PATEA MAIL Established 1875. CIRCULATION nearly 600 COPIES. Average circulation last year, 510. Wednesday Evening, July 19, 1882.

Patea Mail, 19 July 1882, Page 2

PATEA MAIL Established 1875. CIRCULATION nearly 600 COPIES. Average circulation last year, 510.

Wednesday Evening, July 19, 1882.

Delivered on Mondav, Wednesday, and Friday Evenings by mounted messengers—'at Hawera by 7-30 o'clock, at Normanby by 8-15, at Manaia and Waimate Plains by 8-30, and Southward at Waverley (for train) by G o’clock.

A number of the “ Yellow Agony ” left New Zealand a few days ago on their way to, the Flowery Land. Each one had made his pile. We are requested to contradict the statement that an Auckland creditor has been pressing Mr T. North. We are pleased to learn that this and other reports of the same nature are also not true. A Special Meeting of the Borough Council is called for to-morrow evening, to consider the Engineer’s plans and estimates as prepared by instruction for a new loan scheme. So many works were put in the instruction, that the total estimate will probably be nearer £20,000 than £IO,OOO. The Engineer may be able, at short notice, to reduce the scheme within such a sura as ratepayers would be willing to borrow. There is now a prospect of the Council agreeing to a scheme that may give general satisfaction.

Mr John Bright’s resignation from the Gladstone Ministry cannot be a surprise. He is a Quaker, a peace-at-any* price politician, and a man of tender sentiment. These qualities unfit him for the stern duties of a statesman who mast oppose force with force. War is not made with rose-water, and John Bright is better out of the turmoil, for his presence in a Cabinet which has been drifting to war and threatening to use force must have weakened that Cabinet in the estimate of foreign powers. John Bright’ has done good service as a politician of the Manchester School and as a colleague of Cobden ; yet it is there his usefulness stopped As a Minister he has done nothing but occupy a sinecure position. He is a grand old man, with a fatal weakness.

The clearing sale at Mr Balmforth’s farm takes place to-morrow, and there will be a large gathering if the weather be favorable

The Oil and Fibre Company’s share list closes this week, and it is to be hoped that all possible help will be given by settlers to make this local industry a success. Members of the directory will assist to hold a business meeting for taking shares, after Balmforth’s sale to-morrow, and also after Mr Jackson’s Waverley sale on Friday.

The annual meeting of the Waverley and Waitotara Racing Club takes place to-morrow night, at Ballara’s Hotel. A cheap gas been patented in this colony, and the public test of its qualities at Dunedin seems to have been a striking success. The cost is about one-tenth that of coal gas. A telegram on the subject appears in this issue.

The case North v. Williams is stil! proceeding on the first motion to npset a proof of debt on which Williams Brothers voted at creditors’ meetings. Further evidence has been given by Dr Keating, by Mr Barton as solicitor to North, by Mr Tennent, Mr Clagne, Mr J. Patterson, and Mr H. F. Christie. Mr F. R. Jackson’s usual stock sale at Hawera takes place on Friday. The Harmonic Society is working hard to make the coming concert a success. A rehearsal held last evening was of a very hopeful kind. Though it is a novel experience for singing members to take parts in an acting opera, yet the mnsic is so bright, and the plot of the opera is so lively and amusing, that the piece will almost “ go ” of itself. It should make an interesting stage picture ; and two or three ot the “ situations are immense. The last dress rehearsal is on Friday, and the performance is announced for Wednesday next. Mr Joseph Ivess, M.H. R., is again to figure in a libel suit ; this time as plaintiff against the Ashburton Evening Guardian. The libel was contained in an article published the evening before his election. “ Black Maria ” has been introduced as a necessity of colonial civilization ; for we learn that the first prison van constructed in New Zealand was lately built by Mr Moor of Christchurch. It has room for 16 prisoners, and was forwarded to Wellington in the Hawea last week. Ti ickett was warmly welcomed on his return to Sydney. Several thousand persons congregated to see him land, and greet him on his safe return. He was taken to Punch’s Hotel ; and his health toasted by Sir John Robertson. A member of a school board at Liverpool hit upon an ingenious method of finding out how many children did not go to school. A hand of musicians were engaged to play in different parts of the city, two hours after the schools had begun, and this was continued for four days. Persons went round and counted the number of strays, and the total was 3,060 children of school age. Richard King, an Irishman, has a ranch in Texas 75 miles in length, and includes nearly two counties. The number of his horses and mules arc estimated at 500,000 head. He has a lame leg, caused by being improperly set. All over Texas he is known as “ The Cattle King,” and he no doubt deserves the sobriquet. Hanlan’s sister is said to be an adept in the art of rowing. He asserts that he has never had to exert himself against his male opponents so much as he had against her some time ago, It would be a terrible downcotne to some prominent oarsmen if he would back his sister against them. A new periodical has made its debut at Timaru, and is published in the Orange interest. It is named the Sentinel. A station holder named Studholme brought an action against the Queen, claiming £2OO damages by fire to native grass, caused by sparks issuing from the funnel of a locomotive. The case was tried at Christchurch, and for the defence it was shown that the authorities have used every precaution to guard against sparks escaping from their engines. Judgment was given for defendant with costs.