NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1053, 29 June 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Several letters and other matter are unavoidably held over. Mr Nutsford is holding a cheap clearing sale of jewellery, particulars of which will be found in bis advertisement.

The annual meeting of the Harmonic Society will be held on Friday next. The Egmont Courier is the name of a weekly paper which is to be published at Opunake every Saturday, commencing Jnlv 6. Mr P. Galvin, late of the Hawera Star, is the projector of the new enterprise. A man named John William Gardom styling himself a surveyor, was arrested by the police last night. It-appears that Gardom, who is a stranger to the town, - has been in a chronic state of drnnkeness for over a month, and yesterday issued a cheque for £2 on the Bank of Australasia, Wanganui, to Mr Odgers. It has since been found that the man had no account in the bank, nor was he known there. He was not in a fit state to be brought up at Court this morning owing to a violent fit of delirium tremens. He is being attended by Dr Croft and Constable Crozier, the latter who has had considerable experience in such cases, with much kindness, supplying the man with many little delicacies.

Of the two parades held by the Patca Rifles on Wednesday and Thursday night, only one is to count for inspection. Sergeant Nixon was present as drill instructor, from New Plymouth, but the drill was mostly performed by the Captain, who has to pass a very stringent examination next month in Wanganui in order to obtain bis certificate. A church parade is to be held next Sunday at 10.30 a.m. A committee meeting was held after parade last night to elect a new secretary and treasurer (vice Yol Imrie resigned) and a member of committee. Col-Sc,rgt Kells was elected secretary and treasurer, and Sergt Harris member of committee. The secretary was instructed to take over the books so soon ns they are audited. Mr Arthur, of the Egmont Furniture Warehouse, has set a very good example by closing his premises at an earlier hour than has previously been the custom. We should like to see the storekeepers joining in the movement so that the hours of employees may be somewhat shortened. Were all to unite there would be no difficulty about it.

The Bill introduced into the House last evening providing for the Bible being read in schools was thrown out on a division of 16 to 52. The House was occupied till 1.20 this morning discussing the question. The Assembly Ball at the Harmonic Hall last evening was largely attended, visitors being present from Hawera and Waverley. A most enjoyable evening was spent. Special attention is- directed to Mr Cowern’s sales to-morrow afternoon, at two o’clock. Several properties well worth the attention of speculators and others will then be offered by auction. We are to have another visit from the Willmott Combination Company. They have engaged the Harmonic Hall, and intend to play three nights, commencing on Tuesday next. MrJ. F. Donnelly has determined to leave Patea and take up his residence in _» —,—>——> —i ’ ° the same line as his establishment here. For the present, the latter will be carried on by Mr Donnelly until a suitable purchaser is found. In the Legislative Council yesterday the Married Women’s Property Bill was passed through without amendment. The gaol enquiry at Dunedin is still proceeeding and seems likely to last some days yet. The evidence yesterday went to show that a system of spying was prevalent throughout the whole establishment, and was encouraged by the gaoler. Having carefully considered the system of credit trade now almost without exception adopted by all classes throughout New Zealand, and, being convinced that its general adoption for the purposes of retail trade is unsound in principle, calculated to lead to want of thrift, and, by gradually but surely allowing the expenditure to exceed the income, forming a habit easy to acquire but disastrous in its results, I have determined to discontinue the system of booking goods for the future, and trust that I shall not lose any of my customers by this, but have the support of all those interested in establishing a sound system of trading and a revival of better times.— John Gibson.— [Advt.]