NEWS AND NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1757, 18 October 1887, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The Bank of New Zealand was closed yesterday all over the colony, that being the anniversary day ot its first establishment.

The first of this season's, butter was sent away from the Manaia factory this morniug to the order of Mr. Milton, for consignment to his Home agents. Two tons more have to be supplied to fill this order.

A petty chief, of some importance, known as Hauwhenua, at Hokarima, is reported to be dying of bronchitis at that kainga. He has some _S6O or £70 in the hands of the Native Trustee, but will not take it and his friends art, apparently, unable or unwilling to apply for it for bun.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Union Lodge, 1.0.0. F., took place on Monday evening, when there was a fair attendance of members. A number of claims through sickuess were passed for payment; two candidates were initiated into the order, and one proposed. It was resolved to hold the anniversary banquet in the Empire Hotel, Hawera, on Friday evening next, at 8 o'clock. We understand that, besides celebrating the sixth anniversary of the opening of the lodge, there is also another special reason for holding the dinner ; and as the charge for tickets is small, the committee hop* that all who can possibly do so will attend.

In an article on the fortnights' adjournment, the Timaru Herald says : — It is understood that Ministers are to thrust on one side a good many questions of importance. But as a set-off to that they have to concentrate their attention on the work of retrenchment. They are expected to come down with a cut aud dried scheme by which several hundreds of thousands of pounds are to be saved in the aunual expenditure. The work involves a thorough investigation of the Civil Service machinery from one end to the other. It must be clear to any reasonable man that it cannot be done in a few hours. A fortnight is not too long a delay to ask for under the circumstances, and we shall credit Major Atkinson with uncommon diligence if the scheme is complete in all its parts at the expiration of that time.

We.notice that Mr. Marchant puts down 123 as the price of a cord of firewood alongside the railway line. This may be a fair estimate, but it is far above some prices which are quoted in this district : 8s to 9s at the stump for split rata is, we believe, about the current rate. And for large quantities contracts have been taken for considerably less than that, so we hear. Mr. Samuel has been interviewed on the subject at New Plymouth, and he says :—: — "Westport and Greymouth coal is now being supplied to the Government at Wellington at 17s 6d per ton, and at New Plymouth at £1 per ton. This coal is 35 per cent, more economical for railway puiposes than is the Mokau coal, and each ton is equal to about 2i cords of firewood. Taking Mr. Marchnnt's estimate of 12s per cord, this would make a cost of 303 by using firewood, as against £1 by using the Westport and Greymouth cool.

The Daily News says : — For some time past there has been a weak spot in the breakwater near the bend, and the recent heavy gales have made considerable inroad on the structure. At the point indicated two blocks have been removed, and a portion of the situ work carried away, making a gap of about twelve feet on the weather side of the breakwater, extending in as far as the rails. The Works Committee of the Harbor Board inspected this spot on Monday, and it was found that the damage was due to the fact that hydraulic cement had been used at the point indicated, which had set too fast, the result being that the blocks were not firmly cemented, and the action of the sea caused the cement to crumble away, and to loosen the blocks and situ work. This will be remedied by the blocks being set with Portland cement, and this portion ot the structure will then be as strong as any part of the whole breakwater.

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