COUNCILLOR HEMMINGWAY.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 27, 2 October 1894, Page 2

COUNCILLOR HEMMINGWAY.

In our correspondence columns appears a letter from Mr Hemmingway, which we gladly publish, as if any further evidence were required of his thorough untrustworthiness in dealing with public matters, his letter supplies it. We can sincerely assure him that having to review his actions was anything but a pleasure, any more than handling a snake might be considered such. It is a painful duty which falls on the press, but on behalf of those whose interests we are bound to serve, it becomes a duty which must not be shirked, It would have afforded us much more pleasure to have had to chronicle that be had kept his word, pledged to the meeting at Awatuna, even though he did so at the cost of a small loss of prestige on his part. If lie can point to any misstatememeut which we have made in dealing with his contemptible conduct, we shall be only too pleased to retract it. But we regret there is no such gleam of hope. With unblushing effrontery, he admits he made the promise at Awatuna, and that he determined to withdraw the petition, yet when it came to the test he threw his promise to the wind and violated his pledge, which any man with a spark of honor would rather haug himself than do, like poor Judas lscariot of old. He then goes on to quote the matter of Hawe.'a meig'ng unconditionally, and Eastern Waimate ditto, and then sums up : " No one knew those facts bettor than yourself, but you did not divulge them at the meeting. I am also informed that you raised this very point when those parts of the county merged, If this is correct, your predictions have been falsified in actual practice, however correct your theory may be." Firstly, Eastern Waimate had not merged at the date of the Awatuna meeting, so that whether the change Is'for good or ill has yet tc be proved, Secondly, Hawera had merged before the writer came to the district, and before we knew that such a district had

ever existed. These statements will show what sort of honors Annanias would h*ive had to be content with if he lived in these degenerate days. Mr Heminingway is, considering the latter part of his letter, evidently consoling his injured dignity with the thought that " those may laugh who win," and that his perfidy has succeeded, but if he will condescend to read the information in this issue he will find that he has been grasping at a shadow. We sincerely pity him. _____

Tenders are called by the Town Board for footpath formation and laying piping. Five thousand rabbits taken Home in the Euahine have been sold at a shilling each.

Mr McLachlin, M.H.R. for Ashburton, is on a visit to the district and in company with Messrs McFio and Silvester iuspeoted the jetty to-day. Messrs W. W. Middleton and J. Stewart have been nominated for the vacant seat on the Town Board. The poll is to take place on Wednesday the 10th.

The prospectus of a new tri-weekly morning paper for Hawera, to be named the Hawera and Normanby Argus, was placed in circulation on Monday. The s.s. Kanieri arrived from Waitara on Sunday, and after discharging cargo left the same evening for Wellington. Imports —Newman Brothers, 4 pkgs; Knowles, 4 pkgs; Wagstaff Bros, 56 pkgs; O'Brien, 21 pkgs; Marshall, 1 pkg ; Moore, 52 pkgs.

The Bulletin having stated that "Radical Premier Seddon affects a particular kind of unbleached socks," the Southern Standard hazarded the opinion that the Bulletin correspondent has a mother who does Mr Seddon's washing.

An elderly man named John Collins was found dead outside Mr Marsh's, house Te Heuni, early on Wednesday morning. The deceased was seen on the previous night, and seemed to be in good health. A post mortem examination was made by Dr O'Oarrol, who attributes death to appolexy. The remains of the late Mrs Alexander Morrison were interned in the Opunake Cemetery on Saturday last. The Bevd G. T. Marshall officiated. There was a very large attendance, nearly every settler between Opunake and Pungarehu attending to pay their last mark of respect to the deceased. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr F. West of Rahotu.

On Sunday Mr A. Cross had a very narrow escape. He was unloading the surf boat which was attending the s.s Kanieri when the horse 3 moved on and jerked him out of the dray. He fell between the shafts, and the wheel was just grazing his neck when a breaker swept him out of the road and saved his life. The horses went on and he was washed out behind the dray coming out between the wheels. He was none the worse for the fall with the exception of getting an involuntary bath. On a recent Sunday a young man came in from the bush and called at the Post Office. Finding the place closed he rapped up the postmaster and enquired why the place was shut up. " Why, it's Sunday," said the P.M. The young man looked astonished and said he had lost count as he had been keeping the following day as a day of rest. Mr Crawford's little boy met with a painful accident on Saturday evening. He was carrying one of the little ones on his back and jumped over a drain. He fell on his elbow, dislocating the joint and fracturing his arm. His father took the little sufferrer to Rahotu, where Dr Coomb was on a visit and the Dr reduced the dislocation and set the fracture. The little fellow bore his sufferings manfully and is doing well. At Mr Scott's sale on Friday a young Maori man had a cow up for sale but she did not reach the reserve. The auctioneer asked the owner should he sell and received " No " fcr a response. The Maori went into the pen and commenced rubbing the cow down, when the auctioneer enquired, "Is she quiet?" The Maori put his arm 3 round her neck and replied, " Oh yes, welly quiet, all the same my mother." This produced a general laugh and a spring in the price which quitted her. Mr McGloin showed us a telegram which he received from Air McGnire, M.H.R., on Fridry, re the Eltham Road loan stating that as soon as the special order, which was to be confirmed at yesterday's meeting of the council, was done, the money would be placed to the credit of the Couucil. Plans and specifications are to be at once prepared for the bridges, and the road cut into sections for formation and gravelling, and tenders called at once.

We have received a sample of ale brewed and bottled by Mr James Paul of the Egmont Brewery, New Plymouth. It proved to be in splendid condition and is a remarkably good ale, with a good body and flavor. Mr Paul's brew is well known along the coast, and his bottled ale promises to compete successfully with other brands, as it will be hard to beat, as excellence in the long run must win the race.

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,-i-as such a chance of procuring genuine goods at slaughter prices is only offered once a year. —Advt.

With respect to the resignation of Mr Murray, Inspector of Schools, the Education Board passed the following resolution on Wednesday:—" That Mr Murray's resignation be accepted, and the Board takes this opportunity of placing on record its satisfaction with the manner in which he has performed the duties of Inspector during his tenure of office, as shown by the marked improvement in the teaching power and in the condition of the schools in this educational districts as compared with their condition when he took office in!BßJ.—News,

A writer in the London Times, referring to the Japanese troops, says:—The troops they remind me most of are our Indian Goorkhas, and of all native and colonial troop 3 that I have seen—and I have seen most of them—l would, next to the Goorkhas, prefer a regiment of Japanese. They are brave, temperate, patient, and energetic, and though the Chinese might be made, under Europeans officers, as fine soldiers as they are, at this moment they are about 200 years behind them.

Mr Carl Oscar Ekdahl the printer of the Hawera Star, visited Eltham on Monda£ last, says the Egniont Post for the purpose of taking soundings as to tho measure of support likely to be accorded in favor of a project of starling a second newspaper at Eltham. As it is known that the proprietor of the Egmont Post and Eltham Guardian contemplates launching a Hawera edition of the Post, Mr Ekdahl's visit was intended as an impudent piece of bluff. We here tell the proprietor of the Star that he has neither the pluck nor the enterprise to start at Eltham. Were he to do so, he would be playing into our hands when the time arrived for us to storm the citadel. —Egmont Post. The Post says ; ■■■" Sqme misapprehension having arisen about the refund of the £(3 filing fee in bankruptcy cases, owing to a decision of Mr Justice Conolly in Auckland, the matter wits brought before his Honor the Chief Justice during tho bankruptcy proceedings when his Honor decided that if the money is advanced by a solicitor or borrowed, it is to bo repaid oat of assets in the hands of the Assignee to the lender, or if paid out of the earnings of a bankrupt after bankruptcy it may bo repaid to him: but if paid out of the festatc it is not to bo refunded, the creditors in that case having practically paid it at once."

A notification of land to be leased appears in this issue. Tenders-are invited for cutting flax on Mr Maxwell's place at Heimama, for Mr Pill. At the Taranaki County Council meeting yesterday instructions were given to Mr 0' Brien to prepare plans within the next fortnight for the bridges on the Eltham to enable tenders to be call for the next meeting of the Council. Mr Herbert-Jones F.R.G.S., will repeat hifl lecture in the Town Hall, to-night t As the weather was so dreadfully bad last night a great number could not attend, and he baa been requested, as he is staying hereto-night, to repeat it. Those who can should not mis? the opportunity of seeing it, and hearing the eloquent description which he gives of the various sights and wonders of New Zealand.

Messrs Davenport Bros, have disposed of their Otakeho business to Mr A. W. Blenner* hassett, who previously owned it. The Messrs Davenport have made a host of friends, who will regret their departure from the district. Being thorough business men, they gave the utmost satisfaction to all with whom they had dealings during their five years' residence. They are, however, handiug over the business to a worthy successor, kind recollections of whom had not died out, and no doubt his old friends will rally round him on his again casting in his lot with the district.

We have to acknowledge receipt of the Waimate Plains Anglican Church Circular, issued and edited by the Rev. J. W. Chapman. As usual, it is full of interesting news concerning the Parish. Candidates for confirmation are reminded that it will likely take place soon after Easter, when the Bishop elect of Wellington is expected to visit the district. Alteration of the time of service at Otakeho is noted, which in 'future will be held at 7.30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m., in order to suit the convenience of thoso engaged in dairying. Regret is expressed at the departure of Mr and Mrs G. Davenport, who contemplate a trip to the Old Country. The tinted Cathedral glass windows for the Opunake Church have been ordered from England, and arc expected to arrive in December. Improvement in attendance at church services at Opunake is also noticed.

Mr Herbert-Jones, F.R.G.S., delivered his entertaining and instructive lecture on " The World's Wonderland" on Monday evening in the Town Hall. The lecture was illustrated by one hundred limelight views de- * scriptive of New Zealand sights and scenes and important Maori personages. The views commenced with the northern part of the North Island and took the audience through the most beautiful, sights, thrilling scenes, and wonder spots of the colony which for variety has no equal on earth. The lecturer in a pleasant and refined manner described the route, sights, and scenes in a very vivid manner during which he was frequently applauded. His brilliant description true to nature combined with the magnificent views displayed, convinced those who had the pleasure of hearing him that our knowledge of the beauties of the land in which we live is extremely limited. He is preparing a handbook on New Zealand and is to lecture on the beauties and advantages which the colony possesses on his return to England. In preparing the handbook he will be assisted by some fifty leading men who are most competent to give information amongst whom are such men as Sir G. Grey, Dr Hocken, Professor Hutton, Hon Capt Russell, Sir James Hector, <&c. The hand should be the most useful, comprehensive, and attractive yet issued about New Zealand.