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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 326, 1 June 1878, Page 2

Some time ago our Wanganui correspondent'mentioned that it was not uncommon for letters posted there, or sent to Wanganui, to get astray. It is within our knowledge that three letters are missing within the last three weeks. One letter sent from Carlyle containing cheque, and another to the same party (after telegraph advice that explanatory letter would be sent). Sufficient time had elapsed for second letter to have been delivered, when letter was received in Carlyle stating that neither letter with cheque, nor explanatory letter had been received. The other was invoice and letter posted in Wanganui on Thursday week for Carlyle—not yet arrived. There is evidently remissness somewhere. Mr Joseph Saunders, of Wellington, who purchased land at the late Government sale, Whakamara Block, and who was classed as l> merely a speculator,” appears to fancy his purchase, and is calling for tenders for falling 100 acres of bush. Wo want speculators of that class. Nominations of Candidates for the Hawera Elding of the Comity Council will, be received by the Eeturning Officer—Mr J. Black—to-day. The only two names Dame Eumour lias yet reported of probable candidates are Air J, fStrachan Greig and Mr M. D. King. Nominations of members and auditors for the Patea East Eoad District will be received at Whenuakura School-house to-day, by the Eeturning officer—MrD. M. Harris. Meeting to form Eifle Association will be held at the Albion Hotel this evening. We understand that Government will be willing to supply rifles on reasonable terms should a strong Association be formed. All interested should therefore show up or write to the convener.

On Wednesday last, as a number of footballers were at practice hack of the Town Hall, Carlyle, E. Morse was thrown to the ground by another player—H. Chadwick. Result, a broken collar-hone. Dr Croft attended the sufferer, who is reported as progressing favorably.

Tenders for work on Mountain Road will be vecoivnd by the Comity Council on Tuesday next, 4th instant. For ‘additions to - Telegraph Office, Hawera, until 3rd June. For formation of footpaths for Carlyle Town Board, until 4 p.m. on Monday. For fencing for Mr J. Livingstone, Hawera, to-daj'. Notification is given of place and time for holding Patea Breakwater Foundation* Stone Ball. Tickets have been distributed, and may now be obtained at the places named. F ram the preparation being made in various quarters, the Ball looks, like being well patronized. To ease the work of the committe, it would be advisable for all intending to attend, to procure tickets early. A committee meeting in connection with the above, will be held at the Albion Hotel, at 3 p.m. to-day. Polling for the election of members of the Carlyle Town Board, will take place 'to-day, at the warehouse of the .Returning Officer (Mr W. Cowern). Names of candidates will be Seen iu notification. Mr James Hirst offers himself as a candidate, and solicits the votes aud interest of electors. Mr W. Dale has also issued an address, and expresses himself in favor of a £3,000 loan. A further address from Mr J. Lett, will be found in advertising columns, . .

The following from a Manutabi- correspondent, was delivered too late for insertion in last issue On Thursday, eVening, 23rd instant, there was a. very good attendance at the Block House, including a considerable number to hear Mr Hirst’s “ Recollections of a journey round the .world 27 years ago.” Mr John Ginger in the chair. The opening part of the lecture consisted of an amusing account of a voyage from England to Australia in 1851. Arriving there in bad health, he had to reside in an-hospital for some time. Here he made a bargain with the hospital doctor for £5, to allow himself to be made-a-“subject” for dissection after deceaseGot the £5, and also got well. Thence after some laughable experiences of colonial life, started on a voyage from Sydney to Callao. Gave an account of that city, the neighboring country, and manners of the people. From Callao to the Guano islands, where the ship took in full cargo of guano, and sailed for England. Gave a graphic account of hardships which befel on homeward voyage. Some of the incidents related were extremely amusing, and kept the audience in good humor throughout. At the conclusion, tho audience testified their appreciation by vigorous applause, and a hearty vote of thanks. A similar compliment to the chair, brought a very enjoyable evening to a close. Next debate is to be pastoral pursuits.” Our Waverley correspondent writes— There is to be a meeting of the Town Board on the 4th Jane, when I hope to bo able to tell you something about their intentions re the Town Belt, &c. Our publicans appear to be nourishing Host Hastie is making improvements in the Waverley Hotel, which, when finished, will show an extra forty feet frontage to tho road, and greatly increase the accommodation of the hotel. Mr Cass, of Wanganui, has now a branch drapery establishment here, which appears to attract a number of customers, especially of the fair sex, be having a goodly show of novelties in ladies’ mysteries. We have one grievance. Our school is too small. lam informed that air Hansard has, over TOO pupils, and that the building is only intended for GO or 70. Wo are hoping that the Education Board will loek into this. Wo have received circular from Mr James Payne, Greymoiith, secretary to committee appointed at public meeting to' raise funds to erect monument to the memory of the late Mr Alexander Reid, a journalist widely known and esteemed. Subscriptions are solicited, and may be forwarded to Mr G. C. Bewail, Manager of the Union Bank of Australia, Greymouth. The following Press Agency telegram, dated Wellington, 29th May, will show tbatthereis little probability of Mr Sheehan visiting this coast before Parliament meets —“ Messrs Grey and Sheehan arrived by the Hinemoa this afternoon. Tho Hinemoa cakes the Governor, Lord Harvey Phipps, Captain Mafing, and the Hon Mr Sheehan, to-morrow, at 4 p.m., to Lytf Itou. The Governor stays in Canterbury about 10 days, and Mr Sheehan goes to Kaiapoi to settle some Native dispute.” On Saturday last members of the New Plymouth Harbour Board were elected. Them wen; nineteen candidates for the six vacant seats —one, however —MrFookes— being declared disqualified, his name was erased from the voting paper by tho Returning Officer. The following are the successful candidates with numbers polled. Arthur Standish, 013 ; Thomas King, 510 ; William Courtney, 502 ; Thomas Kelly, 410 ; 11. D. Vavasour, 400 ; and 11. A. Atkinson, 381. The lowest number polled was N. -Hooker 15.

We learn from Nonnanby correspondent that natives have been obstructing' Mr Wright, Foreman of Works fur County Council, at iheTawhiti stream, near Brett’s old hotel. There is an old mill-race there that Mr Wright wishes to make use of. Natives object, it being on their ground. They ordered him off on the -morning of the 28t,h instant. Nothing serious likely to arise out of it though.—Mr Blackett, C. E., when up here lately, said a great mistake had been made in not adhering to thedeviation line of road throughout. Pity the opinion of an eminent Engineer should have been set aside, to adopt the ideas of men more acquainted with a yard-stick than anything else.—The offer of the people here re telegraph station has been referred to the Hon the Telegraph Commissioner for his consideration.

The following special telegram from Auckland to the Taranaki Herald , was published in that paper on Saturday last—- “ Auckland, May 24. Messrs Kelly and Weston, the Chairman and Treasurer of the ' New Plymouth Harbour Board, are making arrangements with the Bank of Now Zealand for the placing of the' whole or part of the £200,000 loan on the London market, with the view of an early start in the harbour works. A design for the debentures has been approved of, and 2,000 £IOO debenture forms are being prepared for issue, aud it is probable that the whole •financial arrangements will be completed by Monday next.—These gentlemen had an interview with Sir John Goode, to-day,' and arranged for a final one on Monday. Sir John Goode intimated that by that day he should be prepared to give a preliminary report so far as initialing the work was concerned. He stated that the site offered three modes of carrying out the work, and that he had not finally resolved on any. As a general rule he preferred, in large works, to carry them on without the aid of contractors, as modifications would be necessary as the works proceeded, and difficulties generally arose, and contractors ,bad to be consulted. He also approved of plant being manufactured in the Colony when possible, but heavy plant would have to be designed and made in England.” Meeting, having for its object the formation of a Brass Band for Hawera, took jfiace at Lloyd’s Hotel, on Thursday.evening, The result was most satisfactory, and afforded anotherevidence of determination of Hawera people to “Advance.” Members were enrolled, and the following gentlemen appointed office bearers—Messrs Thomas Lloyd, J. Straciian Greig, Horae. R. Baker, C. Matheson, and-j Knight. Twelve, instrumentalists are ready to perform, besides a big-drummer. Mr J. ytrachan Greig was appointed secretary, aud as the cash will be readily forthcoming instruments will be at once procured. Looks as if Hawera intended’to “show Carlyle how to move' ahead in respect of brazen instruments.

Mr W. Coweru will hold produce sale at Carlyle to-day. Mr W. Dale will continue clearing out sale at Carlyle tos-day. A meeting is convened for to-night at Normanby, with theibbjeet of establishing a Heading liooni. This is a step in right direction and we hope to be able to report a successinEresult.", Mrß.'Diekspn (say's tbeAuekland Herald ) requiring a travelling jib crane, to be used in building the breakwater at Patea, has employed Messrs Eraser and/ Tinne,' of Auckland, to make it the cost being£BOO/ In response to requisition from rate•payers, Mr G. F. Sherwood has .convened public meeting for Saturday evening to urge on Government to grant to Harbour Board the Resident Magistrates reserve—the,: section in Carlyle till lately occupied by Major Turner. Sergeant Whelan was engaged all yesterday morning froin'an early ,hour, in searching along the river bank, and along the sea beach to Whenuakura, for traces of the missing man Hargreaves, whose body, if drowned, should now be afloat. , The Wanganui/fergZg says—That there is a keen demand forland on deferred payment, lately received a good proof in the .number of applications sent in for the sections afterwards withdrawn from sale at Patea. The Government intend taking advantage of tins demand as will be gathered from the following telegram received from Wellington, May 29— *• Government have issued instructions to set aside 10,000 acres in the Momahaka block on deferred payments; the best land to be selected for the purpose.” Tin’s information will be received with satisfaction by the, many now on the look out for land, and there is little doubt but that the whole of the block will be speedily taken up.

In another column will he found notification from the Clerk of the County Council as to unstamped loiters, a number of which are now in the Post-office, with hues ou each of from 4d to Is. From the number of unstamped letters lately tendered from the Post-office, but which were not accepted on account of delivery being refused unless fines were paid, 'it would almost appear that a plot had been made as regards none payment of postage. It is probable that some of the detained letters may contain returns which if not sent in within given time make the person liable to penalty of not less than £l—such is the case with dog returns. Should such happen to he the case the plotters will find the tables turned on them for their letters being unclaimed, will, in duo course, be sent to the Dead Letter Office. The senders will be liable to fine for Breach of Post-office Regulations and will probably lie summoned for not furnishing information required by the County Council.

PATEA WEST ROAD BOARD. A MEETING of the above Board was held in the Town Hall, Kakaramea, on Thursday, 30th May. Present; Messrs R. E. Mcßae, (in the chair), E. R. Morgan, E. J. Morgan, P. Wilson, and W, Balmforth. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Correspondence read—Letter from G. D. Fraser, Eugiiieer to the Board, re Clifford’s contract uu Ball Road ; from Chief Surveyor, Taranaki, re road deviations, and error in Hursliiouse Road lines ; reports of Committees appointed to inspect works on Ball and Kakaann-a Roads, that had been passed by the Engineer. At last meeting,, two committees were appointed to report on certain road works passed by the Engineer. The Report of Committee on No 1 contract, Ball Road, mentioned that there were considerable differences in the work actually done, and as defined in specifications, the same being shown in figures. The report concludes—- “ In conclusion, we must express our extreme surprise that any Engineer should have passed the work in its present disgraceful condition ; and strongly recommend that, with a view to prevent similar cases in future, the Board should use every means at their command, to compel the Engineer to put the work in a proper state, at his own cost.” Committee appointed to' examine contract oip Upper Kakaramea Road, also reported that they considered the work had not been carried out according to plans and specifications, and pointed out alleged discrepencies,. by quoting figures from specifications, and their measurements of work actually done. Proposed by Mr E. R. Morgan, seconded by Mr Wilson, and carried, “That the reportsof committees on Ball and Kakaramea Roads, be referred to the new Board, for its consideration, and that their attention be directed to the correspondence on the subject; and tlmttheEngineer’saccountrendered for services performed, be also referred to the new Board.”

Proposed by Mr Wilson, seconded by Mr E P. Morgan, and carried, “That Messrs Bahnfurth and E. J. Morgan pass the work now being done by Mr Tuliock, on Peacock’s Cutting, Tautnaha Road,’when finished.”

Resolved—That thq Secretary write to Messrs, Woller and Norris, and G. A. Marchh.nt, requesting them to complete their contracts on Ball Road within ten days. Proposed by MCE. Rf Morgan, seconded by Mr Mcßae, and carried, “ That the Chief Surveyor’s attention be called to the instructions lately . received from the Minister of Lands, re survey on Hursthouse Road, and to inform him that this Board has only requested him to carry out those instructions, and fail to understand the answer received by them, ‘ That the Department cannot undertake the works.’”

Mr J. Christie waited upon the Boardj with reference to improving the 'Cutting adjoining his land. The Board considered Mr Christie should make his application to the new Board. ’ : ■ The meeting then a qourned.