PATEA DAILY MAIL. Published every Evening, Price 1d. Circulation nearly 600 : average last quarter 510. Politics, Independent. Saturday Evening, Jan. 21, 1882.

Patea Mail, 21 January 1882, Page 2

PATEA DAILY MAIL. Published every Evening, Price Id. Circulation nearly 600 : average last quarter 510. Politics, Independent. Saturday Evening, Jan. 21, 1882.

The Wanganui election petition of Ballance and others v. W. H. Watt is to be tried by the Chief Justice and Judge Gillies. The date is not fixed, but when the evidence is gone into there is likely to be a stirring up of dirty water. A narrow escape from fire at the bank of New Zealand in Palmerston occurred on Monday. The cause of the fire is only too common. The brick chimney, coated with weather-board, was seen to be smoking in the wrong place, and the boards being removed the brickwork was found to be “ absolutely without mortar ” in parts where smoke was exuding with great force. A letter from Mr Harris re the borough: Valuation Roll appears in this issue. It is one, of those angry arid unreasonable epistles which are sometimes sent to newspapers by officials who do not understand the obligations of their, position.. Mr Harris is to be pitied, partly for his errors and partly for his mode of defending them. The public naturally bring complaints .to a journalist, and it is his clear duly to publish them if he is satisfied they are probable and reasonable. Nothing more has been clone in this case than to point out errors in the roll, the errors having, been brought to our notice by different aggrieved ratepayers. As to the total valuation being much below Mr'Harris’s previous estimate, we leave- that matter to be dealt , with, by those chiefly concerned. It is rash for Mr : Harris to provoke further enquiry into his errors, for that might involve a review of his connection with a steam shipping company. . Among hopeful signs of, coming changes in the North Island is the visit of the Maori King to Auckland. What may not follow from the pleased and amazed surprise with which he and his chiefs have made a “ triumphal progress ” round and. about the big and beautiful city of Auckland? The King has surprised most observers by consenting to come out from his exclusive dominion, and fraternise on equal terms with pakebas. He has also thrown aside his savage blanket, and put his dusky legs into a pair of breeches —a fearful experiment for a royal savage, to be critised in his new gear by giggling waihenas, who may contract the sumptuary vanity and insist also on wearing the breeches. It is safe to expect that among the presents which the Maori party will carry back up the Waikato into the far King-country will be many and various articles of clothing. Imagine, if you can, the fun and novelty of sorting out strange new garments for different sexes, and trying on the things experimentally-—-uncertain as to : the parts which each garment should fit. - The ' Dunedin civil libel case has ended curiously. One Massey, ex-town clerk, claimed £2,500 as damages from a person named Allan,libel.; The, jury retired, then returned" into the Court and s asked the Judge how much would carry costs. The Judge said £5. "The jury then returned a verdict for plaintiff with damages assessed at £5. The Judge said it was the most curious verdict jaqd ! ever? hoard. ; As? the?; Judge’s opinion was formed on all the facts, we presume he was justified in scolding the jury for giving a verdict which had the seriiblance:rif,law;withthe reality of justice. ■ At Opunaki,' a deputation has iriterviewed Sir W. Fox, and urged the early issue of grants to natives near Oeb, arid suggesting that ;!; land 'belonging to' natives should be leased rather than sold. Sir William agreed as to l the policy of leasing under Government 1 supervisionj f the leasing to be by public tender,; and said? there >will-be-no unmbcessary delay in issuing Crown grants to natives who are entitled to them.

Mr D. Scott, Waverley, has recovered from a short severe illness. The sale of some Harbor Board leases and of several local properties took place to-day. at Mr Oowern’s warehouse. The attendance was large. Crops in this district have been beaten down to some extent by the swirling winds, bat not seriously. Oats were promising excellently. -Wheat shows rust in some parts of this Coast. Storms of unusual severity have burst over the colony at this season, when calms usually set in. Floods have almost swamped the Thames township, the water being high in the main street. Rain has been heavy and continuous in Canterbury several Gales and rain have made this a stormy week in Patea district. A cable message seat yesterday from South Australia states that intense heat prevails at Adelaide, the thermometer registering 180 in the sun. The glare is doubtless almost roasting, though the usual test of heat is to get the register in the shade. , The following are tenders received for the erection of Middleton Bros.’ new hotel, Opunaki:—Wm. Cruickshank (accepted), £1273; E. L. . Smith, £1316 5s ; McLachlan, £1645 ; Dobbin, £1654; Me——, £1689 ; McKenzie, £1843 ; George, £1904 9s ; Drynan, £l9so.— Star. From an inspection of the crops in the Sandon district, we are enabled to say that, almost without an exception, . they give promise of an abundant yield. The recent rains and winds have somewhat beaten down a few patches on some of the land, but taken as a whole the prospects of the harvest are remarkably good.— Advocate. . Although, considerably past seventy, Mr Gladstone has just now for the first time put on spectacles. The Duke of Norfolk’s child being incurably blind, his father has taken it to Lourdes, to try supernatural means. A Sydney telegram to the Press Association states that it is understood that there is no foundation for the report that Lord Augustus Loftus will succeed Sir A. Gordon as Governor of New Zealand. On the 16th the Urenui correspondent to the Taranaki Herald reported : Wm. King, the great Ngatiamaru chief, has breathed his last. He expired at the settlement up the Waitara river last Friday night. A tangi takes place at Waitara. About forty Ministers and thirty laymen are expected to take part in the Wesleyan Conference at Christchurch.