NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 45, 15 September 1880, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

Owing to some remissness on the part of the authorities, we have failed to receive the lithograph plan of the land to be offered on the Waimate Plains. One of our Wanganui contemporaries received the map on the 13th inst. From the Gazette, published on the 9th inst,, which specifies the sections to be sold on deferred payment and for cash, we learn that there are 39 of the former and 89 of the latter description. In no case have more than three deferred payment sections been laid off adjoining one another. In some instances every alternate section is to be a deferred payment one, but little regularity #as been shown in the classification adopted.

We have heard that the Armed Constabulary from all the surrounding stations have been ordered to Major Goring's camp at Cape Egmont. Some strange rumors are floating about, but we refrain from particularising them.

We understand that it is the intention of the Government to erect a permanent redoubt at or near to Manaia on the Waimate Plains at an early date. The clearing of the road to Normanby is now being

proceeded with, and the necessary crossings over the creeks will soon be com pleted, as the work is light.

The men working on the road through the Wainiate Plains have been" discharged. The work- that -may be ne.ge.S;' 6ary will in future be done by the Futmc Works Contingent.

Mr. Freeman B. Jackson's monthly sale will take place at Hawera on Friday.

We have been informed that two of Mr. Quinlivan's horses have been impounded by the Parihaka natives.

Large numbers of natives have been going to Parihaka during the week. The Plains are almost deserted.

A mounted parade of the Hawera Light Horse was held on Saturday afternoon, but there was only a poor muster.

The first meeting of the newly-consti-tuted Road Board for the Ngaire district will- be held at 2 p.m. to-day, at Brett and Johnston's Hotel, Normanby.

Over -r ßQoO~ f acres ' have been recommended for sale on deferred payments by the Taranaku Land Board, in the Kaupokonui Block, lying between Stratford and Mount at tbe^rate of £1 per acre. The residential clause is not to be enforced.

We learn from the Wanganui Herald that the whole of the furniture for the new hotel at Carlyle, i;o be opened by Mr. O. McKittrick on the Ist October, has been supplied by Mr. Donald Boss. The steamer Wakatu has been chartered to convey the goods to Patea, the order amounting to over £800 in value.

At eleven- o'clock this morning the deferred-payment land in the Ngaire district, for which more than two applications have been received, will be put up to public competition by Mr. C. D. Whitcombe, Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands, who, with Mr. Thompson, Receiver of Land Revenue, arrived in Hawera on Monday.

Mr. T. M. Foy, Civil Engineer, who has been in the. Government service, not alone in New Zealand, but in India, Canada, and other parts of the world, for a very large number of years, intends commencing business in Hawera about a fortnight' hence. Mr. Foy takes a high rank in his 'profession, and he is an authorised and licensed surveyor, as well as a civil engineer. The many friends. that he has made, throughout the district will be glad to see him settled amongst them, and if good wishes can secure a fortune — or, at all events, .a large professional income — Mr. Foy will have no reason to regret the step he has taken.

The Wellington Chronicle of the 10th instant, .states that a party of miners working at Terawhiti have been engaged there for some months, and are making satisfactory wages. Another party of four left Wellington for Terawhiti on Friday. The previous day a test party of five left Palmerston, intending to reach and take away about 4 cwt. of quartz from a reef which has been discovered about 8 miles from Palmerston, but is so inaccessible that it takes, two days to get there. Moss, the original prospector, thinks the stone will run four ounces to the ton. The hard times have forced many persons to give more attention to local industries.

At the last meeting of the Taranaki County Council, Colonel Trimble stated that 'he had seen Mr. Blackett on the preceding Thursday in reference to public works in the district. With regard to the Mountain road, Mr. Blackett promised that tenders should be called for extending the gravelling to Stratford, and beyond that township as far as Mangawhero. He endeavored to impress on Mr. Blackett the necessity of tenders for these works being called at once, so that the works could be done economically during the summer months. A vote of ninepence in the £ was imposed on division by four against three, the latter being in favor of levying a vote of one shilling as being only just sufficient to meet their liabilities, and to carry on necessary works.

A meeting of the committee of the Hawera Cricket Club was held on Saturday evening. Present — Messrs. Riddiford (chairman), Bate, Beresford, Cunningham, Parrington, and White. Messrs. Riddiford, Parrington, Cunningham, and Beresford were elected the match committee, one or more being empowered to select teams, provided that the others received notice of the meeting. It was resolved that the club should supply cricketing material to Mr. Beresford for the use of members residing in Normanby. It was decided that the secretary should write to the Wanganui club, to arrange two matches, the first to come off in Hawera on or about the Prince of Wales' birthday ; and also to the Nelson club, for a match to be played at Nelson on Boxing-day, or during Christmas week.

Martin Power, sub-contractor on the railway, was charged before Captain Wilson, and F. McGuire, Esq., J.P.s, on Monday, with having struck one of his workmen, named George Squibbs, with a long-handled shovel, on the 9th instant. It appeared from the evidence that complainant was employed by the defendant at Bs. a day, and that an altercation arose between them, resulting in the defendant rushing at complainant, having at the same time a long-handled shovel in his hand. Complainant stated positively that defendant struck him with the shovel ; whilst the latter asserted that lie didnot do so. Two witnesses who were called in support of the charge could not swear that defendant had struck complainant with the shovel, although they saw it in his hand when the dispute arose. The Bench were of opinion that the assault had been committed, but that great provocation had been given by the complainant. A fine of £2 and costs was inflicted.

Amongst the large variety of agricultural implements advertised for sale, at the agricultural implement depot, New Plymouth, by Messrs. Websters and McKellar, we notice the celebrated Hornsby Hedge-cutter, which, we hear, has been imported with the view of its being used in this district. Its great success has been acknowledged both by the English and colonial press. In proof, we append the report of a trial of the hedgecutter, copied from a recent issue of the Lyttelton Times : — " On Thursday afternoon the Hornsby hedge-cutter was shown in work at Malvern, in the presence of a number of farmers who were interested in the subject. The work was done well and quickly, the power of the machine being fully tested by some extremely thick growth ; and the opinion was generally expressed that the machine was a thorough success, having far exceeded the expectations •of the gentlemen present, and fully justified the claims of the makers. The hedge-cutter was supplied ■by-, Messrs.. Miles, Hassal - and- • C 0. ,. .of Christchurch, and Mr. Smithurst, the representative of Messrs. Hornsby, was present."

From the sheep returns lately made to an order of the House of Representatives, it appears thst there are in South Wairarapa 355,403, and in the North District 320,446 sheep.

When the Rotomahana left Auckland for Sydney, on the 4th instant, she had no less than 134 steerage passengers for Sydney. The Auckland Star thinks that many of these men will find that they have made a mistake.

Messrs. T. Quinlivan and A. Nathan, who had the .Gon tract for the transport service in connection with the Armed Constabulary Camp, have dissolved partnership. Mr. Quinlivan will carry on the contract in future.

•Some leading members of the South Australian Jockey Club have, it is said, determined that the Adelaide Cup shall be the principal turf event of Australia, and have resolved to give 2000 soys. next year.

On Saturday week the opening cricket match of the season will be played between the first eleven and the second twenty-two of the Hawera C.C. The latter will be captained by Mr. Bate, and the former, of course, by Mr. Riddifoi-d, captain of the club. Mr. Beresford -will give a ridiDg-whip to the highest scorer.

We have heard (says the Wairarapa Standard) that a party of farming gentlemen intend leaving Featherston district shortly, to ,take up land near the Waimate Plains. They intend taking the whole of their stock and implements, and working on the motto of " Unity is Strength." — If they should come, they will be heartily welcomed.

This is what the Feilding Guardian says about the Waimate Plains :—": — " The contingent of unemployed lately sent from Wellington are to be invited to settle permanently on a portion of the confiscated land. Some fine night the whole lot will be massacred if Te Whiti gets into a bloodthirsty humor." The Guardian has turned " prophet."

The fine weather which prevailed during the past week has had a very perceptible effect on the roads. The main line through the Plains can be travelled over quite comfortably ; whilst the mud on the Mountain track has become so hard that horses can get along at the rate of four or five miles an hour, instead of two or three. Even for such a small mercy the settlers are duly thankful — but not to the Government.

We understand that orders have been given to cut another line of road through the bush, to connect Hursthouse's line from Stratford to Opunake. The direction it will take will probably be somewhere in the vicinity of the Wahanoko. All the explorations made up to the present time tend to show the great value of the bush land, which must eventually become the home of a large and prosperous population.

We received a communication from Mr. McDowall on Monday, in answer to a letter signed "Da Locum Melioribus," which appeared in Saturday's issue. We cannot afford to devote any more space to the discussion of the subject, and therefore we were reluctantly compelled to decline Mr. McDowall's letter. It is but right, however, to that gentleman to state that he disclaims all personal opposition to the appointment of Mr. McCutchan ; his action having been taken on public grounds alone. Mr. McDowall further states that he had no intention whatever of applying for the position of teacher to the Normanby school.

At a recent meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, a motion was proposed that Mr. E. M. (Iron-sand) Smith should receive .£25 to proceed to the Melbourne Exhibition, with the object of bringing the iron sand under the notice of the public there. Mr. Carrington said it was doubtful if the Board had power to vote the money, and he thought they should be very careful what they did, in the face of the opposition which had been shown against the Board. — Mr. Wells : That was only the opposition of one man — a Government surveyor. — Mr. Thompson : An awfu' " Chiel." — (Laughter.) — The motion was put to the meeting and lost.

Settlers in the Ngaire district, whose land is situated within the boundaries of the Hawera Road Board District, would do well to meet and consult together as to the opening up of the roads. If application is made to the Board, the Foreman of Works will probably be sent up, and steps will be taken to have the roads formed. A lot of the deferred payment money is at present lying idle in the Treasury. As spon as the Ngaire Road Board gets into working order, the settlers can then petition, if they desire to do so, to be removed from the Hawera Road District, and included in the Ngaire. This will probably soon be done ; but in the meantime it will be as well to utilise the money now lying at the Treasury.

A special meeting of the Town Board — convened by Messrs. King, Duffill, and Cockburn — lapsed on Saturday evening, for want of a quorum. The only members who put in an appearance were Messrs. Dingle, King, and Spence, who, after waiting for nearly an hour, decided to adjourn till Tuesday. Last evening there were present — Messrs. King (in the chair), Cockburn, Stevenson, Duffill, and Spence. Tenders were received from Messrs. W. Cowern and W. M. Thomson for conducting the sale of the town acre sections. The former offered to conduct the sale at Hawera for £5, and the latter at 5 per cent. It was decided that Messrs. King,

Stev nson, and Daffill should make arrangements with Mr. Thomson for the sale of the acre, which is to be cut up into eight sections. The sub-committee were also empowered to arrange with Mr. Fraser for the survey of the allotments as soon as possible.