The Patea Mail, Established 1875. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1883. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1095, 5 October 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail, Established 1875. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1883. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mr R. A. Adams notifies the arrival of the first of his spring shipments. In consequence of the Rev. Mr Tony, the Presbyterian Minister at Hawera, being unwell, and intending to visit the Hot Springs, the Rev. Mr Thomson will conduct services at Hawera at 11 a.m, on Somlay next ; consequently there will bo no morning service at Patea.

The Circus will only stay one night hero, so that all who intend to see it must arrange to come on Wednesday. Sir W. Fox left Patea this morning for New Plymouth, where he will hold a similar sitting to that here. The King of Hawaii will visit New Zealand officially about the middle of next year. Mr Cowern sells imported potatoes and seed to-morrow afternoon. A meeting of the members and adherents of the Presbyterian Church was held on Wednesday evening last, Mr Ailchison in the chair. The chairman stated that the old committee having been out of office for about a month were anxious to have a meeting called so that they might be either re-elected or their successors appointed. The balanceshcct, which showed the church to have a sum to the good, was adopted. In reply to Mr Milroy the chairman stated that no monies had been received from Manutahi which were due to Mr Thomson, but that gentleman said ho did not consider Patea responsible for the Manutahi portion of his salary. It was ultimately decided to refer the matter to the new committee for arrangement. A committee for the ensuing year was appointed, con-, sisting for the most part of members ol the old committee, as follows : —Messrs Howitt, Williamson, Milroy, Smail, Paul, J. Patterson, Aitcliiaon and Bright. The chairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Bright, the Secretary, and iu doing so expressed a hope that he would consent to take office again. Mr Bright, however, in returning thanks, said that it was not his into mien to act as Secretary during the incoming year. A cordial vote of thanks was also passed to Miss North for her services as organist, and the meeting then adjourned, with the customary compliment to the chairman.

At the meeting in connection with the Presbyterian Church on Wednesday evening, the chairman, Mr Aitchisdn, mentioned that the church had been utilised as a Sunday school, and as it was self supporting and did not encroach upon the church funds, he supposed that no exception could be taken to its continuance. Some of those present si i I that the church books had been destroyed by the children, but as it was stated that the books were all carefully collected and put away prior to the school being held, there was some doubt as to this, and the matter dropped.

In dismissing a charge of breach of the peace against a lad named Watt, the R.M. at Dunedin said that the Salvation Army, by its processions and open-air meetings, invited assault.

Tenders will be called in a day or two for the Tongahoe contract, which is for filling up the 6| miles still unlet of the railway gap between Hawera and Manutahi. Unfortunately, there will bo a considerable interval between the invitation of tenders and the completion of the contract. There are some very heavy works on the Tongahoe section, and it is estimated that the contract will occupy at least a year in carrying out. In fact (says the Post) it is not anticipated that the through line of rail from Foxton to New Plymouth will be opened for traffic much earlier than Christmas, 1884.

The carpenter of the s.s, lonic, a man named Hugh Mnnnis, was drowned in Lyttelton harbour yesterday through the upsetting of a boat. The Aorangi, the second of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s new steamers, was on October 2 She leaves London for New Zealand at the •nd of November.

Wc hear that Mr Morcton has leased his farm at Wavcrlcy to Mr Jardine, of Kakaramea, possession to be given in February next.

Mr John Hair is making extensive pre parations for a wheat crop this season.

The County Council have resolved to sell the old Manawapou bridge by tender, provided the consent of the Hawera Council can be obtained.

A native who was prominent in a recent disturbance in a carriage on the Railway lino between Kakaramea and Mnnutnhi being present at the Courthouse yesterday' during the confirming of leases of native reserves by Sir William Fox, thought the opportunity of mending his ways and being enrolled in the Blue Ribbon Army by that strong champion of the temperance cause too good to bo lost. Whether the additional ornament that would bo afforded to his capacious chest by the attachment of a diminutive piece of blue silk, or the remembrance of llio uta demanded from him by the R.M. for bis frolicsome behaviour on the above-mentioned |occasion directed bis decision or not wc cannot say, but certain it is that through Mr Williams be desired to bo enlisted under the Temperance banner there and then. Sir William, however, could not see his way to receive the now convert, the business in connection with the leases sufficiently occupying-his attention for tho time being.

Palmerston North is going in for a loan of £25,000.

The Governor intends to visit Nelson this month.

Whether or not it is true that necessity jy the .mother of invention wo cannot say', but at jny rale Patea is about to take rank as tljp tjjjpdc of one of tbo list of inventors of the day. A gentleman hero has discovered a very useful household article, one which is likely to find great favour when it comes fully' before fho public. More, wc arc not at liberty to say at present, as Mr ITamerton, who is acting for the local genius, is taking slops to procure a patent, ami the utmost secrecy is observed.

Edwards and young Scott begin their 24 hours’ walk for Iho championship at Dunedin to-night. The 8«s City of Now York, with Sept English mails, left San Francisco for Auckland on the 22nd ultimo, time table date.

Mr Leslie Charles’ music class will meet in St. James’s Hall to-morrow, for the first time.

Mr William Dixon has made up his mind to leave Paten, and has fixed upon Palmerston North as his future residence.

Mr Peter Cunningham, of Christchurch, has given a fifty guinea cup to he com peted for by all the bowling clubs in the Colony. Here is a chance for the local bowlers. Push ahead with the club, practice bard, and then take a shot for the prize.

A cablegram state that Major 11. CourtIcy, of the Royal Engineers, loaves London for New Zealand via San Francisco on the 12th instant, having been appointed to supervise the construction of the New Zealand harbour defences.

Mr Gower, the chemist of this town, has prepared a poison for small birds, which, we hear from those who have tested it, is much superior to any that have hitherto been tried hero. It is in a liquid state and very easily manipulated, the price being very little more than the cost of carriage of a bottle from outside towns. We recommend those troubled with the small bird pest to give Mr Gower’s “cure” a (rial previous to sending elsewhere.