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Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 6, 2 October 1878, Page 2

Tenders. —Tenders are called for the erection of a stable and out]louse and a quantity of fencing in connexion with the post-office and telegraphic station at Waipukurua. Further particulars may be seen in our advertising columns. Shearing. The shearing season will commence in several parts of this district in a few days. We have been informed that in no previous year has the clip promise better, both as to quantity and quality. This is good news for Hawke’s Bay, for in tlie > present stage of settlement our prosperity mainly depends upon wool production.

Tjie Entire Sator. —Mr Lewis Evans has entered his thoroughbred horse to compete at the next show held in connexion with the Hawke’s Bay Pastoral and Agricultural Association. Sator is a splendid animal, and has been exhibited many times, and took first prize on every occasion with the exception of one, when he took second place, the judges having awarded first prize to another horse of the famous Gladiator stock.

Commutation of Sentence. —We have been informed that in response to a numerously-signed petition from settlers, the sentence on the two Germans, who were convicted on a charge of stabbing at Kopua on the occasion of the opening of the railway, has been reduced to three months’ imprisonment. As the time lias now expired we presume they will be immediately released from gaol. Departure. —Mr. Edward Rcddln, who in the absence of the proprietor, was entrusted with the management of this journal in its preliminary stages, and who has performed his duties efficiently and zealously, left for the south yesterday. We regret that Mr. Reddin is preventedby engagements elsewhere from making his home in this district, and we have much pleasure in thus publicly wishing him every success in his future career.

Wan.stead Hotel. —Mr P. McGreevy, who is one of the oldest of our Waipawa settlers, lias notified his intention of retiring from business here, as he is about taking over a large hotel recently erected at Wanstead. In connection with the hotel, there will be a general store, which no doubt will be found a great convenience to the neighboring settlers, as the hotel will be to travellers. Mr McGreevy also intimates that lie will carry on a tailoring business at Wanstead; so as to enable the residents of the new and promising township to dress in the latest Parisian fashions. We cordially wish Mr McGreevy success in his three branches of business.

Postal. —The Chief Postmaster at Napier does not see his way to recommend the authorities to establish two mails daily between the places along the railway and Napier, He is of opinion that the amount of correspondence would not justify the department in undertaking the extra labor. Perhaps he has overlooked the fact that the amount of correspondence would be largely increased by more frequent postal services. However, leaving this view of the question on one side, we would remind the powers that be that the postal department, like any other department of the Government, is not established so much for purposes of profit as for the public convenience ; and that more than half the population of Hawke’s Bay are inconvenienced by the present arrangements. With a railway between this district and Napier, it is absurd that facilities should not be afforded to business men to receive an answer to a letter the day it is despatched. A Farthing Damages.— Will a “farthing damages” carry costs? It is now settled, not without much trouble and three trials, that a farthing carries costs, unless the judges on the trial certify to the contrary. In Garnett v. Bradley, tried at the Shrewsbury Assizes, Mr Justice Aniplilct declined to certify. The Taxing Master allowed full costs. Barons Pollock and Huddleston upheld his decision in the Court of Exchequer, where the defendant carried the case. The Court of Appeal reversed the judgment of the Court of Exchequer ; but Lords Hatherley, OTlagan, Blackburn, and Gordon, in the House of Lords, reconfirmed the Master's action, and so far the future equity and common law agree that a farthing carries costs.

Ashton’s Sweep. —By an advertisement in auotlier colemn, it will be seen that Mr Ashton, of the Provincial Hotel, Napier, intends holding a sweep of £IOOO on the Melbourne Cup. Waipawa subscribers are informed that tickets for the sweep may be obtained at Baker’s Empire Hotel, and at Kelly’s Imperial Hotel. # Fire at the Spit. —A fire occurred at the Spit yesterday morning shortly before one o’clock. The fire broke out on the premises of Mr Beukers, which was filled with tar, naphtha, and other combustible materials. The fire extended to the premises of Mr Le Quesne, but its further progress was stayed by the exertions of the Napier and Port Aliuriri Fire Brigades. Mr. Le Quesne, wlio was uninsured, lias lost £SOO by the fire. Mr Beuker premises and stock were insured in the Union Company for £650. He values the stock alone at £IOOO.

Quick Transit. —lt is not so very long ago that a trip from Poverty Bay to Kopua occupied the greater part of a week. Owing to the excellent steamboat arrangements now and the iron horse, a settler can take his afternoon meal at one place, and his breakfast the following morning at the other. The s.s. Hawea left Gisborne at six p.m. on Friday evening last. Mr Coltman, who was a passenger by her, arrived in Napier early enough on Saturday morning to catch the first train, and reached Kopua in time for a late breakfast. This speaks well for the enterprise of the Union Steam Shipping Company in laying on such splendid boats as the Hawea on the coastal trade, and is also an evidence of the beneficial effects of the public works policy. With such means of rapid transit the people of the various districts of the colony are likely to know more of each other. Such knowledge must be beneficial all round. A Double-headed Infant.— The Otago Daily Times of the 21st ult. says :—An auction sale of a rather extraordinary character was held in Barrett’s rooms, Princess-street, yesterday afternoon. The body of a double-headed infant preserved in spirits of wine was submitted to public competition, and after some spirited bidding was knocked down to a local turfite for £47. This remarkable freak of nature formed part of the effects of the late Dr O’Donoghue, of Port Chalmers. It is stated that the birth occurred twelve years ago, and that the appearance of the child so alarmed the mother that she died almost immediately.

Sir Julius Vogel’s Services. —A Tasmanian paper quotes the figures attained at the sale of the Riccarton Estate in Canterbury, and says these figures show more clearly than words can paint what were the benefits accruing to New Zealand from Sir Julius Vogel’s services. His policy, has completely lifted the colony from a state of commercial prostration to a high condition of prosperity.

Forging a Will. —At the assizes at Leeds (England) on July 27, a solicitor named Myers was sentenced to fifteen years’ penal servitude for forging wliat purported to be the will of ail old man named Hatfield, by which property worth £15,000 was alienated from the children and left to a second wife. The eldest son discovered the fraud, and established the children’s rights by the aid of a draft of the original will. A manufacturer named Joy, and a butcher named Welliam, who attested the forgery, were severally sentenced to fifteen and seven years’ penal servitude. Police Pay. —The Minister of Justice, during the recent discussion on the pay of the police, compared the salary of the latter with the wages usually paid to working men. On this point the Wellington Chronicle remarks :—“ We must protest against the working men comparison made by Mr Sheehan ; something more intelligent than an ordinary laborer is required, if the force is to become what it should be. To make efficient constables, brains, rather than strength are required, and the inducement to men of tact and discretion to join the force rather than laborers, who simply wish to better their position as regards immunity from manual labor, is not simply to offer them a position a trifle above that of a laborer with no better pay. Good men must be properly paid and treated, and must have something of an advantageous character to look forward to as a reward for faithful services. Good men in the police force are like good men in any other service less of them will be required to do a given amount of work, and that work will be better done than by double the number of inefficients.

The Unearned Increment.— Mr Studlioline has sold 800 acres at Waimate which cost him 40s per acre, making an original total cost of £I6OO. He has now received (says the Saturday Advertiser) £l9 per acre, or £15,200 in all, being nearly ten times the original cost. Thanks to the railways made at the cost of the people.

Wiiat he Believes.— ln the Nelson Evening Mail appears a “ shorter catechism” of New Zealand History, in -which the following answer is made to a question re Mr Macandrcw:—Answer : He honestly, firmly, and tenaciously believes that New Zealand means Otago ; in other words, that it is bounded on the north by the northern boundary of Otago, on the east by the eastern boundary of Otago, on the south by the southern boundary of Otago, and on the west by the western boundary of Otago.

Land at a Halfpenny an Acre.— Land appears to be dirt cheap in West Virginia. An exchange says :—Recently 90,000 acres were sold in 1000 acre blocks at one cent per acre, and 300,000 acres in one block were sold at the same figure. Any quantity of land in that section can be bought for ten cents an acre. The sales referred to were whiteoak timber and mineral land. It is a rough country, but the land should be worth a halfpenny an acre, unless heavily burdened with taxes. West Virginia is, however, advancing steadily as an agricultural state, and an effort is being made to introduce English settlers.

The Licensing Bill. —The Weßington correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle thus alludes to the widely different views held by Mr Robert Stout and Mr John Sheehan on the licensing question : “ Yes, that Licensing Bill has been withdrawn. Johnny and Robert could not agree upon its terms. Johnny’s sympathies are with whisky, and Robert’s with water, hence the difference. They tried hard to patch up matters, and between them put Fox off, day after day, with one specious fib or another about the measure, until at last Sheehan was obliged to make a clean breast of it and confess that the bill was to be withdrawn. We are yet to be told the reason, and I shall in common with many others be curious to learn what story the Ministry will concoct between them in excuse for their want of unanimity.”

Native Ladies. —ln enumerating the many claims (says the New Zealand Times) that the Maoris had to special representation, Mr Taiaroa remarked that the native ladies were far better contributors to the revenue than European ladies. They smoked—that was one point in their favor ; then they used a week’s allowance of sugar at one “go ” —they would consume a pannikinful at one meal. The Maoris also consumed a large quantity of beer, and" generally used more articles that paid duty than white people. If they got £20,000 to-morrow they would not leave Wellington until they had spent it all. If he (Mr Taiaroa) had to travel over the whole of his district he would spend all his money in travelling expenses, which he ought to save for his children. For seven years he had asked for more Maori members, and he had not yet gained his cause. He looked upon the Native Minister as a Maori. v*'