NEW PLYMOUTH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1914, 13 February 1885, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH.

—». O (From pur own Correspondent). Since my last letter the plerk of the weather has favored us with some really glorious days, It has certainly been warm, but at all times bearable. It is to be hoped this will continue, to allow the farmers to gather in their crops, which I am happy to report, are looking extremely well at present, despite the heavy winds and rajn experienced at the beginning of the season, The breakwater jsnjjw progressing fairly, during the present season," no less than thirteen sections have been completed, making the length of wall 1296 feet. Some distance outward is still to be gone before taking the curve, and as some new fittings have just been obtained for the big "crayne," the work will go on rapidly. The School Committee election created quite a furore here, great interest being taken in the proceedings. Indeed, at this election a greater number of votes were polled than at any proceeding one—reaching the respectable total of 1620, —there, were seventeen .nominations. The seven candidates elected are all sound and trustworthy men, and will be able to uphold the interests of the district in the body they represent, , The election of six persons to constitute a ugy Harbor Board takes place on Monday, tfia'Sth jnsL and the contest is likely to cause a little exoitenienj.. There are seven candidates, five or'wlipm'are . old members. In every case the voting is expected to be very close. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Ironsand Company was held on Monday evening last and was largely attended. TJ}e Seojjetary. read the annual report which SWMfeJIJJ W? Mb ing for tl)e disposal of "the Gg'njpap's property at Te fjeiuu, and'prjjpq'sals would be submitted tg sljai'eliQlJers'at an extraordinary meeting held fai t})at pp pose. The balance-seeet shewed receipts at £lB6 9s 7d which left a balance, over expenditure of £lO9 7s 2d. Both the report and balance sheet were adopted. At an fixfcPMMJjnapy meeting of the Company held afterwards, fgj! $e piu'ppge of empowering the Directors, 'to/ make suitable arrangements fpr disposing of t]je plant, offers wo read from Messrs Brisr tead Bros, England, and torn a local company. After a lengthy discussion it was ultimately decided, "That the directors be authorised, and are hereby ompowered to dispose of the Company's plant to such parties as thoy may think fit, always with the view to the establishment of tho iron industry as early as possible." We had a fire here a week or two ago at thV'ia'to fes School Buildings. It broke out about 1,15'a/hj,'in the Easern end of the School, and was not discovered until it had obtained a firm hold, Aftersomo sharp work, however, the local bridage succeeded in mastering the flames. The schoolhouse was completely gutted, but the teachers' residence, adjoining the school received but little damage. Tho origin of the fir ois ascribed tg spontaneous combustion, The building was uniii> sured, and the loss is estimated at between £250 and £3OO. " ' ' l The proposed butter factory by the Warea and Bahotia residents (small districts not a great distance from New Plymouth) appears to be a settled thing. 4 njeetlng of ie (pjmitteo took place on the 27th instant and, was nunjeroysly attended, A resolijtiqn was unanimously passed that a delegate bo sent* to. vfariga'nul to intetviejv the manager pf the factory thepo, and pbfcam »S Pish. ¥w mation as possible, also to inioryiew ie Minister of Lands, re'a site, It is tp be hoped this industry will meet with the success it deserves, I expressed a hope in my last letter that I should have had somo interesting matter with which to supply you readers, viz, pur. prospecting party's doings at the Mokan.' Pot, alas, I mti fjl.P'? B thiß from my mind, ftt least fpr the present,. The whole party wore turned pack by the Mokau natives, the chief reason given fpr that action being that tho Amnesty Act did not extend to the murderers of Maffot and the Tuhua natives were afraid the murderers would be arrested by the government, The party were otherwise well treated dilrjng tjio gtay in the district, receiving an invitation to a twp day's carouse in the native settlement, I ; hear that another attempt is to be made by a party under tho guidance of Te < Weteoe. THe latest is that a pair of rabbits have been liberated on the Sugar Loaf known as the "Saddleback." They were emigre- ' ted to that spot, I believe, for. the express ' purpose of affording a little'amusement to ': our local " sports" during the shooting : season. The Wanganui Chronicle, how- < ever criticises Taranaki upon the subject, pointing out the folly, of such a proceed- i ing, I do not think there is much dan- i ger pf pur lively fpnds becomingXpesl '. as the island js fully pf a i niile out' to sea, and tlje" spprt'ive'bnnhy" i does not, as a rule, flpurish in this district. While writing on this subject, I' ' may state the Manahoeoplo are talking i of forming a Hunt Club, as hareß are vory plentiful in that locality. I hear i that one gentleman alone has a pack of 1 hounds numbering seven couples.. .-"./■' 1 The forming of a Fish Market is in. 1

contemplation at Waitara, for the purpose of keeping tho ooast supplied with fish. The promoters havo already obtained a " smack" from Onohunga, and should the enterprise prove successful, as I havo no doubt it will, they intend working the industry on a more extensive scale, M. de Harven, accompanied M. Beex, Belgian- Consul, has been paying us a visit during the past woek. While here, the visitors inspected the Ironsand works and the .harbor improvements. With the former they expressed themselves greatly pleased, and felt convinced the sand might be worked into iron and steel that would compare favorably 'with any of the imported article, With the harbor works tho visitors were highly gratified, and congratulated His Worship the Mayor on the progress made; they believed that New Plymouth would soon take a prominent position as a port. In the rifle match between the Wellington Navals. and the New Plymouth' Volunteers on Saturday, fired upon their own grounds, the New Plymouth men beat their opponents by 69 points. The day was not a very favorable one for shooting, the wind being gusty at intervals, consequently the scores were not high. The largest Bcore for the local team was 80 out of a possible 105. The Fire Brigade representatives in the Dunedin demonstration returned here on Saturday.. The men express themselves thoroughly disgusted with the treatment received, an opinion, I believe, pretty freely endorsed by the representative earns of the North Island.