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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5494, 24 September 1879, Page 2

Mr Ormoncl, wo believe, intends to move at an early date for a return showing in detail the expenditure on the Napier-Kopua railway during the last two years, as many practical men agree with him that unless there has been great extravagance, the money alleged in the Public "Works statement to have been spent in this provincial district cannot

really have been expended. The return will be looked for with some curiosity. In the meantime, and until they are absolutely proved to be false, we must accept Mr Macandrew's figures as correct.

We hear that the ranges at the back of Kaikora will, probably be prospected for coal shortly. Pieces of coal, and of formations similar to those found in coalproducing districts, have been washed down the hills during the recent heavy rains, and it is reasonably thought that those may bo signs of considerable deposits of the "black diamonds." The pieces found are of inferior quality, but the outcrop is generally but a poor indication of the seam. It is possible that our informant may be unduly sanguine, but at all events the matter is worth, looking into. Mr E. Lyndon yesterday held a property sale, when the following lots were disposed of at the prices named : — Quartor-acre at Woodville, £45 ; I^-acre section, Woodville, £66 ; section 202, Emerson-street, Napier, and buildings, £750 ; section 37, Havelock, half-acre and four-roomed dwelling-house, £90. A telegraph-office at Kaikora would be a great convenience to the settlers in that district and at Te Aute. At present a letter is often delivered in shorter time than a telegram. We believe that there is now no telegraph-station between Hastings and Waipawa. Lambing is now nearly over in this province, and the increase has been very large. Near Kaikora and Patangata the increase in several flocka has been 120 per cent. ; further up the country from 90 to 100 per cent, has been the rule ; and on the Ahuriri Plains about 75 to 80 per cent, is stated as the average. Notwithstanding the wot weather there has, so far as we can learn, been no foot-rot, even on the Plains. The wool is thick, and of excellent quality, and if wo have favorable weather for the next two months this year's clip will largely exceed that of last year. If the woolmarket would but show a moderate rise, the prospects of the province for next year would be vastly brighter than this year.

t A complaint comes to us from Ormondville relative to the action of the local Highway Board towards Mr Tyson, one of the contractors for the timber required for the extension of the railway. We understand that Mr Tyson, finding it impossible to get loaded drays over the branch road running from the main road to the settlement, constructed a tramway. This tramway crossed the road at right angles about half-a-mile from Ormondville, and is said to have greatly improved the road at that place. The tramway line is also used by foot-passengers in preference to the proper road, which is in a shockingly bad condition. Nevertheless Mr Tyson was ordered to take up his tramway on the ground that it injured the road, and this order has put him to considerable inconvenience and expense. The Highway Board may have had good reason for compelling the tramway to be taken up, but as the matter is representad to us they certainly appear to have done a hard and foolish thing.

The value of the koromika shrub as a medicine in cases of diarrhoea or dysentery is beginning to attract attention in England, and considerable quantities of the leaves are now shipped Home. The toot, which is well-known for its injurious effects when eaten by cattle, is also being" collected for the same purpose, though in smaller quantities. We]do not know for what diseases it is used, but at present it is probably used only in experiments, in order that its value may be ascertained. The country right through the province is looking splendid, and feed was never more abundant. The recent long drought has caused an unusual area of land to be ploughed, notwithstanding the tightness in the money market. All along the railway line ploughs may be seen at work breaking up new land. We believe that next year will see a very much larger production of wheat in the proyince, and if so a considerable amount of money now remitted to Auckland or Canterbury will be retained in the district. We hear that on the assembling of the House one of the first motions tabled will be one appointing a committee to hold a searching inquiry into the circumstances attending the now famous " Ingles telegram business." We may say that the facts already ascertained show that neither Mr St. Clair Inglis, of Waipawa, nor Mr Ingleton, of Kaikora (the latter of whom received the telegram in the first instancdjffcwere either directly or indirectly concerned in its publication. An accident occurred to the train to Napier last evening which delayed its arrival about 40 minutes. As the train was coming into Hastings there was a hitch at the points, probably from a stone getting in between, and the engine ran off the line. There was fortunately an engine at Paki Paki at the time that had gone up from Napier with salmon ova, and with the aid of that engine the train to Napier was brought in, otherwise the delay would have been much greater. The train from Napier to Waipukurau was detained because of the mishap, but it was expected that the detention would not bo for long, as the exertions to get the engine on the live would soon prove effectual.

A meeting of the committee of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club was held yesterday at the Criterion Hotel. Present — Messrs J. N. Williams (chairman), W. IT. Burke, A. Danvers, W. Douglas, C. A. Fitzroy, and C. B. Winter. A letter was read from the secretary of the Racing Club, conreying the resolution passed at the recent meeting of that club respecting the proposal made by the Jockey Club for the amalgamation of the two clubs, to the effect that the Eaeing Club did not at present consider it advisable to entertain the proposition ; the letter added that the secretary of the Eacing Club was instructed to express a hope that the interests of the two clubs would not clash, and that the committees of the two clubs should meet so as to arrange the dates of race meetings and other matters. . Mr Fitzroy drew the attentioa of the committee to the statement made at the Eacing Club's meeting that the Jockey Club was insolvent, a statement which was entirely false, but which he did not think it worth while to take any notice of. The committee then proceeded to arrange tho programme for the autumn meeting to be held on the 17th and 18th of March next, and fixed it as it appears in our advertising columns. The principal alterations from last year's programme are — an increase of £100 to the Napier Handicap, making that stake £250, in place of £150 as heretofore ; the Hurdle Eace £75 in place of £50, and the Tradesman's Handicap £125 in place of £100 — the total stakes to be given by the Jockey Club amounting to £770. The committee also inaugurated a three-year-old race for their spring meetings entitled tlie Hawke's Bay Guineas of 105 soys., with a sweep of 5 soys. added, the nominations for 1880 and 1881 to close' the 20th of December next.

An inquest will be held by Dr Todd at Takapau to-day on the body of Mrs Taylor, who recently died in child-birth, no medical man having been in attendance. Mrs Taylor was formerly housekeeper at tho Presbytery, and was widely known in the province. A Kaikora resident wishes us to call attention to the over-crowded state of the school-room at the township. The building is very old and small, and utterly inadequate for the wants of the district. It is said that about seventy children are confined in a room, ■which would not afford proper accommodation to more than fifty.

A meeting of persons desirous of promoting an entertainment for the benefit of the widows and children of the victims of the accident in the Ghaucer-roafl, was, held last evening at the Provincial Hotel, Mr Hodgson in the chair,' A cpnimittee was formed, consisting of. Messrs. Swan, Bogle, Morgon, Millar/-' Rose, : Foster] Flood, and Hodgson. ItSvas also, decided that Mr Hodgson act as secretary, and Mr Bogle as treasurer. The entertainment was fixed to take place at the Theatre Royal on Thursday, October2nd, and to consist of the comedy of "Perfection, or the Lady of Munster," and a concert. A meeting of .the Licensed Victuallers Association was held last evening at the Criterion Hotel, Mr Mayo in the chair. The meeting was convened for the purpose of adopting rules and the election of officers. The rules as drafted by a committee were approved with slight alteration. They provided that the name of the Association should be " The Hawke'sßay Licensed Victuallers' Association," the object of which should be to protect the interests of the trade ; those indirectly connected with the trade, Buch as brewers and malsters, to be eligible for election as honorary members, on payment of one. guinea. The subscription" of ordinary members was fixed at one guinea a year. Mr Peddie was unanimously elected President ; MrE. Ashton Vice-president j Mr W. Mayo Treasurer ; and Mr Alex. Reid Secretary. A working committee was appointed, consisting of Miessrs Joseph Bell, J. Johnston, Shirley, Wells, Barrows, and M'Cartny (of Taradale). It was decided to entrust Mr Cornf ord with all law cases on behalf of the Association. After some formal business the meeting terminated with the customary vote of thanks to the chairman.

Mr Joseph. Chicken, watchmaker, of Waipawa, was in the railway train, proceeding home, on Monday morning, when he_ was stung on one leg by the katepo spider — the only poisonous animal which is natural to New Zealand. The pain was so intense, and Mr Chicken felt so unwell, that he got out at Waipawa, and returned to town by the next train. He went to his mother's house, where Dr Spenoer was called in. Every attention was paid to the sufferer, and we believe that he is now quickly recovering. The animal which stung him is a Very small and insignificiant looking spider, with a black shining body, edged with red. It is, fortunately, rare, and is thought to frequent only the sea-shore, being generally found in the sand. The Maoris have a great fear of tn*e insect," and they aver that its sting is fatal, though we do not remember a recorded instance in which a European has died, from the effects of its bite. The poison, however, generally incapacitates for some time anyone who has been stung, and the patient suffers severe pain. The goodly number of 123 entries have been received for the Poultry Association's first show on Friday and Saturday, among them being several special exhibits. The committee met and made the final arrangements last . night. Everything promises a most successful inaugural show. . The settlers at Woodville and Norsewood are, it is said, supplj ing . timber at an actual loss to themselves, owing to the keen competition of the saw mills at Kopua and other places along the railway line. We learn that the Commissioners for opening Parliament to-day will be Sir William Fitzherbert, Sir F. Dillon Bell, Major Richmond, and Colonel Whitmore. Bush-felling on a large scale is now going on beyond Makatoko, on the line of the railway extension. During the last few months a number of contracts have been let, and seventy or eighty of the settlers in the district are now at work clearing the bush. The sale of the Waipawa Mail from Mr Hugh Thompson to Messrs Wilding, Bodle, and Co., has been completed, and the paper is now brought out by the new proprietary. There is no truth in the statement that either the Hon. H. R. Russell or Mr W. C. Smith have any connection with the new firm. Mr Freeman, one of the late candidates for Waimate, is a funny man. When on the hustings he was saluted with a shower of flour bags, but nothing daunted he preserved his temper throughout. With regard to local option, the candidate said that if a man wanted a glass of whisky by all means let him get it, because if he wanted one he would get it. (Laughter.) The less said about it the better. On being asked his opinion on the " unearned increment," he demanded that the question should be put in English. (Loud laughter.) On the question of woman's suffrage, he thought she suffered enough already. (Loud laughter.) He had no inoorne, and thought it a hard thing for a man to get hold of. (Laughter.) The following instance of generosity is recorded by the Jjyttelton Times : — A candidate for a Canterbury constituency when addressing the electors, now some time ago, was asked to contribute towards a fund being raised for the benefit of the widow and children of a man who had been accidentally killed. The gentlemen handed the collector a card at the meeting, with a sum on it, telling him at the same time not to look at it until after the election. The poll was taken and the candidate beaten, but yesterday he handed the collector a cheque, and on looking at the card, it was found that the cheque was for three times the amount first named. The cheque was not given in error. If Sir George Grey's views are to be carried out, in their integrity, remarks the Otago Daily Times, a matrimonial millennium will, soon dawn upon New Zealand, and the time of miserable bachelors and melancholy maidens of uncertain age will soon A>e no more for ever. In speaking at Christchurch on Tuesday night " the old man eloquent " said: "I care very little for a vote for females-. Give them happy 'homes and husbands who can bring up families in health and comfort, and take care that they are certain of having a home into which poverty in its direct aspect cannot ever enter. I say that then thousands of happy marriages now impossible will take place." At this (remarks a contemporary), though the prosaic reporter does not say so, Sir George Grey's male auditors blew their noses, while gentle ladies passing in the street waved their lily-white handkerchiefs in the balmy air of night, and three boys under an adjacent verandah began playing -on a tin can, a concertina, and Jew's harp, the classic old tune of the " Groves of Blarney."