NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1059, 13 July 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Late this afternoon an advertisement, signed by ten gentlemen, calling a meeting to consider Hospital matters, was handed in to our office. Our remarks in another column, therefore, are to some extent anticipated, but we are glad to see it, because it shows that upon the Hospital, question the public and ourselves are one* The Rev J A Taylor, of New Plymouth, preaches in the Wesleyan Church on Sunday next. , s The Waverley came in this afternoon, i For some time past rumours have been flying about inprint to the effect that the railway works at the Swamp had been stopped, the embankment having proved; too much for the Engineers, &c. Although we have no doubt about the latter, still as a flatter, of fact work has never been, dis* contin.uq.d ,unti|i. this. morning,, when the proprietor of the Boiling-down Works served the contractor with an injunction. Great damage has been sustained by the Company’s Works, an,d they are unable to carry on business. The boring operations have’ resulted in a depth of eighty-six feet being' reached, without finding bottom, and' really the task of carrying the embankment, across the swamp appears a hopeless one. Under the circumstances we hope the Engineers will decide to take the lino on to the solid cliff, where it ought to have been at first. Even if the embankment is made across the swamp, there will always bo.a feeling of anxiety on the part of the public that owing to the treacherous nature of the foundation, a serious accident may happen at any moment. Speaking upon the anti-centralism resolution last night, Mr Pyke said that the necessity for some such change was shown by the slate of the House the previous night, when this most important question was being discussed with only thirty members present, the rest being at a ball. Only three Ministers were present, one reading a newspaper, another something like a French novel, and the third asleep. The House was no longer a Parliament, it had been degraded to the level of a Road Board.

Tho third, anniversary of the Star of Patca Lodge, 1.0.G.T, will be celebrated in St James Hall by a’ tea meeting, on Friday evening next.

Mr Cowern has on view in his rooms a a mangold wurzel, grown by Messrs Arundel and Ross,, which turns the scale at 321bs. We hear iliat Mr Barclay, who came here to succeed Mr Dean, the clerk of the R.M. Court, is to go to Cromwell in place of Mr Dean. The destination of the latter gentleman, and. who will bo appointed for Patea, have not transpired. The Annual Meeting of the Horticultural Society will be held this, evening. There was no sitting of the R.M. Court to-day. Mr Southby’s farm, lately in the occupation of Mr E Lb G Jacob, has been leased by Mr R E Mcßae of Kakaramea.

A correspondent writes :—“ A not unbnlliant mefbor foil last night about nine o’clock. The moon’s refulgent rays slightly marred the transcendental effect.” How is that for high ?. The Post says , some surprise has been expressed in Volunteer circles at the absence from thb’bstimatos of the usual vole in aid of fhe annual prize meeting. The Riffo Assobialion and many persons believe that the gathering this year wil' lapse in consequence,. Such a thing, we are given to understand,'very improbable. On more, than ono occasion’no mention has been made in the Estimates for the vote for such purpose, but money has usually been placed on the Supplementary Estimates, and it is believed that this will bo done tliis'-year, A meeting of the committee of the Association is called for this considerlhe matter.- . It is not unlikely that their representations on the subje'et will have the desired result. , r , ,Wc hear that ;Mr, Pettit intends starting Ja class for horse training, upon the system advocated by Professor Sample.

The meeting of those - interested in the proposed Sawmill Company is called for tomprrow evening, at Mr Byton’s Building. Mr North, trustee in J. Armstrong’s estate, announces’a first dividend of six shillings in the pound. .. A young man named Wright met with a painful accident yesterday. He was kicked by a horse, the result being that two of the fingers of his right hand were broken. We are informed that lie went to Dr Croft, who refused to set the fingers on the ground that either Wright or his brother owed, him an account. Dr Keating was then sought, and that gentleman also positively refused to attend to the wounds because Wright was indebted to.him in a suiall amount, and it was only upon the guarantee of two gentlemen whp accompanied yWnght that the money' would be paid that he consented to set the broken fingers, his feelings of “ common humanity ” haying been appealed to in vain. We believe the above to be true. The matter has; been pretty well discussed throughout the. town, and in every-case we have beard of the medical gentlemen’s conduct has been alluded to in terms of disgust, a sentiment we entirely endorseIf they have any explanation to make, our columns.are open for them to do so.

There is rather depressing news for the hop growers, and possibly for those who speculated in last season’s crop. By late London telegrams it is stated that, owing to the excellent prospects of the English crop, Australian and New ■ Zealand hops are a drug in-thL London market, and that there is a largd quantity there unable to find purchasers;

.Efforts, are being made to forra a branch of the Girls' Friendly Society in Wellington. The organisation, which was formed in, England in 1875, has for its object the encouragement of girls engaged in daily toil, and now numbers 70,000 members. A preliminary meeting of ladies to consider the matter was held at the Government House yesterday, when several resolutions were agreed to. The first crushing of quartz at Terawhiti takes place on the 19th inst.

The Auclcld/nd Star is about to build new offices, at a cost of £7OOO.

At a meeting of members of the late Kai Iwi cavalry held at Wanganui on Wednesday, a complimentary letter to Mr Bryce was drawn up and signed by all present except one. Messrs Garret, H. Peake, and J. Handley were appointed a: committee to corhplbte preparations for sending the letter to their late captain. The Zealandia, with the June English mails, left San Francisco on the 30th; timetable date. The supplementary Home--ward mail clUhes at Patea to-morrow 1 evening. ■ 1. *