NEWS AND NOTES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2329, 18 January 1893, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES

Hawera Stars beat New Plymouth at cricket on Tuesday by the narrow margin of three runs.

At the E.M. Court this morning, before Messrs. Nolan and Major, J.'sP., judgment- went for plaintiff by default in the following cases : — Ogle Bros. v. W. Haneturi, claim for £3 6s ; and E, A. Adams v. J. A. O'Neill, claim for £4.

We are informed by the Wairarapa Daily 'JMnaes that Mr. T. E. Chamberlain, of Upper Plain, has (succeeded in keeping down the ravages of the Hessian fly very considerably this year. After cropping last year he bnrned all the straw and stubble, and instead of ten bushels to the acre, he has a fine crop of wheat which will yield thirty-five bushels to the acre.

It may not be generally known (sayß the Wellington Times) that under the new Bankruptcy Act a meeting of creditors lapses if witbia a quarter of an bour from the time advertised for the meeting a quorum is not obtained. In that event it is at the option of the Official Assignee or the chairman to adjourn the meeting sine die, or to such time as he may determine or appoint.

Messrs. Ogle Bros, advertise for firewood. Nolan, Tonics & Co. sell stock at Hawera to-morrow.- On Saturday, bM rooms, same firm will offer consignment of boots.

New Year's Gifts and Christmas Presents at H. G. Pitcher's.— Advt.

It is announced that Messra. Smart and Hood, joiners and builders, have dissolved partnership. ' Extra strong Silver Case Botheajflins at H. G. Pitcher's. Price. £$ 6b^JOWb.—A.A. Mr. J. Higham, pr<tfg^roT^o£ music, desires to fcfotlfy fupils i£at the next term for instru&iiqn»4till bemn JooMonday, January 15th. — Allvt. Serviceable cheap Watch, "The Egmonfc/' at H. G. Pitcher's. 21s each.— Advt.

The Government have now adopted the method of adding from 3s 6d to 5s 6d per acre to the value of the land which they open up for settlement, to cover the cost of constructing tracks through the blooks Warden Lucas pointed out at a meeting of the Pobangina Road Board on Saturday, (the Manawatu Times reportß) that this money, if banded over to the local body in the district, would be sufficient to cover the interest on a loan under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, which would construct a properly formed and metalled road. The members present demurred to the Government usurping the functions of the local bodies in this manner.

The New Zealand Herald states that a case of peouliar hardshia baa come under its notice. An office^ who entered the public service of this colony as iar baok as 1840, and served fok forty years without intermission, was suddenly retrenched on the score of economy when within six months of the age of sixty years — the time prescribed by the Civil Service Acts for retirement. As a consequence he lost bis pension. This is alleged to have been done on mere technical grounds, compensation only being allowed, which for some time was refused, but ultimately taken under protest. This officer has never relinquished his claim for a pension under ,the provisions of the aots. He is over 70 years of age, and bas met with a Berions accident, which threatens to deprive him of the means of subsistence.

We are informed by a settler in whose accuraoy we have every confidence that many of the Labor Bureau men who were sent up from Wellington to work on the East road have thrown up their work there, and that some are loitering about Stratford, while others are competing with men who complain that they are beiDg interfered with by labor sent up at the country's expense. As we have said, the report comes to us from a settler on whom we place reliance, and therefore we make it public. Our informant also states that while some of the men who were sent up were very capable, and admirably fitted for the work they have undertaken, others are by no means so, and probably it is the latter who have drifted away. It is a matter for enquiry, for the whole success of the Labor Bureau experiment depends on careful selection. It is of 'no advantage to the country or to individuals to transport men from one place to another who in the new location will be no better off than they were in that from which they were shifted.

The annual general meeting of the Hawera Brass Band was held in the band room on Tuesday, 17th inst., Mr. T. Smart in the chair. The Seoretary read over a resume ofdhehdEiness of che year, together with a statement of receipts and expenditure, which, after having been commented upon, were duly received and approved. The statement showed the receipts ior the year to be £94 18s 4d; expenditure, £89 10s 3a ; balance, £5 8s Id. After some discussion upon the lack of interest taken in the band, and regrets having been expressed at Messrs Carstenß

and McLacblan leaving, it was proposed by Mr. Bobinßon and carried that the band be wound up, and the seoretary was instructed to write to the Borough Council informing them of the step. Some discussioa took place as to the best means of providing the usual honorarium of £10 to Mr. Smart, there being only jGS 8s Id left, when it was proposed by Mr. Coffey, that the secretary write to the Borough Council asking them to pay Mr. Smart the balance on condition that the entire property of the band be vested in the oouncil. Proposed by Mr. Robinson, and oarried, that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Mr. Smart for his past services! Mr. Smart, in thanking the members for the vote, expressed pleasure at being relieved of the responsibility of the conductorsbip, as his own business occupied all his time. He also expressed a hope that the band wonld soon be re-formed, which wish was concurred in by all present. The usual vote of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close. We are sure the public generally will regret the breaking up of the band, and echo the hope that it may speedily be re-lormed. The Public Trustee (Mr. J. K. Warburton), accompanied by Mr W. Williams, drove to Opunake on Tuesday, and held a conference with a meeting of natives for the purpose of discussing matters in connection with the* proposed leasing of West Coast Settlement Reserves. We are informed that the meeting was representative of the natives from Mokoia to Rahotu, and that the Public Trustee having ex- [ plained that he proposed to at once lease the large areas of land now lying idle, the natives assembled by tbe}r spokesmen expressed cordial approval, and, indeed, strongly urged that that course should be taken. Thorough confidence was established between the Public Trustee and the natives, and each party was mutually satisfied. It was understood that the natives would probably themselves tender for a large quantity of the land, so that they should hold on lease from the Trustee instead of on communal title. It seems that a great many of the more careful and thrifty natives feel that they are imposed upon under present conditions, ior natives who have no interest in lands purchase stock and feed them on lands which in reality belong to other nativeß who suffer thereby, but, owing to the loose communal title on which the lands are held, there is practically no remedy. If land be held under lease from the Trustee this difficulty will be got rid of, and it is believed there will be more enterprise shown by natives because trespassers can be keut off. We are informed that not a word was said during the meeting about Te Wuiti, and those who have special knowledge ot native affairs say that the effect of the administration of the new Act will be to break down the influence of Te Whiti.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association, Major Sommervillf referred to the financial position of tbt; Association, which would jast about enable them to pull through this year, as the expenditure since the adoption of the permanent range has been reduced to the minimum. He explained that the services of himself as permanent Chairman, and Mr R. J. Collins, Treasurer, was the work of love. He attributed the absence of marksmen from New South Wales to the fact that sliding sights were in use there, whereas they would have been compelled to use fixed sight 3 had they visited Trentbam. He referred to the assistance given to the Association in Australia, and to the cheapness of ammunition to Volunteers there, as compared with New Zealand. Sergeant Rose, of Auckland, declared the present range to be a failure, and asked whether it was intended to maintain it as a permanent range. He said ho had never attended a meeting where such paltry prize money was offered. Major Sommerrille explained that they could not carry on in the present condition, and they must receive assistance from some direction. The range was leased for 1$ years on very liberal terms, j After some proposals as to improvements, Mr W. B. Scott, of Christchurch, proposed that the next meeting be held in the South Island; this was carried by a large majority. It was decided to leave the selection in the hands of the Council. It was decided that the meeting begin on the first 'Thursday in March, 1894. "X Arthur Henderson, saddjer, at Manaia, has been adjudged a bankrupt. Use the STJN BAKING POWDER. It '■ is the best \