NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, 13 October 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

There was no business at the 11.M. Court ibis morning. Opnnake is no!, to have a paper filer all, the Chronicle having been informed that the statement that Mr Galvin was about to start one is incorrect. A meeting of St George’s Church Vestry was held on Wednesday evening, at Mr Hamerton’s office, but owing to the absence of two members, no business was transacted. Mr McLoughlin is making fair progress with bis contract at the foot of Bedford street. Eight drays are kept going, and be lias been able to obtain a sufficient number of inen.

Captain Barry’s lecture at the Harmonic Hall was attended by about 100 people, who .were highly amused at his quaint account of his doings since his arrival in the colony over 50 years ago. Certain financial proposals with a view to raise the £B,OOO required to construct the road to the Murimotu plains were discussed by the committee of the Wanganui County Council on Wednesday. It is understood that definite proposals will be made at the.next meeting of the Council. Captain Barry was unable to open at Waverley last evening, owing to the hall being pre-engaged by the Cavalry, who were to decorate it for the dance this evening. It is also stated that the captain intends returning next week to relate his adventures to the Waverley people. The Baptist preachers at Waverley have decided to make a long stay, there. They have engaged the large hall for every Sunday during the next three months. For the future they propose making house to house meetings nightly. It is stated that Mrs Hampson is to he in Waverley in a short time. At the annual meeting 'of the Union Boat Club in Wanganui tlie other night, the Chairman stated that for the fiist time in the history of the Club, it had a credit, balance and was out of debt, and bad property valued at £2OO. Mr W. D. Meares, the general manager of the Union Fire and Marine Insurance Company of Christchurch, paid a visit to Patea on Wednesday night, and returned by the early coach next morning. His chief business we- hear, was to arrange with Mr S. Taplin (agent of the Company for the Patea District), to appoint subagencies at Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Opunaki, and Waverley. Aspirants for this office should now be on their metal, as we presume Mr Taplin will call for applicants. Captain Black and Lieutenant King have resigned their commissions in the Patea Rifles, In both cases ill-health has been the reason for taking this.step. Lieutenant King, who lias been in- Sydney for some months, lias written to say that has no intention to return to New Zealand. -His health has been so much benefitted by his stay in the sister colony that he has concluded that it would be better to remain, there altogether. His- many friends here will be glad to hear favourable reports of him, although lie is much -missed ! in .all circles. The company should now exercise their judgment in making careful selection of officers to succeed those who have resigned, . - . A suggestion has been made by some ofthe members at Waverley. tp -.oiablish a band in connection "‘ t(l the Wairoa Light Horse-- a ' ,,w Vvill-be a valuable addition to xhe troop if it can be accomplished, and it is an admitted fact that there is talent enough among the young men of the district, and all that is required is a little energy on the part of a few to organise it. The only difficulty which would have to be overcome is obtaining the services of a conductor, hut it is said - that; there are a few musicians resident in the district and willing to undertake that post. Should the formation of a hand he attended with good results, it will furnish a want much felt, besides making the troop one of the best on the island. Spine of our readers will bo- interested in the following placard which is published in Dunedin: “North East Valley. Divine Service every Sunday at 6.30 p.m. Rev. J. L. Keating, M.A., will officiate temporarily in the Council Chambers until the nrodosed New Church is erected in the Valley. Preacher’s subject for the next few Sundays ; ‘ The mistakes of Robert Ingersol, the Hero of Dunedin Infidelity.’ These discourses will ho delivered after service instead of a sermon, and are not intended for children or young people, hut for adults only.—October 3rd, 1882.” It will bo remembered that the Rev. Mr. Keating proposed giving a lecture in Patea upon the mistakes of the famous infidel, but was precluded from doing so during his short stay here. Cetcwayo’s restoration to his kingdom of Zululancl is not viewed with general favour by the Natives, who upon the ex-king’s arrival showed a sullen and threatening attitude. Thu Rriti-di authorities have decided to provide him with,, an escort of cavalry and artillery. To-days" Chronicle has the following : Mr Andrew Young, the well-known and indefatigable pioneer coach proprietor, has made arrangements with Mr Prosser, proprietor of a recently started rival line, hy which the latter is left in possession of the business. The convenience of flic travelling public has been well looked after by Mr Young in the past, and there is every reason to believe that there will he no falling off in (hat respect bn the part of Mr Prosser.

The amount subscribed in Wellington in. aid of the persecuted Jews of Russia was nearly £650. A Swimming and Hot Baths Company, with a capital of £ISOO, is in course of formation in Wanganui. . At Gore yesterday a boy named Bowie was run over by,the train while shunting, and had both his legs broken and one arm. Mr E. T. Conolly was sworn in on Wednesday before His Excellency the Administrator of the Government, as Minister of Justice. Mr R. C. Rennel has been appointed Secretary of the New Plymouth Harbor Board at a salary of £l5O per annum for only part time. There were 'thirteen applicants... Mr M’lvor, F. 1.0., F.C.L.. who is at present on a visit to New Zealand, in a letter to the Leader remarks : The more I see of the colony, the n»re -certain does the opinion become, that the lino climate is the cause of the largo yield of produce of every kind in New Zealand. As regards quality of soil I must give Victoria first place.” ; : Mr E. N. Liffiton offered for sale the privileges in connection with the Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Show, the Jockey Club, and the Trotting Club meetings in Mr Jackson’s yards yesterday. 'flic booths were all passed in, and the following were only sold. Race day —Cards, Coburn, £l4 ; horse paddock, Whelan, Ms. Trolling Cub—Gate, Abbot, £ls ; grand stand, Chitham, £7 10s ; saddling paddock,’Chitham, £3 10s. : ■ More scandals about tin; Victorian police The Melbourne correspondent of the ‘ Southland News ’ mentions that a woman who was brought up for being drunk and disorderly, at Eilzroy declared tliat sim had been put in durance''vile' because she refused to supply whisky to a constable. She made further allegations, hut I cannot refer to them. , The Bench showed they believed her by 'dismissing the base. Prospectus mongers at Homo offer some templing baits to a confiding public. Ah exchange contains an advertisement of a gold mine which, on paper, is a veritable El Dorado. It is called the Victoria, and is situate only thirty miles from El Callao mine, which has returned over £3,(X)0,000 sterling worth of gold. The samples from 'the. Victoria arc said'to show 1220zs to the ton. Calculating 2U>z only, tho mine will produce £2,050,000, and every ounce of gold in excess of that average means the addition of £1,000.000 to the revenue. And all this is offered in 200,000 shares of £1 each. The immortal Sam Weller, when threatened with commitment for contempt of Court, said “ You can commit me if you like ; but I’ve always noticed this ’ere—that there’s not a justice agoing as doesn’t commit himself twice as often as he commits other people.” A recent illustration of Sam’s remarks may be cited ; it occurred in the Wairarapa. An old man one night sat on the verandah of an empty house, and being slightly inebriated made some foolish remarks. He was charged before the Bench with “ being illegally on premises and threatening to set fire to a building,” but was convicted of “ being a rogue and a vagabond,” and sentenced to six months’ hard labor. The Resident Magistrate a few days after reduced the sentence to a month . Dr. Siemen, the President-elect of (he British Association in London, has been experimenting on the influence of the electric light upon "the growth of plants. His experiments have produced wonderful results. Ho procured cereal grains in pairs—wheat, oats, and barley—from the same samples, sown' and gathered at the same time. These ho planted. The cereals grown in the ordinary way developed to a height of 18 in ; dining the same time those which had been grown under the influence,of the electric light were sft in height, and in full ear ! A case containing the cereals was on view at a conversazione recently given by 7 the President of the Roy 7 al Society, and was an object of special scientific interest. Regarding the visit of a party of American sava.is we find the following in a San Francisco paper ;—“ With the 75,000 dols appropriated by Congress to observe the transit of Venus three expeditions will be sent out. Admiral Rowan takes a party to Patagonia. Professor. Newcomb lias charge of a party" that will make their observations froin.the Gape of Good Hope. Professor Edwin " Smith, of the Coast Survey, goes to New Zealand, and another party goes to Texas, 't here will not be another transit for 11G years, and all nations’'are'interested iu getting correct observations. An international meeting will he held -in Paris next year, when the various parties will- compare notes - Vice-Admiral Rowan’s party leave here to-morrow for New York/ from iwheuce they will sail soon for Europe on the United States steamer Brooklyn.” . The Whakamara settlers met at Mr Scott’s house last Friday evening, to consider the question of purchasing a site for a school. M- ,: - Scott voted to the chai’M "Air Bnckre 11. offered an; acre for a -School site i at £lO, which offer was accepted. The section is situated on the Mells road, near Mr Scott’s gate, and was held ; .to be generally convenient, being nearly the centre of the block. The whole amount of the purchase money was subscribed in the .room. It was agreed to have the section surveyed without delay, and transferred to the board, with a request that they would set about building ,a school. Tho matter had been hung up, for some timo owing to a misunderstand-'' ing about a portion of tho site, hut it is now -likely to he proceeded with. Some further accomodation is much needed, and settlers hope the board will assist in some way, as they 7 have shown themselves willing to help themselves.— St»r. “ The news that the Suez Canal was in peril,’.’ a London paper remarks, “ seems to have been received with varying degrees of emotion by members of Indian Society. On going to tho band-stand at a certain station one day (so says a Bombay correspondent),, I was accosted by a lady with, “Don’t toll me they’ve taken the Canal. I've got a box coming from England with all tli(3 newest fashions, and I’m certain they have stopped tho P. and O. and opened my box, and that some horrid Egyptian ladies are at this moment walking up and down the banks of tho Canal in my new bonnets and dresses.’ A moment afterwards a young gentleman came up iu high spirits at the nows. ‘So there’s to be an expedition to Egypt,’ he said, ‘and we shall all have to send our wives home round the Cape.” Much iu the same spirit an impecunious major wanted to know if it was Into the Canal was seized 1 because, in that case,’ he added, ‘ of course they can’t expect a fellow to remit money 7 Home.’ And, Inst of all, a bronzed and genial colonel read a telegram from England, and seemed much pleased with its contents. ‘lt’s from Mrs Bender,’ he said, ‘ and it’s to say that, owing to the reports about the Canal, she won’t leave England just yet. In fact, she shall stay, at homo until things are quite settled. More power to. tho Egyptians !’ * So there are evidently more ways Ilian one of looking at our difficulties in the East.”

■’ Mr G. F. Barker will hold his stock sale at his yards on Thursday, 19th instant. Entries are now being received. Tenders are invited for an addition to the Patea School. A nhticc from Sir W. Fox, the West Coast Ooromissionor, to those claiming to have leases of Native reserves within the confiscated territory, appears in another column. The annual meeting of the Patea Calelßa.n Society is advertised to.be held at the Albion Hotel on Saturday 21st inst. at 7.30 p.m. ' The ordinary 7 meeting of the Patea Kilwinning lodge will ho held on Monday evening. Mrs Hatnpson will commence her mission in Wanganui on Sunday the 29th inst. Tho cricket match to be played on Saturday, Town v. Country, should bo a very interesting one. Members are requested to turn out punctually. Mr G. H. Dickson, of Patea, lias secured No. 9 earthwork contract on the Manulahi section. The amount of his tender was £2,558. . Wo hear that the shares in tho Colonial Land Investment and Endowment Association are being freely applied for in the Hawera distiiet. MrJ,E. ; Keys returned by the Wakata to-day, wo are sorry 7 ’to say worse in health than when ho left some weeks ago. An Otago paper says : The outcry 7 against the small birds so generously introduced by 7 the Acclimatisation Societies lias been very gcnefa'l - throughout (he Colony 7 , and the slaughter of them immense. Having -accomplished' this latter result at considerable expense, some farmers are having their accustomed grumble. They now find—or at least some about Palmerston do—that the small birds destroyed the while grub, a greater nuisance than the bird, and that tho thinning out of the birds has been followed by a corresponding increase of grub.