The Star.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 49, 29 September 1880, Page 2

The Star.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBEE 29, 1880.

NEWS AND NOTES-

We sincerely trust that the committee of the Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Association will alter the date of their show, so as not to clash with the sale of the Waimate Plains on the 28th and 29th October. A great number of visitors to the district and intending settlers would be greatly disappointed if the date at present advertised is adhered to. An entertainment, in aid of the building fund of the Wesleyan Church, will be given in the course of a few weeks.

Mr. Mcßae's horse Puriri can be seen to-day at Mr. Bailey's stables. In a previous issue a description was given of this fine animal.

Mr. M. D. King has resigned the position of librarian to the Choral Society, and Mr. Wilkinson has accepted the position. Mr. King has been one of the most active and enthusiastic members of the society, and his loss will be much felt. His resignation has been caused through pressure of business.

The Choral Society will give iaeir first concert on the 26th of next month, and the practices are so well attended, that we feel confident the entertainment to be given will come up to expectations. A very fine piano has been obtained from Messrs. Collier and Co.. Wanganui. The •• sinews of war " will, therefore, be necessary, and it is to be hoped that subscribers will at once come to the aid of the committee.

After lunch, on Saturday, a meeting of the committee of the Cricket Club was held in the pavilion, for the purpose of considering a letter received from Mr. Anson, Wanganui, urging that the counties of Kangitikei, Wanganui, and Patea, should offer a challenge cup, to be competed for by representative teams from each county. The committee decided that they could not see their way clear towards acting on the suggestion at the present time.

About 50 of the Normanby Bifles murtered at parade on Saturday, and as all the officers and men were dressed in their new uniforms, they looked remarkably well. The men were under the command o£ Captain Brett, and Staff- Sergt. Whelan, put them through a severe course of drill for nearly an hour. The Normanby rifles bid fair to be one of the most efficient corps on this coast. The large numbers that invariably turn out at the monthly parades reflect credit on officers and men.

Mr. John Stevenson's tender, for supplying rations to the A.C. Force at 10£ d. per head per day, has been accepted. Humphries and Son, New Plymouth, tendered at Is. per head, as did also Mr. S. Taplin, Carlyle. There were tenders from Mr. McGuire, the present contractor, at llf a. ; from Mr. W. Dale, nt ll£d.; and a party of four at New Plymouth tendered at ll£d. Mr. Eoach, who rented one of the canteens from Mr. McGuire, is amongst the list of the unsuccessful tenderers.

We are pleased to know that the Early Cfosiag Association have aucceecfed in their endeavors to get a continuance of the seven o'clock time for closing during the summer months. Employers and employed deserve to be congratulated upon the kindly feeling existing amongst them. The public, being aware of the fact that they cannot shop after seven, will, no doubt, manage to do all their business before that hour. Very few will be inconvenienced, whilst those who are confined all day will be able to appreciate the extra hour given them for relaxation.

We noticed with regret that Mr. Beresford was attacked by cramp during his innings at the cricket match on Saturday. Mr. Wanklyn did the running for him, but there can be no doubt that the pain he suffered must have interfered ■with- Mr. Beresford's score. We understand that a return match will shortly be arranged, but no date has yet been fixed. It was remarked by a stranger, that this was the first time he had ever seen the pavilion monopolised by men and boys, and the visitors of the fair sex compelled to find seats where or how they could.

We understand that efforts will shortly be made to establish a horticultural society in this district. As the Town .Hall at Nqrmanby will be available a few months hence, we would suggest that the shows should be held alternately in Hawera and at that place. The spring exhibition might be held in one township, and the autumn one in the other. It is to be hoped that " lovers of the beautiful" will come forward readily, and assist in establishing the society. There is no district in the colony where aboriculture and floriculture is so much needed. On the other hand, there are few places where the soil is so well adapted, as it is here, for the growth of fruit, flowers, trees, and shrubs.

News has been received by Mr. Douglas of the safe arrival of the Messrs. Middlemas at San Francisco. They report that they found house-rent and living cheap, and the town remarkably well supplied with delicious fruits of all descriptions, but 60 far as they could judge by the land they had seen near San Francisco, and by the quality of the meat exposed for sale, California was a long way behind New Zealand in the matter of grass. They have taken a house in the meantime' at Oakland, just across the bay from San Francisco ; but on August 18, when the letter was written, the brothers intended leaving for Oregon on the following day. Our readers will be glad to hear that their friends and fellow-settlers had a calm and ple&B&nb passage across, and were comfortably settled- pro tern, in the new land of their adoption.

" Cricketing notes," by " Eoundarm," and several letters, are unavoidably held over.

Nine tenders were received by Mr. Moore Hunter for building a woolshed. That of Mr. Livingston was accepted.

The "Te Whiti Minstrels " (a local troupe) gave » snceess!v\ -performance afc tbe White Cliffs last week.

Four steamers and three schooners were detained at the Waitara by the late gale. The Eowena had to unload her cargo of stock at the lower wharf.

The Mounted Eifles have had a paper hunt at New Plymouth. One horse was slightly wounded, and three riders were unhorsed during the day.

Tbe Otago Daily Times states that .£II,OOO has been recently lent on mortgage, at 7 per cent. It cannot be had at such cheap rates in this part of the world, as yet.

The register-book of the Patea Agricultural and Pastoral Association has been left with Mr. Wreford, Normanby, and any persons desirous of joining the society can do so by signing their names.

We have received from the Land Oflice at Patea half-a-dozen, copies of the " Conditions for occupying CrownTJands on deferred payments." We shall be glad to lend them to any intending selectors.

A youthful friend, yclept Cupid, informs us that an interesting ceremony — but more especially so to our lady readers — will take place to-day. We congratulate the happy pair, and wish them all kinds of happiness.

As the enlargement of the Boman Catholic Church has been completed, the Bey. Father Grogan requests us to state that he will celebrate Mass at Hawera on Sunday next at the usual hour, 11 a.m. Vespers will be at 6.30 in the evening.

Mr. T. Anderson, surveyor, has resumed professional business in Hawera, and has taken an office next to Mr. Pitcher's shop. For some time past, Mr. Anderson has been engaged in surveying a block of land at the back of Taiporohenui for Major Wilson, of the Waikato. Some of the land is of first-class quality.

Timaru potatoes have been supplied to the A.C. Camp during the past three months. This may give cause for some surprise, when it is remembered that on the Hawera and New Plymouth side of the camp there is some of the finest rootgrowing soil in the world. Importing potatoes to New Plymouth or Carlyle appears to us as great an anomaly as sending coals to Newcastle.

A letter, posted in New Plymouth on the 14th September, reached this office yesterday. The envelope is marked New Plymouth, Sept. 14/80 ; Palmeiston North, Sept. 27/80 ; Wanganui, Sept. 27/80 ; and Hawera, Sept. 28/80. We have heard so many complaints of non-delivery and irregularity in the New Plymouth Post Office, that we think it right to publish this little fact.

Sir John Coode has written to the Harbor Board, stating that he has been placed in possession of certain newspaper reports respecting Mr. Bees, and informing the board that he declines to have anything further to do with the New Plymouth harbor works, or to accept any responsibility respecting them. By this action, Sir John Coode has, we believe, (says the- TaranaM News) conferred a favor on the board.

As soon as we saw a copy of the West Coast Settlement Act, we referred to a defect in the way the boundaries were described* and we further stated that, had the bill been sent to us in time, we might have pointed out the error. Mr. Halse, counsel for the prisoners, raised the objection at the trial — and his honor Judge Shaw took a note of it — that the indictment was bad, on the ground that no fourth boundary had been described. It may be only a " lawyers' objection," but we are only too well aware 6ha6 legal quibbles have frequently upset cases brought before the law courts. The penny-wise, pound-foolish policy of not sending the bills before Parliament to country journals is forcibly brought to light through the objection raised by Mr. Halse.

The Maori prisoners were sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and were conveyed in the Hinemoa on Saturday, their destination being Lyttelton. They were also ordered after the expiration of their sentence to find surties of £150 to keep the peace for six months. The Judge informed the prisoners that the length of their sentence would depend entirely upon the manner that the natives conducted themselves. Mr. B. S, Thompson, Native Interpreter, deposed to telling the natives that he was instructed by Mr. Bryce, the Native Minister, to tell them they mnst not fence. On the 2nd of September he went to Parihaka, and distributed copies of the West Coast Settlement Act, which had been translated into Maori. Te Whiti and Tobu asked him what he came for. He could not Bay if all the prisoners were present, although he knew some of them were. He gave Kohi, who was returning from- fencing, a copy, but he refused to take it, saying he supposed there were plenty at Parihaka. After he had distributed copies of the Act at Parihaka, Tohu collected them together and threw them at witness.

The ways of the railway, postal, and coaching authorities are somewhat mysterious. It was generally understood that the train would run to New Plymouth by the Ist of October, but when it became known that a change was made, without even twenty -four hours' notice being given, there.was a good deal of indignation expressed- The coach, which used to come from Normanby at 8 a.m., does not reach Hawera till about 1 p.m., and the time for closing the mails at the latter place at 7 a.m. has been altered to noon. It is preposterous that changes like th se should be made without some previous intimation being given to the public. Passengers who came from New Plymouth to ; Ngaire on Monday, had to walk to Normanby and Hawera, because, we presume, Mr. Andrew Young has not yet been able to complete his arrangements for running the coach beyond Normanby ; and yesterday morning a poor woman, with an infant at her breast, had to walk from Normanby to Ngaire, only to find, when she got there, that the train had been gone some few minutes. Sudden changes ought not to be made by railway, postal, or coaching authorities. Fair . warning oughtvfo, be given to. thepublic

The inspection parade of the Hawera Light Horse, postponed on Saturday in consequence of the cricket match, will take place this afternoon.

Tenders are called in our advertising columns for metalling on the Mountain road — five of the contracts being in the Pafcea, and five iri tlie Taraua3a county. The Government intimate that they will send a limited number of laborers to both counties from Wellington, to meet the demand that may arise. Tenders must be in by the 28th October, at the Public Works Office, New Plymouth, and the contracts must be finished by the sth March, failing which a penalty of JJ6 per week will be inflicted. It is stipulated that at least four teams shall be employed on each contract ; the gravel to be 12 feet wide, 10 inches at the centre, and 8 inches at the side. The contracts will reach to about seven or eight miles from Stratford, on the Patea side of the river, and ten miles on the Taranaki side. The following are the various lengths: — Patea county: Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 contracts, 120 chains, or a mile and a hall, each ; No. 5, 110 chains. Taranaki County : No. 1 contract, 131*62 chains; No. 2, 141-69 chains; No. 3, 115 ebains ; No. 5, 141*62 chains ; No. 6, 169*20 chains. These contracts, when finished, will give a metalled road from the Mangawhero to New Plymouth. We hope to see tenders called in a short time, so as to complete the road as far as Normandy. Seeing that our percentage of the land fund has been taken away, while a large area of land was yet unsold, we are fully entitled to have the road metalled from one end to the other.

The following statistics of the number of cattle in the chief beef-growing Australian colonies, given by tbe Melbourne Argus, will be read with interest : — 1878. Victoria 1,184,000 New South Wales ... 2,771,000 Queensland 2,343,000 New Zealand ... 578,000 In 1876 there were 27,871,000 head in the United States, and 9,761,000 in the United | Kingdom. The proportion to the population was as follows : — In the United States there was much fewer than one head of cattle in 1876 to one of population in 1870, the date of the last census. In the United Kingdom, much fewer than one head of cattle to three of population in 1868 ; but in the whole of the' Australian colonies, there was in 1878 nearly two and a half head of cattle to one of population in 1877. As the Argus points out, in spite of this disproportionate production, the Americans exported to Great Britain during the year ended 30th June, 1879, no less than about 162,000,0001b5. of beef, equal to about 200,000 bullocks, averaging about 8101bs. of dressed beef each. All authorities are agreed that it does not pay to export any but the very best quality of beef.