PATEA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 10951, 1 September 1885, Page 2

PATEA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PATEA, August 2. To summarize the news of the month which sees its close to-day, would not be a very difficult matter. The attention of the community has been absorbed almost exclusively by the meat tinning industry, no less than five public meets ings have been he'd to discuss the affair. In the hotels, at the sale-yards, inside the town and outside the town, eyrey where the one theme of conversation has been, the probable success of the meat preserving industry under the "bonus system." The loss of the industry has been sorely felt by Patea, whose little-trodden clean streets and untenanted, window-smashed, dilapidated looking houses are the silent witnesses of the joys past. To the farmers the loss has been almost irreparable. Is it any wonder, then, that farmer and merchant, banker and navvy, should rub shoulders in their efforts to secure success to this in* dustry? Although the amount required to make up the bonus has been raised, the prormters of the scheme have not had all plain sailing ; opposition at home and abroad had to be overcome, and it appeared at one time as though flawera was determined to out-manceuvre us. The opposition offered by Hawera was of no mean kind, for bs it to their credit, the people of Hawera tried evry conceivable plan to localize the industry, but, fortunately for Patea without the slightest nemblanoe of success. Hawera does not appear to possess any kindly feeling for Patea with her " muddy creak," and the effect; of the word Patea on a Haweraite could be scarcely surpassed by that of the proverbial red rag on the bull. Why h is antipathy should exist is inexplio-»; able, but notwithstanding that, the Hawera county has contributed no less a sum than J3OO towards the proposed bonus. v\ ith regard to the " bonus scheme," a public meeting was held on Saturday last to receive the further report of the canvassers, and to arrange the machinery for the proper manipulation of the money proposed to be given away in instalments of .6500 a year by way of a bonus to the parties, who, subject to certain conditions, will erect; buildings and maohinery and. work the concern. The conditions are anything but stringent, and should oooasion some competition. The advertisements inviU ing capitalists to make overtures will ba out during the week, and the whole affair will probably be definitely arranged during the coming month. An appropriate name for the new company to assume, it has been sug« gested, would be the " Phcenix Meat Preserving Company" in consequence of its springing up as it were out of the asheß of the old company. The voluntary winding up of the affairs of the old company is now being proceeded with, the liquidators being Messrs Oowern, Christie, and Homer, During the month fat stock has been selling pretty freely, the Waitara and Gear oompnnies causing a little coniDetition. From this port cattle and sheep have been shipped to Nelson and Wellington, and it is stated that the «.s. Waverley will be engaged the best part* of next month in carryiog away the stock now awaiting shipment. In the .way of sports, two football matches have been played, the first being Wanganni v. Patea'j which unfortunately caused some unpleasantness oa account of the unnecessary rough play indulged in by both teams. The second matoh was played oh- Saturday when the Patea youths beat their op* ponenfca from Waverley by 12 points to nil. It is worthy or\ note that Patea has not been beaten in .football this \ teason, although no les3 than seven, matches have been playedi The efforts of those interested in getting up a scratch race meeting have been more than successful; although the subscriptions so far exist, only in promises. Nothing further has been done in this direction since the last; meeting. That august body the Chamber of Commerce seems to be suffering from asphyxia, evidently from the want of nutritive encouragement. So far thm meetings have been confined solely to the drawing up of rules and regulations for the observance by members. There was some talk of bringing suoh matter? up for discussions, as the desirability of forming a new shipping company, the desirability of having the back country opened up for settlement, &c, but so far these affairs have assumed no debateable shape. We do not require a "sleeping chamber," for any number of these can be obtained in our well* furnished hotels, but we require an active Chamber of Commerce, and webelieve such an institution wonld be a boon to the place. There is plenty of work for the chamber, if the members will only wake up, and show a determination and inclination to do some* thing. Perhaps the chamber could do a little in the way of proouring exhibits for the forthcoming Indian and Colo lial Exhibition, to be held in London next year.