PATEA DAILY MAIL. Thursday Evening, Feb. 9, 1882.

Patea Mail, 9 February 1882, Page 3

PATEA DAILY MAIL.

Thursday Evening, Feb. 9, 1882.

Published every Evening, Price \d. Circulation nearly 600 : average last quarter 510. Politics, Independent.

Sir Arthur Gordon intends visiting Fiji in April. Nominations for the Waverley Licensing District are to be left at Mr Mason’s office by noon on Saturday. Mr F. R. Jackson’s stock sale at Waverley takes place to-morrow, when he will offer pnre-bred rams from Mr W. Wilson’s flock, and numerous other stock. Mr Wm. Dale’s new house is being finished by Mr Aitchison, the previous contract with Mr Warren being cancelled by arrangement. Quite a revival of interest was shown at last night’s meeting of householders to elect a School Committee. Some observers spoke of it as a phenomenon, “ It is never too late to mend.” Mr J. Glozier, who died saddenly at Kakararaea on Tuesday, had in his possession papers which led the brethren (Of the Masonic fraternity , to presume he was a Mason, Telegraph enquiries were made, and he was found to be a member of the Southern Star Lodge, Nelson, Upon the receipt of the information the Patea Kilwininng Lodge immediately took Charge of the remains of their deceased brother, whom they buried to-day at one o’clock. The Masonic funeral service was read by the Rev. J. Luxford, chaplain of the lodge. The wife resides at Blenheim, and telegraphed her wish to be present at the funeral; but as the interment conld not be delayed so long, the Patea Masons undertook the funeral arrangements, and about 30 .brethren attended.

Mr J. Gibson is so far recovered fiom prostration that he can walk about the house slowly. He ventured on to the verandah to-day.

The Patea Boiling-down Works commenced operations yesterday for the season. Messrs Williams Brothers will be ready by the end of the sheep season to commence the export of preserved beef and fancy potted meats.

An Appeal to the reading public of the district is being made by the new committee of the Patea Institute. Their “new scheme of working” is advertised. The committee met again last evening, and after appointing a now librarian they look action for obtaining an immediate supply of new books. The first batch may be got from Melbourne, and a further selection from London catalogues will be ordered by next mail. The library shelves were found by the new committee to be so thinly stocked with readable books, that the fact seemed unaccountable tin til it began to appear, from returns coming in, that there had been 4, 6, and even 8 books kept in one hand by various members; some books being off the shelves for an indefinite time, as if the return would do this year or next. Books are known to have been out for months, passing from one house to another, without the librarian being always able to say who had particular books, or how long they wore out. Such easy-going practices had reduced the working stock of popular books to a small number ; and it followed that if members could not ascertain when any particular book would be in, there was no use in waiting, and disgust often ensued. Of course the most readable books were those which happened always to be out ; and if every member could keep on taking more books without reluming those he had, the wonder is that any books were left on the shelves. Readers have merely done in this matter what they knew others have done, and so the Library had drifted into a happy-go-lucky condition. It is time to laugh nil round, and begin again on a better system, such as prevails in well managed libraries.

Speaking of the dredging at Dunedin harbor, to admit steamers up to the city, Mr Cargill illustrated the benefits thus;— The harbor dredging was like the old legend of the house that Jack built. “ This is the bull that tossed the dog that worried the cat that killed the fat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.” So might it be said—“ This is the dredge that o; ens the door of the port that is to be the means of letting in the big steamers to bring the population to buy the land that is to grow the wheat that is to create an export and make this a great country.” Very good, Mr Cargill: you understand the art of putting things; but if you have ever been an infant, which seems doubtful, how can you forget that the bull wasn’t a bull (except in your case), but that it was the ever famous cow with the crumpled horn, milked by the maiden all forlorn ?

Some members of the Wanganui Harbor Board have freely expressed the opinion that the results anticipated from expenditure on the lines laid down by Mr Barr, whose plans were adopted, have not been achieved. The engineer considers the remarks unwarranted, and has written to the Harbor Board in vindication. The morning journal, commenting on the whole case, says “ That the Wanganui river has been improved as rapidly as Mr Barr’s report led people to believe it would be if his proposals were carried out, we altogether deny. The report is there, and so is the shallow water, and by figuratively putting that and that together, a just conclusion on the subject may speedily be arrived at.”—Yes, the shallow water is there, and the scour has not done what was promised. Why not ? It may be said that the principle of training walls and scour is right, but the method of applying the principle is not adapted to the breadth and character of the Wanganui river.

The loss of the steam crane by the Wanganui Harbor Board has tated the employment of 12 men to shovel spoil, which costs £l3O a month more than when the work was done by the crane.

The Company formed in Wanganui to construct a tramway from the town to the river heads, has made application to the Harbor Board for the grant of about five acres of harbor reserves through which the proposed tramway will run. It was reported that 1,200 shares had been taken up, and if the land was granted, and an agreement ome to as to wharf accommodation, the tramway company would bo immediately registered. The Dentists’ Register of New Zealand contains the names of 74 persons who possess the necessary qualifications.

The Directors of the Albion (Terewhiti) Goldmining Company report that the mine manager has cut the reef in a winze on the lower level, 376 ft in from the face of the drive, in a good solid body of stone with gold plainly visible.