THE Inangahua Times PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY MONDAY, FEB. 16. 1880.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 16 February 1880, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY MONDAY, FEB. 16. 1880.

The sittings of the District Court before his Honor Judge Wesron will open this morning, at 10 o'clock sharp. We are given to understand that petitions will be filed praying *the compulsory winding up of one or more mining compani'e. The Irish "Relief Committee met at Mr Urennan's office on Thursday evening last, and appointed canvassers for the various out districts of the County. The lists are return able on the 12th March, after which a list of the subscribers to the ftjnd will be published. A very agreeable change in the weathe* took place yesterday morning, and during the day several valuable'showers of rain fell, As harvest operations are now pretty well finished throughout the Inangabua the rain -will be gpnerally welcomed. Mr M'Gafßi notjges that all outstanding hospital lists, together with subscriptions are to be forwarded to him at once, in order that the yearly returns may be made up. A special meeting of the County Council T?as held on Wednesday last for the purpose, of striking % special rate as a subsidy towards the maintenance of the local Fire Brigade. There was no otheu business transacted. We notice that the Minister of Pubjic Works having visited Southland, has reached Timaru, where he will probably remain until to-day or to-morrow. The date of Mr Olliver's visit to the West Coast is as yet very uncertain. Wednesday Jtast was the celestial New Tear, and the day was commemorated with festivities of the« Chinese — Chinnee—©. A large number of the men visited Reefton from the out-gullies, and enjoyed themselves in a manner fitting the occasion. " John," however, appears to take his pleasures very sadly, and beyond an unlimited consumption of pig and roosf^r. % whiff of opium, and, perhaps, a clean shirt and a,, shave, the celpn b'atiun brings him little else. He i 3, however, a g r eat connoisseur of female beauty, 1 * and between ogling the barmaids and playing billiards, he manages to fill in the intervals. Besides the amount raised in direct subscriptions, it ia arranged to give an amateur entertainment, horticultural show, pvocession and pports at Hokitika, in aid of the Irish Relief Fund, and on insue.n*till committee has been appointed tp carry qufe the arrangements. New Zealand has reason to be elated at the honors it has won at the Sydney Exhibition. Although the jurors have hardly more than comnipnced to.ni'ike their awar Is, this Coleny r«nks amongst J;he highest prize tnkers. His Honor Julge Weston was a passenger by the up CQaoh on Saturd 7 evening. The pa*t week offers but little in mining to report, the lite dry weather having greatly retarded crus.iinn; operations. As the w 'tesupply, however, has been inoremei to some extent by ihe rain of Uvt night, we may expect greater aotivitv during the p-esent we^k. Peasons at all sceptical as to the adaptability of the soil, climnte, or surroundings of the Inanwahua Villey for the growth of fruit, shouM pa? 8 visit to the orchard of Mr C Minderman, hi, the Inan£>ihu>i June.t : on. Tho O'chiiH, though hivdjv more than fi*'e rearold, is wonderfully p»orlu4iye. Th<>rp are apples of numerous varietie* and in endless ahundar.pfl. Ihe trees »re fairly l»den with penohep, of the size of cricket balls. Tliere are sey.Tnl varieties of pearg, which promise to reach the hi»W perf.-ction. The plums, green^nges, neptarnes and othei -toned fruits, whether for »i» ■, flavor or abundance, eouli hardly be excelled in any pnrl o< the Colony. Hazel nuts nre also growing to great perfect iqn. The ti-js. iipwever, are allowed rather too niiK-h of their own wiiy ju«t now, while the hands are hapvesting, nnd are in their particular kind of c'oyi'r. ftfr Mind, rtnan'e prqpery, which ig about thr c qr four liu'idrrf) acres in extent, is on the nepbaps oflp of the finest on tb.e West Cpg'f?

We do not know whether it is intended to hold any £:nd of sports in Beefton on St. Patrick's Day. It that is the intention, it seems »bo»t time tbo initiatory Btep ß were ; taken in the matter. Mr®. W. Woplley, .at different .times District Surveyor at Gobdan. Ahawa, and R,efto». respectively, is at present at Nelson, en route for Auckland, where he has obtained an appointment uuder the Government, The Auckland Herald says i— The Ministry is still strong-^stronger than when the House prorogued, and unless they make some great blunder, or are exceedi. fly unlucky, they will meet the House with a powerful majority. The Opposition have indeed ghown no signs of pulling themselves together. They have to get compact before there is any need for them to endeavor to " keep compact." As for Mr Montgomery, who is spoken or as a possible lender, be h certainly not, in our opinion, the man to lead any pnr*y to victory The most potential section of the Opposi'ion is now the Young New Zealand party, under the leadership of Mr De Lautour and the members of that party are exceedingly averse to Mr Montgomery as leader. The Ministry have done nothing yet, in the way of administration, to call expulsion from office, but we should be glad to see a more united Opposition, which would be security that the Ministry would be closely watched.