NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 50, 2 October 1880, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

Kissing goes by favor, and so, apparently, does Government advertising. We saw that tenders were called for the Urenui Boad Bridge Contract, and we telegraphed to Mr. Blackett, whose signature was attached to the advertisement, and to Mr. John Knowles, Under-Secretary for Public Works. A few daj^s afterwards we received a telegram from Mr. Benzoni, Assistant-Under-Secretary for Public Works, to the effect that the " Urenui Road Bridge Contract was sufficiently advertised." Judge of our surprise, then, when we found that the advertisement was inserted in one oi our lulanawahi contemporaries. Considering that this journal is published 100 miles nearer to the work to be tendered for — that it has a large circulation amongst people who are likely to tender for the work — in proof of which it might be stated that there was at least one tenderer from Hawera for the last railway contract between Mangawhero and Normanby, and that there were two tenderers from Hawera for the supply of rations to the A.C. Foree — we do not think that the Urenui Road Bridge Contract has been "sufficiently advertised," To say the least, it has not, at all events, been judiciously advertised. We think the Manawatu or the Wairarapa papers would have just cause for complaint if works to be done in their districts were advertised hi the Taranaki or Patea journals, whilst they were excluded. We, therefore, on public grounds, desire to enter our protest against the coarse adopted. It is the first time we have had to complain, and we trust it will be the last.

We have heard it stated, on very good authority, that tenders will soon be called for the construction of the railway between Normanby and Hawera ; and further, that the plans of the station, &c, have been prepared. It has caused a good deal of surprise that the contract has not been let before this time, seeing that men have been put at work near Manutahi, and that there is not the remotest probability of connecting that portion of the hue with Hawera until another loan can be floated.

The Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Minister of Lands, will probably pay a visit to this district during the ensuing week. We feel assured that the hon, gentleman, will see the absolute necessity of having a District Land Office at some more convenient place to the land to be sold than Carlyle. We would direct special attention to a letter published elsewhere from " An Intending Purchaser on the Plains," bearing on this subject.

The Public Works Contingent, who are at work on the Manaia-Normanby road, shifted camp en Monday, but in so doing made a curious blunder. There happened to be a nice sheltered spot in the new locality, and the tents were pitched there. It turned out, however, that the favored spot was an old bxirial-ground belonging to the natives. Titokowaru, who is back from Parihaka", and the natives generally, felt very sore over the matter. Major Parris, having "been informed, of what had taken place, during his visit to the Plains on Wednesday last, gave instructions to have the camp shifted, which was accordingly done on Thursday.

Mr. Foy has returned to Hawera. He informs us that people from Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dune din, and other parts of the colony, are coming up to have a look at the Plains, but many of them are staying for a short time in Manawatu, Bangitikei, and Wanganui, prior to visiting this district. It is to be regretted that the Government have not held out more inducements to these people to settle here. The small quantity of land advertised for sale, as compared with the large number on the look out for ib, must be rather discouraging. The policy does riot appear to be a wise one, at all events, to common - sense people.

Our Carlyle contemporary has fallen into a strange error in the matter of Mr. McGuire's tender for supplying rations to the A.C. Force. The whole affair was cut and dried during Sir George Grey's term of office. To blame Major Atkinson for what occurred is therefore unfair. We are not apologists for the hon. member for Egraont, but we believe in giving even " the de'il his due." If the transaction was irregular and unfair — and upon that point we are disposed to agree with our contemporary — then the blame must rest on the Grey Cabinet, and not on the members of the present Ministry. So far from Major Atkinson having assisted Mr. McGuire in any way, we have been informed, on very good authority — and it certainly was so stated hi Wellington at the time — that no sooner did the Hall Ministry get into office, than Major Atkinson caused a strict departmental investigation to be held into the whole transaction. The saving made by public tender is a considerable one, and will tend to reconcile the members of the A.G. Force to the 10 per cent, reduction; but neither the Government nor the general public will be affected by it. The members of the A.C. Force will be the gainers. But the wide difference between lOJd. and' 15d. proves the soundness of the policy of public tendering in all cases where there is a possibility of doing so.

The monthly meeting of the Hawera Town Board will be held this afternoon. The Town Board will meet on Monday evening, and as the members will have to appoint a chairman,- it is to be hoped that there will be a quorum present.

" Round. Aim's" notes are in type, but are unavoidably held over.

Mr. Cowern will hold a sale to-day, at 2 p.m., at the breakwater, Patea, of the plant used in the construction of that important work. It is certainly a great pity that the plant has to be sold so soon, after the results that have been achieved.

Sickness, we have been informed, is rather prevalent at Parihaka, especially amongst the children. Kereopa passed through yesterday, a child belonging to him having died a few days ago at Parihaka.

The Waitara Harbor Board have taken over the wharves from the Government, and will collect all dues, &c, which will have to be prepaid. By advertisement it will be seen that Messrs. Bluck and Baker have established a forwarding agency at Waitara, and consignees will thus have an opportunity of making arrangements for the prompt delivery of their goods.

A Bachelors' Ball will be held a fortnight or three weeks hence. A meeting of the unhappy folk took place at Lloyd's hotel on Wednesday evening, Mr. G. Bayly being being voted to the chair. The following gentlemen were elected a committee to make all the necessary arrangements : — Messrs. G. Bayly, Bate, Cunningham, Flint, Fowler, Mason, Southey. A Cavalry Ball is also spoken of.

The Otago Daily Times cannot understand how it is that just when a tax of three pence a gallon has been put upon beer, the publicans should have reduced their charge from 6d. to 3d. per glass. We might perhaps point out that a tax of three pence per gallon represents only" 3-16ths of a penny per half-pint, or a trifle less than a farthing a glass. Consequently the beer-tax would be unlikely to ' seriously affect the price of a drink of beer.

Mr. C. A. Wray, Commissioner for the West Coast "Land District, visited the Plains on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Major Parris, and Mr. Barker, a well-known auctioneer in Christchurch, formed one of the party. The latter gentleman was very favorably impressed with the appearance of the country, and stated that the people in the South would not readily believe him when he informed them as to the quality and capability of the soil. Mr. Rolleston should hold out more encouragement to these Southern people to come and live amongst us. Fifty to eighty-acre allotments are not enough.

A correspondent, signing himself " An Intending Purchaser on the Plains," writes to us as follows: — " Hawera, September 29. — Sir, — I saw in the Government Gazette, before leaving my home in Christchurch, that all information could be obtained at the Land Offices at Hawera and Carlyle. I found the office at the latter place, but when I came to Hawera, and asked for the Land Office, nobody seemed to be able to enlighten me.. Surely, the Government ought not to mislead people in this way. If there is an office, where is it to be found ? If there is not, why do the Government mislead the public ?" We feel sure that our readers will be able to sympathise with "An Intending Purchaser."

At the meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor .Board on Tuesday, it was resolved to call for tenders for lowering the grade of the tramway. The engineer, however, stated that, owing to Ms special training, and to the fact that the board possessed suitable plant, it could be done much cheaper by day labor. The chairman remarked during the debate, "We have had the evidence of Mr. Bees that similar works were carried on cheaper by day labor than, by contract. We have only one thing to do for the benefit of the public, and that is to get the work done as economically as possible. If the public do not agree with our actions, they can 1 kick us out ' when the elections come on." But this view was not held by a majority of the board. •

Two horses, attached to a waggonette, bolted through High street on Wednesday evening. Mr. Watts, cabinet-maker, drove the animals up irozn "Wazioiara thai clay with a load of furniture, and left them standing quietly outside his shop whilst he went inside. In a few minutes he discovered that the horses had taken their departure, and as they were going ,on rather leisurely, he had not much difficulty in getting up to them ; but just as Mr. "Watts was alpout to eaten the horses* heads a case of glass fell on the ground. The animals got frightened, and bolted as fast as their legs couM carry them, whilst Mr. Watts got violently pitched to the ground, but fortunately escaped unhurt. After some difficulty, the horses got stopped, but not before considerable damage was done.

A correspondent of the Wanganui Herald, signing himself " Ngatiawa," writes as follows: — "A little over three years ago Mr. Kelly, M.H.R., as a member of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, brought publicly under the nptice of that body a transaction where the Commissioner referred to had purchased from the natives in the Ngaire-Straijford locality, a block of about 40,000 acres, at from 2s. to 3s. per acre, and paid deposit on the same for the Government, and that shortly before the Atkinson Ministry were turned out of office, this said block of laud became transferred to one or two persons in Taranaki — strong Atkinoon supporters — at the same price, without the sanction of Parliament, and privately without competition. Some telegrams that had passed between the Commissioner and Government were subsequently made public, apparently to take the 'down' off the transaction — their purport being to show that the Government was not possessed of sufficient money to complete the purchase, and that consequently it became necessary to get some charitably disposed persons to relieve the Government of the difficu^. It was reported that on the accession to power of Sir George Crrey, he refused point blank to ratify the ' transfer,' by which the colony would lose over £100,000 in cash, besides the settlement by the Crown of a goodly number of families. But in a return laid on the table of the House last session of all native lands purchased by the Government, this block is not mentioned, or in any way referred to, and it is now whispered over the coast that the matter is being carefully arranged with the powers that be." We have reason to believe that the only block which can be referred to by " Ngatiawa," contains only 16,000 acres and not 40,000: we hear that it is all bush laud. ,

Mr. James Davidson is ih& owner oi & liali'-sister to Mata, which is now such a hot favorite for the Melbourne Cup.

Mr. Prosser's new coach made the first trip to Opunake yesterday. It will return to Hawera at 1 p.m. to-day.

The monthly meeting of the Masonic Lodge will be held at 7.30 on Monday evening, in the Town Hall.