THE PATEA MAIL. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays, SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1875.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 20, 19 June 1875, Page 2

THE PATEA MAIL. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays, SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1875.

The want of regular communication with other places, both by sea and land, lias been long felt in this district, and its absence has done more to retard progress than can well be conceived. It is true, that in some time to come, the mountain road will open up the route to Now Plymouth, and will be an inestimable benefit, but the natural and most available outlet and inlet is by sea, and till some regular communication by that means is established, the advancement and prosperity of the district must be materially retarded. Hitherto, commnnication by sea has been most irregular, and the district lias been dependent on small crafts, with an occasional visit from the Tongariro. The vessels frequenting the port have had to find their way in and out as host they could, the steamer, as our readers know, having been specially prohibited from towing under any circumstances. Indeed, she has had enough to do to bring herself in, and has stuck often enough in doing that. This is a state of affairs that needs altering promptly, and the remedy is so easy that we deserve to suffer if we fail to apply it. It is simply to have a steamer of our own, one that will trade regularly with Wellington, Nelson, and Wanganui; and will, at the same time, be prepared to tow sailing crafts in and out as required, at moderate rates. The owners of such vessels would be thankful to have such assistance, and freights w’onld be reduced enormously thereby, to the advantage alike of the owners and shippers. Not only in this respect would the residents derive material advantages, but they would thereby have the command of markets for their produce, and bo enabled to obtain fair remunerative prices for it, thus reducing the cost of the necessaries that they have to import, and obtaining more money for what they have to dispose of. A first-class trade can by such means be readily established, whilst by so facilitating communication settlement would be largely promoted. As a mere speculation,* such a steamer would he an excellent investment, but it is rather to the benefits arising from what may be termed, raising the blockade of the port, that we would specially direct the attention of our readers. It is not at all necessary to dwell on these, for they must be so obvious as to commend themselves to the intelligence of the most obtuse ; but it is no use admitting the fact and taking no steps towards adopting a remedy. It is true that the Tongariro has been frequently in difficulties in our river, but whether these have arisen through mismanagement or other causes may at least be questionable. The Government are about to stake out and define the channel, as well as effect other harbor improvements that will very greatly reduce the risks of navigation ; but irrespective of this, a vessel much more suited to the port can easily be obtained. There are such to be purchased in the Australian market at present, small steamers that have been built expressly for shallow bars and rivers, and are in every way adapted to our wants, could be got without difficulty. Should such not be the case, one could be built to order, though that would necessarily entail some delay that would be better avoided if possible. A boat named the Waipara, admirably fitted for such a service as suggested, has been running on the West Coast for some years, and has proved a mine of wealth to her owners. Though it is not at all probable that she is for sale, she affords a guide to the class of vessel that would answer here. A steamer like her would not cost a very large sum, and there should not be the slightest trouble in floating a company with a far larger capital than would be required in such a cause as this, one in which every one in the place is directly interested, and one in which the public should be enthusiastically unanimous. In the Patea district alone sufficient shares, we believe, will be taken up if some one of recognised business ability will take the

matter up. The share list, however, need not be confined to Patea, for both in Wellington and Nelson, should the project be started, wo are confident many persons would invest in such a certain lucrative enterprise, provided it was understood that the boat was to be a regular trader between here and those ports. There not'd not, wo feel thoroughly assured, be any difficulty in raising the necessary funds, the only question is, who Mill take the initiative and set the proposal in proper shape before the public. That is all that is needed, for once set the hall rolling and it will roll on to success. Individuals, as a rule, do not like to start singly, so wo would suggest that a public meeting he called at an early date to discuss the matter, and if, as is very certain will be the case, the scheme be then approved of, let a committee be appointed to draw up a prospectus, nominate provisional directors, and execute all the preliminaries incidental to such an undertaking. It is most directly and materially to the interest of the district, that such a scheme should bo carried out, and if business people and landholders neglect or refuse to enter into it, they arc by their apathy doing themselves personal injury, and declining to avail themselves of means at their hands, whereby their properties would be enhanced in value to an inconceivable degree. Let us hope then that the suggestion wc have thrown out will be acted on forthwith, and that no time will be lost in opening up regular communication between this port and the outer world.

At Palmerston there is being signed a requisition to the Minister of Public Works, praying that the junction of the main lines of railway may be in the centre of that township.

A strange story is going the rounds of the turf world (say's tRe Australasian), and it runs thus ;—During the present season, a horse that started a hot favourite nihs mysteriously beaten, and a general opinion existed that the horse was “ shunted ” purposely. It soon became a matter of gossip that the jockey had been promised by an owner of horses (not a bookmaker) £2OO if be would stop the horse referred to. The horse, of course, did not win, and some days after the meeting the jockey applied to the alleged briber for the £2OO ; but the bargain was immediately repudiated, and hasty recrimination led to nose-pulling and a general scrimmage. I give the story as it has been told me, without vouching for its accuracy ; but as the horse in question was supposed to have been stopped, it behoves the Y.K.C. to take the matter in hand, probe it to its depths, and if they find that the story is true, then the stewards of the meeting at which the race was run will be compelled to do their duty. There are 23,000 Good Templars in the Colony of Victoria. The whole production of gold throughout the world during 1873 is estimated to to have been worth £44,000,000. At the funeral of- Mrs Kose Gollaghay Mullabawn, near Forkhill, Ncwry, a quarrel broke out as to the property the deceased had left. On the way to the graveyard the coffin was laid down and the relatives fought for the cows and pigs. Several of the parties received severe injuries. After the light the coffin was lifted and carried a little further ; hut before the graveyard could be reached another light took place. The woman’s dresses were torn to pieces and the melee was altogether so disgraceful that the corpse had to be buried without airy religious ceremony.