ALBERTLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4371, 16 November 1875, Page 3

ALBERTLAND.

The "Weather and Ceops.—Summer seems half inclined to stay away this year, having for the last three, years, teen treated with such a liberal amount of abuse on account of the scarcity of grass and water he has inflicted on us. The extra rain would not have caused so much trouble but for the accompanying cold and storms. The effect upon the young foliage of the fruit-trees has been rather severe, but, we hope, not enough to injure the fruit, owing very much %o the lateness of the season and the backwardness of things generally. The Schooner Florence.—A misfortune has befallen our local ship, the schoouer Florence, trading between this place and the Wairoa. Returning on Monday Irst, from the Wairoa, bringing half-a-ton of sugar, among other things, for the Co-operative Store, she was anchored on the Maori side, under the shelter of a hill that offered a most convenient refuge from the westerly gale that was then blowing. Not far from the spot where her anchor was dropped, and hidden.at high-water, are two large heaps of stones—discharged ballast from vessels sent here for sleepers. On one of these, as, the tide fell, the bowu of the Florence rested, dipping her stern under water. Onehalf at, least of .the sugar . was dissolved, and the remainder damaged, as TV ell as the flour'and'other cargo. ... Electoral.—At a meeting held at Whareinne, it, was unanimously resolved to confer with the High, way Boards of AlberfclandSouth and North (i.e., East) to call a meeting of the three Highway Districts comprised in the Albertiand settlement, to consider what steps bad better be taken in order to secure tie return of a resident representative at the forthcoming election of M. G. A-'s. This resolution was adopted and endorsed by the settlers present at the meeting of the Agricultural Association, on the 10th inst. ,The secretary of this district .was requested to, confer with the other Boards, and arrange a meeting in the most convenient- place,'which was thought would be at Welsford. Of course it was not forgotten that Mahui.'angi, as the older, ; larger, and more important part of the constituency, must consultedif anyunited action is to be taken,; and- we presume the next step will btra. conference between the settlers of Mahunjngi and Albertiand as to Ithe course to be followed. , The death sentence of Provincial Councils having been drawn, and only awaiting its signature before being executed, wo, shall henceforth have to look to the General Government to grant our rights and amend our wrongs; and it becomes most important to be represented, and not misrepresented or ignored in the Assembly. Agricultural Association held its monthly meeting at Mr. Ward's residence on Wednesday, the-lOth inst. Enquiries were made as to when Mr. Osbornei may be expected up to buy the settlers' tvool, it being thought unwise to lose the next sale by Mr. Buckland, ■ advertised for the s!4th. Many will send off their wool for that sale, unless Mr. Osborne puts in , his , appearance next week. A telegram was despatched by the steamer Lily, to be sent on from Helensville, asking for a reply to be sent to the mail carrier, at Mahurangi on Saturday next, stating the date of his proposed call. There was some discussion as to the propriety of sending a petition to have the trains on the Kaipara Railway run so as to suit the steamers, or the steamers to suit the trains. It is obviously a matter of consequence that these should run so as to accommodate each other, and to make everything as inexpensive and convergent to all travellers as possible. No petition was adopted, it being thought that r.s their notice was drawn to the subject the authorities would readily adopt the most suitable arrangements possible. But a new: a.rival, with his wife and two children, was very nearly being let in for a week of it at Helensville, through this want of better arrangement.—An essay was read on " Permanent Pastures," by Martin H. Sutton, of the firm of Sutton and Sons, the great seedsmen of Beading, originally given before the Royal Agricultural Society of England. The great points seemed to be the proper preparation of the land and getting in the seeds, and secondly, sowing the proper mixture of the best seeds. The first we are hardly yet in a position to do, and the second we cannot get unless we send to England for them, as it were, perhaps, well for us to do. Good Templary. —An open lodge meeting was held at'the Wharehine School-room on the 11th instani;, commencing, of course, with a good tea, at which about 60 sat down, and winding up with a spelling bee, the interval being well filled in with the usual assoi-naent o£ uongs, speeches, and recitations. Tin- -e new members were initiated. [Own Correspondent.]