The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1883. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1121, 5 December 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1883. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Prince Bismarck is seriously ill with jaundice,

The Triumph has been abandoned to the Underwriters.

The Rotomr.hana is afloat once more, and made a trial trip on Monday. The Walcalijm Mail denies the truth of the report about diamonds being found at Earnslaw.

A gold-bearing reef has been traced at Rakaia Gorge, in Canterbury. A company has been formed to test the stone. There are now 250 subscribers on the Dunedin Telephone Exchange; others who have applied cannot at present be accommodated. Lieutenant Thurston, of the Wairoa Light Horse, has passed a most successful examination for a commission, which will be issued forthwith. A man named Brown, one of the workmen at the Bast Town railway shops, had two of his fingers taken off on Saturday by falling upon a cog wheel. The explosion at the Owake powder mills was attributed to a fire which was started near the mill by men engaged in bush felling. About £2OO of damage was done.

The Aorangi, the second of the new steamers belonging to the New Zealand Shipping Company, left London for Wellington on Nov 80, with a full cargo and a large number of passengers. The Company have ordered two more steamers of still larger dimensions. We learn from Dunedin that the New Zealand Refrigerating Company have added a Haslam’s machine to their works at Burnside, which will enable them to freeze 375 sheep per day, instead of 250. They will send eleven or twelve thousand sheep by the Tongariro, and have vrrnngcd for the despatch of about 81,000 during 1884.

Alexander M'Millan, who indulged in the luxury of another man’s wife, was brought up at Christchurch on Monday, charged with larceny, the fair but frail partner of his flight having left Oainani with some goods belonging to her husband, a Mr Treloar. Mrs Treloar having promised to return to her liege lord, accused was set at liberty,

Mr W. Wilson has resigned his seat in the County Council. Mr R. Horner was to-day re-elected Chairman of the County Council foi the ensuing year.

A. full cargo is waiting for (he Waverley. Her arrival from Wellington is delayed by the boisterous weather. The Secretary of the West Coast Meat and Produce Company has received a telegram from Mr Coxon, stating that hj« may be expected in Patea about the 17th instant.

A telgram from Napier states that the body of Thomas Kerr, seaman, who was one of the victims of the recent boat accident on (he bar of the harbour, was found on the Petano beach yosterda}’. At the inquest the verdict was accidental!}’ drowned.

What ia the Domain Board going to do with the paddock which recently fell into their hands through the departure of Mr C. F. Barker? At present horses are running on the ground and people are asking what arrangements have 1 cen made. The properly belongs to the public and it is usual to put these leases up to auction. Wo know that several persons are expecting the Board to take that course.

The man Young, who committed suicide at Dunedin on Saturday, sent a letter to the Daily Times, blaming his friends for causing him to kill himself-/ He said that Mr Cnnniugh'nm: had promised him his daughter’s hand, and afterwards withdrawn his consent, and that he destroj'ed himself because ho could not live without her. The deed was evidently premeditated, and at the inquest the jury returned a verdict of “ Suicide while insane,”

A slight accident occurred on (he Roslyn (Dunedin) tramway on Monday evening. The man driving gripped the rope too quickly, and (lie car jumped off the axle tree. He then tried to put a brake on, but it did not act, and the car began going down the hill at a fast rate. The passengers jumped off, but another driver who happened to bo on the car rushed to the gripper and got hold of the rope. One passenger .fell and got a slight Out.

At the meeting of the Borough Council on Monday evening a letter was read from the County Council, which requested that the holes in the floor Of the b.-idge should be attended to. From the general tone of Councillors’remarks it seemed 1 that they evidently regarded that the County Council were a great deal better at reminding other bodies wbat to do than in looking after their own work. ; Ultimately it was decided to reply that , the matter mentioned in the letter from the County Council bad been attended to.

A new faim waggon has lately been introduced into the Waverley district by Mr Dickie. The waggon, which is of American construction, has grown largely into favour with numbers of the Waverley farmers, being bandy as well as inexpensive. It is worked with two light horses, and the weight that can bo drawn by a pair of horses is three tons, which is said to be accomplished with comparative case. It is drawn with a pole, the harness for which has been specially imported by Mr Dickie. The only drawback it has is that a body has to be made for it. This was constructed locally, and is a superior piece of workmanship. In appearance the waggon seems somewhat light, as well as narrow and long, the width from wheel to wheel being about -4ft. Gin. It is said to be easily turned, and is a hand}' addition to the farming implements. The price for waggon in Waverley is said to be about £2B, the, harness being something extra. Borough Councillors late!}' have been most assiduous in reminding each other of their individual and collective duties to the ratepayers. Rarely a meeting of the Council passes without one at least o£ tlio City Fathers—when he finds his moving appeals for something lie considers needful are having no visible effect on his hard-hearted brethren —giving them to understand'that to refuse they “ would be neglecting their duties as Councillors.” This sometimes is carried to an uncomfortable extent, and most probably before long Councillors will be afraid to expose any real or fancied evil. A case of this kind, in which, however, the tables were smartly turned, occurred on Monday night. Councillor McCarthy, while speaking about the bridge, happened to say that the by-law having reference to vehicles and horses proceeding over at a walking pace was very seldom observed, when be was informed by Councillor Bright that it was his duty as a citizen and Councillor to do his utmost to have the offenders brought to justice. Shortly after, when the various reports camo up for consideration, it was found that there was not one from the Inspector of Nuisances ; upon which Councillor Bright ventured the opinion that there were places in the town which required an Inspector of Nuisances’ attention. Now was Councillor McCarthy’s chance, and in a triumphant tone, which caused no little amusement among Councillors, ho charged the now discomfited Councillor Bright with a serious neglect of duly in allowing those nuisances to exist, without giving (ho necessary information leading to their removal.

The season has, so far, indicaled nothing like the commencement of summer on this part of the coast, and instead of sunny and mild dnj’s, wo have had nothing but rain and wind. The complaints of fanners are very loud, and if a sudden change for the better docs not occur, (he settlers wl o sowed their grain—wheat especially—earl}-, will reap a prolific crop of straw, but little grain. The crops around Wnvorley and southward to Waitotara are looking well, but in some cases the amount sown to the acre has proved too much, and is made more (in appearances) by the very un-summor like season (ho wet encouraging the wheat to stool out more than would have boon the case had thorn been dry weather. Oats are not likely to ho so much affected, and tlio rain has clone many of the farmers who delayed planling oats a good deal of good. Amongst tboso who will have largo crops may bo mentioned Messrs Hearn and Kennedy, who have about 800 acres in, and their healthy appearance is spoken of on every side. There are many more that could bo mentioned as having crops in, viz Messrs Morton, Hair, Dickie, Lupton, Aiken, Howie, and numbers of others, thus showing that the farmers are appreciating the passable prices for all sorts of grain, and discarding cattle owing to their low prices. Turnips aro also P'.wn largely by numbers, and many aro jest about finishing ploughing, whilst oihiTß have every appearance of a good crop, the turnips being a good height up, and if cattle arc a little low next winter (and wo hope they aro not) settlers will not bo compelled to rush them into market and take anything that may be offered for them. It is gratifying to know, that there will be more settlers having crops in the Waverley district this year than any previous one, and the wish of one and all is that ibo weather will shortly clear up,

Mr ./Eneas Gallagher has been appointed poundkeeper at Manutahi. Samuel Nicholl, a railway labourer, was found dead in his tent near Mosgiel from heart disease.

It is reported that gold bearing stone has been struck in a drive and in a shaft at Johnston’s United Mine Collingwood...

Stratford is now wholly included in Taranaki. county. The boundaries of Taranaki and Hawcra. counties appear in the Gazette of Nov. 23.: .

i, Mr J G Beamish is offering to let his property on the Patea road between the town and Kakaramea.. Any one wanting a nice little dairy farm should inspect the property.

A team of -cricketers will leave Christchurch for Auckland on the 20th inst.; Perhaps they could be induced to make their return journey via this Coast, and play a combined team either at Hawera or Patea.

The Otoia Licensing Committee meet to-morrow. The-only business consists of an application for transfer of license of (lie Manntahi Hotel from William Gallagher to iEneas Gdlagher. On Saturday last, a bouse belonging to George Graham, standing on the west bank of Aorere at Collingwood, was together with its contents destroyed by lire. Mr Graham is a heavy loser, : At Waverlcy, on Monday, before Captain Wray, Mary Glonlworth applied for a probation order against William Glentworth,which was granted, the order to take effect in the Waverlcy Licensing district. We have to remind our renders of the school entertainment to bo given in the Harmonic Hall tin's evening. A very attractive programme has been prepared, and after the concert a select dance will will take place. The following additional nominations have been received for the M main races : Hurdles—Mr H. George’s Caoutchouc, Mr O’Brien’s Omadhaun (late Reliance). Handicap, and Flying Handicap—Mr O’Brien’s Bon Jour.

There are two vacancies in the Borough Council. Mr Dixon has resigned, having removed to Palmerston North, and Mr Taplin has allowed his seat to become vacant by absenting himself from four censccutivo meetings of the Council. Nominations are invited by the Returning Officer, to be sent in up till Saturday, 15th inat.

The only business that came before the R.M, yesterday, was one civil case, Howitfc v McKenzie, This case had been adjourned from a previous epurtday. Mr Barton appeared for plaintiff, and asked for a further adjournment till Friday, which was granted. Just before the B.M. left the Bench, a telegram from the defendant stating that a post office order had been forwarded to the plaintiff, was handed to Mr Barton.

Mr Bryce’s proposal has been accepted by the Ngatimaniapoto and the other tribes of Kingitcs. An application to the Native L ind Court for a determination of litie has been made, which is signed liy Rowi, Hitiri, Te Paerata, Taonni, Wahanui, and Hopa. These arc great chiefs and great landowners, Ilitiii lias the chief say in tho hauhau lands of Taupo. Shearing has been delayed a good dea' lately, and around Waverley a number of sheep remain unshorn. Those who have not shorn yet are earnestly waiting for fine weather, and those who have been fortunate enough to have got shorn during the fine weather con-ider themselves lucky. Although the uhfortunales .who have not got their clip off, are every-day getting more wool, their complaints are *• deep and loud ’’ regarding the inclement season.

Mr Sample’s system of breaking horses is coming into use very much in this district, and • numbers of settlers avail themselves of his valuable method. Yesterday morning Mr Morton, of Waverley, had no less than four men in the yard breaking in a drove of horses for the Auckland market, and the number of animals they put through was astonishing. Although they, were wilder than the proverbial March hares the animals soon became as docile as possible after a little “tuition,” and wore ridden round the yard 15 minutes after handling. The days are fast passing away when the lounging and other brutal treatment were used, and it may bo said of Mr Sample that ho came as a boon and a blessing to mankind hero.