HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 966, 1 December 1882, Page 3

HAWERA.

(from our correspondent.) Nov. 29. The dinner given to our present Mayor was a great success on Thursday evening, thanks to the energies of the committee (of whom Mr J. Arrnit was Secretary) and host Owen, of the Egmont Hotel. About 60 sat down, the chair being taken by Mr Furlong, Messrs R. H. Nolan and J. Sutherland occupying the vice chairs. The usual toasts of the Queen and Royal Family, Army, Navy, and Volunteers etc., having been proposed and responded to, Mr Furlong proposed the toast of the evening “ Our Guest.” Mr Furlong regretted that he was so little able to do justice to the toast. He, however would do his best, so referred to the length of time he had known Mr McGuire, and what friends they had been, although they did not ■ always agree in politics. He gave a sketch of what Mr McGuire had done since he had been in the district, and alluded to Mr McGuire’s services in the Taranaki Provincial Council, when he had worked bard for this part of the district, especially with reference to the Taranaki Harbor. He (Mr McGuire) had opposed it tooth and nail from the first, as bo did not think the people at this end should be rated. Mr Furlong then alluded to' Mr McGuire’s services in the Patea County Council, and also as Mayor, and regretted that he was going to leave, but he trusted, and he believed that the gentlemen present were with him, that the change was for Mr and Mrs McGuire’s health and happiness, and he wished them long life and happiness to enjoy it. (Applause). Mr McGuire in replying said he was grateful for the manner in which those present had testified their approval of his services to the district. Although he was going to live in Auckland be was not going to part with his interest in Hawera, and should always consider himself as one of them. But he had to study his children, and it was their education that was one of the chief causes of his leaving. He should do all he could while in Auckland to push ahead this district as he was certain it would be one of the most important districts in New Zealand. Ho again thanked them on behalf of his wife and children for their kindness, and trusted that he might yet come back and live in Hawera. Several other toasts were proposed including (he Commercial and Agricultural Interests, Press, and the Chairman. During the evening, songs were given by several of the visitors, and at about 12.30, u Auld Lang Syne ” was sung and the company dispersed. Your report of the cricket match against Hawera, is right in some things, but totally untrue in others. You say that F. Bayley came down specially for the match. Well, I am in a position to state that ho did nothing of the kind. He had been down ■here a week before that, and he is in the district now. Your information as to Fulton’s innings is also the fabric of an excited brain. Fulton’s innings was full of imperfections ; ho was clean missed once behind the wicket, and spooned several into the slips. He is a good bat undoubtedly in practice, his cutting being clear and low, but be is most lamentably weak on his legs, and it was only the bad state of the ground that kept bis leg stump up. There is one thing in the report I cannot help endorsing thoroughly, and that was that our fielding was simply disgraceful. It was, and I am thinking that if we do not improve in this department of the game we shall suffer a good many defeats during the season. The following are the names of those gentlemen who have promised to play at Nelson and Wellington, providing matches can be arranged about Christmas week :—Messrs 11. Bayley, F. Bayley, J. Cunningham, G. Cunningham, F. Read, Fulton, Wanklyn, Foley, Jones, Riddiford, and Thomson; Sports are being talked of for New

Year’s Bay. I ara told the - Commit t< c are at work preparing a programme. I trust they will be as successful as usual. The result of the poll for the mayoralty on Wednesday was declared a few minutes past six, and much to everybody’s astonishment. Mr Bate bad a majority of 50, —the numbers standing : Bate, 96 ; Thomson, 46. Most people thought Mr Bate would get in, but only by a small majority. On the declaration of the poll, Mr Bate thanked the ratepayers forgiving him such a substantial majority. Mr Thomson also thanked those who voted for him.