Eastern Maori Election Petition.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1838, 26 January 1888, Page 3

Eastern Maori Election Petition.

(per press association.)

NAPIER, January 26. After four days' bearing bere, the election petition case of Wi Pere v. Carroll has been concluded, and judgement was given this afternoon. The evidence was most conflicting, but several allegations in the petition broke down under crossexamination, and were abandoned by Mr. Bees, and tbe judges beld that there was no evidence at all to justify the others, and agreed in dismissing the petition. Mr. Bees applied that both parties should pay their own costs, but the judges said they saw no reason whatever why exception should be made to the ordinary rule that tbe loser should pay all costs.

We regret to hear of the illness of Miss Molntosh, sister of Mr. Molntosh of Manaia.

Tbe Waimate Road Board meeting on Thursday began at a quarter to three although called for half past one. The board usually commences its meetings from half to three quarters oi an hour late.

We regret to boar that a son of Const. Bickman's received a nasty cut on the cheek by being kicked by a horse. The little fellow is only four years old, and had the wound stitched up by Dr. Alexander.

Of the seven scholarships recently competed for by children under thirteen years of age, attending tbe Taranaki district schools, lour have already been thrown up by the successful competitors— three of these being country children. The value of a oountry scholarship is £15 ; for a town one, £10. Alpine tourists will be glad to hear tbat tbe Government have granted £20 for the improvement of Dawaon's track. The Waimate Road Board will expend the money at once. It is expected tbat fully 800 tourists will visit the falls this season, many of whom will also go to the summit. Already parties are being made up.

Rumor in " the Buildingß " (says tbe Wellington Post) runs to tho effect that the Cabinet it* not exactly a happy family, and tbat the discussions occasionally are of a rather loud and excited character. Indeed, it is said that one day last week tbe discussion waxed bo warm and the language became so strong that the Cabinet had to adjourn, in order to allow Ministers time to cool down.

We remind the public of the annual meeting of the Manaia Athletic Club convened for Saturday evening. The latt sports held by tbe olub were one of the most successful meetings beld on the coast. The club started tbe year with a credit balance of £4 11s 3d, received about j£lß as members subscriptions, .£39 15s from sale of privileges ; nomination and acceptance, Ac, over £40. They paid away nearly £70 in prizes, and over £20 sundry accounts, and when the balance sbeet was made up 81st July they had a oath credit balance of £15 8s 6d. This added to the property ot tbe club brings the assets of the club up to £25. During the year they have spent some £6 in improving the course, and if a good committee is selected the next meeting should be well supported. In addition to the election of officers and committee, notice of motion bas been given to change

the name of the club to Manaia Caledonian Society. It ia to be hoped that tbe meeting will be well attended on Saturday evening.

A party of four leit Manaia about two o'clock on Sunday morning, and reached Lake Dive, returning tho same eveniDg. They had a swim in the lake, which is not so deep as was at first thought. The blackness of tbe water is very deceiving. They describe tbe direct track taken by them, which was from a point about two miles from the head of the Manaia Boad, as exceedingly rough, being a succession of climbs down and up the precipitous banks of old watercourses. Specimens of the variety of single todea or mountain fern were brought back. The ferns met with are described as very beautiful. An easier track will probably be found either up the Auroa Boad or from Fan t bam Peak down to the lake.

The Taranaki Education Board, with a view to bringing their expenditure within estimated revenue for the year, appointed a committee to report and make recommendations. This committee has recommended that travelling allowances to members of the board be reduced by 25 per cent., except where the distance travelled is over 18 miles ; £75 reduction in inspector's salary is suggested, and i-13 on tbe secretary's, but tbe committee could not agree on these subjects ; bonus paid to teachers reduced by 10 per cent. ; capitation to committees reduced by 10 per cent. With respect to the teachera generally, the committee recommend that tbo salaries below £50 should not be reduced, but that salaries between £50 and £100 should be reduced 5 per cent., and salaries over £100 be reduced 10 per cent. At the Board meeting the recommendation as to reduction of members expenses was carried ; the salary and travelling allowances of the Inspector were reduced by £100 ; the Secretary's by £15 ; salaries of pupil teachers by 10 per cent. ; 10 per cent, was knocked off all bonuses ; school committees' capitation by 5 per cent. ; and the recommendation of the Committee as to general salaries carried.