The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1883. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1094, 3 October 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1883. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Eight hundred pounds were voted by the House last session for Volunteer prize firing. The amount has been apportioned thus:—Volunteers, £597 2s 6d ; Ordnance, £l3O 5s ; Cadets, £72 12s 6d. Patca’s share is £l3. Competitions must take place before the end of the year, and returns will have to be sent to the Undersecretary for Defence not later than January 15. Work fit tho Sawmill is now in full swing. Mr Handley is erecting a lathe for turning, and this will no doubt prove a useful addition to the mill. The lathe is principally the work of Mr J. Hunger of this town, and appears to be a substantial and well finished machine.

Upon the application of Sergt Donovan yesterday, the R.M. granted a prohibition order against Robert Erskine. There is no doubt that in this matter (ho police have acted the part of a real friend kwanl the party concerned.

The lime for maintenance of the Manutalii section by Mr Nathan, the contractor, expired on Saturday last, when the Department look the line over. The maintenance time on the Whenuakura line has yet some six or eight weeks to run. So far both contracts have turned out very,satisfactorily. On Thursday and Friday (ho Courthouse will be-occupied by Sir W. Fox, who will hold a sitting, as West Const Commissioner, to confirm leases of Native lands issued under the Act. Ordinary Magis terial business has been postponed until Tuesday, the R.M. having agreed to sit on that da}’. There was a little excitement about 10 o’clock yesterday morning. The milk cart of Mr Do Banks had been left standing in the road, and, from some unexplained reason, the horse took it into bis head to make a journey on his own account. He started up Egmont street at the best pace that the locked wheel of the trap would allow, and got along very well till tfie Bank of New Zealand was reached. He turned sharp round the corner and over went the trap as comfortably as possible. The attendance of the public, as it usually is at entertainments of this kind, was large, and (be chariot was soon righted. No damage was done to the cart, and one worthy townsman having ventured the remark that it was as rigid as “ the bunks,” the crowd laughed and left.

Since tho montl) of March last (remarks the Marlborough Times) up to the present time it is estimated that the enonnus number of three-quarters of a million of rabbits (775,000) have been poisoned on the Flaxbourne run. The estimate of skins recovered from the rabbits is 1 in 10, but out of the 775,000 mentioned, about 110,000 skins have been recovered. We imagine this quantity completely dwarfs the amount poisoned on any other run in the colony.

At the termination of the business at the Borough Council on Monday evening Cr Aitchison administered a rebuke to those Councillors who were in the habit of staying away from the Council’s meetings. On the night in question there was only a bare quorum present. The Councillor said that he thought it was a'matter of regret that so many of the Councillors were absent that night. They seemed to regard their duties as a joke. It was particularly inconvenient for him to be there that night but he was there and had to stay there, as also had all those present, merely to preserve a quorum, while their colleagues were enjoying themselves. He thought that when men undertook the duties of Councillors they should attend to them with a fair share of punctuality. Cr Bright thought what Cr Aitchison had said was very much to the point, especially as one Councillor had made a boast that he did not' intend to be present at the Council’s meetings again.

A full meeting of Provisional Directors of the Meat Freezing Company was held yesterday afternoon. The Secretary stated that 1578 shares had been applied for, which was considered satisfactory. At tbo urgent request of some of those present, who thought they could secure more shares yet, the lime for receiving applications was extended till Saturday, 13th inst. The Rules for Management were read over by Mr Haraerton, and, being approved, were duly signed, and will be forwarded with the Memorandum of Association for registration. The meeting then adjourned till Saturday, 13th inst.

•The tender of Mr R. VVhittem for the erection of a drinking trough in Bedford street has been accepted by the Borough Council. The amount of the tender was £6 6s, and Is per foot for piping. Mr G. Beamish, of the Patea Hotel, has filed a declaration of insolvency.

A London cablegram, dated Sept 29, says : —At the wool sales 376,000 bales have been catalogued, and 43,000 withdrawn. The foreign demand is increasing, and prices are firmer.

The Star says (hat natives returning from Parilinka slate that a lawyer, lately arrived in Wellington, has written to Te Whili, asking him to place all facts re native troubles and Government oppression, in his hands in order that he may secure redress.

Intending tenderers for 'the native leases are reminded that tenders close at 4 o’clock to-morrow afternoon. We have been requested to state that residence is not compulsory on lessees of lands on the reserves ; also, that tho clearing and formation of tho Kawcora, Ihaia, and Waiteka roads will shortly be commenced

The Foreman of Works in his report to the Borough Council complained of the difficulty experienced in making tho local drain pipes fit into one another. This, Cr Aitchison explained, has now been remedied, and tho next burn of tiles will most probably give satisfaction. The pipes which arrived from Wellington were not perfection either, several having to be rejected on account of being in a faulty condition.

The parade and march-out of the Volunteers which was to have taken place last evening was abandoned, owing to the inclemency of the weather and the small attendance.

Mr F. R. Jackson’s Kakaramea sale on Friday. M> R. Love, the genial agent of the Electric Circus, has been making his presence in Ralea visible to-day. A number of gorgeous pictures of the wonders of the great show have been placed in conspicuous positions and attracted considerable attention. The date of the opening of the circus is announced in another column, where also the names of the new company, selected by Mr Woodyoar in America, and Mr Love in Australia, may be seen.

Through 1 lie thoughtlessness of a boy one of our lads had a narrow escape from a serious accident yesterday. Ho was bringing, in a horse from the paddock, and just as he reached Jbe- bridge, a boy on the road drew a stick across the galvanised fence opposite the stationmaster’s house. .The noise frightened the horse, which swerved and fell, throwing its rider with some violence. The animal was cut on both kijccs, and the boy who was riding received a severe shaking and some bruises.

The request of I lie Railway Demonstration Committee for the defraying by the Borough Council, of the expenses incurred in connection with the celebration has been ordered by that bod}’ to lie on the tabic ; and this,' most probably, is the end of tlie Committee’s application. The favourite entires, Patriarch and Young Scotchman, will stand this season at Messrs Hearn and Kennedy’s farm near Waitqtara. Postage on delayed telegrams Ims now been abolished. Messrs Nolan, Tonks, and Go. will sell stock &c, at Manaia to-morrow. Mete Kingi’s funeral was a grand affair, upwards of 5000, whites and 1100 natives being present at the ceremony. The Volunteers, of whom about 230 were in attendance, filed three volleys over the grave. The Church of England burial service was read by the Rev T. S. Grave. Messrs Lundbcrg and Co. have been making extensive preparations for a large spring and summer trade. They have just received a quantity of Bcussels tapcstiy and Kidderminster carpels of the newest designs, some of which are very handsome. They’ have also a supply of crape and goblin cretonne, the latter kind being very useful, as it washes excellently. In the way of ornaments the firm are showing Dresden China flowers, vases and such like, at prices that ought to command trade, even in these dull times. Some elegant New Zealand made mats have just been opened up, and serve as an example of how manufactures in this country are advancing. In connection with (lie Art Union of pictures we may’ mention that the list is filling and that the drawing will take place at the end of the month.

The Temperance meeting in St James’s Hall last evening in connection with the Star of Patea Lodge 1.0. G.T. was fairly well attended, and most of those present if not actually’ members of some temperance movement were intimately’ connected with it. Sir William Fox, who was to have taken the chair and delivered an address on the Blue Ribbon Army', was unable to be.present, but bis place was filled by’Bi'oE.G Allsworth D.D, who briefly introduced Bro D. C. Cameron G.W.S. This gentleman gave a long address in the temperance movement and its objects and was followed by the Rev A. Thomson, Mr Finnerty, and Mr Williams. The meeting then closed with the benediction pronounced by’ the Rev Mr Thomson, At the close of the meeting an adjournment was made to the room of the Star of Patea Lodge, when the GL. degree w r as conferred upon Bros T. North, W.V.T., L. Charles, W.S., M. Carey senr, W.M , and W. Fairweather, W.1.G., of the local Lodge ; and Brp W. Davies, W.Y.T. of Waverlcy Lodge, the ceremony, which is a most impressive one, being conducted by’ the G.W.S. assisted by’ the D.D,