NEWS AND NOTES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 137, 6 August 1881, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES

Onr supplements, which are obtained from an enterprising publishing firm in Melbourne, have not, we are sorry to say, come to hand this Jmonth. We ;regret it all the more, because the interesting tale of the " Ferryman's Secret" was to have been brought to a close in the next number, and a new story, entitled the " Mystery of Major Molineux," commenced. Marcus Clarke, by far the ablest literary man in the Australian colonies, was the author. It is only a few days ago that the telegraph flashed across the news of his untimely death, at the early age of thirty-four years. He was son of the late Judge Clarke, and about ten years ago married Miss Marion Dunn, a favorite young actress then engaged at the Theatre Boyal, Melbourne. Society never forgaVe its mo6t favored darling, who in return, sometimes shot off poisoned arrows, after the manner of Lord Byron, at Lady Woolgatherer and Marchioness of Scrip. Marcus Clarke was about to leave for Great Britain after he had successfully launched the novel of " His Natural Life," which met with very great praise from the critics, and had a large sale — two editions going off in twelve months ; bxit tho trustees of the Melbourne Public Library were anxious to keep him in the colony, and he was offered, and accepted, the secretaryship at J5700 per annum. He was not, however, without his failings, and these helped to terminate a career that once appeared to have such a bright future in store for it. Wo shall do our utmost to obtain the supplements with as little delay as possible. la the meantime, we must ask the land indulgence of our readers, more especially of the ladies, for whose benefit the supplements aro principally published.

Chairman of Central Boards of Education have been authorised to frank and to receive letters and parcels posted on public service.

The annual meeting of members of the Church of England was held yesterday, at Mr. Bate's office. A report of the proceedings is held over.

Sir William Fox reports that he cannot recommend the Government to admit Major Brown's claim for 1000 acres o land on the Waimate Plains.

A young man named Packer, who was injured by a fall of gravel at Manaia, has been sent up to the New Plymouth hospital.

There was a large attendance at Mr. Nolan's sale, and both cattle and horses sold well. Two or three lots were withdrawn at the hammer, but the reserve prices seemed high.

This evening the Skating Eink Club will open the season at the Town Hall, Hawera. Members, more especially if accompanied by lady friends, will be gladly welcomed at the tournament.

A preliminary inquiry was held into the stranding of the steamer Wakatu at the Patea Heads. The evidence proved that there was no blame attached to anybody.

Major Parris left by Wednesday's coach for Waitotara, where he expected to meet Sir William Fox, who intended snatching a few days from the Areopagus in the Empire City.

In a letter received at Dunedin from Mr. Conway, .concerning the proposed visit of professional cricketers, he says that the tour in New Zealand will begin probably early in January in the South, and the cricketers will travel North to Auckland.

We are informed that Mr. Torke has been re-appointed a member of the New Plymouth Harbor Board. All seats of nominated members became vacant on 30th June last. There are very few who care to sit and vote at a board after their term of office has expired.

Lots 204, 205, 206, 244, 245, and 246, in the town of Stratford, have been permanently reserved as a school site. By the same proclamation 72,382 acres on the top of Mount Egmont liave been also permanently reserved for the growth and preservation of timber.

In a carbine match, fired on Monday last, between the Taranaki Mounted Eifies and the Hawera Light Horse, the visitors scored 332, against 276 scored by the Hawera team. The highest score was made by Trooper Willy, Hawera, with 50 points, against 44 scored by three of their opponents.

In the football match, to be played to-day — Patea v. Hawera — the following players will represent Hawera: — S. Adamson, W. Adamson, J. Adamson, F. Baddeley, E. Baddeley, G. Bayly (captain), H. Bayly, Blaisel, Broadbent, Budge, Fowler, Lukis, Lysaght, Eiddiford, White, Willy, G., Willy, T. Witney.

Tawhiao, through the chief Paul, has expressed his regret that he could not visit Auckland at the present time owing to his having promised his people to go back from Mercer, but he will visit Auckland and the Kaipara district shortly, and gave Paul a handsome kiwi mat as a pledge of his promise to do so. * It is reported that Mr. Parsons has bought a section of land near Otakeho for .£lO per acre for cash land. His farm is now between 500 and 600 acres, we believe. The five-acre section bought by Mr. D. McGregor at £25 17s. 6d. per acre, has been sold by him since at a considerable advance, variously estimated at from &50 on his bargain to ;g2OO, or M 0 per acre for the lot. * We have asked what was the area of the land sold to the Bank of Australasia by Mr. Davidson for £500. We are informed that the section measured 209 links by 30 feet, equal to 45.3 links. By calculation we find that the area is 15*14 perches ; the price per acre being consequently about £5280. One foot frontage of this land sold for more than the whole half-acre cost, the latter having been bought for £17 10s.

Almost all our readers will be pleased to learn that by a Gazette notice, which appeared on July, it is annonced that "on the New Plymouth section the regulation about ship's goods at Waitara is hereby cancelled." We have several times directed attention to the exorbitant charges imposed by the late regulation, and the rescinding of the regulation is substantial evidence that the justice of our criticism has been acknowledged.

Mr. Rolleston, in answer to Mr. Hutchison's question, in reference to the grant of land to Honi Pihama, stated that there were 300 acres of sand hills on it, and the land granted to the hapu was, on survey, found to be smaller than was at first thought, With regard to the alleged partnership between Honi and Mr. Parris, he had reason to believe that there was not a word of truth in the report, and he blamed Mr. Hutchison for giving it publicity.

We are informed that it is the intention of Messrs. T. and S. Morrin, of Glen Orchard, Auckland, to send down for sale half a dozen young pure-bred bulls to Hawera in the course of a few weeks. They have established a great reputation for their herd throughout the provincial district, and desire to extend their connection down this coast. The name of Messrs. Morrin is well-known throughout the colony in connection with the Auckland Stud Company, in which the firm is one of the largost shareholders.

The proposed county has been gazetted as Hawera, and not as Egmont county. The name proposed by tho originators of the movement was certainly the better of tho two, as being less local. Opponents of the movement have throughout striven to make it Appear that it was got up by Hawera people, whoreus tho movement met with rnoro support from persons with property outsiclo^than from thoso with property within tho township. The Chairman of the County Council (who lately informed the public that there was a chance of the railway line between Hawera and Normanby being worked as a branch) thinks that when the Hawera township is declared a borough, the district would not be able to claim more than one representative in the County Council should the proposed new county not be constituted. He also stated that action would betaken in the House of Representatives to annul the proclamation issued.

In our fourth page will be found a report of the formal starting of the machinery at Messrs. Websters and McKellar's flour-mill, at the Tawhiti. It is expected that everything will be in full working order next week.

Mr. William Bosley, Ngaire, informs us that there is no truth in the report that Messrs. J. and T. Eobson are going to erect a saw-mill on his land. He states that he knows nothing about it. We believe, however, that Messrs. Eobson contemplate fitting up- a saw-mill in the Ngaire district, convenient to the railway line.

We hear that there has been some enquiry made about another mill site on the Waimate Plains. It is somewhat doubtful whether there is room for more than one large mill in the [district just at the present, although we have no doubt that there would be enough corn grown in the district in the course of a year or two to keep two going.

The Taranaki Harbor Board will have £2500 to receive out of the proceeds of Monday's land sale. Sections in Opnnake contributed very largely to swell that amount. Will not the Taranaki Education Board now see the wisdom of granting a school for the use of the Opunake township ? We, in common, with many others, would like an answer to the question. Another appeal should be made to the Education Department in Wellington, or to the House of Bepresentatives, if the Board will not speedily relent. The conduct of the members in this matter is open to grave censure.

Many people do not seem to be aware that the A. C. force is being constantly and steadily reduced by what might almost be termed a course of mutual selection. 'The ranks of the settlers are being constantly recruited from the ranks of the A.C. In fact several of the largest buyers of town sections in Opunake belonged to the force, and these men are scarcely likely to remain long in the force if settlement at Opunake proceeds as rapidly as it seems inclined to do at present. The vavancies thus created have not been filled up, and thus it has come about that the fore on this coast has probably been- reduced by 250 men within the last eighteen months.

The fancy dress ball, given in aid of the Hawera Cricket Club on Wednesday last in the Town Hall, was a decided success. There were from twenty-five to thirty couples present, and out of the number there were only about two or three " crows" (gentlemen in plain evening dress) present, all the rest, both ladies and gentlemen being in fancy dress. Among the ladies a Highland lassie, in tartan ; a Marguerite (Faust), blue, black, and white; Spring, in white, trimmed with lycopodium ; and a Little Bed Eiding Hood, were much admired. Among the gentlemen, the M.C., as a Prince, in purple and ermine, and Court dress, with silk stockings, a jack tar, a Captain Corcoran, a Moor; and two huntsmen in pink, looked well. There were others, notably a Wallachian peasant, who attracted notice, but the dress was more curious than handsome. The pleasure of the evening was somewhat marred by a bad floor — it was frightfully heavy, and all the dancers complained of it. Dancing was kept up until about 3.30, at which hour the programme had been exhausted, and several extras added on to it. Upon the whole a very pleasant evening was spent, though it would have been much better if the hall had been better filled. It is not expected that there will be much surplus over expenses to add to the Cricket Club fund.

Mr. Hosking has arrived in Hawera, for the purpose of taking charge of the new flour mill. In reference to his departure from Auckland, we find the following in* the Auckland Weekly News of the 23rd July : — " A soiree was held on Tuesday evening, the 19th instant, in the Temperance and Public Hall, the proceeds to be devoted to the Waiuku Wesleyan Sunday-school, but the soiree was held just now as a token of respect to Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Hosking, who are leaving the district for Hawera. Although the weather was very unfavourable, there was a good gathering, about 150 being present. The trays were provided by Mesdames Hodge, Hedge, Hockin, and C. T. Barriball. After the tables were removed, and the choir had sung a hymn, the Bey. Mr. Thomson engaged in prayer. The Eev. Mr. Caughey called Mr. G. H. Maunder, Mauku, to the chair, who made a few introductory remarks. Addresses and recitations were delivered by the Eevs. Dunn, Thomson, and Caughey, and Messrs. Green, Eeid, Hocking, C.jT. Barriball, and King — all speaking in eulogistic terms of Mr. and Mrs. Hosking, who were about to leave us. Mr. and Mrs. Hosking have been residing in Waiuku for sixteen or seventeen years, during the greater part of that time Mr. Hosking was the leader and instructor of the choir connected with the Wesleyan Church, and also church steward. During the evening the Chairman, in an appropriate speech, presented Mr. Hosking with a handsome writing desk, bearing the following inscription : — ' Presented to Mr. C. T.. Hos'king as a token of respect, by a few of his Waiuku friends, on his leaving the district, July, 1881.' Mr. Hosking replied in feeling terms. During the evening the choir rendered a choice selection of appropriate pieces. The usual complimentary vote of thanks and singing the Doxology brought the meeting to a close. Mr. aud Mrs. Hoßking leave to-day by the s.s. Manukau for their new home, carryiug with them the best wishes of the whole district for their future welfare and happiness."

Tenders are asked for the erection of a house and also for a shop in Opunake.

In September, Mr. Jackson will sell 1000 head of cattle belonging to the Williamson estate.

Mr. Murray Thomson will sell to-day a large assortment of fruit and shelter trees, ornamental and hedge plants, &c, from Mr. Mitchinson's nursery. No reserve.

Messrs. R. H. Nolan and Co. will hold their fortnightly produce sale, to-day, and will sell, on Monday next, a consignment of shrubs, flowers, &c, from Mr. Mason's Parnell gardens.

An unreserved, sale of produce, implements, and general merchandise will be held by Mr. C. F. Barker, at Normanby, at noon, this day.

The first meetings of creditors in the estates of Wm. Barnes, of Waverley, E. Doherty, of Normanby, and J. Goodfellow, of Hawera, are fixed to be held on Monday, 15th August.