NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1061, 18 July 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Waverlcy will be off the Wellington slip (where she has been undergoing alterations to her propellers) to-day, and leaves for Patea this afternoon. She sails for Nelson and Wellington on Friday, 2Cth, at 9 a.m. We remind our readers that the newly formed Musical and Dramatic Society will give their opening performance to-night at the Harmonic Hall. The anniversary tea meeting in connection with the Star of Patea Lodge, LO.Gr.T, takes place on Friday evening next at six o’clock. Messrs Mahony and Co. direct attention by advertisement to their splendid stock of general goods, and to extensive shipments now on the way.

There is some probability of a fishing industry being' established at Patea. Yesterday morning Messrs Petersen and Henwood crossed the bar in the Harbour Board’s surf boat, and pulled down to the fishing ground and remained there during the day, returning at 6 o’clock. The “take” was sufficiently successful to encourage Messrs Petersen and Co to make an offer for the boat, which, we have no doubt, will be accepted, as the Board have no use for her. If they become purchasers, Messrs Petersen and Co intend to deck her over, and fit her up specially for fishing. We hope to hear of the success of the venture.

As a Christmas box a well-known local doctor sent to a well-known local lawyer a toy sheep with : a magnificent fleece of snowy wool. In accordance with the ancient traditions .of the profession the lawyer was evidently expected to fleece it. He saw the joke, removed all the wool' with a scissors and returned the toy to the doctor. In accordance with the ancient traditions of his profession the doctor is expected to exercise his art and kill it. We hope the sheep is not in the doctor’s debt or he will decline to act, and disappoint the lawyer. The Inspection Parade of the Patea Rifles took place last night. Major Stapp passed through on his way to Wanganui, but could not stay, so he appointed Cap-' tain Taplin his deputy to inspect the corps. The Captain and Lieut Adams each took a half company and marched out to Victoria street, where the two squads were drilled hard for about an hour. There was a very good attendance on parade, after which a meeting was held to discuss the matter of disallowing parade points to compete for the Company’s trophies, which was carried in the affirmative. Captain Taplin and Lieut Adams are to proceed to Wanganui on Saturday to pass their examination before a Board of officers. .. We would draw attention to an addition to Mr Weiss’ advertisement, announcing that the quarter begins on entry of pupil, and that he will give lessons at pupils’ residences.

Mr Edward Barton, son of the wellknown Mr G. Elliott Barton, formerly member for Wellington, has been entrusted with the management of the electric light at Parliamentary Buildings for the session. Mr Barton is an electrical engineer, and has been for some years connected with the celebrated Dr Siemens. While in. England he had charge of the experiment made by the latter for lighting the town of Godaiming with the electric light, the result of which created such interest when narrated by Dr Siemens before the Royal Society. The gentleman referred to above is a brother of Mr Barton of this town.

A quantity of wreckage has been washed ashore near Opunake. It consists of a vessel, deckhouse, the timber of which is kauri and painted white ; the wreck of a boat painted black and some ash oars branded with an arrow. The s.s. Oreti knocked a hole in her bottom on the Kawhia bar, to which harbour she had been for shelter. Assistance has been despatched from New Plymouth. The annual meeting of the Patea Agricultural Association will be held at 3 p.m. It is important that every member should make an effort to attend, as the existence of the society will probably hinge upon the proceedings at to-morrow’s meeting. The business in the House yesterday was not of great importance. The second reading of the Native Land Company’s Bill was postponed for a week, and a number of local bills were dealt with. The Land Act Amendment Bill was read a second time at the evening sitting, after which the Bankruptcy Bill was considered in Committee, and reported as amended. It will be re-committee on Friday to consider certain new clauses and further amendments.

A notice appears in our advertising columns, inviting the attendance of those desirous of forming a Debating Society at a meeting to be held at the Courthouse at 8 o’clock to-morrow evening.