SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1880. NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 72, 18 December 1880, Page 2

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1880. NEWS AND NOTES.

Those who do not care to read through the whole of the supplement presented to our readers to-day, may be glad of a hint to the effect that the article on the " Intßyoepe»3eße6 cS Aznroais and "Plants " is curious and interesting, and the lines attributed to "Lord Dundreary" are very ainusing.

The land sales during the week have been very successful, about £60,000 having been realised. Nearly £14,000 will have to be paid for the deferred payment land, or an average of about £Q per acre ; whilst the cash land brought over £38,000. The whole of the sections in Opunake were sold, and over 150 in Manaia, at satisfactory prices. Mr. Sutherland, a recent arrival from England, purchased 750 acres, and is therefore the largest holder, so far, on the Waimate Plaius. My. Glenn, from the West Coast of the Middle Island, comes next; whilst Mr. H. P. Christie, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, at Carlyle, is also a large purchaser. Many of the new settlers on the Plains have come from the Auckland Provincial District, nriucig&lly from the Waikato. Taken altogether, the recent purchasers on the Waimate Plains appear to be a very superior class of men.

The cricket ground presents rather a lively appearance of an evening, several of the local peds. turning -out there to practice for the coming sports. It would not be fair- to individualise the runners till the handicaps are out, but we hope to see the local men hold their own. It has been mooted by some of the runners who intend competing at the coming sports fclmb ah least one ol the handiea^ers appointed should be a non-committeeman. Perhaps the sports committee will consider the matter.

A few of the new settlers on the Waimate Plains met together on Wednesday evening last, to consider the besfc way of forming: a new road district oa the Waimate. It was decided to call a public meeting to discuss the question, and to invite the chairman of the county to attend, and state the procedure necessary under the local ordinances. The necessity for immediate action was clearly shown by the fact that several of the deferred payment holders ace unable Co obtain access to their sections until crossings have been made over creeks which lie between the main road and their land, and are at present impassable.

A movement has been made by some of the buyers of land on the Plains to have the Be&bby sheep destroyed which have been running at large near Kaupokonui. We 'understand that a representation has been made to the Colonial Secretary's Department requesting that the inspector of sheep for the district should have the sheep removed before the settlers place stock on their land. It is said that there are only 100 sheep or so,' belonging to three Maori owners, running on the Plains, and the settlers have urged them to sell or get rid of these sheep. On Thursday last a waggon load of mutton was sent up from Kaupokonui, and we believe that this load represented some of the flock which it is proposed to have destroyed. The owners, Manaia. Ngatai, and Luke are quite willing to have the sheep killed.

The various religious denominations have purchased sites for building churches at Manaia. Section 10, block VI., was purchased by My. C. A. Wray, for the Church of England, at JGIS ; section 4, block VII. i by the Rev. Father Grogau, for the Roman Catholic Church, at JlO ; section 12, block VII., by Mr. M. D. King, for the Wesleyan Cburch, at .£l2 ; and section 12, block X., by Mr. J» Living* ston, for tfce Fveabyterian Church, at £15. All ibe sections were obtained at the upset price. We understand tbat the amount required by the Wesleyan denomination for the purchase of a site was advanced by Mr. T. Bayly, Waitara. Mr. Sutherland has purchased a site for a manse., which, we uudavatand, h& intends handing over to the Presbyterian denomination.

-The Waitara correspondent of the Taranaki Herald says that a heavy fresh has been running down the river since Saturday morning. On Monday at 3 p.m., the flood reached iba greatest height. At that time it was running over the upper end of the new wharf. There is no doubt considerable damage has been done to the piling, the sheet piles having in some places been washed away. Several carcases of cattle and' pigs were observed being carried down by the flood* together with a large quantity of timber and driftwood. Above tlie bridge the current has made a considerable inroad into the bank of the river, washing away at least half* an-acre of land. The encroachment of the river on this part of the township is becoming a serious matter, as each successive &oo& makes greater havoc. It is high time some steps wexe taken to have something done.

. The special correspondent of the Wangaimi. Herald reports that the Maoris have been, destroying the trig stations near Pungarehu, on the Farihaka block.

It is said that the Evening Chronicle plant, from Wellington, is to go to Master ton, to start an evening paper there.

Tenders for preparing a valuation roll for the ensuing year for the Hawera Boad Board will be received up till noon to-day.

Mr. F. R. Jackson will hold a cattle Sftle &t VH&verley on Thursday next — a day earlier than usual.

The Government invite tenders for the supply of ironmongery at Opunake and to all the stations south of that place.

Mr. W- M. Thomson will offer for sale to-day, the sections of land cut up as building sites, near Hawera, by Messrs. Iredale Bros.

The tune for -receiving tenders for gravelling the sections of road near Oeo, advertised in another column, closes at noon to-day.

At 2 p.m. on Wednesday next, the right of collecting the dog tax within the county, will be offered by auction at Patea.

Negotiations have been completed with some of the Maoris for the sale of all pigs running at large on the land between the luaha creek and the Mout&m&ti.

The Normanby Bines will parade for inspection to-day, at 2.30 p.m. On Friday next the Hawera Cavalry will be inspected.

Last week the natives were selling some strange river fish in New Plymouth, which ate supposed to be either salmon-trout or some other fish introduced by the Acclimatisation Society.

The lease of thirty-three sections -in Stratford will be sold to-day, at Jflpw Plymouth, by Mr. Whitcombe, the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The sale will commence ah eleven o y cl<jck.

Madame de Launay, of Wellington, will open in Hawera on Monday next for about a week, bringing a ' large stock- of millinery, mantles, &c, with her from the Empire City.

Mr. and Mrs. Hart, of " Happy Hours" fame, will appear in Hawera on Wednesday evening. The Harts are such general favorites wherever they have been that the Town Hall is sure to be crowded, should the weather prove favorable.

The village settlements at Manaia, Otakeho, and Opunake will be open for application for cash and deferred payment on Monday next. On Wednesday the cash sections will be sold, and the deferred payment land will be disposed of by lottery.

There will be a cricket match to-day — Lights v. Heavies. As the club will soon have to play a strong combination team from Taranaki and the A.C. Camps, there ought to be a lorge muster on the field to-day. Efficiency /-can only be secured by constant practice.

An accident happened to Mr. Daniel Kelly, at Mangawhei'o, yesterday. It appeal's he was yoking up a team of bullocks, when one of the " polers " kicked hini on the right leg, breaking it in two places. Dr. Bichards, who was sent for, attended, and set the injured limb. The sufferer is now doing well.

Telegrams have just been received, announcing that Max. D. King has a grand display of prizes and Christmas gifts in his windows and premises. This news will be welcomed by all, great and small. The one shilling window is the wonder of the age. — [Advt.]