NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 266, 26 June 1882, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

There would appear to be every prospect of a fire brigade being formed in the Borough of Hawera, as already more than twenty persons have enrolbd their names. A meeting of members will be held to-morrow evening, at which officers will be appointed. Mr. Max. D. King informs us that Mr. Finnerty, the Government surveyor, assures him that the reference in a recent issue of the " PateaNews," to the alleged quality of the water of the Borokari lake, is totally incorrect. Mr. King states that he is assured that exceptionally the water is good aud wholesome, the supply being unlimited, whilst the engineering difficulties in the way of bringing the water into town are comparatively infinitesimal. In our leading columns of the 12th inst. in an article dealing with the question of a fire brigade for Hawera, it was mentioned that the Borough Council contem- j plated constructing artesian wells in several of the more prominent intersections of the principal thoroughfares. Councillor Syme, at the special meeting of the Borough Council to be held on Wednesday, intends moving that the sum of £750 out of the £5000 to be devoted towards the sinking of artesian wells, shall be applied to fire brigade purposes. Acting as agents of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Messrs. Webster aud McKellar are now prepared to forward to London, applications from persons in New Zealaud desirous of introducing friends of theirs into the colony. The Herald reports that by Monday's 'Frisco Mail the above agents forwarded instructions to the London office for passages of several friends of settlers (chiefly in the Norniauby district), one family numbering eleven souls, six being adults. On Thursday last the funeral service of the late Miss Hunter was held at St. Mary's Church, New Plymouth. The llev. Mr. Taylor officiated, and read the Church of England burial service in such a manner as to give full effect to its great beauty. Miss Hunter was a sister of the Lite Mr. George Hunter, for many years M.H.11. for Wellington, and, like her brother, was remarkable for her uuosteutatious liberality to all those standing in need of charitable assistance. A large number of friends, as well as parents, of the pupils at Misses MeCutchaus' school attended a private concert given by the latter in the Town Hall, on Friday evening. The young ladies who sang under the names of Bluebell and Ferns were much applauded ; and the brother of the latter lady appears to be gifted with an unusually fine voice. The hall was well-filled, and the concert passed off satisfactorily. The orchetsral accompaniments — piano, vioiiu, and comet — deserve more than a word of praise. There was a large attendance at Mr. Jackson's sale on Friday, aud the yards were well filled with stock of fair character. About 240 head of cattle came forward and ICOO sheep. Bidding was less animated than at the previous sale, and barely half the stock sold at the hammer, but most of it sold privately afterwards. Sheep sold as high as lSs. for wethers and 12s. for ewes, both of good class and character. Weaners fetched .£1 7s. Gil. to £1 10s. ; cows, £() 10s. ; 3-year-old steers, £•4 195. ; fat cows, £.3 10s. ; fat bullocks, £5 18s. Gd., at the hammer. A number of useful horses, sold without reserve, fetched moderate prices. It is scarcely necessary to remiud our readers that the Hawera Amateur Dramatic Club will appear at the Town Hall this evening, when Mr. H. T. Craven's comedy " Meg's Diversion " will be produced; the entertainment being supplemented by the farce " Should this ' meet the .eye." The* Hawera Amateurs are known far and wide through New Zealand, as being good actors, but as they | prefer retaiuing their anonymity, it would be discourteous to reveal the names of the dramatis jpevv»ww. The actors are accomplished, and the scenery and properties are in a degree new, and as the object of the entertainment is to benefit the building fund of the local drill-shed, a full house may be anticipated. The attendance at the Royal Australian Circus on Friday last was scarcely equal to the merits of the entertainment. The rain which descended just at the hour of opening had arrived no doubt prevented many from venturing from their homes. The Circus is one of the best travelling shows which lias visited the district, each performer being an artiste of acknowledged talent. The Roman Ring act, which was executed by two performers was applauded to the echo, as also was a gymnastic exhibition by the same artists on the horizontal bars. The clowning waß excellent without being extravagant or vulgar, the acts being performed travagaut, farfetched, or vulgar ; the quips and merriments of the clowns were good, without being overdone. On Saturday evening a little pony was introduced, which performed a number of acts to the intense delight of Ihu audience. The entertainment was brought to a conclusion by the enactment of Dick Turpiu's historical ride to York. The mare bestriden by the highwayman on Saturday night last was a thoroughbred, bred by Messrs. Chirnside of the Werribee, and was a marvel of equine education. The mare may be characterised I as matchless. The Waugauui Herald states that a proposal is on foot to place in the Waugauui- Wellington trade a steamor that for speed and accommodation will equal the latest ventures of the Union Company. "We wibli the promoters every success.

The steamer Westport had on board at the time of her wreck 2790 sacks of wheat. Sir W. Fox is pushing the prospectus of a new teetotal newspaper, to be started in Auckland. The Mountain Road Enquiry is not yet over. Mr. Black, of Patea, gave evidence the other day in Wellington. The comet was distinguished in the western heavens on Friday night. The tail of the interesting visitor was just discernable to the naked eye. The prospectus of the Waugauui Steam Shipping Company, with a capital of £20,000, has been published iv the Waugauui papers. Settlers between Opuuake and Wanganui are interested in the venture. 5s5 s Tenders for the erection of a teacher's residence, Manaia close to-day. We hear that Mr. Ge o. Wilks expects to arrive in this district next week, and has requested the Chairman of the Manaia School Committee to secure a house for him in the j township. Mr. Duncan McLean has resigned his i seat in the Hawera Koad Board, it being understood that Mr. 11. W. Foremau shall be appointed a commissioner in his place, without a contested election. The resignation was tendered iv order to allow one representative of the Whakamara district to be elected. A parade of the Hawera "Volunteer Corps will be held at the old Star office at 7 o'clock this evening, when the capt. commanding will be present, and will march the company to the dramatic entertainment at the Town Hall. The volunteers are requested to attend in force, , the entertainment being in aid of the drill ball. The young man Derritt, who was killed on board the s.s. Grnfton, at Oamaru, was the third sou of Mr. W. Derritt, a farmer at Whenu.ikura. He was at one time employed iv a bank in Patea. He was generally liked by all who knew him, and much sympathy has been expressed for the parents of the deceased gentleman. A curious disputo as to the validity of a vote arose at the Manaia election. Two brothers hold property in Manaia in their join names. Both claimed to vote, but i the Returning Officer held that he had no right to accept more than one voto under the circumstances, and th«t uutil the property is divided either party may vote as a ratepayer, but not both. We are requested to draw the attention of the Trustees of the Cemetery and of the Domain Board to the fact that £i) 0 and £80 respectively, voted to them by the Borough Council, is now at their disposal. As the present is the proper season for tree planting it would be well that the ratepayers should at once be called together to decide upon, its expenditure. The number of votes polled at the election of the Mauaia Town Board shows that there was some little excitement over the event. The polling was remarkably close except in one instance. Never- ! theless, there was one lucky speculator who took ten to one that he named the two unsuccessful candidates, and he succeeded in winning the money. The polling was carefully conducted by the returning officer Mr. G. Hurley. Mr. C. D. "Whitcoiube's resignation has not been accepted. The Minister for Lauds, instead of accepting the resignation, has granted Mr. Whitcombe six months' leave, and has intimated that if at the cud of that time Mr. Whitcombe is not better, the Government will then take his case into consideration. The telegram conveying this information was very kindly worded. Mr. Whitcombe's many friends will be pleased to hear of the concessions made in his favor.

M>\ A. H. Moore, land and estate agent, Opunake, notifies his rural, business, and residence sites for sale. The creditors in the estate of John McGuiro will meet on the 12th July, at the Court-house, for the purpose of considering the discharge of the debtor. A meeting of the creditors in the estate of J. A. Petherick will be held next Monday, at 11.30 a.m., for the purpose of considering an application for discharge. Mr. Murray Thomson will sell fruit trees, shrubs, and flowering plants on Saturday next at Norinauby. The brethren of the Hawera Masonic Lodge are notified that an emergency meeting takes place on Friday evening next, at 1:<\0. The creditors of Daniel Kelly, Manaia, carrier, are requested to meet in the forenoon of Monday next, to consider the insolvent's apjilication for his discharge. The borough engineer, in this issue of | the Stab, calls for tenders for grading and forming High-street, from the east side of AVilson-street to their junction with Normanby road. Mr. M. F. Coffey, of Opunake, *mnounces that in addition to his general storeiteoping and forwarding and shipping agency he has opened a general native land agency. Mr. Coffey's name is a sufficient guarantee that till agencies committed to him will be promptly fulfilled. Messrs. Middleton Bros., of the Telegraph Hotel, Opunake, notify good stabling, paddocking, and accommodation for travellers. The hotel is central and commodious. Charles Pownall and Co., of Wellington, advertise sums on mortgage from £100 to JEdO.OOO. T. Ecclosfield notifies own cure, farm-fed bacon now ready, and his annual prize for the clever and industrious in making butler and cheese.