NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1010, 16 March 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

We remind intending tenderers for the Borough contracts that tenders will close at 4 p.m. on Monday. Particulars of the works will be found in another column. Tenders for the additions to Patea school close to-morrow, and for painting school buildings in Patea County, on the 24th inst. The Autumn Waverley and Waitotara Race meeting takes place to-morrow, and should it be fine, we expect to see a large gathering and a good day’s sport. There are ten events upon the card, with variety enough to satisfy the most fastidious sportsman. The first race will start at 11.30. The sale of Mr Dixon’s property and effects, advertised to take place j'esterday, has been postponed. Endeavours are being made to arrange matters on behalf of Mr Dixon, to unable him to continue business, and his many friends will join with us in hoping that they will prove successful. Mrs Janet Bruce, an Auckland colonist sinqe 1839, died a day or two ago. At a meeting of Dunedin shareholders of the Titanic Steel and Iron Company on Wednesday, it was resolved not to liquidate at once, but to reintroduce the Bill for the grant of 6000 acres next session ; also, to deputationise Major Atkinson about it. A committee was appointed to bring the matter under the notice of the members of Parliament., A meeting of the committee of the Wairoa Bight Horse was held on Wednesday, 14th inst., when it was decided to divide the troop into three classes for prize firing,' prices to be given for each class. The following are the namps of the members of the different classeslst class, McLean, G. Howie, W. Howie, Walkinton, Matheson, A. Aiken, G. Johnston, Thurston, A. Vincent, W. Vincent, McFarlahe. 2nd class, L. Bremer, R. Bremer, J. Aiken, Axup, Davis, McKay, O’Neil, Taylor, Riddell, W. Hughes, Sim, Pawson, Prouse, R, Thurston, Watson, T. Aiken. 3rd class, Read, Armstrong. G. Aiken, Cheyne, J. McLean, Dyke, J. Hughes, Giles, McDonnell, J. Cleary, Sonthcombe, Dransfield. It was decided to fire four competitions for Ballam’s medal, the highest aggregate in the four matches to take the medal. It was arranged that the troop should proceed to the Easter encampment on Thursday, the 22nd inst. About 36 members have given in their names to attend the encampment so that the troop will be well represented. The following tenders have been received by the Public Works Department for gravelling contract on Hemvood Road, Taranaki County Accepted :A. Bishop. Declined : J. 0. Cosgrave, £924 ; Hockey, £IOOO ; Kirkpatrick and Murphy, £1134 ; Mulree and Capper, £1239 ; Donovan, £1275 ; Mulree and Orr, £1302.

The charge of embezzlementbroughtFy the County Council' against Mr G. Beamish, late dog tax collector, came on again at the R.M. Court this morning, and was withdrawn, the full amount of the tax having been paid into the County fund. The Maori jury list underwent revision at the Court-house this morning. There are about 60 names on the roll. The quarterly summoned meeting of Court Patea Ancient Ol’der of Foresters was held on Thqrfdity evening, about thirty being present. / There are now 63 oh the books, and" new members are made at nearly evefy meeting. Mr T. Parnell is at present Chief Ranger, and Mr Edward Holmes, Secretary. The proceedings on Thursday evening were somewhat interesting on account of a presentation made to Past Chief Ranger Thomas Carman, in recognition of services during his term of office. The presentation comprised a handsome sash, emblem, and certificate in'frame. Thtse were presented by the Chief Ranger on behalf of the brotherhood, with appropriate remarks, whichweredulyresponded to amid applause. There is a project for forming a District Court at Wanganui, the present District Court at Nelson being rather out of the way for this coast, and Mr T. Carman was appointed to visit Wanganui on Easter Monday as a delegate from Court Patea.

The usual company parade of the Patea Rifles will take place next Tuesday at the same time and place as the last, when a full muster is requested. As will be seen by an advertisement from Major Stapp, Monday and Wednesday are to be inspection parades. Only two more inspection parades can be held this month, so that if Monday night should unfortunately be wet, Major Stapp has promised to allow Tuesday night to count instead. Wednesday, it will be observed, is to be a daylight parade, when the company’s Band will be in attendance to play for the “marching past.” A Church parade is to be held next Sunday, the men assembling at the barracks at 10:30. We are glad to notice such marked improvement in the volunteering movements in Patea. After the Easter Encampment we may make a few further remarks on the merits of some of those who are displaying such energy in this direction. All we can say is that the townspeople Ought to thoroughly cooperate with them. A Sydney telegram, dated 261h February, in an Australian contemporary, gives the following startling piece of information :—“ Private letters received per last mail report the elopement of Mrs St John, daughter of Sir Hercules Robinson, with Major Stephenson.” A meeting of creditors in the estate of John McLean was held at Nelson, on Monday. Amongst the assets appears the following : Patea County Council, on account of contract, £SOO. Mi Bunnj', the debtor’s solicitor, explained that the sum was due to Mr McLean who had brought an action to recover the same, but owing to the want of certain evidence which was now procurable, he understood, the debtor had been nonsuited. Charcoal burning is a new industry started at New Plymouth. The jElerctlcl records the shipment of two hundred bags to Lyttelton for use at the Canterbury Refrigerating Works. An Auckland telegram says : The cutter Maggie was wrecked near Kawhau on Tuesday last. Insured in South British for £4OO. A six-roomed house, owned and occupied by Mr Andrew Young, at Manaia, was destroyed by fire oh Tuesday night. It was insured in the Colonial office for £3OO. In the course of a case heard in the Central Police Court, Sydney, recently, it was stated that an unfortunate woman, who had been deserted by her husband, had lately supported herself and two children by “ working with her needle.” Some idea of the slavery and semi-starva-tion the term “ working with the needle” implies may be gleaned from the fact that though she worked all day in the house of her mistress and took work home with her in the evening, often stitching till midnight, she could on an average earn but 12s to 16s a week. On one occasion, and one only, she earned £1 2s 6d.

Speaking of the banking returns for the colony, the Lyttelton Times has the following The increase in advances made in the latter part of the year may be easily accounted for, as it is well known that at that time assistance is required by squatters and farmers, who are obliged to discount their prospective wool clips and crops ; and it is further known that this assistance, when required, must be given. Such being so, it does not appear illogical to suppose that bankers, becoming somewhat anxious on the score of their heavily-increased advances, have endeavoured to reduce them, and being unable to obtain them from the landed and agricultural class have had to call upon the trading community. This is tbo way in which we read the writing on the wall, and, if we are correct, it is not unnatural to assumethat when the proceeds of our wool and grain have reached the colony, the pressure on the trading community will be wonderfully relaxed, and wo shall have at onco a period ,of business, briskness, and prosperity.” The following is an extract from one of the speeches at Cork, made by Mr Redmond, who is making a tour of the colonies on behalf of the League :—“ When the work of the New League is completed, when landlordism shall be no more, and when wc have a Parliament in publiu wisely legislating for Ireland —I say if there is any more to be done—(cheers, during which some words were not heard.) I say. as a Nationalist, that no man yearns more than I do to see Ireland a free nation, untrammelled by any shadow of British law, hut I say to yon- that no league •will do that—it can only he accomplished by the swords and united arms of the Irish, people. I have, some belief in constitutional agitation, but greater still ia my belief in the sword, for history teaches ns that no country ever gained her liberty without using the sword. (Cheers.) While I bold that I am as advanced a. Nationalist as any man in this country, I say the only medium for working for Ireland now is the Irish National League. I say that we are living in an oppressed country, and under a tyrannical and rotten form of Government, which must fall. I say revolution will come, but, in the meantime, use peaceful agitation. It is the only weapon with which you can strike your enemies. Revolution must come, and I say it is the duty of every man, not only in Cork but in all Ireland, to prepare for that revolution, and when the day comes may it be said that rebel _ Cork was never backward in the march for liberty and peace.

The iNapier arrived at Wellington at a;m. this morning. The Urenui correspondent of the Taranaki Herald writes ;—“The natives here seem pleased at Te Whiti and Tohu’s return. I hear he has sent word to them not to visit Parihaka, or else trouble would again arise in the land.”