COUNTY COUNCIL.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 999, 19 February 1883, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of the Council was held at 12 o’clock to-day. Present— The Chairman, and Crs Bridge, Wilson, Taylor, Morgan, Sullivan, Durie and Foreman .

CORRESPONDENCE. Loiters were read—From the Government declining to allow the Council to use their gravel pit at Waitotara. From the Borough Counci l , asking that a member might be elected to the Haibour Board. From Dr Keating applying for “ Salter’s Fracture Swing,” for the use of the Hospital. Referred to the Chairman. From the Colonial Secretary, asking for boundaries of Road districts and boroughs within the County. The Clerk to reply. From Mr C. E. Major, agent for Mr J. Jackson, Manaia, applying for a refund of £ll os Orl, amount of license fee paid in excess. It was resolved that on the production of a certificafc from the Collector of Customs at New Plymouth, that, the amount bad been received in excess, a refund would bo made. From Mr Teunont applying for a proper title for allotment 1, section 13, block 35, leased from the Council at auction. Referred to the Chairman. From the Clerk Wanganui County, that the timber |for theffloor of the Waitotara bridge had been ordered. Cr Wilson mentioned that the. work was now being .done. Several other letters were read and dealt with; and outward correspondence was approved. The Council then adjourned for an hour, and on resuming the Clerk read a letter from the Minister for Public Works, just received' by the 'mail. The letter stated that the application appeared to be principally for maintenance, and that the, proper specifications had not been forwarded. The Minister added, however, that if plans and specifications for the 24 miles metalling and 38 chains formation, at Manawapovi, were forwarded before the 30lh June, it Would he considered. Cr Foreman* said that- the Government were taking the Railway to Manutahi, but it would be useless to them as the road there vtmuld he impassable. Cr Wilson thought the Patca Hill could be left, ns the railway would relieve it. Cr Sullivan thought it was the most dangerous part of the road. Consideration was deferred. (Left sitting.) Miss L. Sparkes, pupil of Dr -Mara, London, and Miss Noake, Wanganui, is about to reside in Patca, where she will give private lessons in-singing and music. This young lady’s talent is already known in Patea, where she was so successful in taking the part of Buttercup at remarkably short notice in H.M.S. Pinafore. A local paper thus refers to her in a concert recently tendered to Miss Noake at Wanganui: “Miss Sparkes was the principal vocalist of the; evening, and we have never heard her sing -better. She gave Beethoven’s beautiful song “ Adelaida,” but seemed to reserve herself for the celebrated recitative and aria, “ With verdure clad,”’from the “ Creation.” This magnificent and expressive-melody o£ the great composer Hadyn was sung without forcing or undue effort, and the manner in which Miss Sparkes manipulates the lower notes of the cadences, and brings out the bell-like ’ tones of the upper register, show bow completely so young a singer has her voice under true command. We would advise Miss Sparkes to persevere industriously in the study of music ; for, with the present bent of her vocalism, she need not fear the charge of being ambitious, and should be encouraged to take up classical music, for the rendering of which she has, in our judgment, both taste and capability.”