PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1881. NO CONFIDENCE.

Patea Mail, 21 July 1881, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1881. NO CONFIDENCE.

Suddenly the country is threatened with a dissolution of Parliament. Mr. Ormond has taken counsel with a few independent members like himself who usually act with Government, and they have tabled an amendment which Ministers treat as one of no confidence. Mr. Ormond admits it was so intended. He is taking the ungracious task of turning them out. The adverse vote of half a dozen discontented supporters, joined to a motley Opposition, will put Ministers in a minority, and it appears almost certain that the colony will be plunged in a general election within three or four weeks. All the conditions point to a defeat on the present issue, a defeat which most moderate men will deplore. An honest Government deserves a better fate. Ministers have done noble work in rescuing the colony from financial muddle and waste. They have fallen short in many things, but every Government has faults and weaknesses. Local government works badly in many districts, and most local politicians reject as ridiculous a mere proposal to aggravate the present discontent by giving increased power to rate ourselves. That won’t go down. All who fancy .some other scheme will join in squeezing the Government, though no one scheme obtains general support in the House or out of it. Many reformers are groping towards the same object by different ways. May not this explosion in politics lead to some bolder scheme—say the separation of the Islands ? Such a proposal might sweep over the elections like a whirlwind. That would be local government with a vengeance.

Sir George Grey’s Affirmation in Hen ,of Oaths Bill has been thrown out in the Legislative,iCouucihl4 to 12., The Licensing Bill has passed the third reading by 40 to 26. The Upper House will have a ticklish task. The flour mill near Hawera, for Webster and M'Kcllar,' will be in working order about a month hence. The machinery had been ordered in portions from different firmsj two in England and one in America, the result being that the connections would not fit, and much extra labor has been necessary, to connect the parts. The water power is in hj convenient situation close to a populous town, and the working facilities of the mill are exceptionally favorable. This mill will be ready just in time to get ‘he advantage of .railway communication. Our friends at New Plymouth are keeping the even tenor of their way, while the House at Wellington pretends to be anxious about the financial position of the groat harbor scheme. Taranaki is not anxious ; therefore why should the House be ? Taranaki says : “ The work of laying down 100 feet in situ of the breakwater ” will commence immediately. Taranaki also says, “It is satisfactory to learn that the works are being pushed on.” Happy Taranaki ! Thy sleep is not disturbed by visions of parliamentary committee-men digging into thy entrails. No goblin destroyers need gibber round thy bed, asking where thou hast buried thy borrowed thousands. The rude 'winds shake thee not, nor is thy slumber disturbed by earthquakes !

The Minister of Lands sent the following telegram yesterday to the chairman of the Patea public meeting, in response to the resolution re opening lands which Mr Aitchison had telegraphed on Monday:—“ln reply to your telegram of 18th, I hope to have a conference to-day with Mr Dale, County Chairman, on the subjects named by you. I shall be glad as far as possible to promote the objects set forth in the resolutions of the meeting, in respect of opening up land.—W. Rolleston. ” Another trouble about paupers with strong appetites has arisen in this district. An unfortunate man named Charles came from Hawera to the County Hospital some weeks since, and is in a serious condition. Then his wife came to Patea and caused unpleasant gossip as to her conduct. She was stated to have had the spending of £2O received from Home, and that the spending was a brief affair. Perhaps she w T as not such a spendthrift as was supposed. Next she became afflicted with inflammation of the eyes, and got almost blind. Urgent efforts were made from Hawera to get her into the Hospital, in which no female ward is available. The resident surgeon said she could be cared for as a temporary expedient, by making up a bed on the milined upper floor. She was therefore sent from Hawera, and arrived at the Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. But she brought two children. They had not been mentioned by the Hawera philanthropists, and were a surprise—from an official point of view, for children who ail nothing are not Hospital patients, and our local government makes no provision for paupers who are not sick. The children were admitted, for it would be inhuman to turn them adrift. The resident surgeon acted reasonably in trespassing against cast-iron rules by taking in infants who are not patients. The Chairman of the County Council is away. The County Council will have to face the necessity of providing for paupers in exceptional eases. Charity should not be harsh, though it must be thrifty. The Wakatu ..steamer .was entering the Patea river on Tuesday afternoon, before high water, in a subsiding gale from the south, the breakers being very high j and when in the narrow channel at the end of the breakwater a heavy sea struck the steamer on the beam, heaving her on the north spit, where her stern grounded. The wind dropped gradually, and during the night, part or the cargo was taken out safely, about 20 tons being removed. During Wednesday morning the wind rose, and the early tide lifted the steamer over the spit to the inner side, but higher up the bank ; a safer position than before. Two hawsers were carried across to the breakwater, to prevent her being washed higher on shore.. The wind continued high yesterday, freshening to a gale, still from the south ; the worst wind for the situation, as the wash comes up almost broadside. Serious danger is not apprehended, the captain being confident of getting off when the south gale drops or changes. It is risky to enter the river during a south gale or in its afterwash, the channel being shaped to face the prevailing wind, during which any craft can ride in easily. The tide was at height about 4.46 yesterday afternoon. This is the first time the Wakatu has been in trouble here.