NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1029, 2 May 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The San Francisco mail was delivered in town this afternoon. The Auckland correspondent of the Wanganui Herald states that Judge Fenton will be called to the Upper House. The ordinary meeting of the County Council was held yesterday, a day earlier than usual. This was in consequence of (he departure of Mr E C Horner, the clerk, who is also manager of the Shipping Company, for Auckland, to take over the new steamer. Mr Horner leaves to-night via New Plymouth, where bis evidence as Clerk of the Council will be required in the trial of John Black. There was quite an exodus of Patea people to-day. New Plymouth is their destination, and the reason for the journey lies in the fact that Mr William Dale and Mr John Black have to plead in the Supreme Court to certain alleged offences, to prove which, our townsmen have been called away. Messrs Eyton, Taplin, Horner, H. E. P. Adams, Tennent, Norman, Gowland, Balmforth, Mr Macalister the Government auditor, and several others left by coach or by special conveyance. On the whole, the party seemed to enjoy the prospect. The County Council have decided to relinquish the management of the Hospital. This decision has been arrived at owing to want of funds, the Government having allowed (he subsidy to get considerably into arrear. To-day, we hear, a sum of money was forwarded by the Government ?nd this will meet pressing demands upon the institution. The Council, however, will adhere to their resolution to give up the control of the Hospital and will advise the Government to appoint the Borough Council to administer. Somebody will have to look after the institution that is certain. The Borough Council could do it very well but the question is will they undertake it. If not, the best thing would be the formation of a Hospital Board upon the basis of those which exist elsewhere. It will bo remembered that some time ago an unfortunate drowning case took place at Mannlnhi, by which a man named King and his son were lost, the former while attempting the rescue of his boy from a pond into which he had fallen. Assistance has been given to the widow by the residents, Messrs H. S. Peacock and Jas. Hamilton having collected £25 2s for that object. We have been requested, on behalf of Mrs King, to return her sincere thanks to those who subscribed to the fund, and also for the kindness shown to her generally. We remind settlers that Mr FR Jackson’s Waverley Sale will be held on Friday. As will be seen by advertisement, the entires are very numerous. On the same day, Mr Jackson will also offer a lease of the Waverley recreation ground. A Chinese gambling house in Wakefieldstreet, Auckland, has been discovered by the police. One Chinaman is said to have lost £7O at “ fan tan ” to the keeper, and refused to pay up, alleging that he had been cheated. The keeper of the house detained him a prisoner until the police, hearing of the matter, liberated him. The Magistrate at Dunedin has decided that it is lawful for a publican to supply liquor to a lodger at all times, not only for his own consumption, but for the entertainment of his guests. It is understood that the Governor will not leave Auckland till immediately before the meeting of Parliament. The Premier leaves for Wellington to-morrow. The case of George Beamish was under discussion in the County Council yesterday, and it was resolved to lay a fresh information against him. The County Council have expressed their sympathy with the letter from the Harbour Board re pushing on the railway and have resolved to lend their assistance to further the Board’s object. Dissatisfaction was expressed at yesterday’s meeting of the County Council that, in consequence of the Government not having issued the new valuation rolls the Council were debarred from striking a rate, and so obtaining funds, of which they were urgently in need. With regard to the state of the Main Road between Patea and Waverley, the Government have signified their willingness to grant £4OO for repairs, if the County Council will find a similar amount. Considering that the Council is heavily in debt, and without immediate prospect of getting out of it, the offer of .the Government must be regarded as somewhat superfluous. In a letter from the Under-Secretary of Public Works to tire Chairman of the County, the writer states that the Government hope to have the railway open to Whenuakura Station before the winter. Some talk was occasioned yesterday by a foolish report that Mr W. Dale had committed suicide. Of course there was no truth in it, and for the sake of his relatives we arc sorry that the report gained currency. Wc believe, however, that Mr Dale’s whereabouts is a matter veiled in obscurity, at least it was so on Monday. Perhaps he will turn up in time for the trial. The heavy rainfall of last night did some damage to the channelling now being constructed in Bedford-strcct. Near the bridge is a large fissure and it is apparent tnat a considerable quantity of earth and sand has been washed into the river. Wc are requested by Mr Luxford to call special attention to an advertisement elsewhere, stating that Hannah Hall and James Cotton, Members of the Society of Friends, will conduct service this evening at 7.30, in the Wesleyan Church. The no/elty of a Quaker’s meeting should draw a large company, besides tins, wc gather from our Southern files, that these simple but genuine Christians, have created favourable opinions in each place they have visited. At the Supreme Court, Wanganui, yesterday, William Glcntworth was indicted for burglary at the Commercial Hotel, Waverley, and stealing one bottle of whiskey, six bottles of old tom, and twelve bottles of porter, on the 4th Febiuary last.—Mr Hutchison defended the prisoner, who had previously pleaded not guilty.—The following were the jury ; William Norwood, E, Hackett, John Alexander, J. Brown, W. Barr, John McNab, A. H. Stringer, Albert Gower, B. Wrightson, Francis Fookcs, T. 11. Taylor, and Jesse Cannons.—Four jurymen were challenged by the Crown, and five by the prisoner.— After the evidence of the barman, John Brodiq and a portion of the evidence of Constable Lyster, had been taken, it became evident that there was no case to go to the jury, and the Crown Prosecutor decided not to proceed. By direction of His Honor, the jury returned a verdict of acquittal. Xiireshing’ operations in tlic district about Manutahi are now nearly. over. The yield of grain is on some farms very good, the best we have heard of being, wheat 43 bushels and oats 50 to the acre ; but this is considerably above the average for this season.

In another column will be found an advertisement calling for tenders for 100 cords of firewood for Mr Sherwood’s pottery. This should offer an excellent opportunity to working men to begin to work the river. Abundance of firewood can be got on the river bank, and might be easily floated down—right on to the works. If men can be found willing to go into this work, we understand that it is Mr Sherwood’s intention to offer large inducements to extend the up-river traffic. Messrs Nolan, Tonks, and Co. will hold their sale at Hawera Yards to-morrow, at 1 p.m. The principal entries are 1000 fat ewes and 300 lambs. Some draught stock will also be submitted. The trial of Phoebe Yeitch, for child murdea, concluded on Monday evening at the Wanganui Supreme Court, before his Honor, the Chief Justice. After an exhaustive trial the jury returned a verdict of “ Guilty, with a recommendation to mercy.” Before passing sentence, his Honor was informed that the prisoner was enciintc. and a jury of matrons was ordered to be empanncllecl for the purpose of taking the case into consideration. Sentence of death was then passed, and on the following morning the jury of matrons was in attendance at court, A brief examination disclosed the fact that the wretched prisoner was pregnant, and His Honor accordingly respited the sentence of death until next court day. He said that the recommendation to mercy {given by the jury should be forwarded to Government. According to the Taranaki Herald , Me-srs. Hnrslhouse and Newsham were to start on their exploration journey yesterday. They will proceed about fifty miles up the Mokau river, and from thence they will work their way back through the bush to New Plymouth, with the object of discovering the most practicable route for a line of railway. Thc“following quarterly return of farms on which there wore infected sheep on 31st March, is published : —William Treweek, Hawera, 1240 ; W. Duirs, Whakamara, 1000 ; J. and H. Nicholson, Cawood Grange, 1000 : Oscar Syme, Waverley, 1700 : W. Millham, Whakamara, 500.. The Board of Reviewers in connection with the Borough valuations, will meet to-morrow, at 11 o’clock, A meeting of the creditors of Mr Pycmonh Waitotara, will bo held in the Courthoursc at noon, to-morrow. Mr A. Young’s will meet at 3 p.m. in the same place.