NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 143, 27 August 1881, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The sale of Paribaka and Opunake laud, to be held at New Plymouth on September Bfch, comprises 49 sections, covering about 4,600 acres of land. There are nineteen sections containing less than 25 acres, at an upset price of £3 10s., in the Cape Survey District. The balance comprises nineteen sections varying in size, from 310 acres to 79, and in price from £2 to £2 10s. In Opunake Survey District, the price varies from £2 to 10s. The area of the sections runs from 50 acres up to 290. About 2,000 acres will be sold iv these blocks. The land is from 6 to 10 miles north of Opunake. Both Normanby and Opunake propose to establish Town Boards very shortly, and Manaia may soon be expected to follow suit. Some local administration of streets is much needed to keep them in repair; and as a rule, Eoad Boards scarcely regard township roads as being rightly placed under their jurisdiction. Mr. James Crawford has sold out his farm near Otakeho at a very satisfactory figure. We believe that Mr. Crawford hopes to pick up another piece of land in the district. The contractor of the English Church, Hawera, hopes to complete the building within abont six weeks from this date. The roof has been shingled, and broken weather will no longer interrupt the work. The engine for the new saw mill on the Manaia- Skeet road was to have started on its journey yesterday. However, fine we ither is needed for its safe conduct, and though efforts are being made by the Wairnafce JBoad Board to make the road ho Mi-. *£atb*s sechioa passable, the cleric <?/ fclie weather lias hitherto interfered. For a bush road in winter, the Manaia-Skeet line is wonderfully good, but that is not saying much. Mr. Willis, the well known printer and publisher of Wanganui, has decided to issue a map of the district between Hawera and Opunake, showing the sections of all land, both rural, urban, and suburban. If the map is printed on Btrong paper, and is of convenient size, there can be no doubt that it will meet a want long felt, and will be appreciated. Mr. Willis hopes to publish the map at about 7s. 6d. Mr. J. Davidson will receive orders for the map. A meeting of the vestry of the English Church was held on Saturday last, when three vestrymen wei*e empowered to make arrangements for seating for the Church. On reference to the ground plan of the Church, it was found that rriauy alterations would be required if seating such as that selected by the vestry were ordered ; the sub-committee, therefore, only ordered the font, lectern and reading-desk, aud held over the order for seating until the next meeting of the vestry, on Saturday next. We have received a first copy of a daily evening journal, published at Patea, under the title of the Evening News. The enterprise of the projector deserves to be commended. As the leading article requests a little consideration until the arrival of the gentleman who is to occupy the editorial chair, we do not propose at present to criticise the literary part of the new venture, but simply wish ie success. Later numbers which have come to hand show that a- good epitome of telegraphic news has- been secured from the United Prefco Association.

Hopes are entertained of the convalesence of Mr. Moorhouse, M.H.R. We hear that the Waimate Eoad Board are believed not to have the power to form a rate-roll, the duty devolving upon the County Council, whose roll ought to have been prepared in January last. One of the A.C.'s at the Manaia camp, having lately requested that he might be attached to the Civil police, his request has been granted, and he has been stationed at Manaia, where a policeman's services were much needed. ■+ The New Plymouth people have decided not to give a ball on the occasion of the opening of the railway to Hawera. The Odd Fellows Hall having been burnt down, there is now no suitable place for a public dance to be held, hence the project has fallen through. Signatures are being obtained to a petition against county separation. A glance at the map of the electoral districts will show that county boundaries have not been regarded in the formation of electorates. On Thursday last the evidence was taken by the Clerk of the Court in the civil case of Keating v. Major, in which the latter is sued for £3 3s. charged for reducing* the dislocation of Mr. Major's shoulde* , which was put out while playing football at Patea. The Taranaki Herald says: — "It is rumored in Wellington that tho Hon. E. Richardson, M.H.R. ; Mr. J. Ma-andrew, M.H.R. ; Mr. C. Napier Bell, M.1.C.E., may probably form the Commission of the New Plymouth Harbor Works. This is not yet definitely decided, but is tolerably certain to be thus settled, provided the gentlemen named are willing to act." Considerable progress has been made towards the renewal of the lower Waingongoro bridge. The new compound stringers, both upper and lower, belonging to the truss, have been fitted together, and the workmen have commenced drawing the bolts from the old structure. It is hoped that there will be no stoppage of general traffic while the renewal is in progress. It is proposed to erect a fence around the grave of the late Mr. Anderson, who was for some time connected with the Telegraph Department in Hawera. Mr. J. Meuli moved in the matter, and Mr. A. Parkinson, shopman at Mr. Davidson's, who has charge of the subscriptionlist, will be glad to receive donations from those will to subscribe towards such a laudable object. A good many persons have already put their, names down. The petition asking"hat a school should be established at .Manaia, having been forwarded to Wanganui, the Secretary to the Education Board has replied by forwarding the rules and regulations of the Board applicable to such cases. From them, it appears that a very extended series of questions have to be answered in respect to the number of children, the names of their parents, their distance from a common centre &c, before the Board will make an order in respect to establishing a ndw school, A public meeting has therefore been called at Manaia for next Monday evening, in order to makp arrangements for obtaining the informatic n required, without delay. The monthly meeting of the Board will be held on the 31st instant. A much-needed measure, repealing no less than five Taranaki Ordinances, has been introduced by the Hon. Mr. Dick. It provides that on petition of two-thirds of the residents of a locality containing not more than an area of two square miles, and not less than fifty householders, the Governor may proclaim the town district. Such town district would remain a part of the couuty, but not a part of the road district, the town and road districts agreeing together as to what part of the district shall be liable for rates to the town and what part to the road board. If the two bodies fail to agree, the Governor is to appoint two Commissioners of Audit to determine. The interests of creditors are preserved. Although provision is made for the audit of the accounts of town boards, no power is given to recover money illegally spent or dealt with by such boards. Town boards in office under the Taranaki Ordinance, after the passing of the Bill, remain in office until the next period of retirement, when all members (instead of only some) shall go out of office. The other provisions call for no remark, being similar to those usually provided. The Bill dealing with Native Reserves, referred to in the Governor's speech, has been introduced by the Hon. Mr. Whitaker and circulated. It applies to all Native Lands, except certain blocks of land called Ngatiawa and Ngatiruanui, and Ngatiawa Coast and Ngatiruanui Coast. With these exceptions, the Bill proposes to vest all Native Reserves in the Public Trustee, subject to the trusts attached to the land in each oase. Native ' Commissioners, acting under the Trustee, are to furnish a full account of each estate and matter in their hands to tbe Trustee. Leases of land already under the Act may be leased by the Public Trustee with the sanction of the Board (constituted under the Public Trust Office Act, 1872) for 21 years for agricultural purposes, or for 63 years for building purposeß, subject to a new assessment of rent in the latter case every 21 years.' Every lease shall be disposed of by private contract or by public auction, after due notification thereof has been given by advertisement in a newspaper having general circulation in the district wherein the land is situate, as the Board shall think most fitting in each case. Before the Public Trustee can administer native lands, the native title must be extinguished by process of the Native Land Court. What is a humbug, gentle reader ? Did you ever see one ? Just take a look at the mirror, and see. if you yourself are a humbug ; because the world says all persons of good address, of winning manners, and of well-finished and rounded words are humbugs. This epithet does not apply to ladies, not by any means : nor should it apply to th« aforesaid. A humbug means, as we think, a man of pleasant words, without a purpose. For instance, he says : " I am glad to have met you." Too often a fib. Further, the real humbug is one who never means what he says. If he promises you a contribution to any public object — a ball, for instance — he never pays. He spouts at public meetings with bushels of gush ; but not one grain of real earnest intention of doing anything more. That is tbe humbug we mean: one who promises, but never performs. The best way to serve this humbug is to give him a can of Sharland's Baking Powder, and explode him. — Advt.

The bailiff to be appointed for Hawera district will enter upon his duties as soon as the usual bond required in such cases has been executed. Mr. Henderson announces arrivals of spring goods in the way of saddlery, &c. The Normanby Eifles parade to-day at Normanby, at 2.30 p.m. The Hawera and Normanby butchers publish a full list of prices of meat. Money to lend is advertised by Mr. Whitworth Russell, of Wanganui. Tenders are invited for the erection of business premises in High street, Hawera. Also, for premises for Mr. Max D. King. The Eeceiver of Land Revenue will be in Hawera on the 2nd September, to receive balances due from last land sale. Mr. C. E. Gibson announces new shipments of goods, ex Waimea, Mary Lowe, and Fernglen from London. Messrs. R. H. Nolan and Co. will sell by auction to-day at 12 o'clock, a large stock of clothing, drapery, sewing machines, &c. Mr. C. F. Barker will sell to-day about 30,000 feet of dressed timber, suitable for flooring or lining. The sale will be held at Patea, at 2 p.m. The first general meeting of the share-; holders of the Opunake Lighter Company, will be held on Thursday next, at 7 p.m. Directors for the coming year will bo elected. Mr. Freeman ,E. Jackson announces that he will sell on Wednesday next, at Waitotara, without reserve, horses, farm implements and sundries, and furniture belonging to B. Andrews, Esq., Waitotara. Full particulars are published elsewhere of- the proposed boundaries of the new Hawera Borough. The petition was signed by 110 householders, and was taken to Wellington by Mr. G. V. Bate. The area included is about 720 acres. The Opunake Lighter Company is now in full working order, and is landing goods at 6s. per ton measurement, and timber 9d. per 100 feet. Twenty-five per cent, lower than the proposed charges at the New Plymouth works when completed. Nominations for a road commissioner, in the place of Mr. T. Robson, resigned, will be received at the Hawera Road Board Office up till noon to-day. The names of Messrs, McCutchan, Hobbs, and Southey have been all mentioned as probable candidates.