NEWS AND NOTES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 41, 1 September 1880, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES

A curious omission appears to have been made in the schedules to the West Coast Settlement Bill. In the description given of the proposed new Land District, the coast line, embracing the land on th" Waimate Plains, appears to have been omitted. Possibly, the mistake may have been rectified in committee, bnt we have seen nothing to that effect. This proves the necessity of sending bills to all the newspapers in the colony, instead of to a few. Had a copy been sent to us, the mistake might easily have been pointed out. We consider the Government should issue an order to have all bills sent to every newspaper in- the colony: the cost would be a mere bagatelle. •

We understand that orders have been given to take the Public Works Contingent of the A.C. Force stationed at Parihaka to the Waimate Plains; They will probably be camped near "the road line at the Mania township. It was also stated yesterday — but we were unable to obtain definite information — that some of the A.C.'s were to be sent to Cape Egmont, to commence the preparatory work in connection with the building of the lighthouse. This will, we feel assured, be satisfactory news to most of our readers. The present Native Minister has certainly proved himself a man of action.

According to the Taranaki News, Te Whiti continues to receive European visitors with considerable cordiality, and will converse with them on any subject but politics. It is thought that he is in a considerable dilemma with his people. He is intelligent enough to see the vanity of his prophecies, but to maintain his reputation he is compelled to keep on prophesying.

We learn from Mr. Homer, the manager of the Patea Steam Shipping Company, that it has been decided to lay up the Patea for five days in Nelson, on or about the 16th September — that is, the next time she goes there. The steamer's engines require to be looked to, and she will be painted when necessary, so as to be in good order for the wool season. She will make two- or three more trips to Wellington, according to circumstances, before laying up, and that -will give people ample time to order their goods.

Mr. Freeman B. Jackson's monthly sale will be held at Waverley on Friday next.

Mr. W. M. Thomson will hold a sale of horses in Prosser's yard on Saturday afternoon.

It is stated that the expenses of the Boyal Commissions will amount to nearly J59000.

Our Parliamentary telegrams state that Parliament will be prorogued to-day by Commission.

We regret to learn that Mr. Bassett, the contractor, has been so unwell that he had to be conveyed to New Plymouth last week for medical attendance.

Silence reigns o'er the redoubt at Nornianby. The A.G.'B, who have been sta« tioned there, were marched to WaiM on Sunday last.

Mr. Chalmers's entire horse Knockdon was taken through Hawera on Saturday morning. He is a splendid-looking animal.

Mr. Schwerdtfeger announces that he has succeeded in making preparations from New Zealand plants for the cure of freckles, perspiration of the feet, &c. He states that he will be at Lloyd's Hotel on Saturday next.

Mr. O'Neill, a young gentleman with high credentials- from London, has commenced business as an architect in Hawera, and has already prepared an elaborate plan of a dwellinghouse for a gentleman who has recently come to reside in Hawera.

The railway employes in Dunedin and Christchurch have been holding meetings to protest against the 10 per cent, reduction in wages. They allege that by the Government adopting such a course, they are making the innocent suffer for the guilty.

Mr. Wanklyn, secretary to the Town Board, writes : — " I have much pleasure in inlorming your correspondent 'Diogenes ' that the office of the Town Board is open 208 hours per year. Any other information he may require on the subject I shall be most happy to give him."

There will be three meetings on Saturday next. The Boad ~ Board monthly meeting will be held on that day ; the meeting in reference to. forming a separate county is called for 2 p.m. ; and the annual meeting of the Cricket Club will be held in the evening, at Lloyd's Hotel.

A parade of entire horses, under the auspices of the Patea District Agricultural and Pastoral Association, will be held on Saturday, the 18th instant, at the new show-yards, near Carlyle, and is expected to be very successful. The entrance fee is 2s 6d for members, and ss. for non-members.

In consequence of the bad weather prevailing on Saturday, there was but a small muster of the Normanby Rifles. The men assembled under Mr. Gibson's verandah, Lieutenants Wreford and Dolan being in command. After an inspection of the arms and accoutrements, they were dismissed by Major Noake.

We have received complaints as to the want of accommodation at the Stratford station for getting sheep into the trucks. What now takes about three or four hours could, we are informed, be done in less than an hour if a few hurdles were provided. Perhaps Mr. Harris, the traffic manager, will remedy the matter. The expense would be very trifling.

A gentleman, who has just returned from Parihaka, states that he met Hiroki, the murderer of McLean, there. He came up in quite a friendly manner to the pakeha, and wanted to shake hands, but met with veiy scant courtesy. Hiroki stated that he had never been wounded, and that he was too smart for his pursners. He allowed our informant to make a close examination, and the gentleman alluded to is firmly convinced that Hiroki's statement is correct.

Complaints have again been made to us about cattle trespassing in the Cemetery. We have been informed that the clasp of the new gate requires something done to it. • The fencing on the off side was tumbled down — our informants supposed by the Maoris, as the Matangarara natives generally come through the Cemetery, on their way to Hawera. Might it not be wall for the Road Board and Town Board to appoint a deputation to wait on the Native Minister in reference to forming a track from High street to the native reserve ? It will be impossible to keep the Cemetery in order until that is done.

In reference to the site for the Normanby Town Hall, Mr. Wreford, the secretary, has sent us the following information :—: — " As the public have expressed a considerable amount of uncertainty as to where the ball will be situated, I have now the pleasure to inform you that Mr. Mabey, agent for Mr. Hurst, has this day (Saturday last) shown me a letter from that gentleman, in which he states his intention of at once conveying the section adjoining the Police Station to the Town Hall Company. All interested in the undertaking will appreciate Mr. Hurst's willingness to meet our wishes, after so long a time has elapsed since his offer was made before we were in a position to avail ourselves of it."

An esteemed correspondent, writing to us from Kai Iwi, states that the railway will probably be opened to Waitotara by the middle of the present month. The ballasting is expected to be completed during the present week, and the materials are now being sent through to Waitotara for the permanent way ' of the Waverley section. Last week a train of 33 traelrs, weighing ahoub QBO kona, was taken right through from Wanganai to Waitotara. The delays that have occurred have been in consequence of the foundations of the Waitotara bridge having been found defective, and much larger piles had to be procured, and also owing to the unfavorable nature of the ballastpit. Mr. Hill, teacher of the Normanby School, took leave of his pupils on Friday last. A member of the committee was present, and thanked Mr. Hill, on behalf of the committee and the parents of the children attending the school, for the care he had bestowed upon the education of his pupils — a feeling .which was cordially participated in by the chairman. Mr. Hill, who appeared to be very much affected, returned thanks for the kind words conveyed to him, stating that it was a great comfort to him to know that his efforts had been appreciated. He then shook hands with all his pupils, many of whom shed tears when they came to part with their teacher. The school was then closed. Mr. McCutchan will re-open it to-day.

The competition for the cup subscribed by the officers of the Hawera Light Horse will commence on Saturday week. Full particulars are given in our advertising columns.