NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 155, 5 October 1881, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The Stab was issued in the afternoon for the first time on Monday, at 4 o'clock, and was dolivered as far as Normanby, Manaia, Waihi, and Okaiawa, shortly afterwards. We would remind residents in the district that telegrams from all parts of the colony, and from beyond tho colony, are received up to the hour of going to press, and that therefore the paper put into their bauds will contain the very latest news.

In tho Star fourteen-column Supplement, to be issued on Friday evening, there will be found the commencement of a now and thrilling novel, entitled " Partners," a true story by a country attorney, and a complete story entitled "Dr. Baymond's Ward." Under the headings of " Nature," " Miscellaneous," " Humor," &c, a capital selection of very readable articles will appear.

The entertainment to be given on Friday evening, in aid of the Church of England Bazaar Fund, promises to be very enjoyable. A most complete and excellent programme is in course of careful preparation, and no doubt will be gone through in such a manner as will delight the audience, and add to the reputation of the performers. The farce which is to follow the concert, " A Phenomenon in a Smock Frock," is brimful of fun, and should send people home in high good humour. A Wesleyan Mission Meeting fixed for the same evening, has been considerately postponed, so that the promoters of the concert may have every chance of success.

The Hawera Kifles assembled 1 under the command of Captain Bayly last evening, and had a most successful drill. There were upwards of 60 rank and file in attendance, as tho hall was not large enough to accommodate all, the men were divided into two squads, one drilling outside. The more advanced were taken in hand by Color-Sergeant Meredith, and in the first instance were put through manual and platoon drill in the hall, and subsequently were taken outside for skirmishing drill. Sergeant Trimble put the other squad through their facings. Both eqaads were veiy attentive, and the drill may be said to have been satisfactory from every point of view. Several names were added to the roll. It was decided by the corps that the uniform should be blue serge with black facings, with a French peaked cap ; and Captain Bayly was authorised to apply to the Government for the necessary material, the cost to be deducted out of capitation money. After Friday evening next, when the hall will he otherwise engaged, the corps will drill on Tuesday and Friday.

In reply to a telegram by Mr. Furlong, making enquiries as to the position of the continuation of Albion-street, the following has been received from Major Atkinson :—": — " I find the position of the continuation of Albion-street, through the Telegraph reserve, section 19, to be as follows: — It having been determined, after an interview which took place on the ground between Mr. Barleyman and the sur-veyor-General, Mr. McKerrow, to continue Albion-street as far aB High-street, the necessary steps under the Public Beserves Act, 1878, have been taken by gazetting the intention to change the purpose of the reserve, which is to be included in Albionstreet from a site for a telegraph station and other purposes of the General Government, to the purpose of a public road, the Gazette notice was published for four consecutive weeks, and submitted to Parliament during the last session. Neither House of Assembly having declared by resolution that such House did not concur in the intention to change the reserve, it now only remains for the Governor to issue an Order in Council, permanently defining the change of purpose of the reserve to a public road. This Order in Council is in hand, and it will be issued as soon as it can be prepared ; meanwhile, for all practical purposes, Albion-street can be deemed to be open as a public road as far as High-street." A later telegram states that the Order in Council has been signedj and will appear in this week's gazette.

The following amended scale of pay for non-commissioned officers and constables of the Armed Constabulary Force is gazetted :— Police : Sergeant- Major, 10s. 6d. per day ; Sergeant, Ist class, 9a. 6d. ; 2nd class, 95. ; 3rd class, Bs. 6d. ; Constables, Ist class, Bs. ; 2nd class, 7s. 6d. ; 3rd class, 7s. Beserve : Sergeant- Major, 9s. per day ; Sergeant, Ist class, Bs. 6d. ; 2nd class, Bs. ; 3rd class, 7s. 6d. ; Constables, Ist class, 75. ; 2nd class, 6s. 6d. ; 3rd class, 6s.

The Native Minister was at Bahofcu today.

Major Parris passed, through Hawera per coach to day, en route for Patea.

Sir Win. Fox is expected at Patea on Friday, and v/ill probably resume his duties as Pioyal Commissioner next week.

We have been requested to state that mass will be celebrated in Manaia township on Sunday next, at 8.30 a.m.

The Wellington Bacing Club has refused an application for the removal of Matfi's disqualification.

A letter from " Colonist," which appears on our fourth page, throws additional light on the Manaia ploughing case.

It is reported that the whole contract for the Patea harbor railway wharf will be completed within three weeks.

The next San Francisco mail will close at Hawera and Normanby to-morrow (Thursday) -morning.

The Marton Borough Council is going in for a public works soheme, and has determined to borrow £3000, part of which is to be 6pent in seeming a water supply.

On Saturday afternoon last, a little boy named Owen Evans, who was playing on the bank of the Henui river with his brother, slipped in and was drowned before assistance could be rendered.

A Normanby correspondent writes that Normanby is very dull, and everybody is growling, the Maori scare having stopped all business ; nevertheless, new buildings are going up.

Hanlan has finally decided to accept the challenge of Wallace Boss for a match for the rowing championship, which will probably take place at Toronto on the Ist November.

Mr. G. W. Marchant, chairman of the Ngaire Boad Board, has received a telegram from the secretary to the Treasury, stating that a cheque for 145., deferred payment money, was paid to the

The Hawera Light Horse paraded for drill, under Lieutenant Johnston, on Monday evening. The attendance was not so large as usual, but a good muster is expected on Friday afternoon, when a mounted parade is to be held.

The Auckland Star expresses the opinion that the Taranaki Herald is only fearful that a rupture may be averted. If war is forced upon us by the folly of Te Whiti and his followers, let it be an effectual one, but it must not be one of our own provoking, nor should we even meet it half way.

Earthquakes still continue to startle the Woodville people, although they ought to be used to them by this, considering that, according to the statement of a correspondent of the Manuawatu Times, they have had over thirty shakes since the heavy one. A very sharp one was experienced on Thursday last at 8.30 p.m.

The special correspondent of the Lyttelton Times is at it again. Te Wetere indignantly denies that he either went or sent to Parihaka ; and Mr. Bayly declares that instead of taking cattle away from his farm he has put 150 additional since Te Whiti's speech ; both of which statements were made by the veracious gentleman referred to.

So far, the railway traffio retnrns for the current year show the receipts £343,060, and the expenditure .6197,055, the ratio of the latter to the former being 57 per cent. It is believed that when the railway returns for the half year which has just expired are made up they will show the gross receipts to have been about i-440,000, and the net profits about ,£200,000.

Mr. Sheehan, M.H.R., together with Messrs. Studholme, M.H.8., and some others went up the Wanganui last week, in reference to some land transactions. One of the natives sent a written requisition Mr. Sheehan, asking for ten bags of flour, and a few "unconsidered trifles." The circumstance came to the knowledge of Topia, who thereupon gave the " sturdy beggar " a patriarchal thrashing.

The Okato correspondent of the Taranaki Herald, telegraphing yesterday, ataya ii — v The raxaor that it was intended, some day this week, to march the constabulary down to the fences and tear them down, is unfounded. It has been decided not to take any steps calculated to precipitate hostilities until the force is strong enough to cope with any opposition. Fully one thousand men will be required to do this.

The date of the opening of the railway is still undecided on. Every effort is being made to have the opening on the 20th instant, and special concessions will no doubt be made to enable the public to avail themselves of the opportunity for a trip along the line. Meanwhile, a large goods traffic is already occurring, and so far the benefits of the railway to this district are beginning to make themselves

Sir W. Fox is on the war path again. Speaking at Woodville the other night, he said, between 2000 and 3000 die every year in New Zealand through drink, and every drinking shop in New Zealand kills one inhabitant per annum. He advocated the total extinction of all public houses, and hoped shortly that no publican would dare to put up a sign over his door ; in fact, he might as well write " Murderer" which he really was, at once. Ho looked upon a publican as worse than a highwayman who pointed a pistol at your head.

The Normanby correspondent of the Auckland Star, says under date October 1—"1 — " There is no fresh complication, and not sufficient grounds for the alarm raised. The hesitation of the Government in putting in force the powers vested in it by the West Coast Settlement Act, arises from a lack of men rather than disinclination. Arms are not so much wanted as a body of men sufficient to arrest the large number of natives engaged in obstructive fencing. Nothing is more certain than that no resort to arms will eventuate, and it is actually true that the present agitation will continue. None willing to invest in Taranaki lands need fear armed interference by the natives, but a security for the future relations of the two races will be continually sought by Te Whiti and his followers. Not a native will arm, but this old agrarian obstruction will oontiuen.

The existing cedars of Lebanon are only 900 years old. The cypress trees at Montezuma, Mexico according to a French botanist, are 6000 years old , and consequently he makes them out coeval with the creation of the warld.

About .£II,OOO is claimed for railwpy compensation between Waverley and Norinanby.

It is stated that Sergeant Goodall, of Marlborough, has taken charge of the New Plymouth district, and that Ser-geant-Major Bnllen gets two months leave of absence.

Mr. Max. D. King announces the receipt of new and choice summer goods.

Mr. Freeman R. Jackson holds a stock sale at Hawera on Tuesday, 14th inst.

To-morrow Mr. W. Courtney will sell at Middleton's yards, Opunake, stock, cart, wagon, &c.

The Opunake Rifle Volunteers parade for drill, with arms and accoutrements, on Saturday next, Bth inst.

The time for the reception of tenders for the erection of a hotel at Rahotu has been extended.

Mr. Pinches calls for tenders for the erection of a cottage in Hawera for Mr. L. Milmoe.

The Wesleyan missionary services announced for Friday evening next has been postponed.

It is announced that the draught horse, Victory, will stand at Manutahi this season.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands notifies an application for a transfer, under the Land Act, in respect of sections at Ngaire.

Mr. E. Ellery Gilbert, pianoforte tuner and repairer, notifies that he will visit Hawora to-morrow.

Messrs. R. H. Nolan and Co. hold a special stock sale on Friday. On Monday, the same firm will sell the plant of the Kakaramea saw-mill.

The Waimate Mounted Rifles meet at Lloyd's hotel, Manaia, this evening. Arms are to be issued, and important business is to be transacted.

Mr. F. R. Jackson has received instructions from Messrs. W. and G. Newland for an important sale at the Waverley yards in November next.