Untitled

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5122, 10 July 1878, Page 2

We learn that the Ormondville Special Settlement is progressing at a rapid rate, and that several families are about to take possession of their sections. There are already two stores established in the settlement, besides a number of three and four-roomed houses. A school-house, to accommodate about 100 children, is also in course of erection. Clearing is going on briskly at present, and a considerable area of land is now being fenced and laid down in grass. Many of the settlers are procuring live .stock cf every description for dairy and other purposes. The bridges across the Manawatu are being rapidly proceeded with, and it is anticipated that in a short time the permanent way from Kopua to Ormondville Settlement will be commenced. The settlers in the district^ we learn, speak favorably of their future prospects, and expect a large ad : dition to their number within the next few months. The N.Z. Herald of Saturday says :— " Yesterday the fifteen brood mares, entire, and the three ponies which came over from Sydney in tho s.s. Hero, were transhipped into the s.s. Southern Cross for conveyance to Napier. Tho animals were inspected by a number of persons, who spoke in terms of admiration of the judgment displayed by Messrs Richardson and Canning in the selection of the animals. The thoroughbred sire was also transhipped to the order of Mr Jas. Watt." We call the attention of the members of the Working Men's Club to the special meeting announced to be held to-night, for the purpose of taking into consideration the question of celebrating the first anniversary of the club. After the special meeting is concluded, we believe it will resolve itself into a general meeting for the consideration of other questions in connection with the club. A correspondent informs us that, the concert in aid of the Presbyterian Church funds took place at the Oddfellows' Hall, Waipawa, on Monday evening. The concert was a great success, and appeared to give much satisfaction. Amongst the performers were Mrs Coward, Miss Bendall, Miss Porter, Miss Hitchings, Miss Kennedy, Miss Tye, Miss Ritchie, Messrs Keruch, Bodle, Shanly, O'Halloran, and Carruthers. Mr Cornf ord gave a recitation, which was much appreciated. The duet "What are the wild waves saying," by Mrs Coward and Mr Shanly, was very nicely executed, and encored, as was also the duet " Larboard Watch," by Messrs Bodle and Shanly. Miss Hitchings also received an encore for her effective singing. A pianoforte duet by the Misses Porter was highly appreciated. The front seats were well filled, and everything went off well. Mr Beetham, R.M., being at Waipawa yesterday on magisterial duties, there were no cases set down for hearing in the Resident Magistrate's Court. The concert in aid of the Christian Brothers school, to take place at the Theatre Royal to-night, bids fair to be very largely attended. We hear that nearly the whole of the tickets were disposed of by Monday. The programme appears in another column. In an article referring to the probable duration of the ensuing session of Parliament, which, commences on the 26'fch inst., the N.Z. Herald says ;—" Judging from present appearances, the lack of leaders in the Opposition, the majority that Ministers enjoy, and the promise of the proceedings at Waitara, which will give additional strength to Ministers if success crowns the great work of pacification, we are disposed to believe that there will be little opposition in Parliament, and that it is not likely that the session will be a long one." The annual meeting of the ratepayers in the Woodville district was held in the Woodville Hotel on the 3rd instant, Mr Fountaine in the chair. It was proposed by Mr Gregory, seconded by Mr Murray, and carried, " That a uniform rate of Gel in the pound be adopted." The report showed a balance to the credit of the • Board, on the 3rd of June, of £44 12s 7d. The following persons were then nominated as wardens : — Messrs T. F. Fountaine, W. Elliott, G. Gregory, Hughes, J. B. J. Sowry, and J. Murray. Upon a ballot being taken, it resulted in the election of tho following gentlemen: — Messrs Fountaine, Elliott, Sowry, Ross, and Hughes. Mr G. Crawford and Mr J. Monteith were then elected as auditors, after which a vote of thanks was passed to the retiring officers. The newly-elected Board held their first meeting afterwards, at which Mr Sowry was elected Chairman. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £12 4s. Mr P. C. Protheroe was appointed collector. It was resolved that Mr Protheroe receive £10 10s for preparing a valuation roll ; that the rate collector be instructed to give 14 days' notice to all defaulting ratepayers that summonses will be issued for the amounts due ; that the Chairman have authority to expend a sum of money in clearing the road in front of B. Ordengard's, and also diverting tho creek on same ; and that the rate be made payable on the 10th August. This terminated the proceedings. Mr 'Walton, who lately appeared in a round of characters with much success in Napier, appears to have become a favorite in Dunedin. This was demonstrated, according to the Star, by the "large audience assembled at the Princess's on Monday night, on the occasion of his benefit. The performance commenced with Sheridan's fine comedy ' The Rivals,' in which Mrs Fitewilliam had a part more after her heart than the class of plays in which she has hitherto appeared. . . . The entertainment terminated with ' His Last Legs,' in which Mr Walton appeared in his favorite character of O'Callaghan." Some time ago we referred to the fact that the heir to a very valuable property in London had been discovered in the person of a Coromandel miner, named Michael Collins. The matter was placed by Mr Collins ill the hand of Messrs Whitaker and Russell, and from enquiries which have been made, and instructions received from the London firm of solicitors, there appears to be little donbt of Mr Collius being able to establish his identity as heir-at-law. — N.Z. Herald. Mr John Blight, M.P., in replying to a vote of thanks for his speech at a monster peace meeting in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, on a recent occasion, said that the people of England were being betrayed into a war by a Minister (Lord Beaconsfield) who had not one drop of English blood in his veins,