NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 36, 14 August 1880, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

In our fourth page will be found an interesting letter from our correspondent at the Camp.

We never insert any communication unless authenticated by the name of the writer ; consequently, that sent by " A Reader of Your Valuable Paper," cannot appear.

We need hardly remind our sporting readers that they will have an opportunity of " Tally-ho-ing" to their hearts' content on Monday next. A start "ndll be made from JAoy^s Hotel, at 2 p.m.

Owing to the illness of Mr. Seymour, the Ch akman of Committees, the House of Representatives has appointed Mr. Kelly to act in his stead until his recovery.

As might have been expected, there is a general outcry against the Public Works Statement, every district considering that whatever money is left should be spent there. The vote on railways was reduced, on the motion of Mr. Oliver, from to £561,031.

Dr. Alexander has decided upon permanently settling in Hawera. He can be consulted at Mr. John Stevenson's, where he has taken up his residence. There ought to be very little illness in Hawera, if sanitary precautions are adopted; but it is satisfactory to know that those who may be afiiicted will be within easy reach of two medical gentlemen.

We understand that arrangements for the lease of the Ngaire swamp have been made with the natives by Messrs. Caverhill and Stevenson, for a term of twentyone years. The rent will be 6d. per acre for the first seven years, Is. per acre for the second term, and 2s. per acre tor the third term. The negotiations for the lease were conducted by Captain Wilson. If the swamp can be easily drained, as we have heard stated, the lessees ought to have a good bargain, as the Ngaire is reputed to be one of the richest swamps in New Zealand.

Communication between Hawera and Opunake will be opened up again next week. Mr. J. Flynn, who has been travelling on this coast for the last nine or ten years, intends running an express twice a week, and will be ready to convey passengers and goods on and after Monday next. It is an important thing for the whole district that there should be some line of regular communication with the Plains, and we therefore trust that Mr. Flynn will secure such a large amount of patronage from the public as to render his speculation a payable one.

At the meeting of the Land Board on Monday, an application made by W. A. McCutchan, to transfer section 68, block VI., Ngaire, to George Calvert, was granted. The Chief Surveyor laid before the board a plan of part of block 3, Ngaire, sectionally divided and ready for sale. On the motion of Mr. Sfcandish, seconded by Mr. Syme, it was agreed, " That twelve sections be opened for selection on terms of deferred payments, at £1 ss. per acre ; and fifteen sections for sale by cash at £1 per acre."

A child belonging to Pie, one of the Keteonetea natives, died on Thursday evening, through injuries sustained, in consequence of the upsetting of a dray on the Ta Whiti road. There is a nasty cutting some distance this side of the stream, and it appears one of the wheels got on to the embankment, and toppled over. We suppose that the poor horse will, according to Maori usages, be shot, and the dray broken up, as a punishment for the parents' neglect. Query — Ought not some chastisement be inflicted on the members of the road board for not making the cutting less dangerous than it is ?

As showing the progress of the surveys, we might mention that the line has been cut through from Manaia, and that a junction has been effected with what is known as " Hursthouse's line," running from Stratford to Opunake. The Manaia line intersects Hursthouse's, at a distance of about ten miles from • Stratford, and about twelve from Opunake. A liorsebrach Las bee» out from Stmtfov& to this point ; so that we may hope soon to see a great deal of this land — which is of a very rich character — available for settlement. The bush is light, and, with few exceptions, it can be cleared in the course of a few years. The labors of the Royal Commission are, so far, bearing good fruit.

The Taranaki Herald hears that the Surveyor- General has telegraphed to the Chief Surveyor (Mr. T. Humphries), requesting that he will meet him on the Waitnate Plains, so that they may go over the land together, to make arrangements for re-surveying it. [Our contemporary's information can hardly be correct, we should imagine, because the re-survey of the Plains was commenced six or seven weeks ago, and is now nearly finished. Mr. McKerrow, the Secretary of Crown Lands, will, however, visit the Plains, in order to gain a special knowledge of their value, as the General Government will probably take the administration of the land into its own hands. — Ed. Star.]

The entertainment to be given at the Town Hall, on Tuesday evening, promises to be far superior to the previous one, if half of what is stated should prove to be correct. In addition to the ladies and gentlemen who gave their services at the former concert, there will be several others new to Hawera, and we understand thot a (local) comic song has been written by one gentleman, some of the " bits " contained in it being particularly happy. On Wednesday there was a very satisfactory rehearsal, about twenty to thirty ladies and gentlemen being present, and on Monday evening the final rehearsal will take place. The hall should be as crowded as it was on the previous occasion.

Some wag has been playing a practical joke on the owners of land near the proposed railway station sites at Hawera and Normanby. It occurred to the lively imagination of the gentleman in qu stion that? if he were to abolish the stations both at Normanby and Hawera, and cause one to be erected near Mr. Roper's nursery instead, he would (to use a vulgarism) strike terror into the hearts of some of the property-owners in the two townships. We have been informed that not only had the gentleman his little joke, but he managed as well to increase the revenue of the Telegraph Department. Happy must the heart be of a man who can make jokes at a time like this, when our legislators are telling the world that we are. ruined.

Mr. W. M. Thomson will hold a sale of furniture, &c, at 2 p.m. to-day, opposite Prosser's Hotel.

The Kelly inquiry commenced at Beechworth last week, Mr. David Gaunson being retained for the defence.

The appointment of Mr. J. Black, as captain of the Patea Cadets, has been gazetted.

A meeting of creditors in the estate of John Thomas Blake, native interpreter, will be held on Tuesday next, at the Court-house, Carlyle.

The Empire Hotel, at Featherston, has been sola for J1550 by Messrs. T. K. Macclonalcl and Co., auctioneers, "Wellington.

A son of Sir Hercules Robinson is about to join the navy, and sailed in H.M.S. Raleigh, which left Wellington for England a day or two ago.

The cost of Messrs. Grant and Forster's visit to this colony, as delegates from the Lincolnshire farmers, amounted to £54:7 Is. 6d.

Mr. Moss's scheme for local government does not appear to find much favor with the Ministry. Mr. Dick said his views were so impracticable that the Government did not consider it right to waste the time of the House in prolonging the debate.

The following epistle was recently received by the Taranaki county engineer from the contractor for executing the Deep Creek tunnel: — "I am glad to inform you that this unholy job is finished, and that you will oblige us greatly if you will come and inspect it, as we are most anxious to get away from this Mecca of our pilgrimage."

Mr. Bryce brought in a bill on Tuesday to deal with the West Coast lands. It is anticipated that the administration will be taken out of the hands of the Taranaki Land Board, and vested in the Governor. I presume (telegraphs the correspondent of the Taranaki Herald) the interest at stake is too large for the Government to delegate its power without absolute control.

. A frightful accident occurred on Saturday last to two men working in a mine at Coromandel, through a blast exploding unexpectedly. One of them had his face torn with quartz and splinters, and was also burned fearfully about the body. His eyesight is gone, and it is not likely that he will recover. The other man, named Glasson, had his skull laid bare by the tamping-rod striking him, and he was also seriously burnt and cut. Both are married men with families.

A number of men employed in one of the tailoring establishments in Wanganui have struck work, because the principal refused to raise the rate from lOd to Is per hour. It appears (says the Chronicle) that a short time ago the men, in order to bring in more work, proposed a reduction, and the principal suggested the lower rate mentioned above, which was accepted, and acted on. The next thing was a reduction to the public, and, as a consequence, increased business. When, however, the orders began to come in freely, the men demanded a return of the shilling rate, which, of course, could not, under the circumstances, be conceded. There will, we understand, be no difficulty in supplying the places of those who have thus quarrelled with their bread and butter at a time when many find it a hard matter to get dry bread.

From the report of the Crown Lands Department for the twelve months ended 30th June, we are pleased to find that, notwithstanding all the harsh things said and written about our Land Board, the settlement of the district has progressed so well. Our contemporary the Herald says :—": — " In this Provincial District a great deal has be n done by opening lengths of three or four miles of road into the bush from the Mountain roacL Sidecuttings and partial formations have been made in places. The Manganui River was bridged on one of these lines, and several minor bridges and culverts have been constructed on other lines ; altogether, about a total of ninety miles has thus been opened up. Every section behind Mount Egmont, it may be said, has been rendered accessible by the opening of these occupation lines *, and, as a consequence, a very great stimulus has been given to the settlement of a district which is exceedingly well adapted, in its fertile soil, unmerous clear streams, and railway communication, for the hardy, working settler. There have been more lands disposed of on the deferred payment system in the Taranaki Land District for the twelve months ended 30fch June, and more selectors, than in any other land district except .Otago. The works in Taranaki are directed by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and set out and inspected by the Crown Lands Ranger."