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Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 173, 2 May 1874, Page 2

A second article on the desirability of forming a Building Society in Tsuranga shall appear on Wednesday. We should like to see the subject of Building Societies, on various principles, well ventilated previous to a public meeting being held, and shall be glad to receive suggestions for publication from any persons who understand such mutters.

The Arthur Vivian Company will make their first appearance at Fraser’s Hall this evening. We hope to see a bumper house.

The Rev Mr Macnicol, Presbyterian minister is expected by the Southern Cross from Auckland this afternoon, and purposes bolding divine service to-morrow.

The next outward Californian English mail is appointed to leave Auckland on the Ilth instant.

On the 30th ultimo an inquiry was held before Captain I'ovey, District Coroner, and a respectable jury, touching the fir© which caused the destruction of Mrs Farrell’s farm-house, &c. Evidence was elicited which showed that the building was composed of wood and galvanised iron, of the value of £3O ; that a ton of hay, and some potatoes worth upwards of £5, were housed therein ; that the floor of the building was carefully swept and no matches or inflammable matter observed therein previous to the hay being housed, about three months ago ; that the hay was well saved, and by no means likely to heat and ignite spontaneously j that the fire broke out in the roof, and was observed fay Mrs Bartlett, who resides within 300 yards of the spot, at I pin on the 20th ultimo ; that the only other settler who lives in the immediate neighbourhood had left for Tauranga just previous to the fire breaking out j and that the building was consumed before Mrs Bartlett could procure help. The jury at once concluded that the evidence was insufficient to elucidate the origin of the fire. Messrs Nicoll, the well-known ship-builders of the North Shore, Auckland, have just completed the building of a new cutter for our townsman, Mr Thomas Wrjgley, The cutter, which is to be christened “ The Isabel ” the name of Mr Wrigley’s youngest child—is 37ft keel, lift beam, and 4ft 6in depth of hold. Her tonnage is about fourteen register, she is light draught of water, and intended for the Bay of Plenty trade. We learn that competent judges have pronounced her to be a little model. When the order was given to Messrs Nicoll, they promised to turn her out “ a second Vincent on a small scale and from all we can hear, the Isabel will prove a credit to owner and builders.

We have to acknowledge the receipt with thanks from the Government Printer of the following papers : —lntroduction of Salmon Ova ; Fourth Annual Report of the Botanic Garden Board ; Area, Population, Revenue, &c., of the several provinces ; Establishment of a Mint for Silver and Copper Coinage; Report of Immigration Committee re petition of Messrs Brogden and Sons ; and other papers. We direct the attention of sportsmen and others to Mr Firth W rig ley’s advertisement which appears in another portion of this impression regarding the sale of ammunition. Mr Firth Wrigley was the first person to take out a license for the sale of “warlike stores” in the Bay of Plenty district.

We have been favoured with the following extract from a private letter lately received from Patea by a gentleman now reaiding in this district :—“ The natives are rather troublesome just now. On Tuesday they shifted Sheet's survey camp with their own bullock dray off Finlayson’s land (where the surveyors had pitched their camp) to the road in front of Blake’s house, in Ketaramea. This is not the first time the natives have stopped the Government surveyors in this district. Fancy old Sheet’s camp wheeled away ; luckily he did not interfere with them. The first warning was given on Good Friday ; when some friends were dining with him at the time the niggers came up. Some of Tito Kowaru’a men who 1 knew were there ; there was nothing warlike about them—no guns, tomahawks, &c. ; all they did was to pack up the tents, &c., very carefully, and cart them off their land. Captain Skeet is head boss of the Good Templars, and Captain Gundry also holds a high rank in the Order. The initials after both their names includes nearly the whole of the alphabet.” When should lambs come ? is a question of considerable importance to those who keep sheep. Some are of the opinion that by having them come late, say in May, you do not lose so many, it is less trouble, and the sheep shear a better fleece of wool. No doubt there is more or less weight in these arguments, but not sufficient, in my estimation, as a rule, to outweigh facts on the other side. I say as a rule, for there may be exceptions. If a farmer has to be absent from home in winter, and is obliged to leave his stock in charge of boys or unreliable help, or if he has not good feed to spare them, they had better not be allowed to come iintil the sheep have a good bite of grass, so as to gain some in flesh, and have milk with which to supply them. If, on the other hand, they have good food (good hay and some provender), good faithful tending, and a warm chance, there need be no trouble in having lambs come in mid-winter. If you want to raise them, they will take “ right hold ” when they come to the barn the following winter ; they will get a better growth the first season by far, and will make larger sheep; they will be pretty sure to raise a lamb the next season, and will have a better fleece ; while if you let them go to the butcher they will bring you the hard cash in July and August, and your sheep will have a better chance to gain. So 1 say, as a rule, let them come early. —Farm Journal.