NEWS AND NOTES. The Star. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1881.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 136, 3 August 1881, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The Star. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1881.

There has been some little trouble near the camp, and the Maoris have' again been putting up fences. Fiona what we can learn, it appears that a permanent bridge is being built across the creek at this side of Pungarehu. A little higher up the stream a small bridge was put up over the ford, so as to allow traffic to proceed. The natives never objected to the ford being used; but when the bridge was put up, they resorted to their usual course of obstruction. Major Parris, who was in New Plymouth, came out and arranged matters. The temporary bridge was removed to another spot, and this appeared to satisfy the natives. Where the ford is situated is one of their most favored spots, as is invariably the case.

Our Manaia correspondent informs us that there is a movement on foot in that township for the erection of a Town Hall.

"We hear that Messrs. Eobson Bros, propose to shift part of their 6aw-milling machinery up to Mr. Bosley's land, near the Ngaire station.

The share list of the Opunake Lighter Company closed on Monday. There are very few remaining on hand, and no difficulty will be experienced in floating the company.

At the meeting of the Town Board, on Monday t-venmg, an important communication was read from Dr. Richards relative to the sanitary condition of Hawera. The letter will be found in our report of the proceedings, which appears elsewhere.

Mr. Gibson's new addition to his store in Normauby is now making some show. Judging by the framework, it will be a very substantial building. The plan of it is so arranged as to admit carts driving through the centre, which will be very convenient.

This evening the calico ball, in aid of the funds of the Hawera Cricket Club, will be held at the Town Hall. A large number of tickets have been taken, and busy fingers have been plying the needle for the past fortnight. The ball appears likely to prove as great a success as the concert, and that is saying a good deal.

Messrs. Websters and McKellar's new flour-mill, at the Tawhiti, was formally started on Monday, when some peas were ground up for Mr. Caverhill. The machinery went very smoothly, and gave general satisfaction. Through pressure on our space, in consequence of the land sales, a report is held over till next issue.

Those who bought land on Monday, will require to pay the balance of the purchase money promptly. So the Commissioner of Crown Lands intimated. He stated that some of those who bought at previous sales had been very ba;kward in their payments, but purchasers would not receive much grace in future. Therefore, he gave out the warning before the sale commenced.

We hear that the Wellington Meat Export Company i 8 receiving very hearty support in and near Wanganui, almost all tiie settlers taking from two to ten shares each. The proposed company offers to provide such a remarkably good outlet for surplus stock that in a cattle district such as this we shall be surprised if the movement is not equally well supported by the settlers. Mr. Charles Banson has undertaken to canvass the district on behalf of the company, and will no doubt succeed in pushing the sale of shares among the farmers.

A motion has been carried by the Wanganui Jockey Club that no notice be taken of Mata's disqualification.

The Wanganui A. and P. Association have resolved to charge an entrance fee for all stock.

In reply to a question, the Government stated that the Boards of Health had ample power to deal with the inspection and cleansing of dairies, such as that recently complained of near Christchurch.

For the quarter ending June 30, there was only one flock of sheep returned as infected — viz., Tate Bros., of Waitara — within the New Plymouth sheep district. Within the Wanganui subdivision, there were nine infected flocks ; five at Waverley ; and one (J. Ball's) at Kakaramea.

Mrs. Read, milliner, High street, has received the latest fashions in riding habits.

Messrs. E. Okey and Sons, New Plymouth, advertise large consignments of paints, oils, paperhangings, glass, &c.

Mr. J. Maysmor, Opunake, has been appointed agent for the b.b. Clyde and for the New Zealand Insurance Company.

Mr. Cowern's monthly sale will be held at Patea at 2 p.m. to-day. The entries are numerous for this season of the year.

Mr. Cowern announces the sale of fourteen Harbor Board leases of allotments, on Clyde quay, Patea. The leases extend over fifty years.

Tenders are invited by the Defence Department, up to the 12th instant, for the supply of forage for the Armed Constabulary stationed at Manaia and Waihi.

The first meeting of creditors in the estate of Henry Briden Cockburn, blacksmith, Hawera, will be held in the Courthouse, -Patea, on Monday next.

Mr. John Gibson, Patea, announces the arrival of large consignments of goods by the ships Waimea and Mary Lowe, from London. Mr. Gibson is now importing direct from England and America.

Messrs. Websters and McKellar will be prepared to supply fiour, bran, &c, from their new flour-mill at the Tawhiti on and after Monday next. They invite tenders for cartage for a period of six months.

Mr. P. E. Jackson will hold a very extensive sale of stock, &c, at Waverley, on Friday next. There are between 400 and 500 head already entered. A large number of pure-bred Berkshire and other pigs, drays, harness, &c, will also be sold.

Nearly 100 head of stock have been already entered for Messrs. B. H. Nolan and Co.'s monthly sale of stock, which will be held at Hawera on Friday next, at 1 p.m. After the sale the lease of section 546, Hawera, containing 26 acres, and having over eight years to mn, will be offered for sale.

As there appears to be some misunderstanding with reference to the meeting night of the Haweva Masonic Lodge, we might state that it has been fixed for the seconJ Thursday in every month. Consequently, the next meeting will take placo on Thursday, the 11th instant, and not to-morrow evening, as some members of the craft erroneously suppose.

Before the bush sections were put up for sale, the Commissioner of Crown Lands stated that some of those who had obtained licenses to fell bush had timber lying on the reserves. They would be allowed to remove it any time before the balance of the purchase money was paid — namely, within one month from the date of sale. Of course, this is but a simple act of justice to the bushmen, and the purchasers of the land can hardly fail to see that in making such a provision the Commissioner was merely performing a very simple duty.

Complaints reach us from many sources of petty thefts in and near Manaia. To some of these we have already allodedj but others have since taken place, so that it is no longer considered safe to leave clothing or food in tents, or tools or other portable pi-operty in whares. In the absence of police, there is no one to keep order jamong the ditchers and bankers, bushmen, Maoris, and others, who patronise the town in the evenings, and scenes occur there whioh would not be allowed if the township had proper police supervision. Seeing that another worth of town sections have just been sold, the Government need not begrudge the cost of stationing a policeman there.