The Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1881. NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 185, 14 December 1881, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1881. NEWS AND NOTES.

The Star supplement this evening contains report of meeting re 'Manaia drill shed, corrspondence from Opunake, Ngaire, Patea ; late European news, first drive from Wellington to Cambridge; Otago Buns.

Before Captain Wray, R.M., yesterday, two men, named respectively Black and Johnston, were fined 20s. each, with the usattl alternative in default, f<Mf having been drunk and incapable or disorderly, at Manaia recently.

The County Council elections take place on Friday.

A sitting of the JK.M. Court will be held to-morrow.

The Wtiimate Road. Board meet tomorrow.

We have been requested to state that there is now an ample supply of stamps at the post office.

On New Year's Day there sire to be athletic sports and horse racing at Opunake.

The full programmes of the Normanby and Manaia sports, to be held on Boxing Day, will be fouud in another column.

Section 19, Block IX, Mannia has been formally reserved us a Rite for a. Road Board Office.

The Maoris at Parihaka are now becoming very friendly with tbe A.C. Force, and they have made frequent presents ot fish to the offi -ers and men.

Tlieie have lately been some sales of land at Qktiiawa at ~£l6 and £20 per acre. More buildings are being erected in this township.

The tenders received for the removal of the Hawera Town Hall were considerably above the estimate, and therefore none was accepted.

The band to be sold on the 22nd instant is daily being visited by parties. The plans of the Kaupokonui sections are now obtainable, but those of the Manaia bush sections are not yet to hand.

"We hear that the horses purchased by Mr. W. L. Martin and shipped to Auckland, arrived without a scratch on them. In the sale yards they averaged iB 10s. each.

At a meeting of the Aberdeen delegates of the Scotch Land League, representations, signed by 40,000 farmers, were presented, demanding the immediate reform of the Land laws.

The Waimate Rifles are about to have a three days' inspection, so as to entitle them to their capitation. Mr. McCarthy's paddock has been secured, and a good muster of the members of the corps is expected.

The Public Works Department is showing commendable energy in respect to the erection of cattle yards at the lailway stations. Plans of those to be erected at the Hawera station are now ready, and tenders for the construction are invited by the resident engineer, Mr^ Holmes.

Mr. Symes' tender for the erection of the Manaia School having been accepted, the bond for the completion of the work was signed on the 9th instant, and the building is to be finished in four months from that date. The amount of the tender is £720,

The natives in this district are settling down quietly at their various pahs and "kaingas. There seems to b© SD feeling of bitterness with respect to recent events, and therefore the best hopes are entertained that they will soon return to their old ways, forget Te Whiti, and grow rich and fat on the rents from their lands.

We notice that the Wairarapa Standard has passed from Mr. 8,. "Wakelin to Messrs. Nation Bros. The Standard has greatly improved in appearance under the new proprietary, and we wish them every success in their venture. We regret to note that shortly after the transfer, Mr. Wakelin, who had given up the paper on account of ill health, died. He was perhaps the oldest journalist in the colony.

The Taranaki Herald reports that at a meeting of the Waitara Harbor Board on Wednesday, the 7th instant, Mr. Thompson, C.E., was elected — out of 15 applicants — to superintend the improvements in the river. The Board has appointed Mr. Thompson resident engineer of tbe river works, subject to that gentleman's engagement with the New Plymouth Harbor Board.

Speculation is rife as to how much longer the Public Works Department will require for thought before it moves in the matter of opening up the new road around the north side of the Normanby Eailway Station. The Government in a written communication, promised some time ago that the deviation should be made immediately, and it is discreditable that the promise has not, before this, been carried out.

At the meeting of the Inglewood Farmers' Club last week, the subject discussed was the small-bird nuisance. Mr. Bewley mentioned discussions he had with persons on the coast, and how bitterly they complained of the devastations committed by small birds, some crops having been totally destroyed. Mr. Gibbons said that the larks had eat three successive sowings of grass in one season, as fast as he sowed it. Mr. Corney recommended that the grass seed should be sown before the seed had done shedding.

A bound copy of the thrilling story, " The Mystery of Major Mollineaux," which has been printed in the Star supplement, is to hand. As our readers are aware it was written by the late Marcus Clarke ; and it is now published in book form by Messrs. Cameron, Laing, & Co., of S"wanston-street, Melbourne, who announce that half the profits will be paid into the fund now being raised for the benefit of the widow and children of the late Mr. Clarke. Copies may be ordered through any bookseller.

We would suggest to the Railway Department the advisableness of running extra trains and making large concessions in the matter of fares during the Christmas and New Year holidays, allowing residents at this end of the line a full opportunity of participating therein. Such a suggestion may seem superfluous, but after the manner in which Hawera and Normanby people "were treated on the occasion at the opening of the line, wg have deemed it advisable to take an early opportunity of bringing the local wish under notice. Excursion trains should be run from this end of the line as well as from the other.

A cartoon has been issued by the Wellington Advertiser whioh is descriptive of a grand Ministerial election show. Air. Bryce is represented as fighting with a Maori, who seems unable to understand what he means by annoying him. Mr. Rolleston acts as drummer and is awaiting his orders from the Premier to make a noise and tickle the ears of the electors, who are looking on to learn what the nonsense is about. Mr. Hall has his back turned to the electors, with his finger on his nose, laughing at their credulity and calling out, " Down with your votes, gents, and the figgers tvill perform. Give the drum a oner."

The iJanaia School Committee meet to-morrow evening to consider the adviability of having school opened in the Wesleyan schoolroom, and to deal with the question, of appointment of teaoliev.

The oiiicial declaration of the poll fur E,4-i out was mode yesterday, ;it 10 a.m., the aciuitiuy having revealed no alteration in the numbers. Tbe figures were solemnly read out by the Returning Officer to himself aud his clerk, the audience being abo informed that Harry Albert Atkinson was the duly elected member lor Egoiont.

Thei*e is to be seen a relic of pnst fighting on the Continuous Reserve, on the other side of Mawhitiwhiti, in the shape of au old guv-carriage. It is half buried in fera and scrub, and bears a dilapidated appearance. No doubt it was left oue day when the troops were being hurried by some of Titokowaru's men.

Inspector Foulis is engaged in his annual examination of schools in this district. He will take Whiikamaiv.. nest Tuesday, Hawera on Weduesday and Thursday, aud Normanby on Friday week. Examinations in the higher standards &ro concluded in writing.

A correspondent writes : — Mr. Beresford, of Normanby, haß in his possession a human skull, discovered by Mr. H. Downey, about 200 yards from the tree from which Yon Tempsky was shot, at Te Ngutu-o-td-Manu. From its size and appearance, the skull is supposed by iome people to be that of the late Major.

The Herald ia informed that salmon are now becoming plentiful in the Waiwukaiho River. A gentleman a few days ago, saw a number of salmon in the river disporting themselves, and they were all ot good size. At the lake in the Recreation Grounds the trout are also increasing rapidly to all appearances, and some good sport will shortly he had.

The Normanby Eifles have challenged tbe Hawera Bijßef to a contest, at 400, 500, and 600 yards. Unfortunately, the longest range obtainable on the Hawera ground is 400 yards, so that the Hawera men feel they would have no chance in such a contest. 200, 300, aud 400 yards are the only ranges at which practice can be obtained in Hawera.

At the Land Board meeting on Monday a schedule from the Hawera Road Board of proposed expenditure on block 10, Ngaire, of deferred payment money, was referred to the ranger for his report ; the ranger was instructed to re-enter sections 82 (Savieri's), 69 (Sceller Salvigny's), 80 (Todd's), Block 1., Ngaire; it was resolved, in accordance with request from Mr. Stanley, to put up four sections, 427 and 428, Stratford, on the 14th January, 1882 ; Mr. Mehaffy's application for allotments 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8, Ngaire, was granted. A schedule of proposed expenditure of deferred payment money was referred, back to the Ngaire Boaixl for correction.

" There is an enterprising gentleman in this locality who has been suspected of most improper designs upon this important town. He has sent in a. tender to remove ' Hawera Town,' and says he is willing to &o the job cheaply too. He does not mention where lie will remove it to, but that does not matter. Out of the way it must go. Perhaps her wants to put New Plymouth here iv order that the hum of progress may wake up that drowsy old colonist.- That may he all very well in the interests of New Plymouth, bufc the man who seeks to remove Hawera from its proud position, must first trample down the corpses of three would-be mayors, aud a regiment of coming councillors, In order that these champions may not hurriedly rush into an affray, it should be stated that on an explanation being demanded of this gentleman of iconoclastic tendencies, he said he had intended to insert the word ' Hall' after Hawera Town. That ' 'al'tevs the case." This is a sample of the " jokes " that are dropped into the editor's box under the cover of darkness."

Try England's Normanby tea, at 2s. — Ad. Mrs. E. Homberg, sole agent of Dr. Heilbron's Worm Cakes, arrived in Hawera to-day, and will stay till to-morrow. She has met with great success wherever she has previously visited ; and no doubt many persons here will find it to their advantage to make purchases from her. Mr. Max. D. King announces a distribution of prizes to cash purchasers, from 10s. upwards. Tenders are invited for the erection of a sehoolLouse at Ngaire.

Mr. Hutchison returns thanks to the electors who supported him and worked for him.

Mr. Pulford announces a distribution of prizes in connection with his establishment during the Christmas holidays. Messrs. K. H. Nolan and Co. hold their ordinary stock sale at their High street yards to-morrow. There is a large entry. Mr. Freeman H. Jackson holds a stock sale at Kakaramea on Saturday.

Mr. Newton King sells stock to-morrow, at Waiwakaiho.

A summoned meeting of the Oddfellows Lodge is called for Monday evening. Try England's Normanby tea, at 2s. — Ar.