NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 131, 16 July 1881, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

We are informed that instructions have been given to tbe District Manager of Eailways to run goods trains through to Normanby from New Plymouth without delay. The instructions were issued in response to a request made by a number of Hawera residents that something should be done to remedy the bad system of delivery at Ngaire, which resulted in much delay, and occasional loss, to consignees. Representations were made to Major Atkinson on the subject, and he has forwarded a reply to the above effect. He confirms the statement made by us last week that it will be impossible to run goods through to Hawera for three weeks or a morftft. The concession named is a substantial boon, and will serve to stop complaints, during the next few weeks.

There is plenty of enquiry for land in Hawera, the township is growing fast, and business is very brisk for this time of year.

In a postcript to the letter from Mr. O'Donovan, written after reading the report of the meeting, he denies that he ever stated tbaj; Mr. Southey made use of the deposits.

A branch of the Bank of Australasia was opened in) Hawera at Mr. Jackson's offices, High street, on Thursday last, under the management of Mr. A. Campbell, formerly stationed at Waverley, but latterly at Patea. A branch of the Union Bank of Australia will also be opened in the course of a day or two in the premises lately erected to the order of Mr. Cheal.

A few weeks ago the Taranaki County Council called upon their dog-tax collector to levy the tax on Maori dogs. We understand that a number of Maoris have paid the tax in this county, and that many more would have done so, but for the exemption of the Plains people. After August Ist this exemption expires, so scions of both races will then have to face the collator, or, as colonists say, " stand the racket."

Within the block of land lately advertised for sale, we understand that only sections 26 and 28, containing 460 acres, have been reserved for timber purposes. They are probably the best for this purpose, though none of the bush has much good timber on it, though there is plenty of firewood. The balance of land not advertised for sale has been reserved for educational purposes. There are altogether 1150 acres, of which 500 acres has been either promised or given as a reserve to the Taranaki High School. Timber may be cut on these reserves also until they have been placed in the hands ot the Education Board. q

It will be remembered that in a l'ecent issue our own correspondent on native affairs wrote to us pointing out that whereas Manaia's grant of land appeared to have grown from 1500 into 1800 acres, his people's had shrunk from 1100 to 760 acres. We are informed that the discrepancy is more apparent than real, Manaia having only received 1500 acres of land, the rest being barren sandhills, absolutely of no value. The grant to his people was a well-defined piece of land, awarded to them long ago, and bounded by creeks, &c, so that there could be no possibility of any mistake as to the piece promised. It was roughly, though wrongly, estimated to contain about 1100 acres, and was mapped as including that area ; upon being surveyed, however, it was found to contain only between 700 and 800 acres, hence the complaints which have arisen.

A number of persons visiting the district, and searching for laud, on looking at the map, say : " But is not there any land to be had north of the present settled land on the Plains, near Opunake ?" At present it is impossible to answer the above question. The land is there ; it is open, and eminently suitable for settlement. Of course, it is well known that the greater portion of it has been given back to the Maoris — to William King and others ; but if the survey of the land were proceeded with, and the ownership ot the hapus decided upon, much of it could be thrown open to settlement very shortly, supposing the Bill now before the House for dealing with native reserves should become law this session. The matter is of great importance, and it seems a pity that the whole attention of the survey staff appears to be directed to the subdivision of bush lands, although it is known that the market for such lands is comparatively very limited. If the survey of unsettled open and bush lands were proceeded with at the same time, and both were placed in the market, both classes of land would sell at higher prices when put up to auction. Unsettled lands, whether Crown or native, are unattractive neighbors. — Since the above was in type, we hear,' apparently upon good authoritj', that there are some 20,000 acres of bush land in this district, now surveyed ready for sale, and also a block of 15,000 acres, partly, if not wholly, clear, adjoining the south side of the Parihaka land lately sold. This is approaching, though it scarcely touches, the Opunake land referred to above. A large quantity of this land is likely to be placed in the market shortly. It is to be hoped that the deferred payment selectors will not be forgotten, many good men having left the district who travelled long distances to obtain a small farm on deferred payments.

A supplementary Sau Francisco mail, via New Plymouth, will close at Hawera to-day, at 2 p.m.

It is stated that the piece of ground to which the Maoris lay claim, and which they have been fencing, near Cape Egmont, is only about half an acre in extent, and is of very little value for cultivation purposes.

A full report of the first meeting of the Waimate Boad Board appears in our fourth page. It includes an important letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands on the expenditure of deferred payment moneys.

Mr. Foulis, Inspector of schools, visited this district yesterday, for the purpose of completing the examination of pupil teachers at Normauby and Hawera. He expressed himself highly satisfied with the result of his visit, and considers that the pupil teachers do credit to their principals.

At the last quarterly meeting of the office bearers of the Patea Wesleyan Circuit, the Eev. D. McNicol presided. The returns from Hawera were highly satisfactory, especially when compared with the circuit head-quarters,- Patea ; those of Hawera being £48, and Patea £22, with an approximate amount uncollected of £12. In view of the advancement of the district, it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Mr. B. Dingle, that the services of a second minister be at once secured, who is to reside in Hawera, and work Manaia and Nornionby as well.

School Examination Paper. — Name the| chief feeders of the Ivrawaddy. — Intelli-| gent New Zealand Scholar. — Crocodiles, f Mr. Eobinson, the Crown Lands Banger, has now, we believe, completed and sent in his full reports on the progress of settlement on the Waimate Plains. It is pretty well known that very many of the selectors have failed to fulfil the conditions of occupation and residence, and it is feared that the Commissioner will have a very difficult and painful work before he can decide in each case upon what the law and his duty require him to do with the defaulters. If the Commissioner insists upon a strict and thorough fulfilment of the conditions of residence, he will receive the full support of the public and of the Press.

Mr. Bees, the ex-engineer of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, and the Chairman of the Board, Mr. King, have both been summoned to attend at the Parliamentary inquiry into the expenditure of the New Plymouth Harbor Board. Mr. King will proceed to Wellington by coach on Monday.

The Hawera Cricket Club propose to give a ball on Wednesday, August 3rd. It will be a calico ball, and both ladies and gentlemen will be expected to attend in fancy dress. The funds derived are to be devoted to the planting and improvement of the cricket ground, and to the purchase of a powerful force-pump.

Two half-acre allotments were sold in Hawera during the past week. They were sold through Mr. W. M. Thomson, at £320 and £325 each.

The Goliath crane for the New Plymouth Harbor Board has been erected, and does its work well. Its lifting power has not yet been tested. The Titan, the other large crane, is now in course of erection.

Madame Lotti Wilmot gave her first lecture in Hawera on Thursday night, to a rather thin audience. She has a finepresence, good elocutionary powers, nice easy flow of language, and understands how to engage the attention of her audience. Her references to events passing around her, political and social, show that she exercises an intelligent criticism over events somewhat outside the range of most women's observation. The subject chosen was rather a delicate one, but it was well-handled, and Madame Wilmot deserves credit for having kept clear of the many dangers which beset her course. Her tongue occasionally betrays her country, but many an English person might envy her the knowledge of the language which she possesses. It is not perfect, however, but we refrain from pointing out faults in so inadequate a notice of a pleasant evening's entertainment.

Most of our readers will have seen or heard something of the Wellington Meat Export Company, which has recently been floated in Wellington, with a capital of ;g20,000. A very influential directorate has been formed, including, among other gentlemen well known in this district, Messrs. Lysaght, F. B. Jackson, H. S. Peacock, and J. S. Caperhill. Mr. John Stevens, who has recently returned from Wellington, where he was attending the conference re export of frozen meat and dairy produce, has informed the Bangitikei Advocate that the projected company will undoubtedly be floated with great success. As an instance of the enthusiasm manifested in regard to it, we may mention that a little over half a dozen of the provisional directors met the other day at Wellington, and put their names clown for an eighth of the total shares of the cornpanjr, two or three gentlemen each taking a 100 five-pound shares, aud several each taking fifty. It is a matter of great importance to the district, although so long as the settlement of waste land proceeds rapidly, there ought to be room, and a consequent market, for a large quantity of surplus stock.

Tenders are called by the Waimate Road Board for the compilation of a valuation list. Applications are also invited for the post of clerk and collector, and of foreman of works to the Board.

During Mr. John Gibson's visit to the Melbourne Exhibition, he made arrangements with the agents of several important English and American firms for the direct importation of goods. The first consignment, consisting of 393 packages of hardware, has been landed in Wellington by the ship Waimea, and is now being brought up by the s.s. Patea. Mr. Gibson has been in business in the Patea district during tbe past ten or twelve years, and he ought, therefore, to be in a position to select the most suitable goods, as his long experience enables him to form a i>retty accurate estimate of what is most required by settlers.

Whittaker Brothers, Hawera House, have received another shipment of sewing machines, which will be sold at still further reductions in price. The well-known " Improved Home Shuttle, £4 45., now reduced to £3 10s. Also, made to special order, the "Imperial Eureka," which, for sim-" plicity and strength^ cannot be surpassed by any machine in the. world j • price, £4, 4a.— [Advt.]