The Patea Mail. Established April 14, 1875. Be Just, and Fear Not. FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1885. NEWS.OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume X, Issue 1327, 27 March 1885, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established April 14, 1875. Be Just, and Fear Not. FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1885. NEWS.OF THE DAY.

Mr R. A. Adams has a few interesting notices in this issue which will repay the time and trouble of reading. Messrs Quinlan, Mander, and Co, have an important sale of furniture, etc., at their rooms to-morrow. The s.s. Waverley is to leave Wellington for here to-morrow and should return there on Tuesday, circumstances permitting. Beach and Hanlan try conclusions tomorrow for £SOO a side and the sculling championship of the world, on the Paramatta River. Private Sessle, of the New South Wales Contingent, whose wife was killed by the Nemesis and Iberia coming into collision, near the Sydney Heads, first heard of his misfortune when the Iberia put into Backstairs Passage, South Australia, to repair. He was so overcome that ho asked to bo allowed to leave the contingent as he could not enter upon military duties in a proper spirit. Permission was granted, A rich man was approached on the street and asked to contribute to a charitable purpose. He declined on the plea of hard times. Just then a third partj’ appeared. He was a reporter. “ Are you meeting with much success ?” he inquired of the collector, “I am doing splendidly” was the reply; “just look

at that list of names.” “ May I make a copy of them for publication ?” “ Certainly.” ‘ I guess you may put me down for £10!” whispered the rich man. The Wairarapa Star says :■ —“ A couple of small Masterton settlers have been prosecuted and fined in the minimum penalty for exposing sheep in the sale yards that were infected with lice. It is a subject of general comment that the Sheep Department carefully avoids all interference with big and influential settlers whose flocks are notoriously lousy.” This is a very serious accusation, and if there are any grounds for the statement made by our contemporary, prompt measures should be taken by the Government. It was discovered that the troopship “ Iberia,” con veying a portion of the New South Wales contingent to Egypt, had on board two stowaways. One was a deserter from the Permanent Artillery, who could not get taken on in Sydney, and who, determined not to be left behind, hid himself, and has now obtained the object of his wish, he has been enrolled. The

other stowaway was a London guttersnipe, who came, out as a stowaway to see the colonies, did not like them, and is now returning to his native land via Buakim. — Sydney Tovm and Country Journal. Says the Auckland Evening Star :—“ W e are credibly informed that as soon as i l became known to certain Highlanders in Auckland that Lord Macdonald was staying at the Northern Club, it was resolved by them to embrace an early opportunity of welcoming him with a shower of rotten eggs for his impressive and inhuman treatment of the Skye crofters on his estate in that island. His sudden 'departure for Sydney obviated, however, Jhis meeting with such ftn uncomplimentary reception from those of hi counlr3'raen in this quarter who are enraged at his conduct towards the crofters,

At the Hawera R.M. Court yesterday, the case of Corkill v Hutchison was disposed of. The Bench HVtessrs Yorke, Sutherland, and Caverhill—gave judgment as follows ;—“ That in the opinion of the Bench, the evidence by no means supports even a prima- facie case of wilful perjury against the accused. Nothing ever appears to have been said to Mr Hutchison to remind him that he had given an absolute order in favour of Phil ips ; and, in the opinion of the Bench, he might easily have forgotten having given such an absolute order. The case is therefore dismissed ; and the Bench holds that no stain whatever in respect to this matter rests on Mr Hutchison’s character.”

Goody-goody.—A correspondent writing to the Dunedin Evening News remarks :—“Good Friday might be observed by the volunteers in camp marching to a funeral service in memory of the many brave men who have lately fallen in the service of our country, or the bishop could proclaim a day of humiliation to implore the God of Battles that wars might cease. Who knows, but,ihat before another year ourfait city may become a heap of ruins ? The churches could give us an oportunity of attending the three hours’ services commonly used at Home, from twelve to three, consisting of penitential psalms and readings. ‘ls it nothing to all ye that pass by ?’ Every one would enjoy the great feast of Easter better for a little fasting and preparation.” Honi soil qui mal y pense. —Says a contemporary —A lady writes : The most abnormally modest girl I ever heard of came to town a few days ago. I was in her bedroom. Some handsome flowers that I had previously seen there were gone. “Did you send them out for fear that, as some say, they might have a bad effect on your health while you sleep?” “ Oh, no, my dear,” she murmured, “ Botany was my hobby at school, and I became familiar with the fact that there are actually sexes in plants—males and females in every species, don’t you know. Well, I found on examination that the flowers in this room were masculine, and they didn’t seem quite proper in a lady’s chamber. Eeally, I couldn’t disrobe comfortably, nor sleep in peace.”