Patea bridge, granted to Patrick McCarthy, will expire at the end of June. A new license was granted on Tuesday to Mr Felix O‘S. McCarthy, proprietor of the hotel, who will continue to manage it. On account of the southern boundary of the Ngaire district being unsatisfactory, being an imaginary line from the angle of the confiscated boundary to the top of Mount Egmbnt, it has been decided not to take action in the proposed amalgamation of Upper and Lower Ngaire district. Wanganui Rifles.— The morning journal says—When Major Noake inspected the volunteers on Thursday, they were put through the usual exercises by their officers. Every movement was performed with great precision, and the Inspecting Officer expressed his satisfaction with their appearance and proficiency in drill, stating that the only fault which could be found was that the company was not twice as strong. The rank and file muster about seventy, and have received their busbies, which give them a very smart and soldier-like appearance. We are pleased to hear that the Town Hall building has been made available for public purposes during a few weeks. Mr Foreman, who is principally interested in the building, recognises that public inconvenience may result if the present building be closed to the public before another hall can be put up. The building is required for storage of goods, but this can be done in such a way as to leave the sitting area clear for public use occasionally, and Mr Foreman will not expect any profit for such use during a few weeks. This is a liberal and proper concession to make in the public interest, particularly as Mr Foreman’s right in the property has been created since the Town Hall land passed to private ownership.

Mr Barker will sell fruit ti’ees from New Plymouth to-day.

Mr W. Dale will hold sale of land and merchandise to-day. Mr Jackson’s stock sale yesterday at Kakaramea was fairly attended. All the entries were cleared except one pen of cattle; prices being in favor of buyers. The partnership of Messrs Eyton & Pringle, commission agents, is dissolved by mutual consent, each party carrying on business separately., A Wanganui butcher has had upwards of 400 fed pigs prepared for bacon this season, and is confident of Instability to successfully compete with even the Canterbury bacon factories for quality. Mr F. R. Jackson will open a business office in Hawera at the end of this month, with the object of receiving entries of stock for sale, and transacting the commercial part of his business in the northern district. Mr Charles Hanson, who has been three years in Mr Jackson’s Wanganui office, will have charge of the Hawera branch. Lnst night’s telegram states that several members of Parliament and others, in all about thirty gentlemen, met in the Parliamentary Buildings on Friday to consider how the export of meat, dairy produce, &c., by the freezing process, might be successfully established. The Hon Mr Johnston, Messrs j Bryce, Eeetham, Murray, and Captain , Russell were appointed a committee of | investigation, and to report. f It i h gratifying to learn that the Domain Board are arranging to plant i, &hont a to on-and trees this season » ! er..efi v :n a line of ave*ue between the Rewaassom Ground and the lake. An f advance of ,£s<i fcss been secured upon the To-vh Bo&rguarantee, and the i: work -viii he commenced at once. Teni- tier*, are eaXl&i for fencrissr. The Town I* Board wBI also ox-nerate in this work ' % Bn a.' £ls in planting a coa- ; of the avenue to the north i 00-undarj. j. Mr Sherwcoi’s political meeting has had the effect of eliciting a statement from Major Atkinson, who addresses the electors by advertisement. Some comments which we had written on this matter are held over through pressure of late news. Major Atkinson makes a fair objection to the inopportuneness of the time chosen for excising his political actions. If, as he suggests, these criticisms do embarrass his efforts to obtain some assistance for the Patea harbor, by laying him open to the charge of trying to secure his seat, the insinuation admits of so straight an

answer that it need cause no anxiety. The remark may be good enough to score against an election opponent, but that is its only serious value. It will not do to court failure in advance. The Major is on terras with his constituents at present, though some slackness in the past is not quite forgiven. .

Creditors in the bankrupt estate of James Rhodes, bootmaker, Patea, had a first meeting yesterday at the Court House. Ten creditors were present, and others were represented by proxy. The liabilities were stated at about £560, and the assets were £478 8s 6d, including house (mortgaged), stock, book debts, and furniture. The house and section were valued for Government taxation at £250, and this amount had been originally advanced as a building society mortgage, part now repaid. The largest liability was due to seven wholesale houses from which goods had been obtained in course of business. Mr Rhodes said he commenced selling madeup goods on commission ; and that being at first successful he was induced to take goods in quantity, to be paid by bills. Goods were in fact pressed on him. The bills were difficult to meet, and he had to increase the first mortgage on his house. His difficulties had continued in that way to the present. Mr Milroy had looked at the book debts, and now offered on behalf of Mr Rhodes to pay 4s in the pound on all liabilities. This was accepted. Mr W. Dale was appointed trustee, and it was agreed to recommend the bankrupt’s discharge.

Thomas Campbell, formerly in the

A.C. force, has been arrested at Wanganui on a charge of stealing a horse at Manaia, value £3O, the property of James Nichol. The prisoner sold the horse to a hotel-keeper at Kakaramea for £9 10s. The stolen horse being at Patea when Campbell arrived under arrest, he was mounted on the animal and escorted to Hawera, a sort of hero in disgrace. The charge of attempted rape brought against a laborer of weak intellect named Thomas Campbell, of Kakaramea, was heard on Tuesday at the R.M. Court. On the evidence of the girl, Emily Baldwin, aged 13, the charge was found untenable, and was reduced to one of indecent assault. He was committed for trial on this charge at the District Court.