NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 111, 7 May 1881, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

Nearly 130 signatures have been ""attached to the petition in favor of a separate county. In the township of Hawera, sixty-six persons have signed, and only one person refused. Outside the town boundary, sixty-one signatures have been obtained, refusals having been met with from only threo or four persons. Tho petition will be taken round Normanby and Whakamara next week. Not only will the requisite three-fifths of the ratepayers assent to the petition, but niueteuths of them will probably sign, if they can be found at home. Up to the present time, the percentage of refusals has been very small indeed. The idea of doing the work with road boards, and hanging up the Counties Act, appears to bo gaming in favor.

"The Folds of thn Serpent" will be concluded in our next Supplement We have much pleasure in stating that a new serial story, entitled " The Ferryman's Secret," will take its place. The author is Mr. Sylvanus Cobb, jun., an Am- rican writer, who has, we believe, taken a high place amongst the literary tuen of the Great Republic. In the present issue, there is an article on "Bathing," by a lady contributor to the " Household Magazine." Every mother would do well to carefully read it ; indeed, every father as well. There are many useful hints as to the necessity of cleanliness, which a great preacher once declared to be next to Godliness. " What to Teach Our Daughters," and " Homely Accomplishments," are useful lessons in theso days of tinsel and glitter. " The Adventures of a Lady amongst the Nagas" is graphically told; whilst the humorous sketch, "The Way they Settled It," although rather ancient, is well worth repriuting. "Father, Take my Hand," " The Apron Banner," and " Child of the City," are three well-selected piocos of poetry. The story told of " A Very Old Cow and a Great Breeder" will be intoresting to farmers more especially.

The coach missed the train at Wavcrley on Tuesday evening. As the roads are now beginning to get heavy, in cousoquence of the large amount of traffic, it would only be fair to allow the coaches a little time — say 10 or 15 minutes. If we mistake not, a similar concession to that suggested used to bo made to tho Wellington-Foxton coach. So far as we can see, no hardship would be involved, and the public convenience would bo consulted.

Tenders are called for the transport service for the A.C. Force, between the Patea and Stoney rivers, for a period of twelve months,

A number of blocks of land in Otago and Westland are gazetted for sale on deferred payment.

The Melbourne Exhibition was closed on Saturday last. The total number of admissions was 1,485,000.

The next sitting of the Licensing Court T.ill he held at Patea on Tuesday, the 9th Juuo.

The steamer Eowena is advertised to leave the Waitara for Manukau on Monday, at 5 p.m., aud on Wednesday, at 6 p.m., should circuinstancees permit.

On Friday next Mr. F. E. Jackson will hold his first sale of stock at the yards at Kakaramea, recently purchased from Mr. W. Cowern. The entries are already numerous.

Sir Wm. Fox went to Hukatere on Thursday morning, where he met a large number of the natives, and discussed matt rs iv connection with the reserves in the neighborhood.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of the Union Company's time-table for May. It also contains time-tables for the various lines of railway, published under the authority of the Government.

Several Maoris passed through this district on Thursday, with drays loaded with provisions, en route for Parihaka. It is reported that there is to be a great feast in honor of the returned prisoners.

We believo that it is the intention of the defendant, in the case of North v. Williams, to move for a new trial, on the ground that the verdict was against the weight of evidence.

Mr. George Vickery intends to open a blacksmith's shop in Eegent street, Hawera, We have been shown an extract from a Northern paper, speaking highly of some ploughs manufactured by Mr. Vickery.

The quarterly return of the Post Office Savings Bank shows that, in round numbers, £-281,000 was deposited, as against £197,000 in the corresponding quarter of 1880. £70,000 was deposited in excess of the amount withdrawn.

The "Confirmed Drunkard's Wife " has sent us a reply to her husband's communication. It is unavoidably held over till next issue. In our fourth page will be found a letter from Mr. J. C. Yorke on the liquor question.

The repairs to the Waiugongoro bridge are beiug steadily pushed ahead, but the contractor states thatit is necessary to drive some depth in order to reach a good bottom, and in consequence the work will not be quite finished as soon as the public expected.

Mr. Nolan held his first sale at Hawera on Thursday. There was a large attendance of buyers and spectators. A large quantity of stock was disposed of at satisfactory price*. The new auctioneer has made a very favorable impression.

Constable Neal, who was lately taking the Census for the Hawera Riding, has been removed to Wellington. He was stationed in this district for some time, and he had seen a good deal of service on the East aud West Coasts in the old fighting days.

Tho Old Ketemarae hotel will not be removed from its present position. Mr. Wilson, the proprietor, intends putting up a new building on the corner opposite Mr. C. E. Gibson's store at Normanby, and tenders will be called for as soon as the necessary plans and specifications are ready.

We notice that our Patea friends are about to form a Horticultural Society. Some time ago, we were under the impression that a similar society would be formed here — the idea being to have alternate shows at Normanby and Hawera, aud also at Manaia, as soon as a suitable building was available in the new township.

The Mauawatu Times is authorised to give a positive denial to the rumor that Mr. Halcombe had purchased the Patatere Block on behalf of the Colonists' Association. Mr. Halcombe had made arrangements with the Government, which made the purchase practicable, but it was decided by the Duke of Manchester, Colonel Pearce, and Mr. Levin not to conclude the arrangements, and so the purchase was abandoned.

Mr. Clapcott, the principal agent for the Government Life Insurance Department, is at present visiting this district, and lias succeeded in " taking a large number of lives." For all that, Mr. Clapcott does not look a very bloodthirsty individual. He is one of the best readers in the colony, and we should be pleased to learn that he had made up his mind to afford one or two pleasant evenings to the people of Hawera and Normauby, in both of which places they can boast of having Town Halls.

It will be remembered that when the Royal Commission on Railways visited Patea, some of the party, after taking a stroll through the town, enquired as to the whereabouts of Carlyle, and upon being informed that Fatea was Carlyle, and Carlyle Patea, their astonishment was unbounded. A firm of diapers on Lamb ton Quay, Wellington, are now distributing handbills, informing the inhabitants of " Patea, Hawera, Carlyle," that they are sacrificing their stock of drapery for the public good. As Carlyle has now been abolished bj' proclamation, and Patea once more takes its proper placo on tho map (as it has always done iv the Postal Guide), it is to bo hoped that tho buried ashes of Carlylc will soon bo allowed to slumber more peacefully than the ashes of the burnt effigy, and that no coroner's inquosfc will bo permitted to disturb its quiet ropose.

Tee following is a translation of sonio resolutions passed at the Taumarcro Hall, Kawakawa, on Folmmry 2nd, ISBI, prior to tho lato Waitaugi m'octiug :—": — " The first griovanco that we have left iv these islands of Now /icalaud, lias bocn land purchasing by the ministers, who brought the Gospel to New Zealand. Thou* modo of purchase was just seizing tho land, at that time having no surveyor. Tho second grievance is, that tho ministers say that nil the soizod land has gono by purchase to tho church oommitloo. Lot us now, tin) Maori tribos, think over tho name of this monator ; yot tho namo ot this monster, yet tho uamo of this monstor is tho Land Swallowor ; tho wholo of this island of New Zoalaud is swallowod in his belly — the wholo of it. Tlris is all from tho Assembly of Ngafcihine, Waiomio; Te Kapotai, Waikaio ; Ngnatiwai, Whaugararu; Ngautikahu, Whangaroi ; Te Orewai, Motatau.