CABLE MESSAGES.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 280, 19 December 1877, Page 2

CABLE MESSAGES.

[Reuter’s Special to Press Agency.] ■ LONDON. November 30. The British fleet lias been ordered to winter at Bcsika Bay. Corporal punishment has been abolished. Mr H. M. Stanley has arrived home. Ho has been banquetted. President McMahon assured M. Grcvy in an interview that there was of a coup d etat. Ho refuses to listen to such a solution.

A petition is being- signed throughout France for a congress of both Chambers to consider the crisis.

WELLINGTON. December 17

The following special telegram, dated London, Nov. 30, has been received by the Argus: —

Sulieman Pasha states that the Russian Joss at Kadakoi was 2,000. and the Turkish 900. A Times telegram from Vienna states that the Russians have come to the conclusion that Plevna will hold out for some time.

FI A W ERA. (FROM OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT.) Everything has been very quiet here during the past week or two, a sort of lull before the storm of the Christmas holidays. No tiling is talked of but the coming ball, and drapers here have reaped quite a harvest from the sale of muslins, ribbons, and kid gloves. A largo number of the invitations have been accepted, mid most of the youth and beauty of the district will he found assembled at this, the opening of our long wished for Hall. In the opening of (lie Patea Hall, a great improvement was made on the old custom of having sit down suppers, which only tend to break up the dancing, and vender those who partake too heavily all at once,incapable of further exertion. The refreshments were all arranged on tables- placed on the stage, with an attendant in charge, so that at any time between the dances, those who wished to revive themselves, by a glass of wine, or anything more substantial, had only to step up on the stage, and partake of what they required. This is, no doubt, a great improvement on the old suppers, when people have to dance half the night, tortured by thirst, and then sit down and cat and drink sufficient to make them feel uneasy for the rest of the night, and render dancing a matter of labor ami danger. A cricket match lias been arranged to bo played on Saturday next, between eleven chosen from Hawera and Mokoia, and an cloven from Walla and Nornuuihy. Mr Brett’s hotel at Normanby will shortly be finished, when ho intends to give a grand house warming. No expense has been spared to render tins one of the most convenient and commodious hotels in the district, and he intends to add a bowling saloon as soon as completed, which will no doubt be a great attraction to those who are lovers of this amusement.

11.M. COUHT.—Monday, December 17. (Before C. A. Wray, Esq., IBM., Captain Wilson, and Carrington, Esq., J.P.’s.) Constable Crazier v Awe, for indecent exposure ; lined 2Us, including costs, or 48 hours imprisonment.

Sergeant Cahill v Peter (.Maori), for lighting in public streets ; fined Os Gd costs, and cautioned. Same v P. Conway, for fighting in public streets ; lined 5s costs, and cautioned. T. Hayward v J. S. Greig ; claim £2, balance due for wages. Plaintiff stated that whilst in defendant’s employ, some tobacco had been stolen from the store, supposed to have been taken by Maoris whilst plaintilf was in the back premises chopping firewood, and on settling up, previous to his leaving, defendant deducted £2 from Ins wages, to pay for a part of the loss from the tohacco, which he considered had boon stolon owing to the negligence and carlesness of plaintiff. Mr Hoy, who appeared for defendant, produced evidence to show that plaintiff had been paid a certain sum on lea vine, which he had

accepted as payment in full. Judgment for defendant with Os costs.

John Heading v lloni Biliama ; judgment summons for £■-*• Os. Defendant applied for a rehearing of the case, on the. ground (hat he had already paid the plainl.itV, which the Magistrates granted for the Lilli January next.

M. Burnett v Thomas Hawke ; this was an olf-sct claim. J ufigment was eventually given for plaintiff for 11s, and 10s costs. A few other trilling cases were settled out of Court.

address, referring' to the fact that this was

a more than ordinarilly auspicious occasion ■ —the opening' of the first Church in the Wairoa district, and one that could not occur again—an occasion looked forward to by many with great interest and anxiety, and one that called forth gratitude to God fir crowning their efforts with such success. The chairman referred to the generous way his many friends iu Wanganui, Wellington, Turakina, Middle and Lower Eangitikei, and other places, had responded to his appeals for their kind and practical sympathy. lie apologised for the absence of the Revs Treadwell, Ross, Doull, Stewart, and Law (Wesleyan) The Rev J. Tony spoke well on the subject of rejoicing, referring at length to the cause the congregation had for joy and gladness, in which ho most cordially joined. The Rev J. Bruce then delivered a most telling and practical speech, referring at the outset to the fact that he had taken part in the ordination of their pastor 17 years ago, and to the pleasure it afforded him of meeting the chairman again iu this colony, fie spoke generally on matters connected with the Waverlcy district and church, his special business and mission amongst them, and his appointment as travelling agent for the Presbyterian Church. Tie warmly congratulated the people as being the possessors of such a luxuriant portion of county, and of having the energy and will to erect such an odilicc to the service of God. The building was one of the best churches ho had seen in the colony, one of which the district and congregation might well feel proud, lie had thoroughly inspected the building, avid could not help testifying to the workmanlike manner the builder’s had done their work. Ho then referred to church work in general, and urged upon the congregation to go on and prosper —assuring them that he should visit them again as the General Agent of the Church for advocating the various schemes of the Presbyterian Church of Now Zealand, and concluded a very interesting address amid the applause of the people. The Chairman then road the financial report which showed that the new church had cost, without extras, £750 10s Gd, and was almost free of debt. Liabilities to date, 17th December, about TS7O PS Gd ; and receipts and promised subscriptions, including the opening services, about £735 5s Bd. The report showed a highly satisfactory state of affairs, which speaks well for the temporal property of the district.

The meeting’ was also ail Iressed by Messrs Macl’arlane, McLeod, and Milne. The latter, as chairman of the committee of management, boro testimony 1o the faithful carrying out of all tho details of the work by (he contractors. (Messrs Jones and Peachy) and their v.'iih'ng’ncs.s and cheerfulness to make any little alteration suggested by the committee, in a word the contractors gave no trouble either to the committee or (o the inspector of works (Mr Aitchisoii, of Patea). During the evening the church choir, aided by friends, miner t lie able Icadorsinp of Air Swin'oourne. tho precentor, sang the following anthems, tie., to the delight, ot the audience: —■“ Thine, O Lord, is the greatness." “Tho Resurrection Morn” (dankey), “Tho Beautiful Land” (‘Sankey), “ Behold how good and joy fed,” “ The Prodigal’s return” (Phillips), “ Waiting and watching 1, (Sankey), and ‘"•Jerusalem my glorious home.” The harmonium was presided over by tho Misses Allsworth. The result of the tea and evening mooting collection was TTS 10s Bd. Total opening services C IS 10s Bd.

The thanks of (he congregation were given to the ladies who provided the tea, 11 10 choir, speakers, outside contributors, the trustees of tho Town Jlall (whore the congregation formerly worshipped) and a thorough good meeting was brought to a close by the Rev J. Tony pronouncing the benediction, the only cause for regret being Hie conduct of a few very young men, which was not quite so gentlemanly and quiet as is desirable at such gatherings. The names of the few will, however, be only printed with invisible ink between the'lines, so that by the help of a very powerful magnifyikg glass those most concerned may be able to read and understand.