NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 10, 15 May 1880, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

On Saturday next the Hawera Acclimatisation Society will meet at Owen's Hotel, for the purpose of receving the balance-sheet lor last season, and electing a committee of office-bearers for the eusing one. As all settlers within the boundaries set apart for the Hawera Acclimatisation Society are invited, we expect to see a very large attendance. The good work that these societies perform throughout the colony is too well known to need enlarging upon, and if some of them have made mistakes in the class of animals and birds imported, it is by meeting together, and discussing the good and the bad, that mistakes are likely to be avoided in future. . . .-

The iblloving news was sent t:> the Taranaki Herald by its special correspondent at Patea, under date May 13, ard uppeared in the Herald of the same day : — «• It is reported here that a gross outrage on a married Woman wasperpetiated at Opunake on Saturday night. Moans were heard, and a woman was found in a flax bush, with her clothes torn off and outraged. Two men decamped, but the evidence of an eye-wifchess can be had if proper inquiiy be made." As soon as we saw the news, we at once tel graphed to our correspondent at Opunake, and received the following reply: — "No truth in the report." It seems a pity that such canards should be circulated through the medium of a respectable journal, such as our contemporary the Herald undoubtedly is. No person in Opunake is in a better position to know the true facts of the ease than our correspondent, on whose statement implicit reliance can be placed. There will be an inspection parade of the Normanby Rifles to-day, at 4 p.m., and on Monday the Hawera Rifles will also parade for inspection. Mr. G. S. Cooper, Colonial Under-Secre-tary, who has been on a visit to this district for the past few days, pass d through by the coach yesterday, on his way to Carlyle. The usual fortnightly sale will be held at the St. Hill street sale-j'ards, Wanganui, on Wednesday next, by Mr. Freeman R. Jackson. On the following Friday the same auctioneer will attend at Hawera. The remainder of the bankrupt stock which Messrs. Ward and Co. brought to Hawera eight or ten weeks since, will be offered at auction to-day by Mr. W. Murray Thomson. The sale will commence at 11 a.m. Walter Willoughby, alias George Lenox, carpenter, was brought before Captain Wilson, J.P., on Thursday, charged with stealing a chisel from Samuel Brooks, of New Plymouth. The accused, who was arrested on a warrant, from New Plymouth, was remanded to that place. The elections for the Hawera Road Board will take place on Saturday, the sth June. Nonruations must be sent in not later than Saturday, next, to Mr. Bate, the returning officer, at whose office forms can be obtained, and also at Mr. Foreman's, Manutahi. The steam threashing machine, gear, &c, belonging to the Taranaki Steam Threshing Company, will be offered for sale to-day, at 1.30 p.m., by Messrs. Bauchope and King. On Tuesday next the same auctioneers will dispose of Mr. J. J. Taylor's stock, farming implements, household furniture, &c, at the farm generally known as Major Stapp's, Tikorangi. The sale will commence at 11 a.m. sharp, and at 1 p.m; luncheon will be laid upon the table. Can anyone explain the reason (asks the Wanganui Chronicle) why the loaf at the present time is lid at Waitotara, 8d at Wanganui, 7d at Hawera, and 6d at Wellington, especially when Wellington gets some of her flour from Wanganui '? For the information of our contemporary, we might explain that it is a three-pound loaf which is sold in Hawera for 7d, not the four-pound, as is generally the custom. The number of telegrams forwarded throughout the Colony for the quarter ending 31st march, shows a decrease of nearly 50,000, as compared with the corresponding quarter of the previous year. In 1879 there were 392,847 forwarded ; whilst in 1880 there were only 342,862. The revenue for the quarter shows a decrease of jj'B693, the respective amounts being— lß79, £21,993 ; 1880, .618,300. Two of the oldest residents of this district — Mr. Andrew Middlemas and his brother — have decided upon selling their properties, and proceeding to the United States. However pleasant it may be to the journalist to offer words of welcome and encouragement to new settlers, it is just the reverse when he has to make public the intended departure, or the going away, of men who have been amongst the pioneers of a district, and who have, so to speak, left " footprints on the sands of time." Our land laws must be far from perfect, surely, when men of the Middlemas stamp decide upon leaving a district where they have spent the best years of their lives, and for no other reason than that they cannot see their way to provide homes for their young families. If the Messrs. Middlemas should leave Hawera, we believe they intend settling in Oregon, or in some part of the Pacific Slope. It is pleasing to know that we have in this district a young artist of no mean order. There is at present exhibited at Lloyd's Empire Hotel, " A Veiw of Lake Wakatipu, Otago," painted by Mr. Alexander Chisholm, who is employed as painter in Mr. Williams' coach factory in Carlyle. Those who have been through the Lakes country in Otago will- be best able to appreciate the picture — that is, if they should have a taste ior art productions. On the left, the " Five Sisters " stand out in bold relief, and the tourist or traveller who has been through Southland and Otago will be able to bear testimony to the faithfulness of the reproduction. On the right, the mountain where the " Devil's Staircase " is situated, is equally well depicted. During the gold-fever days in Otago, a Mr. Rees (not the celebrated barrister and ex-M.H.R. of that name) used to have three or four runs in the Lakes distiict. He supplied a large number of diggers with beef and mutton, and as he was an off-handed, liberal sort of man, he was a great favorite with the diggers, who, being generous almost to a fault themselves, are able to appreciate the same quality in others. He was on one occasion driving a mob of cattle along this precipitous country, and when close to the " Devil's Staircase " one of them stumbled, and off went a second, and a third, and so on, until over a hundred met thrir deaths in the cold snowywaters of Lake Wakatipu. This is the country and the waters that Mr. Chisholm has reproduced. The next time he visits that locality, we trust that he will give us a sketch of Lake Hayes, which is situated between Queenstown and the Arrow, and would make a lovely picture. The one to which reference has 'been made will be disposed of on the art union principle this evening. There are a few tickets yet remaining, and those who wish to encom-age local art and local talent cannot do better than take one of them. We understand that ten guineas have been offered for the picture on more than one occasion, and refused.

Valuable deposits of tin have been discovered on the Tate River, in Queensland.

News has been received in Sydney from Barrington's diggings that a crushing of two tons of quartz yielned ISO ounces.

Dr. Hector has bought a diamond drill, which was shown at the Sydney Exhibition.

It is notified that the electoral roll for the Hawei a riding is open for inspection at the office of the Town Board.

William Budd, of Normanby, has filed a declaration of insolvency. The first meeting of creditors will be held in the Court House, Hawera, on Thursday next, at 2 p.m.

Tenders are called for road works on the Whakamara Block, the specifications for which can be seen at Mr. Foreman's store, Manutahi, and at the Road Board office, Hawera.

Tenders are called for gravelling No. 2 contract, on the road recently formed between Stoney River and Opunake. Specifications can be seen at the Public Works Office, Hawera, and tenders will be received up to noon on Saturday next.

Our Normanby friends are determined not to be behind Hawera. A public meeting is called for Wednesday, the 26th instant, for the purpose of taking steps towards erecting a town hall and institute. , There ought to be a large attendance at the meeting!

A telegram was received yesterday, stating that the private residence belonging to Messrs. Whittaker Brothers, in Murphy-street, Y/elliugton, and also Mr. Cosgrave's house, adjoining, had been burnt to the ground on Thursday night. Luckily no lives were lost; but the Messrs. Whittaker will be heavy losers, we are sorry to say, as the amount of the insurance will not compensate for the loss of their property. The building was a very large and commodious one, and was situated in one of the best positions in Wellington.

Eli Te Haua, of Matangarara, has been cultivating the acquiantance of the " rosy god " for the past week or so. On Saturday he was in a particularly "jolly stale," as it is sometimes called, and he was going about among the pakehas, shaking hands with them, and giving them a chance of watching his wonderful powers of mimicry. The police did not interfere for a day or two, but at length our friend Eli was introduced to the " lock-up," which he pronounced to be " no good — no good " after his liberation therefrom. He was brought before Captain Wilson, J.P., on Thursday, charged with being drank and incapable, but was dismissed with a caution.

Mr. Pye, the well-known tinsmith, has just manufactured a new milk-can, which is the first one of the kind that has been brought under our notice. A sketch of the new patent was published in the Scientific American, and our local genius set to work at copying it. He appears to be as Fuccessful as the "heathen Chinee" is said to be at such things. Over a common zinc bucket there is placed a covering of wood, into which is inserted a tube, constructed after the manner of Tobin's air-tubes. On the top there is a strainer shaped like a cullender, and into this the cow is milked, the fluid passing into the bucket. The combination, provides a seat, a milk-can, and a strainer all iv one, thus avoiding the necessity of three-legged stools or anything of that description. The curious in these matters can see the new invention in Mr. Pye'd shop, in High-street, Hawera.

The monthly inspection parade of the Hawera Light Horse took place yesterday. There was only about a quarter of the number enrolled in the corps present, Captain Lukis being, as usual, at his post. Major Noake, the officer commanding the district, put the men through squadron and other exercises for the space of nearly two hours, and all. the movements were gone through with regularity and precision, considering the short space of time the troop has been in existence, and the irregularity in attendance. We are afraid that the latter defect will not be remedied until such time as the Government places the Hawera Light Horse, and other Volunteer corps, on some similar footing to the Waikato Cavalry. If regular attendance be a desirable thing — as it undoubtedly is — some compensation will have to be given to our Volunteer corps for the loss of time while attending parade.

In a new district like this no more useful institution can exist than a building society, especially a permanent .pne, such as our local society, an advertisement in reference to which appears in one of our advertising columns. People can practise no wiser economy than to invest in such a society a portion of their earnings. Building societies are essentially mutual benefit concerns. No part of the profits accruing from the manipulation of the societies' funds goes beyond the shareholders, except that which is necessary for management expenses, which, being under the control of shareholding directors, elected by the shareholders, are kept at the lowest possible cost, consistent with the proper conduct of business. To tradesmen, small farmers, and all who are desirous ot being provident, the Hawera Building and Investment Society, and all similar institutions, offers inducements that cannot be over-estimated. Shares can be taken up at any time, and a monthly subscription of 3s. per share invested in the society would be the means of providing a fund to meet the exigencies of the proverbial "rainy day." In the case of a shareholder wishing either to build or buy land, or to obtain money for any other purpose, he is entitled to draw from the society (irrespective of what he has paid in) £20 for each share that he holds. Persons wisliing to invest small sums can make fixed deposits and receive fair rates of interest. The Building Societies Act, 1876, provides that, as security to the depositor, the sums received on deposit shall not exceed two-thirds of the amount secured to the society by mortgages. A person in receipt of a laborer's wages can, by joining the society, procure funds to build a comfortable cottage, and the monthly or quarterly repayments to the society would amount to little, if anything, more than he would have to pay in rent for a similar building. It is worth something to be one's own landlord, and a shareholder in the building society can become such with no other income than a working man's wages, and have the option of deciding how and j when he will pay off the loan within the , wide limits of the society's tables, which i range from one up to twelve years. I

A report of the meeting of .the Hawera Rifles, and our Carlyle an,d "Wanganui correspondents' letters, are crowded out.

It has been oomputed by ap rsoninthis district (*ays the Oaniaiai Mail); who. is an authoxity on such a 'matter, that by the late rise in the price of wool the growers of the colony will realize at least £1,000,000 more for the psoihiG© of -their stations than they did last year. This will, of course, favorably affect every interest in the colony. V

The new process of meat freezing is receiving considerable attention in Australia. A company, with a capital of £200,000, has been formed in Melbourne. In Brisbane, £50,000 has already been subscribed, and a meeting was- held in Sydney last week, with the object of forming a coinpauv, the capital for which is to be fixed at £100,000. Messrs. William Howard Smith and Sons, the owners of a large fleet of steamers trading between Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, contemplate having their boats fitted with reMgerating machinery, for th purpose of carrying shipments of meat from Queensland, to be transhipped at Sydney to the Orient liners.

According to the report presented at the first ordinary general m ethig of shareholders of the New Zealand Agricultural Company, held on 22nd March, the g-oss profits tor the past year amount to .£54.801> out of which, after deducting sundry charges and. providing for the ad interim dividend of 2s 6d per share previously paid, an available balance remains of £12,042, with which it has been decided to deal as follows -.—Apply £7,348 to the payment of a dividend of 2s 6d per share on £1 10s per share paid up, together with the dividend on the vendor's shares; place £3,000 to a reserve fund, and carry the balance, £2,594, forward to next account.

The following special regulation under the Diseased Cattle Act was published in the Gazette :—": — " Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Diseased Cattle Regulations of the 25th March, 1880, if any person shall, whether by sea or Land, drive or cause to be .driven or removed, or assist in driving or. removing, any cattle out of the South Auckland Cattle District, or out of any place south of the •Whftu Portage in the North Auck- • land Cattle District, to any place north of the said portage, such person shall be liable to a penalty of fifty pounds for every head of such cattle so driven or removed from the South Auckland Cattle District, or out of any place -south of the Whau Portage in the North Auckland Cattle District ; and if any cattle stray out or from any of the said districts into any place north of the said portage, the owner or person having the care or possessiou of such cattle shall b liable to a penalty of ten pounds for every head of cattle which shall have so strayed."

The land at Ngaire, which will be opeu for sale on Ist proximo, has attracted the notice of the Southern farmers (remarks our contemporary, the Taranaki Herald.) Some time ago two delegates from the Corporative Land Association in CLristcLu.ch — Messrs. Basely and Cook — arrived here for the purpose of inspecting the land iv this district. They made a careful inspection of all the land open for sale, luJI were supplied with every information at the Land Office. They returned to Christchurcll highly gratified with : - the" result of- their" inspection, and sent in a most favorable report to the Association. The result is that an application was immediately made by the Association for forty forms of . application for land, which were supplied from the Land Office. Since then a further application for twenty additional forms has been made. Another Land Association has been formed in the'same city; which has sent a requisition for thirty application forms, making a total of ninety forms, which will be supplied to these companies alone. This is a strong indication of the favor with which Taranaki is viewed by farmers in the South Island. The blocks, which will be opened for sale on the Ist June, are Nos* 10, 18, and 14, Ngaire, and block 1, Hawera.

Horses increased in Great Britain from 301,000 in 1870 to 418,000 at the present time, and yet they are much higher in price now than then, and were it not for the disastrous season there, the advance would be still greater. A meeting was held at Waitara last week for the purpose of forming a football club, Mr. Matthews in the chair. Over twenty names were enrolled, and the following gentlemen were elected officers of the club : — 2\ Bayly,' captain ; R. B. Maclean, secretary and treasurer ; R. J. Matthews, H. Joll, R. Cameron, J. G. Ainbridge, and E. A. Dudgale, committee.