PATEA DAILY MAIL.

Patea Mail, 15 April 1882, Page 2

PATEA DAILY MAIL.

Published every Evening Price Id

CIRCULATION nearly 600 DAILY. Average circulation last year, 510.

Delivered every by mounted messengers —at Hawera by 7-30 o’clock, at Nbrmanby by 8-15, at Manaia and Waimate Plains by 8-30, and Southward at Waverley (for train) by G o’clock.

Saturday Evening, April 15, 1882.

Railway construction in the United States proceeds hy private enterprise, on the system of laud grants in going through new territory. Nine thousand miles of railway were constructed last year. - ;■ 7

A graving dock for repair of large steamers is proposed for Auckland, at a cost of £120,000., The Harbor Board has drafted a bill giving Parliamentary power to borrow £150,000 for this and other works.

The Mnrimutu track from Wanganui inland, now being constructed by Mr Field, is still a subject of conflicting opinion in the County Council. A committee has been appointed to look at the work.

Barnum has purchased the big elephant in the Geological Gardens at London, for £2,000. Jumbo was to be shipped to New York, for Barnum’s great American show, exchanging London buns for Yankee cake. This elephant is the largest of his species in captivity, and very tractable, it being a common amusement on popular days at the gardens in Regent’s Park for eight or ten children to mount on his hack by a ladder reared against his huge ribs, and ride in triumph round the garden. Jumbo was to be removed in a big box, drawn by eight horses ; but he could not be coaxed or driven into the box, and another plan had .to be tried. A London correspondent says the elephant was led to the gate next morning, , intending to walk him to the ship-side at the docks; but on reaching the gate leading from his familiar home in the gardens, Jumbo knelt on the ground, and put his trunk round his favorite keeper, at .the same time trumpeting loudly, his wife and the other elephants joining in the chorus'. For the second time, therefore, Mr Barnum was foiled, and the great beast was led back to his home, which lie entered with joy. Barnum has bought the elephant, but the beast refuses to change quarters. He is like a tenant who will neither go nor be evicted. Perhaps Barnum will cry off his bargain. The Auckland Herald says:—A halfcaste who has resided for many years in the King country, and who Ims travelled over the whole of it, informs us that if it is determined to , make ; the railway from Auckland by the west, to join the 'Taranaki lines, there is no difficulty which cannot be easily overcome. The route he recommends is by? the Waipa valley to Orahiri, then by the Mangapu, then by Mokqauiti. Here some broken country would be found, but none offering any serious difficulty, and then the line comes into Urenui country, which is quite level to the Waitara.