NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1099, 15 October 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

It would bo a great convenience to settlers around .Waverlcy and Waitotara if the afternoon train from Patoa to Wanganui were delayed for two or three hours on Saturday afternoons. At present the train runs through to Foxlon, but the through traveller would have to stay there till Monday 7 morning, so it is safe to presume that most people prefer to choose another day for the through journey, and thus avoid the detention. No great harm therefore would be done by delaying the Saturday afternoon train as suggested and running it as far as Wanganui only. Under present arrangements settlers in the south part of the county can only get a couple of hours in Patea if they' travel by the train and that is hardly sufficient on Saturday when most of them visit the town. If this matter were brought under the notice of the department they would no doubt give favourable consideration to it..

The engine and boiler belonging to the Patea Oil and Fibre Company arrived by the Wavcrley on Friday'. The oil mill will be here in a few days also. Mr S. Taplin has a new advertisement in this issue.

The lime recently introduced by Mr J. S. Thomson, of Waverlcy', is meeting with great approval among gardeners. Messrs Mahony and Co. are the Patea agents.

In an advertisement Mr J. McLarin draws attention to his new stock of boots and shoes.

Our Waverley friends are reminded that the entertainment in aid of the funds of the Harmonic Society will be held in the Town Hall to-morrow evening at 8 o’clock. An elaborate programme has been prepared, and after the musical portion has been disposed of there will be an enjoyable dahce. We hope there will be a large attendance. Mr W. B. Howe met with a painful accident last week. He had been felling bush at Stratford, and, while so engaged, a tree fell, the branches of which struck Mr Howe in the face and cut his eye severely. Mr Howe returned to Patea on Saturday to have Ids injuries attended to.

Wanganui show and races take place on Thursday and Friday. The afternoon train from Wanganui will not start till 5.15 to allow country visitors to return by it. Scott, the Dunedin youth, defeated Edwards easily in the 48 hours Walking Match, which was concluded on Saturday night. The winner covered 192 miles and three-quarters, and Edwards 191 miles. Scott has never walked forty-eight hours before, but Edwards has done so several times, his best record being 181 miles 1360 yards. There was groat excitement over the finish.

Home Missionary meeting in the Wesleyan Church this evening. The adjourned sitting of the District Court will take place on Wednesday at 10.30 a.m.

The County Council are inviting tenders for the purchase of the old Manawapou bridge. Messrs Nolan, Tonks and Co will sell stock at the Hawera Yards on Wednesday at 1 p.m. Entries include 1300 well bred hoggets. Recent heavy snow-falls have caused considerable destruction amongst lambs in Otago. The third annual meeting of theTimaru farmers Co-operative Association was held on Saturday when the report and balance sheet showed a most satisfactory state of affairs, the profit for the year being £1430. A dividend of 7 per cent was declared, and the balance carried to reserve. The total liabilities amount to £26,898, but the assets exceed this by over £IO,OOO. It is rumoured that some change is contemplated re the system of medical examinations under the Government Insurance Department, such change to be in the direction of gradually substituting the services of regularly salaried medical officers for the examination by outside practitioners paid by fees. It is said the latter plan has proved unsatisfactory, and will bo replaced as soon as practicable by the other.

Two Akaroa justices have decided : (1) That the game of Yankee grab is not an unlawful game within the meaning of “The Gaming and Lotteries Act.” (2) That a public-house cannot be considered a public place, as defined by the same Act. There being no definition in “ The Licensing Act, 1881,” as to what constitutes an unlawful game, and no- provision of any sort for putting a stop to ordinary gambling.

The water trough in Bedford-street has been completed, and appears to be very successful, (he trough being filled to overflowing with good clear water. At present horses are rather shy of this drinking place, but when the weather gets warmer no doubt they will be ready enough to drink there. Boys are not so shy, and occasionally amuse themselves by drawing the plug and letting the water run. The novelty will wear off shortly, and then it will be found that the water trough is one of the most useful works, in a small way, yet performed by the Borough Council. Some alterations in the hours of closing the mails have been made, particulars of which may be seen in the postal notice. The Waverley came in on Friday evening but has since been detained here by the rough weather. The bar on Friday was very rough, and Captain Gibbons used a little oil while crossing. A man was stationed at the gide of the vessel with an ordinary oil-feeder, the contents of which were gradually dropped into the sea. The effect was very satisfactory, the Waverley arriving at the wharf with her after deck as dry as if she had been there all.day.

To-nr>rrow (Tuesday) being the twentythird anniversary of the opening of the Bank of New Zealand, that institution will be closed throughout the Colony in honour of the occasion.

. The Mayor of Hawera has written to Major Atkinson with a view to inviting the Governor to visit Hawera.

Mr W. L. Martyn, of Manaia, has sold out his farm to Mr Neuring, of Wanganui,

We learn from the Star that in consequence of ill health, the liuf. Mr Torry has gone on a visit to the Hot Springs. A man, who whilst under the influence of liquor, disported himself at the Patea Bridge in such a manner as to lead those who happened to be in that neighbourhood yesterday, to suppose that a verdict of felo de SjJ, would shortly bo returned upon the individual’s botly, will most probably make his appearance attheß.M. Court on Friday to answer for his conduct. Mr Lomas has resigned charge of the Wesleyan cause at Opunnke. The Waverley leaves for Wellington at 7.30 a.m. to-morrow.

A BlUe Ribbon Army meeting belt! in Onmaru on Monday evening was (says the Mail) the most vigorous and earnest yet held and as an instance of the growintcrest in the movement, it may be mentioned that several persons came distances of seven and nine miles to be present. The addresses given were of a nature calculated to impress the audience., For instance, an ex-publican, gave his own experience in “lambing down and Mr Poole treated his hearers to a description of the “blues,” telling how he chased imaginary little “ old gentlemen ” from the Oamaru Bridge to the Boundary Creek and made the startling assertion that for 33 years he had been a drunkard, and at one time spent £1370 in nine weeks. During the meeting 27 persons signed the pledge. Wattle culture is proposed in the Poverty Bay district. The bark is readily marketable, and the trees can be grown on the poorest soil. It is affirmed that in eight years the net profits derivable from a 100-acre wattle plantation would amount to more than £SOOO. This seems worth giving a trial to in Patea.

The Industrial Exhibition at Christchurch bids fair to be a great success. 12,640 square feet have already been applied for. Professor William Miller, the great Australian athlete, who was round this Colony with Jem Mace, has challenged John L. Sullivan, champion of America, “ to box with small ordinary sized gloves, one to win, for £SOO a side and the championship of the world ; the match to take place in Australia or New Zealand, and Miller to allow Sullivan £IOO for expenses.” The Lyttelton Times mentions that at a meeting of the Industrial Exhibition Committee the other evening, a large table lamp was exhibited, the illuminating medium in which was kerosene oil refined from Petroleum propured from Gisborne. The brilliant, clear, and steady light produced was the theme of general praise" from the members of the Committee, who also expressed high approval of the limpid appearance of a sample of the oil displayed in a small bottle by Mr Crompton.

Cricket season at Wellington was opened on Saturday.

A telegram from Dunedin states that the Otago Moat Freezing Company was formed on Saturday. Articles of Association were adopted, and permanent directors appointed. Over 4000 shares have been so far applied for by 356 applicants. It has been started because of the success of the former local company, the New Zealand, which sends Homo only shareholder’ mutton, thus shutting out a largo number of producers. The Waitara paper states that a large reduction in the price of butter has recently taken place. Sixpence per lb is all that can be obtained for it in quantities. In the month of Spptcmber 1299 persons arrived in the colony, and 517 left. The arrivals included—-Auckland, 898 ; Invercargill, 239 ; Wellington, 71 ; Dunedin, 46 ; Lyttelton, 37. The departures included—lnvercargil, 209 ; Auckland, 131 ; Wellington, 113 ; Lyttelton, 37. “ Anglo- Auat raflan,’ ’ in the European Mail , writes that the Emigration Department of the New Zealand Agent-general’s Office is very busy indeed. In the last week of July and the first week of August no fewer than 1300 emigrants were despatched in four vessels, and, judging by all appearances, the Colony will gain thereby some very desirable accessions to the directly productive sections of the community.

The committees appointed by the Hawera and Patea County Councils met at Hawera on Saturday and transacted important business with reference to rates, reserves, &c. Sheep are slowly, but surely, creeping along the Plains, and many paddocks which were thickly lined with horned cattle six months ago are now dotted over with snowy fleeces. A few loads of metal would not be amiss in the Railway station yard. This morning a dray laden with timber sunk half way up to the axles, and efforts to extricate it resulted in the shafts being broken.

The Hon. the Premier was a passenger by the afternoon train to Wanganui on his way to Wellington. We learn upon very good authority that His Excellency the Governor will visit Patea very shortly. His Excellency’s intention is to go to New Plymouth by steamer, and travel overianti down tlio coast, probably to Wanganui.

The Provisional Directors of the West Coast Meal and Produce Company met on Saturday afternoon. The share-list was declared closed, and it was decided to call a genera! meeting of shareholders on Wednesday the 24th hist. Permanent Directors will then be elected, and the business of the Company .proceeded with with all dispatch. Referring to shipping facilities, the Egmont Courier observes ; A great deal of Waitara’s success has been due to the members of the Harbour Board, who have been fat-seeing enough to know that the growth ot a port, in a district such as this, must keep pace with the requirements of settlers. Patea inade twenty-four hours’ storage and other vexatious changes. Waitara abolished everything that could reasonably be abolished. As a consequence, Waitara has taken a firm grip of the Hawera trade, which Patea, although no longer pursuing the same suicidal policy, will find it very hard to loosen. From Melbomne another tragedy is reported. While a man named Walter Stewart was in the bar of an hotel in South Melbourne on the morning of the 3rd inst., talking of his intention to seek a divorce from his wife, she suddenly entered the hotel, armed with a fivebarrelled revolver, fully loaded, and fired at her husband, tut the bullets missed him and the woman was arrested. Domestic quarrels are said to be the cause of this attempt on her husband’s life.

A sad fatal accident occurred at the Brisbane Lunatic Asylum recently. Miss Smith, a young lady from Sydney who was visiting Dr Scholcs, the medical superintendent, was sitting near the fire, when her dress ignited. She rushed to the servants’ quarters for assistance ; but they, thinking her a lunatic, shut the door, and before assistance was rendered she was so severely burnt that she died.

A number of members of the New Zealand Civil Service, resident in Christchurch, have initiated a movement for the formation of a Civil Service Supply Association, to be incorporated as a joint stock company (limited), and having foa a basis the rules of the London association, the success of which is widely known. The object is to fnrnish members with articles of all kinds, both for domestic consumption and general use, at the lowest possible prices. The capital is to be £IO,OOO, in 2000 shares of £5 each. No member of the association is to be allowed more than 10 shares, and no shores are to be allotted to others than persons in the employ of the Government. The head office of the association is to be at Christchurch, but its operations will presumably embrace the whole colony.

The total Customs revenue for the 12 months ended 30th ult. amounted to £1,438,791, as against £1,518,279 for the corresponding period ended 30th September, 1882 ; but the September quarter of 1882 was the largest as to Customs ever recorded in the colony, and £57,000 more than the corresponding quarter of this year.

An extraordinary case is reported by the Nelson Colonist as having been heard at Havelock the other day. A publican named Moses Fear was charged under the 191st section of the Licensing Act 1881 which reads as follows :—“ Any person who shall sell or offer for sale any liquor with which is mixed any ingredient or material injurious to health, or whereby any such liquor is rendered injurious to the health of persons drinking the same, and every person who shall sell as unadulterated any liquor which is adulterated shall, on conviction, be liable for every such offence to a penalty not exceeding £20.” The allegation was that the defendont purchased croton oil, which is a powerful purgative, from a local medical man, for the purposejof giving a dose of the mixture to the chairman of the Licensing Bench. Mr Horton suffered very considerably from the effects of the mixture. The Magistrate adjourned the case for a fortnight, and there is a possibility of a new information being laid under the 21st section of the Offences Against the Persons Act of 1867.

The monthly meeting of the Masonic Lodge is to be held this evening. The business is raising, and nomination of officers for ensuing year. Mr Eicbard Proctor makes a very curious suggestion in a recent number of his paper, to the effect that the spreading of so large a quantity of iron upon the surface of the earth, as modern science is doing, is likely, in the future, to exercise a very decided influence of its own upon electric currents and magnetic storms, and in this way to exercise a very material meteorological influence.