NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 114, 18 May 1881, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

From Pungarohu, we learn that some disturbance has taken place . between a few of the A.C.'s and some of the natives. The report forwarded to us Btates that a whare belonging to the natives was burnt down, and there is a rumor to the effect that an A.C. man drew his bayonet, and attempted to stab Kereopa, from Waitotara. Our Opunake cor respondent informs us that he has heard it stated that a constable and a civilian were beaten by the natives, and that some of the A.C.'s (without orders) went in search of the offenders, and failing to find them, set fire to their whare. Our correspondent adds: — "My private opinion is, that the burning can lead to nothing good." There can be no question about it. The matter has been reported to the Government, and. we believe that a strict inquiry will be held into all the circumstances. Te Whiti and Tohu heard of the occurrence, but it is reported that both chiefs advised the natives not to retaliate. -

The timber for the bridge over the Waikoura stream is now on the ground.

The Hon. John Hall is expected to address his constituents at Leeston before Parliament meets.

The plans for Mr. Wilson's new hotel at Normanby are in course of preparation, and tenders will be called for in a few days.

Home letters, via San Francisco, will have to be posted to-morrow, at all post offices between New Plymouth and Wangamii.

The bridge over the Waingongoro, near Normanby, is now in such a forward state that foot passengers oan get across. It will probably be finished by the end of the month.

One hundred and five pounds were subscribed at a meeting in the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church, Auckland, for the families of the Revs. Richardson and Armitage, who perished in the wreck of the Tararua.

A meeting of the Hawera Building Society was held at Mr. W. M. Thomson's office on Monday evening ; Mr. Barleyman in the chair. After some discussion, the amendments in the rules, as advertised in the Star, were adopted.

Complaints are made that after rain it is impossible to cross from High street into Wilson street without wading through mnd and water more than ancle-deep. One load of gravel would enable footpassengers, and children going to school, to cross dry-shod.

The Patea S.S. Company are calling {or tenders for cartage, as far as Normanby on the one side, and Waverley on the other, for a period of six months. Merchandise can then be shipped from Wellington to any place on the coast, the company undertaking its delivery.

The Rev. Count Le Menant dcs Chesnais, who has been holding a mission' in connection with the Roman Catholic Church at New Plymouth, for the past three weeks, arrived in Hawera yesterday, and was the guest of the Rev. Father Grogan. The rev. gentleman is on his way to Wellington, where he will take up his permanent residence.

Mr. H. Clapcott will give one of his popular readings at Normanby to-morrow evening. The admission being free, and the entertainment admittedly good, a large attendance is practically a certainty. It was hardly complimentary to the lecturer, but at Mr. Clapcott's entertainment, given at Hawera, one gentleman remarked, " By Jove, don't the people roll up on a cheap night."

Another lucky escape of four Auckland passengers by the Tararua has come to light. Mrs. Brennan, with her three children, left Tauranga for Hobart Town in the steerage, and her name has appeared among the list of drowned. But it turns out that when she got to Dunedin, her sister-in-law persuaded her to leave the vessel and stay with her for a month, till the steamer should come round again.

Visitors to Normanby on Sunday last could see a curious case of '♦ drunk-love." On the Mawhitiwhiti road a person, who had been imbibing rather freely, had his arms firmly clasped around the top rail of a fence in a most loving manner. So happy was that son of Bacchus that he fell asleep in a standing posture, and neither laughs nor jeers were able to disturb his happiness in the least. Our correspondent, the "ConfirmedDrnnkard," would doubtless call that " ecstatic bliss!"

The Baby Pompadour Minstrels, most of whom first made a hit in Wellington under the title of Cary's Baby Pinafore Company, will give a performance in Hawera on Friday and Saturday next. Selections from that well-known opera will be given, and as we believe it is the first time the Hawera public have had a chance of hearing the same, the performance will probably be well patronised. The tro'ipe has been favorably spoken of in Wanjanni, and seema to have been popular there.

The reading-room and library in connection with the Normanby Town Hall seems likely to be a success. Subscriptions to the value of at least .£4O have already been promised, and some tables and chairs for the reading-room have been ordered. The request of the committee addressed to the newspaper proprietors of the North Island, requesting that copies of their newspapers should be sent to the public reading-room free, has been liberally responded to, and there are now newspapers from all parts of the Island. There has hardly been time yet for the South Island proprietors to reply. A list of books for sale is expected from Melbourne daily, when selections will be made, and the foundation of a circulating library will be laid.

In reply to some criticisms on the Manchester Block Settlement, the Agent of the Colonists' Aid Company has quoted figures from late and previous census returns, which show the total population of Manawatu Comity in 1878 to have been 5730, and 8738 in 1881. Manchester Block, 1713 in 1878, and 2860 in 1881. The rest of the Manawatu County, 4017 in 1878, and 5878 in 1881. Within the Manchester Block, the rosident population has increased G7 per cent., as against an increase of 46 per cent, in the rest of the county. Out of the 100,000 acres originally bought, there are still 40,000 acres to be sold, and good metalled roads are now being made through this portion, which will shortly be opened for sale. Mr. Halcombe, however, forgets to state that the Feilding township, in the centre of the block, has been principally settled since 1878. That makes a considerable difference.

Pedestrians, who may be in search of a pleasant ramble, will find the new road from Hawera to Normanby an agreeable change from the beaten paths. A traveller from the well-known firm of Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co., wholesale druggists, accompanied by a friend, who is connected with one of the leading papers in the new Edinburgh (soniotinies called by the vulgar Dunodin), went on nn excursion through the newly-made road on Sunday last, aud enjoyed the journey very much — up to a certain point. Long walks, although good as health-giving exercises, Bometimes prove rather much for those engaged in light occupations, and the medicinnl gentleman heaved asigh of reliof as Lloyd's hotel came in stght. To his chagrin, however, lie was informed that the Manaia Hotel could not accommodato any more strangers ; so he had to limp towards Hawera at the rate of about a mile an hour, soliloquising as he went along, " Oh ! for a bottle of the Mustang, Wizard Oil, or any other liuiinent ! " The new road will know him no more.

On Friday next Mr. F. R. Jackson will hold his usual monthly sale at Waverley.

We regret to hear that there is a good deal of sickness about Normanby; among others the post-master is unfortunately laid up. Mr. Anderson, from Hawera, has taken Mr. White's place.

By an advertisement in a Wellington paper we learn that there will be no classes for girls during the next term at the Wellington College.

The greater part of the New Plymouth Harbor Board's plant has now been discharged. There were still about 250 tons to land, equal to five or six days' work, on Friday last, according to the Herald. <*

A shooting party on the Waingongoro river, a few days ago, killed a number of rabbits. Altogether over a score have been slaughtered within the past week on one settler's property.

At the last meeting of the Education Board at New Plymouth the secretary was instructed to take the necessary steps to define the boundaries of a district at Opunake, to be called the Opunake School District.

Messrs. Donoghue, , Chisholm, and Smith, three of the workmen employed at Messrs. Williams Brothers' coach factory at Patea, have become purchasers of the business, for which very extensive premises have lately been built.

The petition, praying for separation of the county, is now. lying at Messrs. J. McCutchan and Co.'s, next to the Stab Office. Those who have not yet signed should do so without further delay, as the time for presentation is drawing nigh.

The owner of a house in Normanby finding that he had unfortunately obtained an objectionable tenant (who declined to leave the house), removed all the doors and windows last week, with the object of ousting the inmate.

The Bazaar dance, to provide funds for the projected Bazaar in aid of the English Church now building at Hawera, will come off this evening. A considerable number of tickets have been sold, and a very pleasant evening is anticipated.

Messrs. Mace and Bassett have recently made rapid progress with the laying of the permanent way on the railway. The engine and ballast train is now running to the edge of the bush on the south side of Normanby, or within about two or two-and-a-half miles of Hawera.

During the past week Dr. Hector received his first weather telegams from Australia, in accordance with the new arrangements, which gave notice of a barometrical depression which was passing over the sister colony, and was likely to reach New -Zealand in the shape of a storm in about thirty -six hours.

A correspondent of the New Zealand Mail declares that the expenditure of a few gallons of oil thrown on the waves around the Tararua might have enabled all the Tararua's boats to be launched, and even all the passengers landed in safety. a

About 90 bead of cattle were impounded off one settler's property on the Waimate, oru Monday last. Most of the cattle are believed to belong to one man, who is said to own fifty acres, and to be running over a hundred head of cattle on the strength of it.

Sir W. Fox's lecture on " Temperance" in aid of the Church Building Fund, will be delivered in Normanby to-night. It is well known that the lecturer is thoroughly master of his subject, and can state his case so as to interest and astonish even those who differ from him on the question.

Professor Haselmayer gave his second entertainment at Hawera on Monday night. During the day tickets were issued at a cheap rate at the various schools, and in consequence there was a large muster of juveniles, who were highly delighted with the wonderful things done by the Professor. Mr. Haselmayer will entertain the New Plymouth people on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.

A telegram from Nelson states that Patrick Lambert, for whose apprehension a warrant was issued at Patea in December last, was arrested by Detective Ede last Saturday, whilst he was working on the Buller road. The charge against accused is that he, with another man named Bolan, did, on the morning of 21st December, 1880, unlawfully wound John Woolston, by kicking'him down in his public-house at Waverley. Lambert was brought up on Monday morning and remanded to Waverley.

One triennial valuation made under one authority, and subject to the control, or at least to the supervision, of a- local body, either Road Board or County Council, ought to be quite sufficient. Those who begin to make improvements immediately after a valuation will escape an increase of rates for nearly three years, and will be reaping the harvest due to their foresight by the next time the valuer comes round. It is always esteemed a hardship to be taxed on improvements, before they bring in some return.

Mr. O'Donovan raised an important point at the last sitting of the Ngaire Road Board. Although it met with no support, it would appear to deserve the attention of those interested. The question raised was, whether the Board could legally devote deferred payment monies to the payment of salaries. The Land Act of 1877 sets forth that one-third of the price of land sold on deferred payment shall be " expended in the construction of roads within, or to open up, the block for the benefit of the selectors." It does not apparently contemplate or provide for the case of a Board working on deferred payment money only.

Complaints have reached us of an extraordinary deviation in the. road-line on the eastern side of Normanby, near Mr. Lpckington's. An alteration was rondered necessary in connection with the railway crossing ; but the S shaped piece of road, a fearful and wonderful feat of engineering skill, which has resulted, is such as to puzzle the best drivers .in the country. A protest has been sent in to the department by those who are likely to suffer most through the bungle, and some engineers are believed to have been viewing the work ; if this be so, it will probably be condemned and amended. The alteration in the roadline at Mr. Goodson's corner has now been completed, and is a decided improvement.

The Hawera Choral Society intend to give another concert on the 25th inßtanfc

There are rumors of a second hotel going up at Manaia, and a third one at Opunake.

The hunting season will be inaugurated in this district to-morrow. A start will be made from the Empire Hotel, Hawera, at 2 p.m.

A novel advertisement appears- in another column cautioning owners of cattle against allowing their stock to stray on certain properties after the 23rd inst., and requiring them, in ease they neglect to remove their Btock, to boxy any animals of theirs .which maybe accidentally poisoned.