The Patea Mail. Established 1875. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1883. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1130, 27 December 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1883. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Divine Service was held on Christmas Day in St George’s and the Roman Catholic Churches.

A youth was thrown from his horse in Bedford-street on Christmas Da}', and hurt his shoulder slightly. Beyond tin's, however, he received no injury. Most of the storekeepers in town had a display of seasonable articles in their shop windows on Monday night, but the elaborate decoration resorted to last year wa B nowhere to be seen.

A Perth (W.A.) telegram in the Melbourne Aye says.—“ It is estimated that fully 1500 persons are affected by measles in Perth and Freemantle ; among them are many adults, nearly all of whom are Colonial born. All the public schools in Freemantle have been closed in consequence of the epidemic.” The other day (says the Oamaru while mustering at Otematata, the manager (Mr Stoddart) observed a sheep straggling along with bead erect and mouth open, panting, with a large gull perched upon its back, and tearing away at the poor brute’s flesh. On examination it was found that the gull was actually eating away the flesh in the same manner as the kea is in the habit of doing. Whether a kea had commenced the attack, and the gull was finishing upon this particular sheep, it is impossible to say.

The Salvation Army in Melbourne have resolved to enter noon a new and important field of effort—-viz, to give a helping hand to prisonera on discharge from the Melbourne Gaol, upon the sole condition that they desire to live honest, sober, and reformed lives. The proposal is to establish a home, or retreat, for the above referred to, under proper and experienced supervision, to give the discharged prisoners another chance. Food, clothes, work, and a shelter will be provided till the men can “ turn themselves round,” and do something for themselves

The comet which hss been observed in Europe during the past two or three months will, according to the calculations of Mr Ellery, the Government astronomer in Melbourne, he visible in Australia in a week or two. Tin's,comet, it is believed, is the smaller one of the two that were observed in 1812, and the reappehrancc of which was calculated to occur about this time. The comet will appear low down in the western horizon, just after sunset. In England the obervations have not been satisfacloiy, owing to unfavourable weather conditions, but in Germany a very fair record of its movements been obtained. For the first three weeks no tail was visible, but at torwards the comet began to develop this appendage, and became equal to a star of the eighth magnitude. On Christinas Day at the Catholic Church, Paten, when it was announced by the Rev Father Walsh that a change of priests was to take place, the congregation was so much taken by surprae, that before service was completed there was scarcely a dry eye in the chinch. Separating from them (ho Rev Father Grogan, who has been amongst them and done so much good, is, to the minds of the parishioners, unwise. We do not know that it is through any wish of his, pnd wc arc atm; that it is not the wish of his parishioners that the change is taking place, but most likety it is the desire of his Lordship, Bishop Redwood. The Rev. Father Walsh, who has only been n short time with Father Grogan, is also to be removed to Christchurch, where he will take with him the good wishes of all who knew him here. It may not be out of place to say a few words with , reference .to Father Grogan while on this coast.. Some four rears ago lie arrived in this district from Napier. On arriving, the rev gentleman found things in a very unsatisfactory state. To rectify this state of things, was a large undertaking in itself, but with patience and perseverance he soon surmounted tile difficulty, and afterwards commenced making such vast improvements that they speak vo'nmcs for his untiring efforts. His departure from here will be deeply regretted, and he will carry to Napier the good wishes of all who knew him.—Communicated.