PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, l88l.

Patea Mail, 9 August 1881, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1881.

We regret to hear that the Rev Mr Dasent is indisposed, and has been unable to leave the house for the past ■week.

The roads were exceptionally heavy yesterday, travelling being difficult in consequence of rain. The night coach was nearly an hour late at Patea.

Mr Sherwood retired from the Harbor Board yesterday, of which he has been chairman since its formation; and his place as nominee of the Government was taken by Mr Coutts. A chairman is to be appointed at a special meeting next Thursday, at three o’clock.

A valuable windfall came to the Harbor Board yesterday. The Marine Department had remitted £BO 2s 8d as a refund of pilotage and port charges eollected at other ports on account of Patea harbor, since the date at which this Harbor Board took over the harbor staff, and became responsible for the

expense. Major Atkinson will ask leave today to introduce an Endowment Bill for Patea harbor. The bill will ask for 20,000 acres. A dozen bills of this nature are before the House or in preparation. An important discussion on this matter took place at the Harbor Board meeting yesterday, which will be reported in next issue. The Sunday School of tfhe Church of England, Patea, has an average attendance of 70 scholars ; comprising Bin elder boys’ class, taught by Miss Dasent; 10 in elder girls’ class, taught by Mrs Currie; 13 to 20 attending mixed class for boys and girls, taught by Mrs Dale, sent-; 16 attending younger boys’ class, taught by Miss Gowland ; 8 attending younger girls’ class, taught by Mrs Christie ; 8 attending infants’ class, taught by Miss E, Hirst. A few church members have subscribed £5 for procuring a suitable set of classified‘ books, that are expected to arrive from the Christian Knowledge Society, which will probably send an equal value of books free. . The Rev Mr Dasent, as superintendent, thanks the teachers, and especially Mrs Dale, for their energetic assistance in carrying on this important school work. The late scene in the British House of Commons, caused by Mr Bradlaugh forcing his way into the House to take his seat, has led to the summoning of a Cabinet Council for the special purpose of reconsidering the Parliamentary oaths question.

A Claim for damage to a house came before the Town Board last night. Mr' Dale claims £49 9s -lid as damage to $ cottage on land below Mr McCarthy’s late residence, resulting from a public drain not being properly kept open. A sharp discussion ensued, and the letter was ordered to lie on the table. Mr W. Dale reports having held a large sale of furniture and general merchandise at his mart on Saturday last, nearly 300 lots being disposed of at satisfactory prices, about £2OO being realised. Land did not teach vendors’ reserves. The foundation stone of the new Council buildings at Wanganui was laid on Saturday, with Masonic ceremony. Brother J. P. Watt laid the ‘ £ stone,” a block of concrete. The framework of the building is up. We learn that “the ancient and interesting ceremony of pouring in corn, wine, and oil, emblems of plenty, joy, and gladness, was performed by P.M. Hardcastle, Deputy P.M. Law, and P.M. Borinse respectively.” . . :

Sir W. Fox has been in Patea since Saturday, in connection with the settlement of native claims to land. He is accompanied by Mr Parris and Mr Skeet. A complicated claim to the site of the native village at Wheuunkura bridge has been arranged within a few days. Tanroa’s claims remain to be settled, and some details are expected to be gone into, by Mr Parris in a tew days, acting under direction* from Sir William Fox, who is returning to Wellington to-day,.: Probably Mr Parris will remain in or near to Patea till the sitting of the Land Court on the 15th. A charge of manslaughter was: made yesterday against Dr Hanratty, for causing the death of an infant at Toronga, near Featherston. A chihl was born, but showed no sign of vitality. The doctor was called in, and having swathed the infant in flannels, he ordered boiling water to be poured over it. This made the infant cry. But it continued in convulsive fits several days, and then died. The doctor certified the cause of death to be convulsions. The police heard of the affair, had the body taken out of the grave, and the doctor was yesterday charged at Featherston with manslaughter. The case is remanded.

Four men are in custody charged with the robbery of £4OO worth of silver coins from the s.s, Stormbird, while at the Wanganui wharf, ten days ago. The police got information some days since which enabled them to recover the box. It was not opened, but the iron clamps had been tampered with a little. The police will not say at present where they found the box, but it was outside the town of Wanganui. At five o’clock on Sunday morning they arrested Henry Williams, at Evan’s dining rooms, Wanganui. During Sunday, they arrested Aquilla William of a shooting gallery in Ridgway. street', also his assistant, William Green. The box of silver coins weighed .99 pounds. Robert McCarry, cook of the Stormbird, was arrested at Wellington on Sunday. The three men taken in Wanganui were brought up yesterday at the R.M. Court, and remanded for eight days. Salmon was liberated on bail. It is believed the box was watched several days by the police, to see whether the thieves would go for it. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that the cook was brought up at Wellington yesterday, and also remanded. He states that all the four men now in custody were in the cook’s galley together about the time the box was removed from the mate’s cabin.

Fifty Thousand Pounds have been subscribed in America as a manifestation of sympathy for the wife of President Garfield. The latest report of the President’s condition is that his recovery from the pistol-shot wounds is still doubtful.

The Detached Squadron is not to visit this colony. • It will leave Sydney direct for Fiji about ten days hence. A fine of £2O was inflicted yesterday on a Wellington butcher for selling a hare out of season. Probably the penalty will be reduced.