NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1756, 17 October 1887, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The recent rains put the Manawatu Gorge in a very bad condition. The slips extended over a mile and a- half, and prevented the coaches going through. About a hundred men were put on to clear the debris off the road.

Mr. Samuel has been urging tbe Government to put on some of the unemployed at the alteration of the line at Sentry Hill so as to prevent the great delay which is now occasioned there, and to obviate the necessity of co much shunting as at present. Mr. Samuel thought there was every probability of the work being gone on with very shortly.

Complaints are made by the librarian that papers are constantly being taken away from the reading room. The latest Auckland Weekly was taken off the file on Saturday night. A number of other papers have been taken away duringthe past two or three weeks. Efforts are being made to biiug the petty Jheft home to the offender, and if detected the committee will press the bench to make an example of bitn, as a warniug to others.

" Aulns " in the Australasian, tells the following yarn :— They called at Monaco on their travels, and, of course, looked into the gaming saloon, "just to see what it was like*" Sue, womanlike, was seized with a desire to gamble only once, but her husband strongly objected, that is, as long ns he could ; for finally, she, of course, Lad her own way, and in consequence, found herself, after an hour or two of tips and downs, without a penny in her pocket. " And did she lose much ?" asked a sympathising friend, to whom the husband was relating his adventures. Well, no — not a penny in fact, for I watched her play, and as fast as she put the money on one colour, I • planked the dollars ' on the other,', and bo the family came out level."

Like some other candidates, Mr. S^ Vaile complained of his treatment by the preßs in the recent election. The Auckland Star makes the following forcible comments on the matter :—": — " Mr. Samuel Vaile appears to be especially Bore over his defeat, which he attributes direcily to the opposition of the press, and he expresses the opinion that the press have no right to interfere when two candidates are contesting a seat. If the newspaper opinion had been on the other side, Mr. Vaile's view of the matter would very probably have been different. The public expect from the press — and have a right to expect— a clear and unmistakable exptesswu of opvawa wpDT> bd lUDmefitDtts a question as the choice of men to govern the country, and any journal which Blirinks from Uiat duty and sheltere itself under namby-pamby generalities for fear of offending ita advertisers or invoking the wrath of defeated candidates or their supporters, is fit only to be sold as sausage wrapß."

In connection with the opening or. the new hospital at New Plymouth, it has been decided to hold an art exhibition, including therein industries, children's needlework, <kc, in addition to a great variety of other entertainments which have been arranged. Persons who may be willing to lend articles for exhibition, may forward them to the Town Clerk, Hawera, who will take charge of them aud forward them on to New Plymouth. The goods intended for exhibition should be sent in not; later than this day W6ek. The committee will exercise great care in the transmission and custody of all valuables and work 3of art 'entrusted to them, and may be relied on to see that everything which can be done to ensure the safe-keeping of exhibits is attended to. A very strong committee has been formed, including the Mayor of Hawera and the Chairman of the County Council, and other Hawera and Normanby residents. A good programme has been arranged in connection with the opening of the hospital, which is to take place ou October 26. Our readers will remember that this is a district hospital, and that rates in aid of the furnishing, as well as towards the support of patients, have been leried on all propei ty in this county.

Nearly enough money has been collected to enable Hearn, the New Zealand sculler, to visit Sydney, and try his skill against the great guns of the rowing world. .£2OO is required, and .£l7O has been collected. His committee met in Wellington lately and resolved that Mr. Cummins be instructed to build a racing skiff suitable for Hearn in the coming tournament, as per arrangement between the champion and the buihler. Hearn stated that he was satisfied that Cumiuins could build a boat quite as well as any Australian builder, and scarcely deficient in workmanship to English boats. The weight of the craft will be 281bs, which was stated to be as light as could be built by colonial or English artisans. Hearn was empowered to make arrangements for a tra'ner to go over with him to Sydney if he deemed one necessary. In order to raise the balance of money required, it was decided that arrangements should be made for an athletic display to be given in the Opera House at a date to be fixed by Mr. Saundera and the secretnry, at which a wrestliug match would take place between Hudson and Laing, boxing matches between Richardson and Riley, the latter the well-known proprietor of tho Post Office Hotel, who has been in active traini»g for some time pnst, several local amateurs also having sets- to during the evening.