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Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7113, 10 July 1886, Page 2

Tho rainfall registered in New Plymouth, for the week ending to-day, was only "30 of an inch. It all fell on Sunday. Owing to tbe drain upon the local police force for service at Hawera, Sergeant Duffin is the only representative of law and order left in town. gj^TheN^lsoniJ/cfiZitates: — "Our telegrams on Wednesday reported the sudden death at New Plymouth of Mr. Batchelor, who was a son of Mr. George Batchelor, a wellknown citizen of Nelson, where also the deceased had a large number of friends. The bo Jy was brought down by the Hawea on Thursday morning, and the funerul jb announced to take place on Friday. i

To Wetere, tho well known Mokau chief, left for Wellington on Wednesday. It is understood that hia presence has been solicited in the Capital in connection with the negotiations and operations which are now beini? carried on with the object of opening up the Mokau river for traffic, and the Moktiu country for settlement. A little excitement was occasioned at Moturoa on Thursday when a quantity of stock was being shipped aboard the stean>er Oreti. It seems that one bullock jumped out of a truck, and another out of the stockyard, and both bolted for tho sandhills. " Tho runaways were at once pursued, and ono of tho pursuers, who was of course mounted, received an ugly spill thiough his steed falling into a Maori pit. He was not, however, at nil hurt, and the two cattle were ultimately recovered. Although work is to be resumed at the breakwater almost immediately, it seems that owim? to the short supply of concrete blocks tbe building at tho end cannot, even if the weather were favorable, bo carried on for several months. There are only ninety blocks on hand, and they are required for the temporary parapet, in order to give shelter from the spray to vessels lying alongside the pier on occasions when the weather is at all rough. The men will consequently be employed in the blockynrd, and even those at present engaged in placing stones over the side for the apron- work will be drawn off to the yard. It should also be remembered that operations at the end are always suspended during the winter months. It will be remembered that wo announced during the week that the Government are to tnko over the wharfage department of the New Plymouth Harbor Board on Monday, the 12th instant. In connection with this matter it seems that Mr. Blanchett, the Board's shipping clerk, finds himself in an awkard position. It was an understood thing by the Board and Mr. Blanchett that the shipping clerk was to bo taken over by the Government and be an officer of the railway department. However, Mr. Blanchett baa just received notice that his services will not be required nfter to-day, and he therefore finds himself with the prospect of being suddenly thrown out of employment. He has accordingly represented his case to the Harbor Board, and has been advised to proceed at once to Wangnnui to lay his case before Mr. Buxton, the traffic manager of the New Plymouth-Foxton railway. Mr. Blanchett is looked upon as one of the Harbor Board's most deserviig officers, and it would seem peculiarly hard upon him to be supplanted so unceremoniously by someone from Wangenui.