NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1649, 13 June 1887, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

A slight shock of earthquake was felt in Hawera on Sunday evening about eight minutes before 8 p.m. We understand that the contract price for the Roman Catholic Church was £750, and the extras will amount to about £120. The collection made on Sunday was expected to clear off most, if not all, the debt. The new Roman Catholic Church was well filled on Sunday forenoon ; there being barely sitting room for all who were present. It was remarked that but for the charge made for tickets in all probablity many members of the church would have been unable to obtain seats, as the number of those belonging to other denominations who would have gone chiefly to see the irnposiug ceremonial, would have been much larger if tickets for admission had not been charged tor. A correspondent writes :— The Maoris evidently intend to have a high time at Parihaka, but it appears that the whole of the provisions recently sent there were not intended lor a feast alone. According to the Maoris, the late frosts last year killed the potatoes outright up Parihaka way. The following is a list of the provisions already conveyed to Parihaka, as given by a Maori : — 400 bags potatoes, 100 ketes kumeras, 50 ki-tes taro, 40 pigs, and 26 bullocks. Is it to be wondered at that Te Whiti should say, " Ka pai te Waimate Plains ?" At the sitting of the Normanby Licensing Court, on Saturday, before Messrs. England (chairman), Hall, and Hunger, applications were made by Messrs. A. Biett (Imperial Hotel), J. Wilson (Ketemarae Hotel), G. Moir (Eltham Hotel), J. Inston (Branch Hotel), and P. Hickey (Old Ketemarae Hotel), for renewals ot their licenses, all of which were granted without opposition by the police. In respect to the application of Mr. D. McGregor, of the Normanby Hetel, Sergeaut Anderson reported that it had just come to his knowledge that there was no cook kept at the Hotel. He therefore objected to the renewal. Mr. McGregor hod not received notice of any objection and was consequently not present. The meeting was therefore adjourned till Friday next, when the application will be dealt with. My. Arthur Balfour, the new Secretary for Ireland, is n nephew of Lord Salisbury and is reckoned a man of ability, but of immeasurable conceit and affectation. His affectation is chiefly shown in his poses in the House. He is handsome, fair, and immensely tall. His general attitude is to throw his head right back over the edge of the bench, and project his legs as far as possible (and that is very far indeed) on the floor of the House. He has three or four places in Scotland, a big house in Carlton gardens, and is bachelor of 39. At present he is giving the Irish members "smart answers " to their endless questions, which causes his friends so shake their heads, as the Irish will soon knock the spirit out of him. Trevelyan and Beach had all their self-control could do to avoid matter of aggravation, but a brief tenure of the Irish Office turned one snow white and the other blind. If Mr. Balfour has a weak spot in his constitution the Irish Office will find it out.