The Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1880. NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 3, 21 April 1880, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1880. NEWS AND NOTES.

In consequence of the space occupied by the report of the Royal Commission, we are reluctantly compelled to hold over our leading article and other important matter.

The road works at Oeo are progressing slowly, but steadily, and the dense thickness of flax is fast giving way, and wellformed roads appear in its place. At the camp, things are beginning to look a little comfortable, and preparations are being made lor going into winter quarters. Breakwinds are being put up, and a flax whare will soon do duty for a camp library. A redoxibt has been put up, and sentry boxes have been erected, so as to afford the men protection from the bad weather. The men are, generally speaking, in good health, and appear to be well contented with their lot.

During the hearing of the case of the Queen v. Meyer, last week, some passages-at-arms took place between the principal witness for the prosecution, Mr. Espagne, and the solicitor for the accused, Mr. Parrington. Whilst the examination of the witness was being conducted by Mr. Barleyman, who appeared for the prosecution, Mr. Parrington thought it n cessary to interfere several times ; but he was told, in vigorous language, by the witness to " Mind your own business ;" " Hold your tongue ;" " Shut up," &c, &c. On one occasion Mr. Parrington asked the witness whether he did not offer the accused a ride, to which query he received the prompt reply, " Yes, I would give you a ride if you were hard up." Those who were in Court enjoyed the fun ; but gentlemen of the legal profession, although sometimes hard on witnesses, are scarcely prepared to have the tables turned upon themselves. Mr. Parrington, however, took the remarks good-naturedly ; but it would be just as well if the Bench insisted upon witnesses behaving in a decorous manner, so long, at all events, as they are treated in a respectful way by the counsel engaged.

The fifteenth report of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company showed that the net profit for the year 1879, after deducting expenses, interest, commissions, &c, and making ample provision for bad debts, amounted to i' 53,215 14s 2d. This amount included a sum of 4s 2d brought forward from the preceding financial year. The directors of the company proposed to devote a sum of £30,060 12s 4d to the payment of a dividend, at the rate o£ 10 per cent, per annum, and interest on calls paid in advance on old shares. In addition to this, £14,984 11s 8d would be devoted to the payment of a bonus of 5 per cent., which would leave a sum of £8170 10s 2d to be carried forward to the credit of the current year. In July last an ad interim dividend was paid at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, amounting, with interest on calls paid in advance, to £14,358 12s lOd, so that there is now left for distribution the sum of £30,080 Us 2d.

A meeting of the Cricket Club will be held on Saturday evening, at Lloyd's Empire Hotel.

The new police station at Normanby is rapidly approaching conroletion, and a lock-up is now being put up at the back of the building.

As will be seen from our advertising columns, Messrs. John Trewick, jun., and Company, butchers, Normanby, intend running a cart to Hawera three times a week.

" A Guide to the Property Assessment Act, 1879," is the title of a pamphlet published by Messrs. Lyon and Blair, Wellington, at the cheap price of one shilling. The author is Mr. Chaa. M. Crombie, Deputy Land Tax Commissioner, and there are few men in the colony better fitted to explain the provisions of an Act which has certainly not been made quite clear to tne majority of persons who will be affected by it. We shall take an rarly opportunity of carefully perusing the little volume.

The township of Manutahi, we learn by a telegram received from Wellington, is to be offered for sale by Messrs. Matson and Co., auctioneers, Christchurch, on the 2-Atli of the present month. If the fact of a splendid area of agricultural and pastoral country be any recommendation, the land should sell very freely indeed, and fetch good prices. We are afraid, however, that there are too many towns in New Zealand, considering its small population. What is wanted is the opening up of the country, and we are glad to slate that that is being done not far from Manutahi.

We have received a papmlet entitled " The East Coast Settlement Bill, 1880," by Mr. W. L. Rees, formerly M.H.R. for Auckland. The author states that a Bill, having the above title, will be introduced into the House of Representatives when Parliament meets ; and that, although a private Bill, "it will also affect very greatly the well-being of the whole colony."

The case of the Queen v. Meyer was continued on Saturday, and after some more witnesses were examined, the further hearing of the case was adjourned till Thursday (to-morrow.)

There was only a small muster of the Hawera Light Horse on Saturday afternoon ; but this must be attributed to the fact of our not being in a position to publish on the previous Wednesday, as the advertisement was forwarded to our office on Tuesday, the commanding officer not being aware that the Star did not intend publishing till the following Saturday. Captain Lukis was in command. A meeting was called the same evening for the purpose of forming a Rifle Association, but it was decided to postpone it to a future occasion.

A meeting of the Normanby School Committee was held on Monday evening at Mr. Wreford's office. Present — Messrs. Quin (in the chair), McDowall, Richardson, Hunger, Sisley, and the secretary (Mr. Wreford.) A letter was read from the Inspector of Schools recommending the appointment of Miss McKay as pupil teacher, subject to her passing the examination to be held in June. The appointment was approved of by tbe committee. A letter was read from the secretary of the Education Board, stating that there was not remaining out of the sum of £Q5 granted for the removal of the teacher's residence, as £30 had been paid to the contractors, and £16 to Liongard Walsh. The .Board, however, would authorise the committee to invite tenders for painting the schoolhouse and residence with two coats of paint, the same to be submitted to the Building Committee for approval. The chairman stated that an advertisement had been inserted in the Hawera and Normanby Star, inviting tenders, and he had prepai-ed some rough specifications for the work, which he submitted to the meeting. It was decided to paint the outside of the schoolhouse, the teacher's residence, and gates; the painting of the inside of the building to be left until the next vacation. After transacting some routine business, the committee adjourned.

A remarkable instance of the value ot the Rotorua Lake, medicinally considered, has just come to our knowledge (says the New Zealand Times) which proves most incontestably the curative properties of the hot springs near that locality. Some six weeks ago Mr. W. Boyd, of the Wellington Trust and Loan Investment Company, was lying at what he considered to be death's door. He was then, and had been for some time, suffering most severely from paralysis. As a last resource he acceded to the wishes of some of his friends to visit the hot springs near Lake Botorua, and accompanied by his wife, he took passage by steamer for Tauranga. So convinced was he that he would never return alive that he refused to take a return ticket, although Mrs. Boyd had one, and in melancholy tones bade good-bye to the various friends who went to see him off. On arrival at Taurauga he had to be carried ashore, so helpless was he ; but, before leaving the steamer, he made some small presents to the steward, among them being a pair of boots, which he said he should never want again, as he felt he was approaching his end. The journey to Tikitire was made by coach by Mr. and Mrs. Boyd, the lady having to act as nurse to her husband, who was thoroughly despondent, and apparently resigned to his fate. Tikitire is nine miles from the springs, and the invalid was carried this distance, and lie and his wife took up their lodgment in a deserted Maori whare, where the lady made herself and her husband as comfortable as she could under the circunistances. And then the invalid commenced to take vapor baths daily snd regularly. The result was that in three weeks he was thoroughly cured, and felt as strong and hearty as he had ever done in his life. He returned to Wellington a few days ago, and his friends were hardly able to recognise in the hile and hearty man before them, the paralysed invalid who had left Wellington six weeks before.

A meeting of those favorable to the formation of a Rifle Association was held in Normanby on Friday evening, at Brett and Johnston's Hotel, the chair being occupied by Mr. Wreford. The rules, as prepared, were read, and it was decided to submit them to another meeting, to be held to-morrow evening, after parade.