NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 118, 1 June 1881, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

To-day, at noon, the sale of cash sections in the Kaupokonui and Ngaire districts, for which there has been more than one applicant, will ba submitted to auction by Mr. Wray, Commissioner of Crown Lands, at the Land Office, Hawera.

Persons who have become liable to taxation under the Property Assessment Act, since the last roll was made up, must send in statements of their property not later than the 15th instant. We would direct attention to the notice which appears in our advertising columns.

A comet was distinctly visible to the naked eye on Sunday and Monday night. A Router's telegram from Sydney si.ites that " its apparent positiou is between the constellations of Columbia and Eridanus." Local scientists appear to differ as to the exact position of the comet.

The barque Adamant has at length left the roadstead at New Plymouth, having set sail on Sunday morning, but in weighing the anchor it parted below the ringbolt. The captain speaks very highly of the roadstead, and states that he will give a favorable account of it when he gets to England.

A telegram from Auckland says :—: — " Professor Haselmayer had his last night's takings, amounting to just on £20, stolen. Information was given at once to the police, who tracked it to a Mrs. Ecston. The woman said it had been given to her by another woman to mind. There is no doubt but a wellorganised band of thieves has its headquarters in the city." 3>

Mr. Go . A. Marchant, of Woodville, who purchased land iv the Upper Ngaire district a few months ago, received the following reply from Major Atkinson, in reference to a communication forwarded to that gentleman, regarding tho Stnit-ford-Opunake road : — " I have received your note of the 6th instant, in which you draw attention .to the Stratford - Opunake road. I lost no time in bringiug the maiter before tho Minister of Lands, and Mr Eolleston has taken steps to ascertain exactly what work is necessary, and will have it put in hand as soon as possible. I would, however, point out that this is not really a Government road, nor does the Government regard it as such. Iv their desire to facilitate the settlement of the country, they undertook the cutting of the road-line, and tho opening of a rough track ; but the funds uvailable are limited, and I fear it will be impossible to do more than the work j'ou ask for. I sincerely wish there was money at our disposal to form and metal the road to Stratford. Although lam unable to do much, I shall always be most happy to do what I can in the matter of opening up the country by roads. Thanking you for bringing the matter before rue." Mr. Marchant informs us that the settlers sent two petitions to the Taranaki Land Board, asking that culverts should be put in the creeks along the road, from Stratford to the Waingongoro, but no satisfactoiy answer was received, and in consequence Mr. Marchant wrote to Major Atkinson, drawing his attention to the subject.

Mr. M. Byrne is about to start a saddler's shop at Manaia. The timber is already on the ground.

Mr. M. D. King has taken a portion of Mr. Nicoll's store at Manaia, and iutcuds openiug a branch at the new towuship.

The Rangitikoi Advocate states that Mr. Bryce has had &ev< ral hundred acres of bush felled in the Kiwitea Block.

Messrs. I. and H. Bayly have disposed of 150 acres of laud on the Waimate Plains, at a considerable advance on the price paid at auction.

Major Parris left by coach on Monday. He will proceed South, for the purpose of liberating another butch of the Maori prisoners.

Mr. H. R. Baker intends opening a cabinet-maker's shop at Normanby, and has purchased a site next to' that chosen by Mr. J. Wilson for his new hotel.

The English mail, via San Francisco, arrived at Auckland on Sunday night, and was brought down from New Plymouth yesterday.

The Taranaki Herald states that a fine specimen of plumbago was recently found in Messrs. Berry and Newman's gravelpit, at Mangawhero.

There is a rumor that Colonel Robert Ingersoll, the celebrated American freethought lecturer, intends visiting New Zealand and the Australian Colonies.

Messrs. R. H. Nolan and Co. will hold their second monthly sale of stock at Hawera on Friday next. Nearly 200 head have b en entered.

Sir George Grey still contemplates a stumping tour of the colony before the session commences, or at least before the real work begins. So a contemporary states.

The. Postal Department has sent a cheque for £20 to the Waugauui Fire Brigade, in consideration of tlie services rendered by that body in saving the Post Office at Wanganui.

Sir William Fox will address his constituents at Marton this evening. On Monday evening he met the electors at Turakina, and he will speak at Bulls on Friday night.

The Wellington correspondent of a contemporary affirms that another member of the Cabinet will shortly resign, owing to differences anent the education question.

The usual monthly meeting of the Patea County Council wili be held to-day, when the question of allowing settlers on the Plains to form a Road Board will be again discussed.

Dr. Redwood, Roman Catholic Bishop o£ Wellington, will perform the ceremony of blessing the foundations of the new Roman Catholic Church at Patea, on Sunday next.

Mr. D. Hurley, bootmaker, who has been in Mr. J. Cunningham's employ for some time past, has started business on his own account, next to Mr. Henderson, saddler, in High street.

The election of seven commissioners for the Hawera Road Board will take place at the School-house on Saturday next, unless ono of the eight gentlemen who have been nominated should retire in the meantime.

Messrs. Eobert G. Bauchope and Newton King, auctioneers and general commission agents, New Plymouth, have dissolved partnership. Mr. King, who has bought the good-will of Mr. W. Courtney's business, will carry on the auctioneering, and Mr. Bauchope the commission agency.

Our readers will have much pleasure in perusing the following resolution passed at a meeting of the Tararua Eelief Committee, recently held in Dunedin : — " That the committee have to report that the only cases brought under the notice of the committee have been one in Oamaru, one in Port Chalmers, one in Wellington, one in Auckland, and one in Dunedin which has been relieved, and the party gone home. From this it will appear there is no distress to warrant the getting up of a general fuud, and that all the cases are such as can be best mot by the local charities at present in existence."

The annual meeting of members of the Hawera Institute will be held this evening. It is to be hoped there will be a larger attendance than last year, when the general public was represented by Mr. F. R. Jackson, and one or two other strangers. The reading-room has been closed to the public, but, so far as we can learn, the action taken has not resulted in any very great augmentation of the funds of the Institute. As Hawera will soon become a municipality, the question of striking a small rate, and re -open ing the reading-room to the public, might with advantage be discussed this evening.

Mr. J. C. Richmond addr ssed a large meeting at Nelson on Priday, and received a vole of thanks and confidence. Although he bad been an anti-provincialist, he said that he did not look upon abolition without regret, as the great interest taken in local affairs now no longer existed. He stated that he was a Socialist, and was glad to see that all tho essential points of the Chartists' programme had been carried out here, where all classes must work together for the common good.

Sir William Fox addressed a lar^o meeting at Turakina on Monday night. TIo express d an opinion that the pi\ sent system of education would have to bo altered, ou account of its costliness. If .£300,000 was not required for education, there would be no necessity for tlie Property Tax ; but at tho same time he was not opposed to State education. In reference to local government, Sir Wm. Fox staled that ho considered tho road boards, with more extended powers, would have, been better than the present system, although lie was not prepared to say how it could be altered. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously.

The steamer Eowena has gone ashoro at Wailara. Tho Taranaki Herald states that she was signalled about 7 o'clock on Monday morning, and, at about 8, she attempted to cuter the river, but went on the South Spit. She then reversed her engines, and went to sea again ; and the next time she came in she went more to the south, going on to the beach, where she now lies. Up to about eight o'clock yesterday morning, the vessel had not been got off. The owner (Captain McGregor) went up by the morning train from New Plymouth, and seemed hopefu of getting her off. Captain Amodeo was sick, and a substitute had command when the steamer went ashore.

The main water le&ervoir which supplies Wellington i=> now completely empty, but the distributing basin is full, and with economy will last a few daj'S.

Mr. Mahoney, the owner of the Stratford Hotel, returned to his home on S-itur-day last, but was so uuweli on Monday, that he had again to be taken to the New Plymouth Hospital.

Even at luglewood, where stumps abound, and timber may be almost regarded as a drug in the market, coal is burnt in the sitting-rooms at Mr. Coldwell's hotel.

Messrs. G. V. Bate and W. J. Furlong have been elected unopposed for the two .'xtraordinary vacancies in the Town J3oai\l, caused by the retirement of Messrs. King and Dnffill. The first meeting of. the new Board will be held on Monday next.

It has been stated that Messrs. Batkin and Seed have made suggestions which involve a saving of per annum in the estimates of the Department of Justice in the North Island. This has been done, it is reported, by recommending the simple process of discharging Resident Magistrates, and making justices do the work.

Given a continuance of moderately fine I weather, and the station buildings at Normanby will be completed within aboutii three weeks. The contract time extends j to the 18th inst., but owing to the levelling contract being uncompleted, Mr. Bull was unable to start the works until some time after he was ready. The station building is now rooted in, and measures about 60 feet long over all, the main building being apparently some 18 or 20 feet wide. The goods- shed is framed, and partly walled in, and measures about 30 feet by 38 feet. They appear to be good and suitable buildings. The Hawera station buildings are now complete, with the exception of an alteration to be made in the doors of the goods-shed. They are large and commodious buildings, and we hope shortly to describe them more particularly.

Tamataua, the native chief who died at Taiporohenui on Sunday last, was one of those really good old Maoris now fast passing away. Baptised some 40 years ago by the Yen. Archdeacon Brown, by the name of Jacob, he always endeavored to live as he considered a Christian should, became a stanch teetotaller, and was very attentive to his religious duties. During the native war, he retired to a place Called Ruka Moana, some 70 miles up the Patea river. Here he cultivated and lived for several years, and we have heard of his kindness and hospitality to Capt. Skeet, who visited that place some seven yeai's ago, whilst surveying in the back country. He was pressed to come out of his retirement, and to live with his people belonging to Taiporohenni, but it was not till about two years ago he was persuaded to leave the bush and make Taiporohenui his home. To his European neighbors and friends he was known as remarkably quiet and well behaved, strictly honest and upright in his dealings ; and we have heard more than one business man assert that Tamatau's simple word was as good as any man's bond. He was 70 to 80 years of age. He was buried early yesterday, and a large number of natives assembled at the tangi. Asthma is supposed to have been the cause of death, and tlie attack zrrust liave lieen rather severe, as Mr. Buchanan was speaking to Tamatana the day before his decease, and he appeared to be in his usual state of health.

We are informed that every effort is being made by the Railway Department to have the line opened to Normanby as soon as possible. The permanent way is laid as far as a creek a little more than half-way from Normanby to Hawera, which has cost the contractor considerable trouble. When the piles were being driven, after the first few blows of the monkey, the piles suddenly penetrated into a soft substratum, and sank a number of feet at a blow. The design of the bridge has since been altered, and it is expected that it will be completed this week, but the alterations have involved some delay. There will then be only about two miles of permanent way to lay to Hawera. Some traffic did pass through to Normanby on the uuballasted live, but the engineer in charge, knowing that the unballasted permanent way was liable to be injured by heavy traffic, stopped the practice. It is said there are only some three miles of ballasting to do to complete the line to Normanby, and if the present fine weather holds, this should not take many weeks to finish. It would be a great boon to through passengers from Wanganui to be saved the horrors of the Mountain track in winter.

All the machinery for Messrs. Websters and McKellar's flour-mill at the Tawhiti is now on the ground, and workmen are busily employed in fitting it up. A portion of the machinery was obtained in England, and another portion came from the United States. All the most improved appliances have been availed of, an American pnriuer (very few of which have as yet been imported by this colony) being amougst the number. The millracj works very satisfactorily, there being very few leakages, and those of no consequence. If all goes well, tho mill will probably be in full working order by the middle of August. The fitting-up process is rather slow, in consequence of the machinery having been obtained from different firms. It will be seeu by our advertising columns that Messrs. Websters and McKollar are prepared to make, arrangements with farmers for the uext season's crops. This should bo sufficient eucouragemeut to settlers. By cultivating a portion of their farms, they will be encouraging the growth of a local industry, aud at the same time giving to their land an enhanced value. Messrs. Websters and McKellar have incurred a large expenditure, aud although it has not been done, we presume, through any motives of philanthropy,' yet the fact remains that all the land in the district has received an additional market value through the erection of the mill. Prom what we can learn, most of those who grew grain last seasou are pretty well satisfied with the results, and we have heard of .£5 and £li an acre clear profit having been obtained. That is certainly not bad, iv these days of keen competition, and when so many people affirm that " farming will not pay." We trust that, after Mr. Caverhill has threshed, he will give his fellow-settlers the benefit of his experience, as he has been by far the largest grain-grower in th.is district.

Completed returns of the census taken' on 3rd April show the total population of the colony of Victoria to be 946,080.

John Lk>3'J, a railway laborer, twentyfive years of age, and a native of Our-hunga, fell off a ballast waggon on Friclaj", and sustained such serious injures. that lie died shortly after being taken to the hospital. Two of the trucks passed over the deceased, and he was frightfully mangled.

An English paper states that Mr. Gladstone has promised that arrangements will be innde.by which one stamp will be made available for either postage or receipt purposes. Could not the New Zealand Government endeavor to make such a salutary reform ? The present system is far from being perfect.

Amongst thoso who perished on Board the steamer Tararaa was Mr. John Lyttle, formerly a blacksmith, residing at Kakaramea. Mrs. Lyttle saw a description in one of the Dunedin papers, which answered to that of her late husband', and she sent to Mr. Henry, photographer, Invercargill, for a portrait, when she found that her forebodings turned out to be correct.

A correspondent, signing himself " Omnibus," writes :—": — " Citizens, men with sound judgment and independent views ; men whose decisions in cases coming before them would be accepted as satisfoctory; men not engaged in the obndxious liquor traffic ; in short, men in every, sense fitted to discharge the duties of J.P. I have no doubt that ere Major Atkinson moves in the matter he will weigh well the qualifications and suitableness of the persons whom he may recommend to the Hon. the Minister of Justice to perform the duties of J.P. in Normanby. Id conclusion, I would say that I have every respect for Mr Gibson as a fellow townsman, and I should be sorry for his sake as well as that of ' the nearly 500,' to see him sitting on the bench awkwardly performing the duties of justice of the peace. — Normanby, May 27." In reference to the above, we might state that it was Mr. T. Robson who was mentioned at Major Atkinson's meeting, and not Mr. Gibson, as stated in a previous issue. We have reason to believe that Mr. Gibson has no wish whatever to be numbered amongst " the great unpaid."