MERGING.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 25, 25 September 1894, Page 2

MERGING.

It is very amusing to read Or Hemmingway’s remarks on the merging petiition, at the Council meeting, as reported in the Hawera Star. _He said: “ Fears had been entertained by some ten or twelve ratepayers, chiefly those who had signed the other petition, that owing to the petition not having incorporated in it a stipulation compelling the Council to spend district road money exclusively on district roads, the Council would have the power to spend money wherever they pleased, and would probably so spend the money as to inflict a good deal of hardship upon the bye-roads. He had promised to refer the matter to the chairman and other councillors for their opinion, and before he formally presented the petition he would like to clearly understand whether the Hawera Road District had merged unconditionally, whether the eastern end had merged unconditionally, and, further, whether it bad been found that any injustice bad been done to the bye-road settlers in consequence. If these districts had merged unconditionally, he should be glad to be informed of it; and he would like to know further whether any injustice had been done.” On reference to our notes of the meeting at Awatuna, we find that Mr Hemmingway stated that “it was a mistake not having the stipulation re the district rate in the petition, and as he was a settler on a bye-road, if provision could not be made by the Council to protect it, he would oppose merging on the present lines to the utmost ” ; so that he was one of the ten or twelve ratepayers to whom he jeeringly alludes, although, in justice to him, we may state that his name was not attached to the counter petition as a signature. The part of the business which tickles usis where he asks the Council if it has been guilty of doing an injustice to any part of the district under its control. How the Councillors must have “ laughed up their sleeve, ” to use a slang expression, at bis childishness in asking them to certify to their own condemnation, “We are the souls of honour,” said they. “ Then take me in your arms,”, replied Cr Hemmingway. And they did—metaphorically, of course. Cr. Hemmingway must have a short memory, and they say a certain class of people should have long ones. It is only quite recently that he contemplated testing certain expenditure which, he contended, the Council had made, illegally, to the detriment of the particular part which has the honour of having him as its representative ; and later still, what about his tirade on the unfairness of the Council’s action in taking £6OO from the bush district to spend on the Manaia road and other places in the open, whilst the main road in his district is left impassable for the want of the said money to erect its bridges at ]?anehu and Mangawhero. After the Councillors had assured him that they had acted fairly to all parts, and he had accepted their assurance, he with pleasure presented the petition. We hope now, if it is not expecting too much from him, that he will take the earliest opportunity of apolqgising to the meCJhers of the Council for the aspersions which he has cast upon them la the past, and hope the ratepayers will he as satisfied as he is.

Tenders close to-day for felling 50 acres of bush on the Eahui Road.

Mr Newton King sells slock at Rahotu tomorrow. T Tenders are called for felling 30 acres ef bush for Mr R. L. Hutchens.

The Punehu Factory on the Eltham Road commenced operations for the season yesterday. The String Band practice takes place on Thursday evening at 7.80 when a punctual attendance is requested.

A writer in a Southern paper states that it is useless for a man to go to Coolgardie without money. He should at least have £250 to “ give himself a fair show.” James Tyson, an Australian millionaire, kept an account for 25 years of the profits he made out of the progeny of a brindled heifer, which he had acquired by swapping a flute. The total, he says, was over £70,000. Mr William Dean, formerly of Melbourne’ has bequeathed £28,000 to the Church Missionary Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the Church Pastoral Aid Society in equal shares.

Mr W. D. Scott w'l hold his usual monthly stock sale on Friday next in the Opunake yards for which he has a large entry. He will also submit for sale goodwill of lease of Section 12, Block 11, Opunake S.D. Mr D. Simpson informs us of a very peculiar freak of nature which occurred amongst his lambs. One of them was dropped with dogs feet, the claws being quite perfect. It lived only a few hours. It will be remembered that some li.tie time ago his flock was worried by dogs, when he lost a considerable number of ewes.

Twelve lambs, belonging to Mr Duncan Matheson, of Bunnythorpe, were killed, it is presumed, by stoats during one night of last week. Mr Blundell, Stock Inspector, is forwarding one of the carcases to the Stock Department for examination. The carcases contain punctures under the shoulders and just above the eyes.—Manawatu Times. Mr Stirling notifies that he baa opened a a general store at Awatuna which will prove a great convenience to the settlers in that part. He has had an extensive knowledge of store-keeping for many years in the Sonth Island and will be able to supply all the settlers’ requirements in a satisfactory manner.

As will be seen on reference to our advertising columns a meeting is to be held at Awatuna Town Hall on Thursday next to consider what action is desirable with regard to the petition for merging which is at present before the Hawera County Council. A full attendance of ratepayers is requested as this will be the last opportunity afforded of making any protest if the present petition is considered undesirable. Auld Marian McPherson gaed into a neighbor’s house one day, and as she said : “ Ma head is just swim swimmin’ and ma lugs are just ring ringing’. Ma banes arc as sair as if I had been ca’d through a miller’s happer, and oh ? nech me, I can scarcely put ae foot after the other, but worst o’ a’, some o’ ma freends are cornin’ this blessed day, an’ I wad be muckle obleeged to ye for the loan o’ your kail-pot and a bottle of your best whisky. We inspected Glasgow Geordie ou Saturday and found him looking in the pink of condition. He is- sure of a big season as be is just the kind of sire to produce the class of stock suited to the requirements of the district. This will be the last season he will stand in this district so those wishing to avail themselves of such a splendid strain of blood as he possesses will have to avail themselves of the present season’s opportunity. Mr J. Phillips had the draught stallion Enterprise on parade at Mr W. D. Scott’s horse fair on Saturday and very favorable comment was passed on him as a desirable sire for certain kinds of stock. He has only been stabled for a couple of weeks so was not shown at anything like his best form but when his age is considered he shows every sign of developing into a first-class horse. Wo regret to record the death of Master Aubrey Cross, eldest son of Mr A. Cross, of Opnnake, which took place at New Plymouth on Saturday, The remains were brought down from New Plymouth and were interred in the Opunake cemetery to-day. Mr and Mrs Cross have the sympathy of a large circle of friends in their sad bereavement.

The first lot of stone raised from the surface of the Londonderry claim, prior to the find being made known, has been crushed, and has yeilded £27000 worth of gold, in addition to which 1400 or 1500 ounces were last week being dollied at the mine, from two shots fired soon after the discovery. All this gold came from a hole six feet deep and about six feet square. Those desirous of buying cheap drapery should not miss the opportunity which is offered at Mrs Ballard’s great clearing sale, which commenced last Saturday. Everything is marked down in plain figures, so that purchasers can see for themselves the great reductions made. Those wanting a first choice should call early, as such a chance of procuring genuine goods at slaughter prices is only offered once a year. —Advt,

A serious railway collision occurred near Waratah and Aslington, on the northern line, N.S.W., pn September 20. A goods train ran into another composed of empty cattle trucks. Roberts, one of the firemen'on the former, was killed instantly. The driver (Cousins) is in a critical condition. The guard and bis assistant are badly injured. The stock train was stationary at the time, and the driver was busy oiling the locomotive, The guard, seeing the other train approaching, ran to give warning, but too late. Coming on at the rate of from fifteen to eighteen miles an hour it dashed into the rear of the trucks, and besides the loss of life, a large amount of damage was inflicted on the rolling stock. The alleged cause of the accident was disregard of the signals. The following letter published in the Wanganui Herald which is a reply to an application made by the Trotting Club for the use of the Wanganui race-course is not very flattering to supporters of trottingJ. Couchman, Secretary Wanganui Trotting Club—Pear Sir—l am directed to inform you that the Committee of the Wanganui Jockey Club decline to allow your Club the use of the Racecourse and various appointments, on the following reasons:—(l) That they feel the opinion of the public of New Zealand is against racing; and therefore * consider it their duty to help to curtail |t- (2) That in their opinion “ trotting ” is not “ racing ” in the strict sense of the word; and as the Racecourse was set aside for racing only, trotting should not be allowed on it; * (3) My Committee are of opinion that the feeling of the Wanganui public is net in favor of toting, as it affords greater facilities to those who wish to commit fraud than any other sport; and therefore it is their duty not to assist in furthering a matter which is not in accordance with the wishes of the people. For these reasons my Committee feel they must decline your application—Yours faithfully, Freeman R. Jacesqs, Secretary W.J.C.