NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 85, 2 February 1881, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

At to-day's meeting of the Patea County Council, the consideration of the question of forming another road district north of the Waingongoro will come before the members. We hold that the tendency of the day is to uphold the local administration by road boards, as they have proved their suitability for the work imposed upon them, and we are therefore in favor of the formation of a. new board. The reason why there is need for some despatch in the present instance, is" this : There are a number of owners of deferr d payment land who must have access given them to their sections without delay, to enable them to carry out the required conditions of residence and improvements. The County Councillors are not likely to trouble themselves to explore the road lines, laid off on the map to the deferred payment sections, across swampy creeks, and gullies, many of which are quite impassable on horseback. New settlers on the Plains are far too busy to care about riding thirty or forty miles to a County Council meeting at Patea. It should be remembered that there is a sum of £1,200 or £1,400 now waiting expenditure on roads giving access to deferred payment sections on the Plains ; it bears no interest, and is worth looking after, especially as road work can be much better done at this season of the j'ear than later.

The Ngakumikumi camp has been broken up, and a new one formed about five miles this side of Pungarehu, and within about two mil .s of the old camp at Pukehinau. There are about 170 men stationed at Rahotu (which is the name given to the new camp), Major Goring and Captains Fortescue and Newall being th •' officers in command.

We hear that Mr. P. Naughton, who was the only applicant for section 17, block V., village settlement of Otakeho, has been requested by the Land Office to take back his deposit and give up his claim. That section was advertised for sale in the Gazette of Nov mber 12th, and was withdrawn by advertisement on 15th December, four days before the sale. In the meantime, Mr. Naughton's application may have been lodged — he, probably, never saw the Gazette — and the paper containing the advertisement would reach him too late for him to make a fresh application. We believe that he thinks the Government ought to give him another section instead. The remedy proposed is simple, as the adjoining section is now offered lor sale for cash, and would remedy a hard case.

The fence referred to by our Opunake correspondent in last issue was erected five or six months ago, soon after the Opoua camp was broken up. It encloses about an acre to an acre and a half of potatoes, and as soon as these are dug up and taken away, the fence will be removed. It blocks the road formed by the A.C.'s last year, but there is a track leading round it, and the road can be reached again, after a detour of a couple of hundred yards. The road has never been used for ordinary traffic — indeed, it is altogether unfit, until the work of formation is properly carried out. Last year the road was only " scratched," but before the winter sets in, it will probably be fit for traffic — at all events, for horsemen. Very naturally, the Opunake people are anxious to have the obstruction removed as quickly as possible ; but the telegrams published in some of the papers would lead the public to believe that the fence was erected quite recently. Such is not the case. Had Mr. Hursthouse been ready-to go on with the, work sooner, the teuce would, doubtless, have been pulled down, although a side one to protect the potatoes might have been pat up instead*

On Saturday week, tha sports which have b en got tip among the A.C.'s at Ngakumikumi and Pungarehu will be held at the latter place.

Mr. Freeman R. Jackson will sell by auction, at Huwera, ou Friday next, over 200 head of cattle, 1000 sheep, and a number of draught horses.

The " devil" has been at his old tricks again, and makes a Wellington firm advertise flower, vegetable, and "corniferous" seeds.

Yesterday the tri-weekly return mail from Hawera to Opunake and back the same day, began running for the first time. The coach left Hawera about 7 a.m. and returned at 6 p.m.

Tenders will be received at the Native Office, New Plymouth, and at the Post Office, Hawera, until noon on February 5. for the formation of a portion of the road between Opunake and Stony River.

Persons claiming compensation for land taken for, or affected by the railway works near Waverley, are required to serve their claims at the Public Works Office, Wanganui.

Messrs. C. H. McCutchan and Jas. Davidson were yesterday nominated for the vacancy in the Town Board. Mr. T. Lloyd, who intended to have stood, withdrew iv favor of Mr. McCutchan.

There has been a small bush fire at Parihaka, and the Maoris lost a quantity of their stores of food. The New Zealand Times says that it appears as if Te Whiti's prediction had come true, as " the potatoes have been cooked to some purpose."

The Customs' revenue return for the last quarter shows that i-317,000 was collected, against £301,000 in the corresponding quarter of 1879. The total revenue for 1880 being £1, 258,000 as against £1,237,000.

Hone Pihama, and several other natives from Opunake, arrived in Hawera yesterday. It is understood that they came up on business in connection with the West Coast Commission, now sitting in Hawera.

During the past week we have been favored with excellent harvest weather. A large area of grain has been saved in excellent condition, and the farmers are for once fairly content with the results of their grain-growing experiments.

We acknowledge with thanks the receipt, from Mr. Rawson, Registrar of Electors, of a number of forms for registration under the Registration of Electors Act. We shall be happy to supply any unregistered electors — a six months residence is sufficient qualification.

The New Plymouth Harbor Board elections take place on Monday, the 14th instant. Nominations must be sent in before noon on Saturday next. A correspondent informs us that there is .likely to be a considerable amount of excitement over the elections.

The twenty two-tooth Lincoln rams which were brought down from Auckland by Mr. Scott, and .will be sold by auction on the 12th instant by Mr. Thomson, are at present grazing in a small paddock on the seaward side of the main road north of the Waihi creek.

Owing to delays in the collection of the property tax, both instalments will have to be collected in the month of March. It is understood that the date fixed for payment of the first instalment is the Bth March, and the s -cond instalment on the 22nd of that month. Official notification to this effect will be issued shortly.

A correspondent, signing himself " Advance Taranaki," writes to the Herald thus:— "To the Edito •. Sir,— At last the three locomotives have arrived in Waitara, and I hope by this day week to see two trains a day both ways from Eltham ; and not as now, one train a day only from Ngaire. The receipts will be greatly increased thereby."

There has been a small fire at Parihaka. The news was telegraphed to Wellington, and got magnified to an alarming extent m the Empire City. We believe that the Government actually telegraphed to Colonel Eoberts for full particulars of the conflagration, but his task was an easy one. Some slight damage was done, but nothing of any consequence. The second concert oi the Hawera Choral Society will be held to-morrow evening. Under the direction of Mr. Charles, a very good programme has been carefully prepared and rehearsed, and, consequently, we look forward with confidence to a very successful entertainment. The full programme appears in another column. A rehearsal will take place to-night, when all members are requested to attend.

In 1879, the excess of withdrawals from the Post Office Savings Banks over deposits was i-8595. In 1880, the excess of deposits over withdrawals was .£36,964. The number of new accounts opened was 3503 ; the number of accouuts closed was 3000, so that there is an increase of close upon 500 in the number of investors. These accounts do not betoken hard times.

We understand that Mr. Twigg, with a party of twelve men, has been busily engaged lately in forming a horse track from Ahipaipa to Te Ngutu-o-te-manu. About two-thirds of the road has been completed, and in the course of a few days persons desirous of inspecting the land to be offered for sale near Te Ngutu-o-te-manu will have a good wad open to them on this route.

Invitations have been sent to the members of the Hawera Town Board to be present at the demonstration in honor of the completion of the root of the breakwater at New Plymouth. We would suggest to the General Manager of Bailways, that excursion trains should be made to suit the convenience of people at this end as much as possible, as there will probably be a large number of visitors at the demonstration from Normanby and Hawera.

We are informed that Mr. G. V. Bate, of Hawera, has been requested to act as convener of a local sub-committee for Hawera in connection with the-Wanganui Exhibition of art, science, and industry, to be opened on Monday, 20th May. Freight on exhibits will be defrayed by the general committee, which will hold itself responsible for the care and safe return of exhibits. The names of two other gentlemen who have been,asked to act with Mr. Bate and canvass tor, receive, and forward exhibits will.be notified as soon as their consent has been obtained.