NEWS AND NOTES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume V, Issue 763, 2 April 1884, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES

Borough Council meets this evening. Major Atkinson addresses his constituents on Monday evening. The new bridge across tbe Inaba stream is now completed and open for traffic. The structure is a good one, and should prove a great convenience to the settlers. Settlers living in the Okaiawa bush have not been very successful with their burns. Those who have not yet burned hope to be successful should the present weather continue a little longer. The road from Normanby to Okaiawa is now formed and gravelled. Tbe gravel used was obtained from the Waiugougoro pits, and appears to be of good quality. The work has been well done, and the road during the wiuter should be one of the best in the district. Titokowaru was in Okaiawa yesterday, and was very indignant at not being allowed to proceed to Parihaka. He states that he went openly by the main road, but had he gone along the back tracks like a sneak, there was nothing to prevent him getting to that settlement. It is now five weeks since the Vigilance Committee in connection with the railway question was appointed. People are asking whether anything has been done by the committee, whether there has even been a meeting ? Ought there not to be a Icorero with the Major when he comes up? Settlers aboat Normanby continue to lose owing to the unfenced condition of the railway line. Yesterday a valuable cow, which had strayed on to the track, was killed. An indignation meeting is to be called in Wanganui to ceusure the Board of Education for declining to tax country districts for the purpose of giving cheap secondary education to Wanganui children. What next ? Wanganui residents tell us that this fuss is simply an electioneering dodge iv favor of one whom it is unnecessary to name. Friends of Mr. John Cunningham will be glad to hear tbat he is still in the land of tbe living. A recent Melbourne paper contained an announcement that Proi. Sample was to give him a benefit performance. The same paper also related how "Jack" had been playing cricket, and had made 5G odd, not out. There was a very good attendance at the opening practice of H.M.S. Pinafore last night, and one thing was made quite clear, that nearly all the elements of success are to hand. Some excellent voices have been secured for the leading parts, an able pianist, a good conductor, and considerable strength of chorus. An orchestra will have to be organised, and with this exception all now needed to secure success is patience and perseverance. The Government are .naking an effort to set up a native committee in this district, and a meeting has been convened to be held at Opunake. If a committee is elected it will under the Act of last session have power to arbitrate iv cases of dispute between natives, and the awards of committees are to be final and binding on parties. The award may be filed iv the Resident Magistrate's Court, and have effect as a confession of judgment. The committee also has power to investigate questions of title, where it is desired to ascertain the names of owners of any block of land coming before Native Land Court ; where it is desired to ascertain the successors of any deceased native owner ; or where disputes have arisen as to the location of the boundaries between lands claimed by natives. The Christchurch Press, reviewing Mr. Bathgate's recent speech at Dunedin,and referring also to Mr. Reynold's recent proposal for a Constitutional Society, writes: — "Wellington is the centre of administration in New Zealand, but Dunediu is fast becomiug the recognised birthplace of yoYicy. Most public men in this country, seeing the mess that has usually followed the efforts even of such a star as Sir George Grey to upset the existing order of things, shrink from propounding new policies. But at Dunedin they toss these little matters off in the most light and airy fashion. Iv the very early days it taxed the united genius of Earl Grey, Sir George Grey, Sir William Fox, Edward Gibbon Wakefiold, and a host of other notabilities, each of whom was credited in his time with moro than an ordinary share of nous, to put together even a workable Constitution for New Zealand. Every member for a Dunedin constituency, or every man who pretends to be anything of a political leader down that way, keeps a bag full of Constitutioun, of the most original patterns, in utock, and is perfectly ready to suupply thorn ready made, to suit conslitiuncies, public meetings, or any other class of customers, Dunedin claims to be tbe homo of local industries, and it bids fair to develop a thriving busineßS in bespoke policies and blop Constitutions."

Some of the crops around O take ho have not turned out so well as was anticipated, and many of the farmers expect to come out losers. A picked eleven of lawyers from Liverpool played a cricket match with a picked eleven of lawyers from Manchester. The day was beautifully fine, and a large company had assembled to see which set of lawyers had had the most practice. With the first ball of the second over, bowever, a dispute arose, and the twenty-two lawyers gathered round the umpire to argue the point. The argument continued with no sign of abatement till 5 o'clock in the evening, at which time the umpire died. Gr^at astonishment is felt that he held out so long as he did. On oue occasion three students of Georgetown College, Kentucky, saw the famous " Raccoon John Smith " coming at a distance, and arranged that they would walk about twenty yards apart, and as they passed him the first one was to say, " Good morning, Mr. Abraham," the second to call him " Mr. Isaac," and the third " Mr. Jacob." So the first one called him "Mr. Abraham," and the old gentleman only seemed a little surprised that anybody there did not know him. The second one called him " Mr. Isaac," and the old gentleman evidently suspected something. His familiarity with the Bible made him anticipate what the third one was going to say, and he got ready for him. " Good morning, Mr. Jacob," said the third student. "Stop, young man," said the old gentleman, " I am neither Abraham, Isaac, nor Jacob ; I am Saul, the son of Kish, iv search of my father's asses, and behold, I have found three of them." Mr. Broadley's new book upon Arabi Pasha gives us a fiesh instance of the famous Barnum, and also of the businesslike spirit with which Transatlantic journalism is conducted. After the battle of Tel el Ivebir the correspondent of the New York Herald wished to purchase Arabi for £250,000 cash down. The Egyptian patriot was to receive an allowance of £1000 a year, and for the first twelve months three quarters of a column of the space of that valuable paper was to be placed at his disposal weekly within which to ventilate his opinions upon Egyptian politics. After tbe New Yorkers had tired of this interesting pabulum Barniim was to "run him on tbe platform in the States." Mr. Broadly might well be pardoned for regarding a proposal like this, coming from the inhabitants of a Christian and civilized country, as a practical joke; but tbat it was meant in all seriousness is shown by the fact that the same proposal was formally made to Lord Duffenn. It would be interesting to know the reply given by that witty diplomat. The Victoria Music Books contain all the newest sonfjs and dances. Price, Is. 6d. each. FEED JONES is selling off his Sheet Music at the rate of one pound's worth for five shillings. Leisure Hour, Sunday at Home, and Family Reader, div. 51, just received. — Advt. Highway Robbery Almost, to sell the poisonous, drunken, purgin? stuff as medicine to honest men, innocent women, and harmless children to weaken and destroy theij systems and health, when pure harmless Hop Bitters can he had that cui-es always and continually at a trifling cost. Ask druggists or physicians. Read.— Advt. "We notice that C. C. Fleming is going to give the public a treat in the way of Cheap Boots and Shoes. This stock was slightly damaged by removal at the late fire, hut many line's are only slightly soiled ; and the public will have the benefit of Cheap Boots, as C. C. Fleming is determined to sell out the whole of the stock. "We would advise the public to make an early call and secure some of the Great Bargains. C. C. Fleming's is next door to Max. D. King's Cash Palace.— Advt. •' You Don't Know Their Value."—" They cured me of billiousness and kidney complaint, as racommended. I had a half-bottle left, which I used for my two little girls, who the doctors and neighbors said could not be cured. I am confident I should have lost both of them one night if I had not had the Hop Bitters in my house to use. That is wliy I say you do not know half the value of Hop Bitters, aud do not recommend them highly enough." See.— Advt. " Bucha-Piaba." — Quick, complete cure, annoying Kidney, Bladder and Urinary Diseases. Druggists. The N.Z. Drug Co., General Agents —Advt. 2