NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1062, 20 July 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Some of the most dangerous holes on the Waverley road are undergoing the needed repairs. Good news by cable to day. The mutton in the British Queen arrived at London in excellent condition, and part of it has been sold at seven pence per lb. The Hospital Committee met yesterday afternoon. Present—all the members. The Mayor was voted to the chair. Mr Eyton was unanimously elected bon, sec. and treasurer. A circular, drawn up by Mr Eyton, was read, and with a slight alteration, was adopted. It was decided to have copies printed and forwarded to leading people throughoutthe district, together with a subscription list. The meeting then adjourned. An instance of “ red tape ” has just come under our notice. Mr Eyton, the secretary of the Oil and Fibre Company, forwarded a cheque for £2, being the license fee- for the to the Deputy Commissioner of Stamps, Wellington. The cheque was returned with the intimation that a draft or P. 0.0. must be forwarded as the Bunk of N.Z. did not accept cheques upon public account. This might be all right in the case of private cheques, but when a public company is concerned, surely their cheque should have been sufficient. The Waverley has left Wellington, but will be sheltering from the heavy weather. Her departure for Nelson has been postponed until Sunday, at JO a.m.

Mr Dean, the late Clerk of the R.M. Court, returned to Patea, on Wednesday. Acting upon the advice of friends in Wellington, he declined the Cromwell appointment, on account of the severity of the climate ; and therefore he resumes his old position in Patea, to which his many friends are glad to welcome him back. Mr Barclay will probably proceed to Cromwell to fill the vacancy there. As will be seen by an advertisement, the parade of the Patea Rifle Volunteers will ' take place at 7 o’clock next Tuesday instead of half-past seven, the usual time. There will also be a meeting of members held at 7.30 for the purpose of electing new members before the enrollment takes place. The Patea Harmonic Society’s concert comes off on this night, so that any of the members who wish to attend will be enabled to do so by having the parade early. A meeting of creditors in the estate of Andrew Young, of Kaupokonui, was hold at the Courthouse yesterday afternoon. The business was of a private nature. The meeting of creditors in Mr Dixon’s estate has been adjourned until further notice. The Borough rate-book is now open for inspection, A rate of one shilling in the il will be struck at a meeting of the Council on Monday, August 6. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a debating society in Patea was held at the Courthouse last evening when there were present Messrs E. Barton, J. Gibson, T. Eyton, J. Wilkinson, R. A. Adams, C. F. Barker, Coventry, Roy Mr Thomson, and others. Mr Barton stated the reasons why he had called the meeting, and explained the objects of the society. He had received promises of support from several gentlemen who were unable to attend that evening. It was decided that the meetings of the society should be held fortnightly, and that the subscription should be 5s per member. Captain Wray was elected president, Mr Coventry hon., sec. and treasurer, and Messrs Eyton, Coventry, Barton, Wilkinson and Adams the committee. It was agreed to hold the first meeting on Thursday fortnight when Mr Eyton kindly promised the society the use of a room.

The following curious illustration of the powers of imagination is given by the Auckland Star i— Aßesident of Northcote fell over the end of Birkenhead wharf during one dark night last week. He was a good swimmer, and was striking out boldly for the steps, when, in case of further accident, Captain Rountree, of the steamer Devonport, threw him a life-buoy. The swimmer mistook the life-preserver for a shark, and screamed wildly for help. So great was his fright that he was in danger of sinking, but a rope was thrown to him, and as he held tenaciously to it, he was safely hauled ashore. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Farmers’ Co operative Association on Saturday, a dividend of 7 per cent, was declared.

A contemporary says that the Hamilton Raglan Road is in such a deplorable state that within the past few weeks several horses have been killed in their efforts to drag coaches over it. At Christchurch the other day a woman named Leatherby was sentenced to imprisonment for three months. As she left the Court, she said—“T can do that on my head ; and bad luck to you.”

At the last meeting of the Normanby Town Board, an account from the New Plymouth hospital for £lB was received, for hospital treatment of two patients who had been forwarded there. The chairman also reported that he had engaged medical attendance for a child of another person, which hadibeen playing with a tin, had cut its throat severely, and had died from the .effects. He had also given instructions for the interment of the body. The Chairman’s action was approved, but as was quite natural these matters brought op the whole subject .of charitable aid for discussion. In all three cases it appeared that the recipients of this chanty were simply, squatters on unused streets who made no contribution to the revenue of the town, and members thought it very hard that the townspeople should be taxed for their support and burial. It was explained, however, that Major Atkinson had promised that in such cases the contributions of the local bodies would be subsidised £ for £, and it was resolved to pay the amount and to claim them again from Government.— Star. The steamer McGregor, which got on the South Spit at Waitara on Wednesday, was, owing to the heavy rain which fell causing a fresh in the river, able to float off yesterday morning, without sustaining any damage. By telegram from New Plymouth to day we learn that the|stearaer is still detained in the river, being unable to get out, lowing to the shallow state of the bar. This is the tenth day of her imprisonment.

The Normanby Town Board are taking steps to have the cemetery reserve at Waihi vested in the Board. Four truck loads of horses left Hawera by rail on Wednesday afternoon, their destination being Melbourne. The local paper says that some of them were in a state of extreme terror at being carried along in such a mysterious manner, and were bathed in sweat before reaching Normanby. At the station one was found to be on the floor of the truck, where he would probably have to stay until the train reached Waitara, as it was not found practicable to let the horses out so that he could get up. Kinking is the favourite amusement at Normanby just now. • The Hawera Star complains of the want of a representative of that immediate district upon the Education Board, various school matters requiring attention with nobody to look after them. We remind the public that the anniversary of the Star of Patea 1.0. G.T., will be celebrated by a tea meeting this evening. The bad weather on Wednesday evening prevented the attendance of a large audience at the Musical and Dramatic Society’s entertainment, so it was resolved to postpone until Tuesday week, the 31st instant. In oUr advertisement columns appears a notification calling for tenders for a two years lease of the refreshment rooms at the Patea Railway Station. Mr Aornburg, a clever mechanical engineer, of Launceston, Tasmania, is said to have invented an iron man who_ can walk automatically. The figure, which is dressed like a footman, is sft lOin in height, and weighs 160 lbs. Its action arises from the power of a coiled spring concealed inside, and it can not only walk, but can grip and drive a perambulator with great ease. General Tom Thumb has gone to his long rest. The news was cabled under date London, July 17. The Sultan of Turkey now claims the right to be consulted in connection with the construction of the second canal. Baron de Lesseps states that if England declines to proceed with the construction, he will carry out the work himself.