The Star. SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1880. NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 24, 3 July 1880, Page 2

The Star. SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1880. NEWS AND NOTES.

The business done at the Resident Magistrate Court on Thursday was very considerable lor a sparsely-populated district like this ; but still it must be remembered, in extenuation, that it was the accumulation of a month or so. In consequence of the space which it occupies, we are compelled to hold over our leading avfciele and other matter.

Billiard tournaments are popular in Hawera just now. There have been three within a short space of time — one at Prosser's, one at Lloyd's, and one at Crowhurst's. Another handicap match is announced for next week at Prosser's, and a canon touanament will be open to ail comers during the next three weeks at Lloyd's.

The Patea Mail has become the property ot Mr. E. Houghton, who has had editorial charge of that journal since Mr. Ivess took possession from Mr. Black, the late lessee. Mr. Houghton is a very able man, and a clever journalist, and the people of Carlyle may consider themselves fortunate in having induced him. to cast in his lot amongst them.

We learn from the Lyttelton Times that at a land sale held at Christclmrch last week, Wood's Dromore farm, consisting of 1093 acres, was sold at £3 10s per acre ; a number of sections m Rolleston township changed hands at £5 per section, and a portion of the Ahuriri estate, comprssing 225 acres, was passed in at £VZ per acre.

Sir William Fox's proposal to make it imperative for licensed publicans to provide tea and coffee for their customers is not likely -(remarks the N.Z. Times) to meet with much objection, either in the Houso or from the trade. As a matter of fact in nearly every well-conducted hotel in the colony coffee is procurable at the bars as readily as any other beverage.

A slight surprise awaited the landlord of the Club Hotel, Invercargill, the other night, which, for the time, destroyed his appetite and taste for oysters. A very fine one, externally, had just been opened, and he was about to " negotiate " it, when something pecular in its appearance caught his eye. A closer examination revealed the fact that the inmate of the shell was not an oyster at all, but a diminutive octopus, coiled up in the place occupied by the original resident — his right of property having been established, no doubt, on the same principle as that relied on by the Maoris of old — that he bad eaten the previous owner.

The following is a copy of a letter received on Thursday by Mr. Moore Hunter from the Premier's Private Secretary, in reference to the resolutions forwarded from the late public meeting : — " Government Offices, Wellington, June 28th, 1880. Sir, — The Premier has instructed me to acknowledge his receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, forwarding a copy of resolutions respecting the New Plymouth Harbor Works ; the rating powers at present existing in connection with those works, and the administration of the lands within the Patea county — which were adopted by a public meeting held at Hawera. I am to state th t the Premier will without delay bring the resolutions under the consideration of the Government. — I am, &c, E. Fox."

In the Legislative Conncil, Mr. Scotland, who is a resident of Taranaki, " went for" the people of that place with a vengeance (says the New Zealand Herald). He proposed a motion, "That for the credit of the colony and the advantage of both races it is expedient that steps be taken to satisfy all recognised native claims to any portion of consficated land on the West Coast." In proposing this, Mr. Scotland said that Taranaki would not depend on its natural resources but on Government contracts and expenditure. Men did not care to work for their living, but wanted to put on uniforms, and ride about as officers and gentlemen. People went about talking lightly of another war. He compared New Plymouth and Parihaka in regard to drunkenness, &c, greatly to the advantage of the latter. He read an extract from the Patea Mail, saying what a good thing a war would be, as it would be a war of extermination. He would like to know how the writer of that would like to have his family exterminated. The behavior of the natives had been most restrained and admirable. The previous question was carried, on the motion of Mr. Whitaker, who said the Council would soon have all the West Coast affair before it. - Sir Dillon Bell defended the gettlerß on the West Coast.|

Major Parris has returned from the camps, and Major Brown left for New Plymouth on Wednesday.

A telegram from London states that the Wanganui Harbor Improvement Loan, of £60,000, has been allotted at 95 to 99 per cent.

Mr. Bate, local assessor under the Property Assessment Tax, has been officially notified that the time for s nding in the forms has been extended to the 2nd of August.

A number of the Manutahi natives, in regular Chinese file, passed through Hawera yesterday, doubtless on their way to Parihaka. A bullock-dray was loaded with flour, tea, and — tamaiti.

The Town Board will meet on Monday evening, when we trust there will be a quorum present. If possible, meetings of local bodies ought not be allowed to lapse for want of attendance.

In reply to a question, M •. Harris wa^ informed, a few days ago in the House of Representatives, that it would not be expedient to grant a small body of men 50 acres of land each, near Parihaka, to be held by them by force.

The counter attractions elsewhere (as theatircal critics phrase it) had a depi easing effect upon the Debating Society last Tuesday night. Very few turned up. and the meeting was, in consequence, adjourned.

Mr. Climie and party have started on the sectional surveys between the Waingongoro and Inaha. As a good many of the pegs put down last year have been removed, most of the ground will probably have to be traversed agaiu.

A fire broke out in Mr. Manson's shop and dwelling, on Taupo Quay, Wanganui, on Thursday evening, and drapery goods, to the value of about i'2oo, were destroyed. The amount was covered by insurance. The fire-bell did not ring-

The Road Board will meet this afternoon. Would it not be wise to re-consider the resolution passed last time as to meeting on alternate months? Is not that too long a space ? We think the action was hurriedly taken, and it might not be unwise to re-consider it.

The usual monthly meeting of the " brethren of the mystic tie " will be held on Monday evening, at the Town Hall. It has been suggested that a change in the monthly meetings might be made to the following evening, so as not to clash with those of the Town Board.

We have received a fresh batch of electoral forms from Mr. Rawson, Registrar, New Plymouth. Any person can get one by calling at our office, and we shall forward to head-quarters when filled in. Twelve months' residence in the colony, and six months' in this district, is all that is necessary.

It is stated that Mr. Ivess contemplates starting a paper at Ellesmere, in Canterbury, and that the new journal will be issued twice a week. The railway system in the South is telling more and more every Aay. Placeß that were only very small villages a few years back are gradually becoming populous towns.

The football mateh — fifteen against all comers — will be played at Carlyle to-day, and not at Kakaramea, as had been decided, as Mr. Pringle writes to Mr. Cunningham, stating that He is afraid their players could not get in, time to Kakaramea. G. Bayly, Lysaght, Wolner, and Green (it is doubtful whether F. Baddeley can get away) will play with the fifteen ; and R. Baddeley, G. Will}', Mann, and probably one or two others, will do battle with the all-comers.

Mr. Wilkinson, the newiclerk of court, appeared for the first time in his official capacity on Thursday. Constable Pleasants, who has recently been stationed at Normanby, also had his first case before the Court, having charged C. Williams with stealing sausages from 1 Mr. Treweek's butchery. The " mystery-bags " were brought into Court, and there was quite a titter as Sergeant Cahfll unfolded them to the public gaze. After the accused was convicted, Mr. Treweek resumed possession of his property once more.

A telegram, dated Wellington, June 29, in the Wanganui Chronicle, says : — " The survey of the Waimate Plains, which was stopped during the late Administration, will be resumed shortly, the Government having sent instructions to the surveyors to come back on to the Plains and take up their old field work where they left off. The work will be pushed on as rapiely as possible, in order to make the most of the incoming season in getting people placed on the land, with a view of obviating the necessity for keeping such a large force of Constabulary on the ground any longer than may be absolutely necessary. There is some difference of opinion as to the wisdom of the step, some of the very prudent thinking the action taken a little precipitate. Others, on the other hand, think it the best thing that could be done under present circumstances."

The English mail arrived at Hawera and Normanby by coach from Wanganui last evening. The " slough of despond " between Ketemarae and New Plymouth is more than even mail- carriers can be entrusted to get through safely or expeditiously. Through some mistake, the Hawera portion of the mail was taken on to Normanby, but it was brought back again later in the evening. The coachdriver was not to blame iv the matter, aR only one bag was entered in the way-bill vliich he received at the Wanganni post office, and he dcliv. red one when he came to Hawera. When Normanby was reached, the driver lound the bag containing the English mail at the back of the coach, and immediately brought it back to Hawera. This is the second mistake that has occurred at the Wangamu post office during the past week or ten days.