NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1068, 3 August 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A meeting of gentlemen interested in meat freezing was held at Mr Eyton’s office this morning, but as our representative was refused admission we are unable to give any information as to wliat transpired. A meeting of the Patea Garrick Club was held last evening, at which it was resolved to wind up the affairs of the club, and a committee consisting of Messrs Hyams, Wilkinson, and Haywood was appointed for that purpose. The Harmonic Society will practise “ the Sorcerer” to-night. A meeting of members of the newlyformed Debating Society was held at Mr Eyton’s rooms last evening, when there were about ten present, and Mr G F Sherwood was voted to the Chair. The secretary, Mr Coventry, read a letter from Capt. Wray declining the presidentship, which had been proffered him, but stating that he would be glad to become a member. Mr Barton was unanimously elected to the vacant position. The rules which had been drawn up by the committee were then submitted, and were, with some few amendments, adopted. The following gentlemen were elected a committee : Messrs Eyton, Adams, Wilkinson, and Bright; and this being all the business, the meeting then adjourned.

In the Council a day or two ago Colonel Brett, in objecting to the motion of Mr Pharaz3'n, described the latter as n “ literatist, who came to the Council to carry on his correspondence and take his afternoon siesta.” On being called to order, he said it was very difficult to discuss the motion without personalities. If the motion were passed it would deprive him (Colonel Brett) of his just dues. He was not ashamed to acknowledge ho was a poor man, and had to leave his wife and children in unhappiness and misery during his absence, while the mover of the motion, living in Wellington, could go home to his young wife and well-dressed mutton-chop. The hon. gentleman spoke under great excitement. The usual weekly session of the Star of Patea Lodge, 236, I 0 G T, was hold in the Council Chambers on Wednesday evening. A large number of members were present, and four new names proposed and accepted. As this was the commencement of the quarter the installation of officers took place, the ceremonies being conducted by Bro |D Smith, LDG WOT. The officers elected were : Bro H E Ensor, WCT; Sis Parnell, WVT ; Bro L Charles, W S (re-elected); Bro R Carey, WFS; Bro W K Howitt, W T (re-elected) ; Sis Erskine, WC ; Bro D Patterson, WM. The reports of the WS, WF S and W T showed progression, and all supporters of the great cause of temperance will no doubt be glad to read of the efforts being made by this district to remedy the evils arising from the traffic in strong drink. After the ceremony the members were invited to a social tea meeting by Sisters Erskine and Carey, which formed a most enjoyable conclusion to the evening.

Mr Cowern has a number of sales tomorrow, at 2 o’clock The furniture belonging to Mrs Ke3’s will be offered at the auction room, whether a quantity of other furniture has also been removed. Some wearing apparel and sundries will be sold by order of the Public Trustee ; and in addition to the above the premises and stock in the estate of W. Dixon will be submitted to the hammer so that Mr Cowern should have a bus}’ time of it. We hear that Mr Nathan expects to have the Manutahi contract out of hand next week.

The business before the R.M. Court this morning consisted of two civil cases— Horner v. Axup, and Kraack v. Black. In the former case the plaintiff made no appearance, and the second was adjourned for a fortnight. The ship Rangitikei takes home, from Timaru, as part of her cargo “ two cases of india rubber.” The Herald in mentioning this odd cargo says that india rubber is an odd export for South Canterbury, and it is needless to say that it is not a local product. The shipment is the material of the rubber tires of the traction engine imported many years ago by Mr Bruce, and was taken off when the engine was sold to the Levels Road Board for a road roller. The value of the tires, when new, was something like £230. The Borough Coancil meets on Monday evening. The Wellington correspondent of the Wanganui Herald says that speculation is now rife as to what will be the fate of the motion to appoint a Select Committee to enquire into the allegations that Messrs Whitaker and Russell received £IO,OOO from the Bank of N.Z. forgetting the Loan Consolidation Bill passed in 1867 ; and, if carried, what are like ly to be the disclosures. Mr Dargaville’s charge is briefly that Mr Whittaker, with his partner, Mr Thomas Russell, worked so hard to get the Loan Consolidation Act passed that they were handsomely rewarded. Thr effect of the Act was to give the security of the General Government to the different Provincial loans, thus raising the value of Provincial debentures from £7O to £l2O, and throwing hundreds of thousands of pounds into the coffers of the Bank of New Zealand and other debenture holders. The report on the Public Trust Office for the half-year ending 31st December. 1882, was laid on the table in the House on Friday. The increase in the business is very marked. The total transactions for the six months amounted to £134,319 Is Id, or £42,000 in excess of the whole business of the year 1879-80. The securities held at the close of the year were £120,033 0s 3d, interests paid to estates, £1344 2s 8d ; and while the expenditure amounted to £1973 19s, the receipts were £2027 12s 9d, showing a profit to the office of £O3l 13s 9d. Administrations were 121, orders of administration taken out, 50 ; probates, 2 ; trusts, 7 ; while the inward and outward correspondence comprised 3000 letters.

Mr F R Doncghuc, of the Paloa Conch Factory, has just completed a handsome double-seated buggy to the order of a gentleman in the district. It is what is known as a “jump-seat” buggy, and the novelty is the convenient manner in which the front seat is shifted and packed away, and so converting the vehicle from a double to a single scat. The cushions and fittings are in a first-class slylo and quality, and the painting—dark green, picked out with bright green and gold—is a model of good taste and workmanship. Mr Doncghuc has also finished a ladies’ pony phaeton, with basket-work seat : a light and pretty carriage, and the first of its kind made in the district. Their suitability for ladies’ use, and the exceedingly moderate price at which they can be tinned out, should cause a considerable demand for these carriages, which have generally become favourites wherever they have been introduced. What with (lie large passenger coach built for Mr Slattery, a new express, and several vehicles undergoing repairs, work at the Coach Factory has boon pretty brisk lately.

Six forfeited deferred payment sections in the Wairoa and Otoia-Opaku districts will be offered by auction on deferred payments at the Land Office to-morrow. The adjourned meeting of the Waverley Harmonic Society will take place at 8 o’clock this evening. It can rain in Auckland. The Star of Wednesday says : The rain of to-day, especially shortly after noon, was one of the heaviest known in this district, whore tropical showers are frequent. About one o’clock, Wyudhani-street from Albertstreet down was one turbid torrent of yellow water, extending from pavement to pavement. The Auckland Star gives particulars of an explosion of a remarkable nature which happened at the residence of Mr Hazell, expressman, Avondale, on Wednesday last. While occupied in bis loft, Mr Hazell found a large piece of black substance which he believed to bo coal, and taking it into the house, placed it on the kitchen grate. Immediately afterwards there was a terrific explosion, and Mr Hazel 1 was seriously burnt about the head, face, and arms. Mrs Hazell and her grandchild were also in the room at tho time. The former was also severely burnt, but the boy escaped with slight injuries. Mr Hazell is said to be in a critical condition. The supposed block of coal proves to have been about Gibs of blasting powder. Its presence in the loft is explained by the fact that Mr Hazell’s son-in-law was some time ago employed on tho Kaiapara Railway, and it is believed that the powder becoming wet, ho brought it homo with tho object of having it dried, and then forgot all about its existence.