PATEA COUNTY MAIL

Patea Mail, 21 December 1881, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY MAIL

Published Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings ; present Circulation over 520 copies—average of previous quarter 500. Politics, Independent. Wednesday Evening, December 21. Patea storekeepers announce that they will close shops on Monday and Tuesday after Christmas. The Caledonian Sports Committee have decided to hold the New Year Sports on the Cricket ground, Public Domain. It is announced from Wellington that a Native Lands Court is really to be held at the Mokan. It was about a month ago that Epiha and some other chiefs waited on Mr Kelly to ask him to get the Government to move. The question is an excessively important one as bearing on the proposed railway from Auckland to Taranaki. Sergeant John Donovan has been gazetted kceeper of police gaol at Patea. The lock-up at Patea has also been proclaimed a police gaol.

“ Crab-like progress.” That is the phrase used by the Wanganui Herald on learning that the number of local “ female dipsomaniacs ” has increased from 9 in 1879 to 19 in 1860. More corrupt practices ! The editor of the Inangahua Herald has been charged with sending telegrams that purported to emanate from the Chairman of Mr Weston’s election committee, with the object ot inducing Mr Weston’s supporters elsewhere to vote for another candidate. Defendant committed for trial at District court. One more step is being taken by the Harbor Board, of a nature to bring their wisdom or their public spirit into question. They appointed a committee to increase the charges for wharfage. The committee has done its work, and advertised the following increases: All packages not over one ton, weight or measurement, to be increased from the rate of Is 6d to 2s per ton ; and the proportions are to be for a package not exceeding one-fourth of a ton 6d, not exceeding one-half Is, not exceeding three-fourths ls6d; thus adding about 6d to each package. Also posts and rails are to be charged 2s per 100, these not being charged before. Bricks and slates are raised from 2s 6d to 5a per 1,000. These increases are to be laid before a special meeting of the Board for adoption. The committee comprised Messrs Coutts, Horner, and Aitchison ; and their anxiety seems to be to increase the revenue. The Board’s revenue is at present larger than the current expenditure; and if they can get an overdraft in excess of present requirement, reckoning £250 for the proposed new wall, it does not seem good policy to handicap the commerce of this port at a time when every additional sixpence tells against it. Raising the wharfage on small parcels is the worst kind of increase, for it touches everybody. It will be seen by our advertising columns that the Government want 14,000 railway sleepers carted from Waverley to Pa tea. This looks as if the line from here to Manutahi is to be completed in the course of a few months. The Wanganui Herald says: “ A persual of our exchanges supports our assertion made the day after the election that the Government were in a hopeless majority.” This is very ambiguous. Surely “ hopeful majority ” would meet the case better ? Or was the paragraph written by what the Lyttelton Times recently called, by an amusing typographical error, a shinful reporter ? Anyone not conversant with Herald politics would be sadly puzzled to guess. The Wanganui Chronicle is responsible for the following :—One Sunday, a boy in Wellington, who has always been noted for his respectful demeanor towards the great public, observed an old citizen yawning and gaping on the street corner, and said to him, “ Better not open your mouth too wide.” “ Why ?” was the surprised query. “ There’s a law against opening liquor shops on Sunday,” continued the sinful child, as he slid for the middle of the street. The Borough Bye-laws wore revised by the Council at a special meeting on Monday evening; all the Councillors present, and the Mayor in the chair. The bye-laws had been compiled by the Mayor, discussed and adopted by a committee, and then advertised for public information seven days before adoption by the Council. Councillor Black asked what position the Council would be in if they adopted them now, no solicitor having looked over them. The Mayor said the position would be that the Council would have adopted them. Mr Milroy : Then a solicitor, if required, could make no amendments to them ? Mayor: No; they would be binding as they are, after adoption. The bye-laws were then read by the Clerk, and a few slight amendments and corrections were made, this process occupying over three hours. As to making a fire for tiring a wheel, it was agreed that such work may be done in any part of the borough by express permission. Pigs may be slaughtered in those parts where they may be reared. Drays are not to be left standing in the street without horses, &c., but it was understood that this bye-law is intended only as a power in reserve, to be put in force if necessity arise. At the close, the Mayor moved a special order adopting the bye-laws as amended. Mr Taplin seconded, and it was- carried unanimously. A resolution was also carried for publicly notifying the adoption of the special order. The bye-laws have to be advertised once more in the amended form, and then printed in a pamphlet. Contraband cigars and unstamped beer were seized in Auckland on the 17th.

The Patea Butchers announce their intention of closing at 7 o’clock in future except Fridays and Saturdays.

We understand that the Bank of Australasia intend building new bank premises in Patea as soon as arrangements can be completed. A rumor to the contrary has been circulated without authority.

On Monday fourteen sections of land were open for application both hei’e and at Hawera on the deferred payment system, residence not compulsory. Ninety applications were sent in altogether, and the lucky people will not be known until the auction has taken place at Hawera to-morrow. The land is almost directly north of Manaia, between Skeet road and the railway reserve. The sections vary from 75 to 520 acres, and the upset price from £1 15s to £2 ss. Of course it is a fine thing that there are six times as many applicants as sections, but if so, where is the farce of all this applying ? It is a mere farce, and only ends in an auction. The prices realised will be good, but would have been better had the plans been up in good time. None had reached Hawera last Wednesday week.

Tenders are called for the formation of 1,800 feet of breakwater at the Wanganui Heads. Among particulars of the estates of deceased persons gazetted are Thomas McDermott, who died at Patea on 10th August, the estate being under £llO. P. McR. Pringle, formerly of Aberdeen, *ho died at New Plymouth on 3rd November, estate under £5. The steamship Europe, from Australia for London with a cargo of frozen meat, passed through the Suez canal on the 17th. Her cargo is reported to be in perfect condition. The Mayor of Auckland gave a garden party on the 17th in honor of the Russian Admiral and officers of the Africa, then in port. ALLEGED HORSE STEALING. (from our correspondent.) New Plymouth, Wednesday. Joseph Chadwick, who was on his way to Auckland with a mob of horses, was arrested yesterday at Waitara, on a charge of stealing a horse from a maori. Mesers Paul and Humphries went bail at New Plymouth for his appearance here. This morning he applied for an adjournment for one week, to enable him to bring witnesses as to purchase, which was granted, Messrs Prosser and Nolan becoming bail.