WAIMATE ROAD BOARD.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 90, 14 May 1895, Page 2

WAIMATE ROAD BOARD.

We understand the validity of the action of the Waimate Road Board in reducing the number of its members from nine to seven, is to be contested in the law courts. In order to make an alteration in the number of members forming a Board, it is provided that it shall only be done on petition of the ratepayers, and this important part of the business was omitted. As part of the district was severed, the Board, by resolution, dropped the number of members that this part was entitled to, but the law provides for this only being done by petition, which part was not complied with. As the nominating seven instead of nine members was an irregularity 1 ' under the Local Elections Act, it'makes the election recently held void. However, as it will be only a couple of months until the Board will be dissolved by the Council, it is really hardly worth bothering about, as it will only cause expense to the ratepayers, and before any action could be taken the nominations 'under the order of the Council would be called for. We would therefore advise those who have taken the preliminary steps to upset the election to let the matter drop, and fight it out at the general election which will then be held.

The Waimate Road Board calls for tenders for works principally on the Watino Road, returnable by to-morrow at noon. Mr F, Cowern, of Eltham, lias been appointed valuer for the Hawera county at a remuneration of £lB5,

Mr J. Stitt has had the premises lately purchased by him painted and renovated, which greatly adds to the appearance of the town.

A well-defined reef has been found in the Uriwera country, between Euatoki and Galatea, in good sandstone country. Specimens have been sent to the Government for assay. The steamer Taupo brings news to Auckland of a horrible murder in o re of the Fijian districts, an Indian coolie killing his wife and mutilating her body in a fearful manner. The cause is said to bo jealousy. Mr C. McGregor has made large additions to his stock of saddlery and harness, which he has now on view. As he imports most of his goods direct ho can offer them at very reasonable prices, and those in want of any articles in his line cannot do better than give him a call and secure an early choice. Joseph McFaggan, a prisoner under sentence of seven years for burglary and other offences, escaped from the hard labor gang at Mount C( ok (Wellington) on Friday afternoon. As he left the prison clothes behind him, it is believed he had an accomplice. The authorities are at fault as to how he managed to evade the sentry. The Hon. the Premier has wired the Chairman of thn Town Board that, alll being well, he will be here to-morrow, and, will give a political address in the evening. We anticipate a very large gathering to hear him, as it will be the first time he has visited Opunake. He is a very forcible speaker, and getting a statement of the policy of the Government direct from the Premier is much more satisfactory than having it filtered through the press. The finance committee of the Dunedin Harbor Board reported the sale locally of £14,000 of the Board’s 5 per cent consolidated debentures, in two lines, at a price which yields a margin over London prices on the Stock Exchange. The debentures sold are those released under the conversion scheme and is not an increase on the annual charge for interest. The sale was made through the Bank of Now Zealand without any charge.

H“ Tenders are called for making seats for-the Catholic church, Opunake. Ryan and Co’s tender of £69 for decking the Taungataht .bridge has been accepted by the Hawera-County Council. Captain Edwin wired at 1.59 this afternoon as foilowak—lndications strong north to east and south-east winds, with' rain and glass falling. Mr Rua Moetabuna notifies that any person found trespassing after game on his properties, without permission, will be prosecuted. Mr Roskey, who was working at Oaonui, had his thumb smashed badly on Monday. - Dr King attended to his injuries, and he is doing as well as can be expected. Parliament will be opened about the same time as usual—the third week in June. The Times says the Government policy measures are in a forward state. It is rumored that a rich find of gold has been made in the Gisborne district, but the locality and the names of the finders are not yet disclosed. At Winton, on Thursday, Minnie Dean, wife of Charles Dean, was arrested on a charge of having on or about the 3rd inst. murdered an infant named Eva Hornsby. At a meeting attended by 25 Cheviot settlers a reso ution was passed in favor of making an attempt in view of the fall in prices of produce to obtain a concession in rents. Mr W. D. Scott reports the sale of 1 one of the most desirable business sites in the town, being part of Sections 11 and 12, Block XXXVII, Opunake township, from Mrs Gentles to Mr C. F. McGregor. J. R. Corrigan and E. McGlashan were committed for trial' at Hawera on Friday for alleged cattle-stealing, being charged with stealing two heifers of the value of £6 10s, the property of Mr F. H. Loft, Paeroa Road. Yen. Archdeacon Fancourt visited Opunake on Sunday, and preached in the evening to a large congregation. We understand that his visit to the district is in connection with the financial state of this parochial distcict. Charles B. Fisher, of St. Kilda, grazier, has filed his petition in bankruptcy. His liabilities amount to £1,455,000, and his assets are estimated to produce £788,000. He attributes his failure to the depreciation in property values. The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, London, has informed Mr Reynolds that it is impossible to reduce the freights on dairy produce from New Zealand to London. The New Zealand Shipping Company refers the question to the Colonial Board. The Victorian Government has completed arrangements with the Blue Anchor and Aberdeen Shipping Companies for carrying Victorian produce to England at substantially reduced rates. From June to September there will be three weekly services, and after that at intervals of from 10 to 14 days. Dbnulcl Dinnie, the athlete, was charged at Whangarei, under the Children’s Protection Act, with allowing his daughter, under ten years of age, to take part in a performance at which prices of admission were charged. He was fined £5 and costs, or 14 days imprisonment. The Dunedin Star states that Parliament will be summoned for June 27, and if the Treasurer has not then returned to the colony a fortnight’s adjournment will be taken to enable Ministers to consult with their colleage on financial prospects that will find a place in the Budget. The lazette notifies the acceptance by the Patent Office of complete specifications from Richard England Mcßae, farmer, and Harry Edward Good, auctioneer, both of Manaia, for an invention for improvements in starting m-chines for horse races, to be called “ Mcßae’s Perfection Starting Machine.” At the Auckland City Council a letter was received, asking for an extension of the Tramway Company’s lease. The company would probably take over the lines, establish electric traction and electric lighting, and extend the tram system to Parnell and Onehunga. The cost of electric traction alone would be £90,009. The return of bullion from the Waihi mine last month shows that for 28 days, ending May 4th, 2190 tons of ore were crushed and treated, yielding £7540 worth of bullion, an average of over £3 8s lOd per ton, which is an improvement on the previous month. The total bullion producSd by the mine up to date is £269,614. A general meeting of the Opunake Football Club was held at Mr Knowles’s hotel on Saturday evening, when some 20 members were present. The following officers were elected:—President, Mr M. J. Brennan ; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Kennedy, T. Knowles, J. Lambie, and A, Good ; captain. Mr F. »farter; hon secre Mr Howard Kamsrtuu beccombe; selection Jjomnrittee, Messrs E. Edmunds, A. Clarke, "iand J. Hickey. Resolved—That subscription to club be 2s 6d; that proper goal posts be erected at once; that members must play in colors. It was decided to play Otakeho here on Saturday next. The plan of using large stones embedded in cement is to be used in the construction of the p ers of the Taungatara bridge. Experiments made at the Tawhiti and other places have confirmed the County engineer’s belief that first-class work can in this way be secured at a low cost. The cost at Taungatara will not exceed 25s per cubic yard. At Tawhiti the large culvert was exposed to a severe test and stood it admirably, and Mr Twigg is confident that the plan will come much more into general use and prove a great saving to the County, while securing a solidity at least equal to that of the more expensive plan of making concrete with finer material. To Mr P. McCarthy, of Manaia, is due the credit of inducing the Hawera County Council to adopt this plan. He was convinced that it would prove successful, but received considerable opposition to a trial being given. Now, however, it has been proved successful, and its adoption will mean a very large saving in expense in future concrete works. We have very much pleasure in informing our readers that Dr T. R. King, M.D. has decided on commencing the practice of his profession in Opunake. For the past few years the need of a resident medical man has been very much felt, and now that settlement is progressing so fast this want would have been felt more acutely in the future. We are extremely fortunate in obtaining the services of such a highly qualified medical man, as well as one who has had an extensive experience. Dr King has held various important posts in the colony, having been for several years surgeon at the Hokitika hospital, and recently medical superinteudant of the Mount View and Porirua Asylums at Wellington. He has decided on fixing days in each week when, for the convenience of settlers, he will visit Rahotu, Awatuna and Pihama, and we feel sure his advent to the district will be hailed generally with the utmost satisfaction. In the meantime he may be consulted a Kennedy’s Hotel, where he has taken rooms. Auckland papers contain details of a case of accidental poisoning, the victim being a lady from Christchurch, Mrs Alfred James. In a statement made to the police on the subject, Mr James said he was a commercial traveller, and had come from Christchurch about a month ago, and was not at present engaged in his calling. On the day of the mishap M s James hadjaecn in the city, and came hom i just as he was finishing his tea. She took -'p a glass of milk which stood on the mant< ishelf of the kitchen where they were. Hi did not notice her till he heard her cry out, “ I’ve swa’lowed something nasty.” He at once saw that she had drunk some milk in which they had together, in the morning, put some match heads to dissolve for the purpose of making some phosphorised porridge, in order to poison the rats in the house, which were very troublesome. His wife aud he were very much frightened, and he ran and fetched Dr Moir, who used the stomach pump, the contents brought up being thrown out, and also the milk remaining in the glass. Mrs James was afterwards removed for treatment to the hospital, and at the latest accounts was recovering from the effects of the poison.