NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 320, 16 October 1882, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The Post says that Major Atkinson is to travel up this way overland. A large fish, supposed to have been a trout, but possibly an eel, was seen in the Inaha on Friday last. Mr. T. Eytou, of Patea, lias been appointed an assessor under the Property Tax Act. On Saturday morning very heavy hail fell at Mauaia; it lay nearly three inches thick on the ground at 9 a.m. Another Wellington breach of promise case, in which iIOOO damages are claimed, is on the tapis. Plaintiff is a barmaid, and defendant a publican in the city. A small flock of thoroughbred Roinney Marsh sheep have been purchased by Mr. J. W. Partridge from Mr. F. K. Jackson. We believe that one of the new settlers on the Plains takes half the sheep. A special meeting of the County Coun* cil is to be held on Monday, 23rd, instant, at 11.30 a.m., for the consideratiop of Acts affecting looal bodies, more particularly Roads aud Bridges Construction Act, 1892, and other business. This will be a busy week for Wangariui. Wednesday a large horfie fair ; Thursday the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show; Friday the "Races, and Saturday the Trotting Races.' Not one of the events are advertised ' in our columns, but for the sake of' our readers, we mention the dates,' as a number of Hawera County settlers propose to attend. ' ■ ' ■ < ■ The Racecourse Committee have succeededr in obtaining the 'services of Mr, J. S. Cav|erhiU',to complete the 1 levelling and laying' down, of the new racecourse. |The' thanks, of all owners of valuable horses are' due to Mr. Caverhill forhis liberal assistance in this matter, more especially, ibecause latterly, Mr.'Caf erhill has personally not taken. an, active *pwt in racing matters. „•..'.'>

The tangi at Taiporohenui is just upon over, and the natives are beginning to disperse. To-morrow will see pretty well all of them on their homeward way.

We remind the public of the lecture to be given by the Rev. J. W. Treadwell at the Presbyterian Church, Hawera, tomorrow eveniug.

It is said that another store, to be conducted strictly on the cash system, is to be started in Hawera immediately by the Messrs. Gibson, of Patea and Normanby. In fact, tenders are invited for erectiug the building.

A case of some importance is to be tried at the R.M. Court, at Wanganui, to-morrow. It is a claim lor £75 odd by a person named Calles agaiust Mr. Andrew Duncan, the solicitor, in respect of work and labor done in connection with the Maternateaonga block. Several witnesses from Hawera have been subpoenaed. Mr. G. Hutchison, instructed by Mr. Matthews, will appear for the plaintiff, and Mr. Fitzherbert for defendant.

The Herald learns that it is probable that the camp at Pungarehu will be abandoned by the A.C. Force, and that the principal stations will be at Opunake and Parihaka. Mr. Bryce, it is reported, proposes handing over the block-house at Pungarehu to the Education Board for a school-house. It will, however, be several years hence before it will be required for scholastic purposes, and if it is vacated too soon the Maoris might take a fancy to it aud enter into possession.

A peculiar and sad accident occurred at Hotham (Victoria) recently. Arthur Huxley, aged 10 years, with his consin, Clarence Miller, and his sister, were playing soldiers. Young Huxley, assuming the character of Arabi Pasha, made a dash at his sister with a fork, when his cousin as an English soldier, came to the rescue. He had a small knife in his hand, and in the play by accident stabbed little Huxley in the groin. The boy was removed to the Melbourne Hospital, where he lingered for a few days, and died. The coroner's jury returned a verdict that the wound was inflicted accidentally.

The Maoris at Parihaka, says the Taranaki Herald, have received a message from Te Wbiti to the effect that the comet is going to fulfil all his prophecies about the end of the world. The comet will decide who are good and who are bad in the world, aud he advises all the good people — both Maoris aud pakehas — to go to Parihaka and wait for the coming end of all things terrestrial. The bad people he advises to keep away from Parihaka, as they would only contaminate the good, aud would briug down greater vengeance on their own heads. This is the story that is being freely circulated among the natives, and it is thoroughly believed by them.

At the last sitting of the R. M. Court, in Hawera, a peculiar point arose. There was a case of Richard Clarke v. C. M. • Crocker, which was a claim for balance due upon a contract for plumbing at the Town Hall, and for goods supplied. Mr. Matthews, who appeared for defendant, contended that under the 58th section of the Debtors and Creditors Act, and the interpretation clause of the Act, plaintiff, who was an un certificated bankrupt, had no locus standi, and was totally debarred from suing for such a claim. It appeared ■plaintiff had filed at Wauganui in February last, and nothing further had been done more in his bankruptcy. After hearing Mr. Hamertou, who appeared for plaintiff, in reply, the Resident Magistrate overruled the objection, and the case proceeded, but it was ultimately adjourned to the next Court for further evidence.

I A meeting of the vestry of St. Mary's ' was held on Saturday evening. Present : — Messrs. Kempthorne (in the chair), Laishley, White, Yorke, and Parkinson. The principal business was the consuleration'of a letter from the bishop, intimating that the Rev. Mr. Root would be in Hawera about the end of October, and that he himself purposed being here about the same time. After several accounts had been passed for payment, a resolution was agreed to, indicative of pleasure that the charge would soon be filled, and expressing readiness to contribute a Bum towards the Rev. Mr. Root's travelling expenses. It was also resolved that the goods left from the bazaar be sold at an early date, a short concert to precede the sale. A committee having been appointed to see to arrangements, the meeting adjourned.

The conspiracy case in Wellington seems to be getting into a " mixed" state.

The point reserved for argument was this : the man Adamg was charged with having conspired with his daughter, Genevieve Adams, and other persons unknown. The jury found that he had conspired with his daughter, but not with any unkuown persons. As the girl was under seven years of age, and under the control of her father, was she capable of " conspiring " with him ? If the jury had acquitted him of conspiring with other persons, and he could not conspire with bis daughter, was he legally guilty of conspiracy at all ? The girl was sentenced to three days imprisonment, which, as all sentences commence from the first day of the sessions, had already expired. Adams himself was remanded in order that the judge might consider the case. Adams, through his solicitor, has now moved for a new trial, and the decision on that point is likewise deferred. Then, it is rather peculiar to have a new trial after one of the prisoners' sentence has expired.

A meeting of the directors of the Taranaki Farmers' Co-operative Association was held at the Bridge Club rooms, on the 14th inst. Present — Mr» T. Bayley, chairman, and all the directors (except Captain Wilson.) The Board's solicitor stated that he was unabie to register the company owing to two of the directors having ,neglected to sign the deed of registration, and a little difficulty through this district not having been gazetted a registration district under the Joint Stock Act, but would endeavour to have this done during the ensuing week. The directors seemed unwilling to enter into any business until the company was registered, but decided to talk matters over. The first thing clone was handing nil money over to the treasurer and reading a financial statement which seemed simple and satisfactory. A discussionlnrose as to whether the company was going into refrigerating, but the great majority is against it, as they consider it premature. The next thing cropped up was as to where the receiving store 1 was to bb, some maintaining that it should be in New Plymouth, others in Waitara. The discussion was carried on very good naturedly and the different speakers endeavored to show the advantages ■of the different ports with a considerable amount of ability and moderation ; but the Hawera and Normanby members put the extinguisher on it by showing that it would not be very busi-ness-like to land the goods at Waitara, and then pay to bring them to New Plymouth, and then bring them back to the various places' along the railway tine ; that they would have nothing to do with the rivalry,, between the ports ; that they would vote for the store to be wherever 'thebest shipping port was, and the most central place ;' that they w,ould not be in favor of purchasing property in Waitara, and would be willing -to shift the head store to New Plymouth when they had a harbor that could receive vessels of 400 tons. This reasoning seemed to satisfy all, and it is now almost certain the store will be in Waitarn, and .that operations will commence within two months. The directors do not seem inclined to push the sale of the shares, as there are sufficient sold, to start business extensively,

Mr. CaseVs letter is held over. - On and from to-day the Opunakd mail will close at 2.30 p.m., instead of 11.30 a.m., thus closing each day at 2.80. p.m., instead of alternate days. ' The report of the Adelaide Commissioner of Police on the working of the Lottery and Gaming and the Totalisator Acts, called for by the Legislative Council, has been published,; and is favourable to the instrument. It says " the crime of embezzlement by young men to pay racing' bets lias very much decreased since its introduction." It also states that "it materially lessens the bookmakers' occupation," the effect of which is that most of the money which passes through 1 it remains in the colony. This ' was not so formerly, as the bookmakers were, mostly men from other colonies, who,came here about the time of a race meeting, and who, of course, carried their earnings away with them, as much as £19,000 having been thus taken away on one occasion. It does . away with " welshers " — a class of men who frequent race meetings, and who have either no means to pay, or the disinclination to pay what they have lost. Tenders are invited for works for Hawera Road Board. Mr. F. E. Jackson announces special sale of cattle. Mr. Newton King sells cattle at the Waiwalcaiho on Thursday. '