The Patea County Press, (With which is incorporated The Patea Mail.) "Be Just and Fear Not." MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1895. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 52, 29 April 1895, Page 2

The Patea County Press, (With which is incorporated The Patea Mail.) "Be Just and Fear Not." MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1895. LOCAL AND GENERAL

We notice by the Post that Mr D. H. > Williamson, of Whenuakura, has secured first prize at the Wellington Fruit and Flower Show for “twelve dessert apples also Mr A. P. Stewart’s prize of £lO 10s “ for the best collection of fruits grown in . tbe open air,” against all comers. The secretary of the Patea Assemblies notifies that the gentlemen’s tickets referred to in the invitations can be obtained at his office at any time. It will be well to obtain them early, as they must be produced at the door on the night of the first dance. Mr J. Holtham inserts a replace to-day which should be read with interest by local gentlemen, as it notifies the arrival of new and fashionable winter goods, a circumstance always hailed with delight; but when backed up with first class workmanship and the personal supervision of Mr Holtham, together with prices to suit the times, the information becomes doubly pleasant. The Earl and Countess of Devon have celebrated their diamond wedding. They were married on January 6, 18115. The ] Earl is Rector of Powderham and a prebendary of ExeterjCathedral, and is one of the most popular and highly esteemed residents in Devonshire. His succession to the title came quite unexpectedly only J three years ago through the premature death of a nephew, who left no children. Before 1891 he was known as the Hon. and Rev Hugh Courtenay. On Saturday and to-day one of the grandest displays of chrysanthemums and dahlias yet seen in Patea has been on exhibition in Mr Gower’s window and shop, The flowers were brought up by Mr Weightman, of Feilding, and were intended for the Autumn Show, Mr . Weightman not having heard of its ! abandonment. The exhibition as a whole i is worth going some distance to see, and shews what can be done with a combine--1 tion of care and skill. Mr Gower will 1 receive orders for roots of any of the , flowers exhibited, and as each one has its I name affixed anyone can choose their [ special favourite. There arc also on exhibit samples of fruit, for which also Mr Gower is prepared to take orders.

The Hon J. G. Ward, Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand, addressing the London Chamber of Commerce on Friday, denied that the land tax had been col lected early because the Government was ' hard up. It was merely in order to avoid the needless issue of Treasury Bills. More over, the colony at that time possessed three millions' worth of unpledged securities in London, two.-thirds of which ho himself forwarded at the time of the crisis in Australia, in order to guard against an emergency. Referring to the action taken regarding the Rank of Now Zealand, the Treasurer said the Government was prepared to lose the two millions rather than risk a crisis in the colony. He denied that the Advances to Settlers was a political dodge. Bir G. Grey confirmed Mr Ward’s remarks, saying that those who invested in Now Zealand had done wisely, and had received handsome re- j turns.

A public meeting of ratepayer of Wellington carried a motion opposing, the raising a loan of £BSOO for the purchase of a Recreation Ground for Thordon, The Alton cricketers are giving a concert and dance in Alton Hall on Friday next, If the weather holds fine there should bo a good gathering, as re-unions of this sort are always popular. The Rev Clarke, who has been before the Sydney Court several times lately endeavouring to obtain an order for the restoration of conjugal rights with his wife, has been acquitted on a charg? of drunkenness. In consequence of the southerly weather the Terranora has been unable to make any progress with the work of laying tbe new cable across Cook Strait. With fine weather it is expected the whole thing could be done in sixteen hours.! Three thousand factories have been registered up to date in tbe various towns in the colony. Christchurch heads tbe list with 628 factoi’ios, Auckland 468, Wellington 430, Dunedin 425, Invercargill 127, Napier 106, Timaru 101. The rest of the towns number under 100 each. In the “ early days ” Mr Godfrey Mackinuon, of Goonambil, kept a dairy, and hejcould milk a cow with any man. Experienced hands were scarce at that time, and all sorts of help had to be employed, one of whom was called Pat. One day be was milking a fractious cow which knocked him head over heels into the gutter. “ Pat ” rushed to his assistance exclaiming, “ Good gracious, Mr Godfrey, did she boite ye.” Farmer Field lately appeared in court claiming for damages done to his crops by the cattle of a neighbour, and he like many others, found that the lawyers were the only parties benefited by the action. It chanced one day, not long after the accounts had been squared, the farmer was shearing some sheep, when Mr Robb, head partner of the firm whom the farmer had employed in his action, passed by. “ Busy fleecing, I see, Mr Field,” remarked Mr Robb. “Ay! but I’m no like you lawyers. I’m no aye at it,” replied the farmer.

A new gambling machine.—The Fish Trades Gazette describes a game which appears to have become popular in Os tend. Itis this: —A basket of the freshest oysters possible is brought in, and an oyster is carefully laid on the cup before each player, who must not touch it, but sits at some distance in front of the bivalve, with the stakes at the other side of the plate. The oyster that first yawns sweeps the stakes. If the oysters are in a good case th<3 player may perhaps yawn before thorn. A game played at Ostend by a dozen gamblers lasted three hours. The excitement of the lookers-on was intense. They gathered behind the players, and fixed their eyes on the bivalves. Betting grew fast and furious, though there was really no cause why money should be staked on one oyster more than another. At last a poor thirsty creature opene i wide its shell. The money on the table when it did so came to £7,000. A jibbing horse stopped short on Prince’s bridge (reports an Australian exchange) the other day right in front of a tram-car, and a great crowd of interested spectators gathered around. The horse showed a lively interest in the numerous suggestions to produce locomotion. These are some of the hints offered :—-‘Turn him about;” “Put pepper in his mouth;” “Twist his ears;” “Twist his tail;” •* Back the trap on to him ‘ Push him along “ Back bim;” “ Pull bis tongue; ’ “ Light a fire under him;” “Kick his kness;” “Hold one foot till he gets tired;” “ Throw him down ;” ‘ Let him stand ;” “ Lick him ;” “ Lick some more;” “ Tie a rope round his tail;” “ Shut off his wind;” “ Pinch his nose;” “ Give him some oats;” “Coax him;” “Hitch another horse in front of him.” The horse s brain got confused, so bo walked slowly on that ho might get to his stable and think it all over.

Mr James Sinclair, who visited America on behalf of the Government and the agricultural societies of Victoria to inquire into questions atiecting wheat production and transportation, has (says the Australasian) written to Mr Martin, secretary for Agriculture, from Buenos Ayres. The letter was dated January 13. Mr Sinclair was about to start a tour through the agricultural districts, and intended not only to look into the grain production, but also to investigate and report on the frozen meat and live stock exportion. The wheat crop in the Argentine was esti* mated at 10 per cent, under last year’s yield, notwithstanding the increased area under cultivation. Though the wheat 1 grown is rich in gluten, it cannot compare in appearance, Mr Sinclair says, with Victorian wheat. Linseed is largely cultivated by the Argentine farmers, and the estimated surplus for export is about 250,000 tons. He adds that the enormous business of the country can be gauged from the shipping in Buenos Ayres, which numbered more vessels than could be seen at all the Australian ports combined.