PATEA MAIL Established 1875. CIRCULATION nearly 600 COPIES. Average circulation last year, 510. Friday Evening, July 21, 1882.

Patea Mail, 21 July 1882, Page 2

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

Friday Evening, July 21, 1882.

Delivered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Evenings by mounted messengers —at Hawera by 7-80 o’clock, at Normanby by 8-15, at Manaia and Waimate Plains by 8-30, and Southward at Waverley (for train) by 6 o’clock.

Mr and Mrs Christie have issued invitations for a social dance in the Harmonic Hall next Friday evening. Mr W. Robertson, Kakaramea, has leased his farm for a short term to Mr Michie, of Waverley. It is said Mr Robertson intends to make a Home trip. The Harmonic Society’s final rehearsal for next Wednesday’s concert takes place this evening.

Municipal Affairs at Hawera have been rather mixed. The Mayor resigned, professedly because his time is too much occupied, though it now appears that be did so as a protest against the stoppage of street-work during, the winter. Then the Borough Engineer has been tdo ill for duty, Mr Foy being suddenly prostrated a fortnight ago. The Town Clerk had to go to Wanganui on business, and the Borough offices being closed, there seemed to be a suspension of the whole municipal machinery. Three Councillors took on themselves to call a special meeting; and now there is a doubt whether Mr M’Gnire will or will not consent, to resume office, and “ let hyegones be byegones.” Patea is not so badly off as Hawera in municipal affairs. Our Council did disagree about a loan scheine, but they have otherwise worked well; and now they are making up for lost time. hy. completing .a loan scheme on a larger scale than before.

The new loan scheme was discussed last evening; by the Borough Council. The Engineer’s total estimate of works suggested for execution was over £20,000. The Council revised the estimates, and by reducing the works they brought down the estimates to below £13,000. The Council are to meet again this evening for further revising the works. The amount to be borrowed seems to range between ten and twelve thousand pounds. Mr Barker will sell, on Saturday, fruit trees imported from Canterbury, and a quantity of macrdcarpa. He also announces 1 a J new stpek of Sutton’s garden seeds.

“ The rain it raineth every day ” as Mark Tapley complained ; and indeed this winter has been wet and stormy beyond the average, So many hailstorms during the past ten days have been remarkable. Last spring was rather a continuance of winter; summer there was none; the usual serene weather of autumn was left out of the calendar; and now the coldest part ot winter is on ns when spring should be advancing with increasing warmth. The weather is altogether out of joint—confound the clerk ! Mr H. Chadwick having resigned the office of librarian to the Institute, the Committee met on Monday and agreed to invite applications at a fixed remuneration. The library and reading room have been kept in a creditable condition during the past few months, and the Institute is now spoken of favorably by members generally. It is intended to solicit the aid of vocalists and others in giving a good entertainment about a month hence in aid of the Institute funds. Opukakx is an unfortunate infant township. The bright hopes of many are not realised in any degree. The main road near the township is almost impassable in this wet season. The town itself has no rural land occupied near it; and to aggravate this hardship, the Government have not carried out the' intended penalty of taking five thousand acres . from the Opnnaki: block, because this block had been reserved at a previous time under different circumstances. The settlers at Raliotu are a long way off. The land to be sold at Oeo in September will also be a long way off. The only salvation for Opunaki as a commercial township seems to be the prospect that the natives may lease their reserves under the plan proposed by Government. It does seem a pity to sell a township before any land near it can be occupied tor settlement. We do not wonder at the townspeople getting impatient, and sending, a deputation to Wellington to “ see what can be done.” Mr Galvin and Mr Breach are the deputies now on iheir way. We wish (hem luck. There are now 869 schools, and 2087 teachers in this colony.