NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 75, 29 December 1880, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The Star will be published next Friday morning. Advertisements must be sent in not later than Thursday evening; otherwise they cannot be inserted until the following week.

Through the courtesy of the town valuer, we are able to place before our readers the following statistics, showing the rapid growth of Hawera : — The number of buildings in the township of Hawera at the end of last year amounted to 166. Since then there have been twenty-two houses erected ; making a total of 188. There are also three houses in course of construction, and seven about to be commenced. • Just without the precincts of the town boundary, there are fifteen' private residences, nine of which have been recently erected. On an average throughout New Zealand, there are a trifle over four persons to every house. , According to this estimate, there -weald be a population of about 800 in Hawera. ; A ball was held in the Normanby Town Hall on Monday night. Particulars are unavoidably held over till next issue.

Sir William Fox's appointment, as Commissioner under the West Coast Settlement Act, has been, gazetted. The appointment will last twelve months.

The levels of Bamford-street have now been completed, and the plans and specifications for the formation have been drawn up. There is now nothing to hinder tenders being; ah once called for.

The additions to the pavilion on the Hawera cricket ground have been crnnmenc d, Mr. H. Southey, of the Mangawhero Saw-mill, having given all the timber required for the enlargement as his contribution towards it.

We hear that Mr. Blackett stated, in conversation with a gentleman in Hawera, that it was the intention of the Government to push on the railway works to Hawera immediately after the Christmas holidays.

Some of the Major's constituents hi Hawera have enquired lately whether we know when he proposes to address his constituents. We believe that at last election time Maior Atkinson expressed himself willing to give an account of his stewardship after each session.

At the meeting of the Ngaire Road Board, to be held on Monday next, tenders for the post of clerk will be opened, and a report on the works most urgently required in the road district will be presented by Mr. Twigg.

Mr. W. Graham, 1 of Hawera, was one of the successful competitors at the Wanganui Athletic Sports, on Monday last. He won the 100 yards Race, and took second place in the 220 yards Maiden Race.

Mr. W. M. Thomson, auctioneer, has negotiated the sale of a section on the Waiinate Plains, on behalf of Mr. F. McGuire, J.P., to Mr. James Day, of Marlborough, at an advance of nearly £2 per ncre on the price realised at the Govexnment land sale.

We umiez-sfcand ihat it is contemplated to take a road through the paddocks at the rear of Prosser's Hotel stables. The new street, which will be thirty -two chains long, or nearly half a mile, will effect a junction with the entrance to the railway station, the 1 , site for which has now been definitely fixed.

The heavy rain yesterday morning afforded an excellent opportunity of testing the value of the improvements recently made in High street, and the result showed that the amount of water, which now lodges in front of the shops on the south side of the street, is comparatively trifling.

A picnic party from Normanby visited Ohawe on Christmas Day, but the weather was not; favorable. The 6and was every, where, and in everything. Still many of those who had the courage to brave the dust and wind enjoyed themselves very well. They had determined to do so, and, like Mark Tapley, they succeeded.

Through the courtesy of Mr. Holmes, Resident Engineer, New Plymouth, "We are now enabled to publish the tenders sent in for the station-master's house at Hawera :— - 1 Geo. Syme, Hawera (accepted), J396 Duffill Bros., Hawera (declined), 397 T. S.l>ryuan, Waifiara (declined), 536

Mr. Sherwill, - hon. secretary of the Feilding Athletic. Sports, forwarded a telegram to the hon. secretary of the Hawera Sports Committee, Mr. Cunningham, to the effect that Woods, who was scratch, won the 100 yards race on Boxing X>ay, afc l?ezldzng, Marshall (6 yards) being second. In the Champion Race, of 200 yards, Marshall was first and Woods second.

Although Christmas Day was not a favorable one for out- door amusements, a large number of ladies and gentlemen at Hawera organised .a picnic, and proceeded to Mr. Milmoe's, Peach Grove, where they seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. Mr. Milmoe threw his orchard open to the visitors, and his kindness was duly appreciated, the fruit being of a deliciouß quality. After remaining for & sborfc time, some of the ladies and gentlemen proceeded to the pretty little waterfall on Mr. Milmoe's farm., and when they returned they were regaled with a tempting luncheon, prepared' by the Misses Winks, Douglas, Hobbs, Alexander, Peterson, Hills, and Meadamas Winks, Sl6Vfe»s&» f and other ladies of the company. Before leaving, three hearty cheers were given for Mr. Milmoe, and the visitors promised to pay another visit to Peach Grove at no distant date.

Christmas Day was observed as a general holiday, and there was Divine Service at the Eoinan Catholic Church, Hawera, both morning and evening.

Mr. Walter Beyer, formerly of the New Zealand Times, has purchased Mr. S. Prosser's interest in the Victoria Hotel, Wellington.

The San Francisco mail will close at Hawera to-morrow, at noon. Money orders must be obtained, and letters regis. tereft, half an hour previous to the time of closing.

Mr. George North's Sweep on the Wellington Cup has been drawn, and the lucky numbers have heen. published in the Wellington papers. The drawings for Mr. North's sweeps have always heen above suspicion, and half-a-dozen gentlemen testify that all the arrangements in connection with his latest and biggest one have been honorably conducted.

At the cricket match to be played to-day between the Taranaki and Hawera elevens a good muster of visitors may reasonably be expected. Unless, however, seats and shelter are provided for the fairer sex, they cannot be expected to grace the ground with their presence. If the pavilion is needed by the players and scorers, surely a tent might be obtained for the use of the ladies. In the event of the match not being concluded in one day, it will be continued on Thursday.

From the Colonial Printers' Register — a v ry tastefully got-up trade journal, published by Mr. George Griffin, Dunedin — we learn that Mr. Douglas McTavish has commenced an action for £300 damages against Mr. Joseph Ivessfor alleged wrongful dismissal from the editorial chair of the Waikato Mail. It is stated by our contemporary that " Mr. Ivess calls in question the capabilities of the ex-South African and Indian journalist."

The prize money, in connection "with the Normanby Athletic Sports, was paid away last evening, Hood taking the largest amount — abont Nobody was present to uphold the protests entered on the day of the sports. The following is an estimate of the receipts :—Subscriptions, .£7O ; entrance money, £8 10s; No. 1 refreshment booth, ;613 ; No. 2 do., £2 2s 6d ; fruit stall, £1 ; making a rough total of ;£94 12s 6d. The expenditure has not as yet been ascertained.

The cricket match, Nelson versus Wanoanui, was commenced on Monday at Wanganui. The Nelson team had an easy victory in the first innings, Fowler and Burns, who did all the bowling, having sent the Wanganui eleven to the pavilion for a total of 36 runs, Parrington and Cross eaoh eontribntia^ ei#hi to tbafc nuniher. The Nelson men made 80 runs, Boddington being the highest scorer, with 18 runs. When the stumps were drawn, Wanganui had one wicket down for 13 runs in the second innings, Barton, who was hitting very freely, having Dontrihuheik a dozen^ not out s to ihafc number. As will be seen by our telegraphic despatches, Nelson won the match, with nine wickets to spare.

Mr-Max. D. Kin# has on exhibition a splendid show of New Year's gifts, to be drawn by all purchasers of ten shilling parcels. The chances of good prizes are very great; all prizes and no blanks. — [Advt/j