NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1534, 25 January 1887, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

We have to hold over till to-morrow " own correspondence," letter to the editor, and other matter.

The Native Land Court has adjourned to Hawera, and will commence its sitting at ten o'clock on Friday next.

The Fisk Jubilee singers had a great reception at New Plymouth last night, the hall being crowded. The singing is spoken of as being superior to anything previously heard in New Plymouth.

The comet was distinctly visible last night. The nucleus was as bright as a star of the second magnitude, and the tail is of great length, reaching far up towards the zenith. The comet appeared in the south-west last evening, aud would set about 11.30 p.m. The tail is faint, and tends from S.W. to S.E.

A peculiar accident occurred the other day. Dr. Alexander was driving into Hawera from Normanby, keeping on the soft part of the road, when the animal he was driving suddenly faltered, and then stopped and an examination showed that its leg was broken. The animal was not being driven at a fast pace, aud what could have caused the accident the doctor is at a loss to conceive. The horse had to be shot.

There was a heavy shower at Hawera yesterday afternoon, which, though it lasted only a short time, cooled the air and freshened things up a bit. At Normanby it was not so heavy, but at Stratford there was a downpour for a considerable time. The glass has been going up and down during the past twenty-four hours, indicating that the weather is by no means settled.

Messrs. Turnbull and ODea, architects, have resolved to start a branch of their business in Hawera, and publish their card in another column. This is a firm that is very well and favorably known in Auckland and the Waikato, wheie they have carried out works of considerable importance ; and, having confidence in the future of this district, they have decided to include it in their business relations.

At a meeting of the Hawera Baud on Monday evening, the resignation of Mr. J. H. Claridge was accepted, the members expressing regret ; and a proposal to reorganise the band and put it on a sounder footing was carried. Owing to so many members resigning and leaving the district, the band is left with very few pla\ 7 ers, most of whom are young beginners ; but, it is hoped with steady practise and by working harmoniously together they will sustain their reputation.

The number of failures in New South Wales in December was 02, with liabilities amounting to X'1G0,476. This makes a total of 707 failures, with liabilities amounting to £' < J"2;3,154, during the halfyear just ended. Although tbe amount of the liabilities for December is slightly in excess of some previous months, the number of failures continues to decrease, and altogether there are signs of a more healthy state of affairs. Some months, however, must elapse before there is a general revival of business.

We remind farmers who wish to get hold of some really good cattle and horses of the sale to be held to-morrow by order of Mr. J. S. Caverhill. Good wine, they say, needs no bush, and this certainly applies to Mr. CaverhiU's stock, which enjoj's a reputation all over the colony. Unfortunately prices now days are not in favour of breeders, and those who wish to secure blood stock can secure it cheaply, but things we hope ami believe are not going |to remain as they are long, and those who purchase now are pretty certain to find their purchases improving in value.

A well attended meeting of settlers to consider the aclvisableness of holding sports at Eltham was held at Mr. G. Moir's Ellham Hotel on Saturday evening last, Mr. J. A. Harris being in the chair. It was resolved that sports be held ou Tuesday, the 15th March next, and the following persons were elecLed as a committee namely : — Messrs. J. A. Harris, H. Revell, T. Trengrove, C. Wilkinson, T. Lee, Juu., E. Henn, Jun., R. Shuttleworth, F. Rose, J. Henwood, T. Nelson, W. Holdway, T. Mabey, H. Henn, R. Cox, and J. Best. It was also resolved that a liberal programme be offered to in tending competitors of which full particu lars will shortly be given in the Star.

Little now remains o( the wreck of the s.s. Taiaroa at Waipapa Point, only the boiler and parts of the engines being visible at low water. The deck house used as a smoking room lies above high water mark, but beyond that there is little or no wreckage about the beach to tell of the sad disaster of April last. One of the Clarence Bridge hands (says the Marlborough Times) still has possession of the monkey which belonged to the member of the "speeler" fraternity lost in the Taiaroa, and, it may be mentioned, part of the same ill fated passenger's '• under and over " board was picked up last week. About a month ago Mr. Blakie, of Blakie and Malcolm, picked up the Taiaroa's patent log, which he now has in his possession.

We regret to hear that the attendance at the Norrnanby School continues to be very irregular. Some weeks ago the committee decided to take action against some offenders, but the proceedings were not quite in order and the case was dismissed. Instead of acting as a warning this seems to have encouraged absence, and the attendance has been" very bad during the past week. This is very much to be regretted in tbe interest of the children themselves who are losing golden opportunities, and it is rather unfair on the teacher and inconvenient to the board. The committee will have a meeting very shortly, and no doubt will take action to bring up a batch of offenders. When the case was previously before the court there was some difficulty raised as to what constituted regular attendance, but that we think it is met by a clause in the act of 1885, which provides that children must attend 30 times in each quarter.

There are bargains going at Hawera House.