MANUTAHI.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1112, 14 November 1883, Page 2

MANUTAHI.

(From our Correspondent.) The Roman Catholic body have established a monthly service, the first one being held in the blockhouse on Sunday last at 9 o’clock a.m. The Rev Father Grogan conducted the

service, and there was a very large congregation. The interior of the building was tastefully decorated by the ladies of that church under the superintendence of Mrs Eneas Gallagher. This is a step in the right direction as it will enable men from rations subcontracts on the railway works to attend worship at least once a month.

On Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. the Presbyterian service was conducted by the Bev Mr Thompson, I was sorry to note’ there were so very few persons present, a great contrast from a meeting held in the same place earlier in the day. Work on the. Manutahi railway contract is at present wholly suspended, over UK) men being now idle. I am unable to give the exact reason, but am informed that Government will not pay as much progress payment as is required. Besides Mr Nathan’s sureties have found that an error has cropped out in tendering for the contract, in the shape of an item of 60,000 yards more of earth than was calculated on, a great portion being papa rock. In cash this represents something like LI,OOO. When work will be resumed I cannot say. A few days ago as the team belonging to Mr Johnston, Brewer, Of Normanby, was feeding on a vacant section opposite the Manutahi Hold, and through some means they bolted. The driver was luckily close at hand, and seised the leaders, but the whippletrce came undone, the leaders going one direction and the polers another. Cobb and Co’s coach was in just about that time, and plenty of volunteers being at hand the .brutes were soon stopped in their mad career. No damage was done to the vehicle.