NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 2, 17 April 1880, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The surveys on the Plains are steadily progressing. Mr. Skeet, junior, has advanced close to Titokowaru's, whilst Mr. Skaet, senior, is pushing ahead from the Oeo side. Both surveyors will probably meet in a week or ten days. Mr. Skinner is busily engaged in surveying the reserves ; Mr. Parris, Native Commissioner, superintending all the operations. Everything is going on satisfactorily.

With reference to the statement made by some members of the deputation who waited upon the Hon. Mr. Oliver during his visit to Hawera, as to Major Atkinson having promised that the railway would be completed as far as Normanby by next July, we might state that the Colonial Treasurer had asked Mr. Eees what length of time the construction of the line would take, and was iniormed that it would be finished about the time stated. Upon the faith of this, Major Atkinson told some of his constituents ; but when Mr. Blackett was asked, he held out no hopes whatever that the line would be completed within the period stated.

We understand that plans of land for sale in the Ngaire district can be obtained from the postmaster at one shilling each, and that Mr. Chancy will be periodically informed of all sales actually made, so th t information will be readily obtainable as to land open for selection. We have been informed that the land in the Ngaire district, between the Mangawhero and Keteinarae, will be offered for sale on deterred payment early in June. This will be welcome news to a large number of people who are on the look out for homes for themselves and families.

No. 8 contract, on the Waimate Plains, has been let to Mr. D. Hughes. The contract was let, in the first instance, to Mr. Slattery, of Wanganui, but was not signed for. It has been, therefore, re-let to Mr. Hughes.

A number of Maoris started from Normanl^ 7 on Thursday, to attend the usual monthly meeting at Parihaka, which will be held to-day. Titokowaru went up yesterday.

Mr. H. G. Pitcher, watchmaker and jeweller, has removed to his new premises, next to Mr. M. D. King's, High-street.

Mr. G. V. Bate has been appointed assessor under the Property and Assessment Act of last session, for the Hawera Town Board and Hawera Road Districts.

Divine service, in connection with the Freshyterian Church, will be held tomorrow at the following places : — Normanby, at 11 a.m. ; Manutahi, at 3 p.m.; and Hawera, at 7 p.m.

The patients sent from the A.C. Force on the Plains to the temporary hospital at Nornianby (Mr. Brett's cottage having been secured for that purpose) are progressing favorably, under the care of Dr. Keating and Mr. Whitney, the hospital steward, who are unremitting in their attentions to the poor fellows.

The Hawera Light Horse will parade at four o'clock this afternoon, preparatory to the inspection to be held by Colonel Leckio, A general meeting of the members is called for seven o'clock this evening, at Lloyd's Hotel, for the purpose of drawing up rules for a liifle Association, and the transaction of other business.

The heavy rain which fell on Monday lodged in pools near the lootpaths on the main streets. The County Council have, evidently, not yet managed to find the proper levels, and it seems ridiculous that, with such a good fall close at hand, the water should lodge in large pools close to our doors after a lew hours' rain.

A meeting of the members of the Church of England is called for seven o'clock this evening, when the Yen. Archdeacon Thorpe will deliver an address on the work done in the diocese in connection with the Church. On Sunday morning Divine Service will be hold in the Presbyterian Church, and the Archdeacon will Dreach on that occasion. The English mail brought by the coach on Monday from Stratford was an unusually heavy one, weighing no less than 12 cwt. The train was twenty minutes late in arriving at Stratford ; the Mountain Road was very heavy, and the consequence was, that passengers were about two hours late in arriving at Wanganui. As there appears to be but little prospect of getting the road from. Ketemarae to Stratford metalled during the winter, it would be well for the Post Office authorities to send the letters one day, and the newspapers the next, or else to send the latter round by the coast.

Messrs. Cosgrave and Co. have closed their premises in New Plymouth, and their manager, Mr. Thompson, informs the Herald that it is their intention to close their New Zealand branches.

A cricket match will be played at Waihi to-day, between the second eleven of the Hawera Cricket Club and an eleven picked from the A.C. Force at Waihi. Play will commence at eleven o'clock. The Hawera team will be picked from the' following: — Mason (captain), Whit 1 , Lysaght, LuMs, W. Wilson, Goodson, Wanklyn, H. Bayly, Hamilton, D'Alton (2), Perry, and Dingle. j J Beferring to Mr. Gibson's statement as to the Extension site having been recommended by Mr. Bees, on account of some sections which had been given to him by the owners of the land, the TaranaM Herald says :—": — " Mr. Bees, on his return from England, will have to call upon Mr. Gibson to prove lus statement, for it is too serious a charge to be allowed to be passed over in silence."

Mr. Charles Allen, Normanby, writes to us as follows : — " Sir : Will you kindly .afibrd me space in your paper to correct a statement said ?o ,be made by me that some forty buildings had been erected on the Extension. What I intended to say was : from the hotel, looking south and towards the site acquired by the Government, some forty buildings had been erected, while on the other sido only one cottage had been built."

The railway contract from Kai Iwi to the Waitotara is rapidly approaching completion. There is only about a mile and a half to two miles of the rails to be laid down, and it is probable that in about six or eight weeks' time the " iron horse" will be as far as the Waitotara. The work is being carried on under Mr. Whiting's superintendence, Mr. Fairlie (one of the celebrated firm of English engineers) being also engaged in supervising what is being done.

The adjourned cap of Eegina v. Meyer came on for hearing yesterday, before Caytain Wilson and J. Livingston, Esq., J.P's. Theodore Espagne, from whose store at Opunake £33 odd was alleged to have been taken by the accused, was reexamined at considerable length by Mi*. Barleyman, who appeared for the prosecution, but a great portion of the witness's evidence was similar to that published in our last issue. Mr. Parrington, who appeared for the defence, subjected the witness to a long and severe crossexamination, but nothing very material was elicited. Mrs. Bartlett, of the Opunake Hotel, was next called. She stated that the accused frequently visited her house, and treated people ; but his object seemed to be to work up a business for Mr. Espagne. He had changed cheques at her house, and on one occasion, when she asked, him for a small account, he refused to pay, stating that the money belonged to Mr. Espagne. Frederick Bakewell, a member of the A.C. Force at Opunake, was called, but his evidence only went to show that he had purchased a few shillings' worth of goods at the store, for •which he had paid cash. The further hearing of the case was adjourned till ten o'clock this morning.