NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 9, 12 May 1880, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

i •+ The road-making from both ends is progressing very satisfactorily, and the distance between the two parties is now only about ten miles. There are no swamps of any consequence to pass through, and therefore " fabulous sums " will not be required, as has been telegraphed, to cany the road through. It is probable that both camps will be slufted in the course of another week, so that the work will be a little retarded in consequence ; but if favorable weather prevail, the roads are likely -to meet in the course of twenty to thirty days. A rumor gained currency in New Plymouth ou Saturday, to the effect that Te Whiti had sent orders to the camp at the other end to shift quarters. We are h\a position to give a most unqualified denial to it ; nothing of the kind has occurred. We have been informed that the road party working at this end took the hue through a Maori clearing the other day, and although the natives made a request to run the road line a little to the side of it, no notice whatever was taken of it. What will Te Whiti tell his followers at the next meeting? Most people are anxious to know.

Mr. Freeman R. Jackson's usual monthly sale of sheep and cattle will be held at Waverley on Friday next, at 1 p.m.

Mr. John Dming, who was a great favorate with the travelling public on this, road for some years, has left Mr. Young, and intends running a coach between N-3W Plymouth and Major Tuke's Camp. We wish him every success in his undertaking.

A copy of the balance-sheet of the Patea Harbor Board has been sent to us, from which we gather that the expenditure during last year amounted to .£9059 3s Bd, which sum includes for Dickson's contract, and i'soo for the Engineer's salary. The wharves belonging to Messrs Milroy and Hurst were purchased for .£l5O and respectively. Up to the end of the year, had been expended on the breakwater.

Mr. McKenzie, sheep inspector for this district, is at present on a visit to Hawera.

Two steamers and a schooner entered the Waitara river during the course of Sunday.

Messrs. Ward and Co. are about to close their branch business in Hawera, and the balance of their bankrupt stock will be offered for sale on Saturday next by Mr. W. M. Thomson, auctioneer.

Mr. H. D. Vavasour has been elected a member of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, having polled 461 votes, whilst only 288 were recorded for Mr. James McLaughlin, who contested the election with him.

The Co-operative Land Company at Christchurch have accepted the recommendation of the two delegates who have been inspecting land in the North Island, and will take up sections in Taranaki ; so it is stated in a telegram to a contemporary.

The Hinemoa arrived on Sunday, at New Plymouth, from Wellington, with a detachment of ten Constabulary, and ammunition and stores. Sh sailed in the evening for Wellington with the Hon. Maior Atkinson, his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond, and his Hoiior Judge Shaw.

His Honor Mr. Justice Richmond stated at the Supreme Court at New Plymouth last week, that owing to the absence of a law library, he would be unable to hear any cases of appeal there, and intimated that appeal cases should be heard hi Auckland.

An important sale of threshingmachin ry will be held on Saturday next by Messrs. Bauchope and King at New Plymouth. On Tuesday, the 18th hist., the same auctioneers will hold a sale of stock and farm-" ing implements at Tikorangi, particulars of which will be found in our advertising columns.

There will be a parade of the Hawera Light Horse on Friday, at 2.30 p.m. On Saturday the Normanby Volunteers will be inspected at 4 p.m. ; and on Monday, at 3.30 p.m., there will be an inspection of the Hawera Rifles. It is to be hoped there will be a good muster on each occasion.

There was a good attendance, both in the afternoon and evening, at the entertainment given in the Town Hall on Saturday by Bachelder's Combination Troupe, who are now in New Plymouth, where they will, doubtless, attract large audiences, as the show is a genuine one.

A curiosity, in the shape of a black pearl, was discovered last week, in an oyster-shell, by Mr. W. It. Prosser, livery-stable proprietor. It is not an uncommon thing, we believe, in Queensland, to find pearls in oyster-shells, but black pearls are seldom found encased with the delicious bivalves.

A change in the coaching arrangements between Wanganui and Stratford will be inaugurated to-day. In future, horses will change at Normanby instead of Hawera, at Manutahi instead of Carlyle, and there will also b • a change at Whenuakura. The stages will be as follow :—: — Kai Iwi to Waitotara ; Waitotara to Whenuakura; Wiienuakura to Manutahi; Manutahi to Normanby ; and Normanby to Stratford.

We are glad to learn that commercia affairs are beginning to wear a brighter aspect in the Empire City. A gentleman who has a very good knowledge of the state of things writes to us as follows :—: — " Matters in this city are a little better during the last week or two. Business is brisker, and money easier, while the city appears to be gradually growing out of the distress which showed such alarming sjonptonis a short time ago." The following memorial, in reference to the constitution of the Patea Harbor Board, has received a number of signatures :—": — " To the Hon. Major Atkinson, member for the Egmont District. Sir, — We the electors and ratepayers in your district, wish to call your attention to the manner of the constitution of the Patea Harbor Board, viz. : — Ist. One person to be appointed by the Governor ; 2nd. One to be elected by the Carlyle Town Board ; 3rd. Two to be elected by the Patea County Council ; 4th. One to be elected by the ratepayers of each riding of the county. We desire that you would briug in a bill during next session constituting the Board thus : — One person to be appointed by the Govomor ; nnd six persons to be elected by the ratepayer's in the Patea County."

Now that the shooting season is at hand, it would be well if sportsmen would endeavor to combine a littlo prudence with pleasure. Early on Saturday morning a party of gentlemen left Hawera with guns and dogs, but they had not been out many hours when one of them was heard to exclaim that he was shot. Of course, as might have been expected, some little consternation was created, but on examination the wound inflicted was found to be a mere trifle — in fact, nothing more than a mere graze of the skin. Consequently, the sport went on, and the gentleman who had the narrow escape shot with the party during the remainder of the day as if nothing had occurred. We reier to the matter, because it may serve as a warning to others, to whom we now give this advice — " In the pursuit of pleasure, do not forget to be a little cautious." Sportsmen would do well to keep in line as much as possible, for by doing so all unnecessary risk will be avoided.

The Government have received a tele; gram (says the Wellington Evening Post) from the Hon. Mr. Bryce, to the effect that the second peaceful invasion of Te Whiti's sacred territory by the constabulary for road-making purposes has been accomplished quietly and without even a show of opposition. The road is now being pushed forward throgh the Parihaka country from the north and south sides simultaneously, and both camps are pitched on Te Whiti's ground. The new northern camp is situated at Warea, about three mil s from the sea coast, close to the main road to Parihaka, and only about five miles distant from the latter place. It has been connected with Taranaki by telegraph wire, so as to be within immediate communication should this happen to be necessary. The Maoris seem much more perplexed by this second and northern advance into Parihaka territory than by anything which has yet occurred, but no symptoms of probable resistance have yet manifested themselves. Hitherto hardly any Maoris have visited the Warea camp, and no presents have been offered there, but otherwise the native attitude remains unaltered.

A telegram was received by the Government on Saturday from Mr. Parris (according to the Evening Post), to the effect that a native arrived from Parihaka at Kaipokonui yesterday, and informed Manaia and Ms people- that Te Whiti had given positive orders that there must be no interference with the Constabulary road-making parties on the part of the natives, who were strictly ordered to let the road-making proceed without obstruction.

The shooting season in Taranaki this year appears to be a good one (remarks the Herald), judging from the number of birds that are to be seen for sale. We v have been informed that two gentlemen went for a couple of days' sport in the Urenui district, and "bagged" no less than twenty-three brace.

The Melbourne Daily Telegraph states that the ex-Premier of Victoria, Mr. Graham Berry, who has severed his connection with the Geelong Advertiser, is about to start a daily paper in Melbourne, which will represent the interests of the Liberal party.

The late legal fracas in Nelson has occasioned some fun. The celebrated Billy Wilson, who has been performing there, propounded the following commdram :—: — Query : " Can you tell me why we have lost the art of cooking since the days of our first parents ?" Answer : " Because one Adam could then cook a whole dinner, whereas now it takes two Adams to dress one Bunny."