Local and General.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 333, 17 November 1875, Page 3

Local and General.

The first house in Melbourto was built forty years ago to-d-ij (1835). A lightning conductor has been placed-on the magazine iu the Monmouth Redoubt. This should have been done long since. The attention of the members of the Progress Committee is drawn to an advertisement notifying that a meeting will be held this evening, at Mr li. C. Jordan’s office, at 7 o’clock. It is with much regret we learn that our worthy harbormaster, Captain Marks, was severely stung in the ankle by a atiugaree while searching for the bodies of the unfortunate men Anderson and Stewart at the mangroves. Mr R, J. Wood is tho successful drawer of three likely horses in Mr Joseph Ellis’ (Exchange Hotel, Auckland) sweepstake in the Melbourne Cup, the result of which will be known in a few days.

A party of nine constables in charge of a sergeant will shortly proceed on to the Kutikati roud. They will probably be encamped by the Wairoa Mill Dam, the raising and widening ot which might very well we imagine be given them to do. The Airec Troupe arrrived by the Eowena yesterday, and announce performances for three nights only, the first of which will be given to-night. The programme will comprise gymnastics, ventriloquism, singing, and dancing, and will be varied every evening.

We would draw tbo attention of members of the Church of England to the advertisement of an adjourned meeting of the parishioners) to bo hold at the Court house on Thursday evening, the 18th instant, at seven o’clock. As matters of great importance are to be brought forward for discussion, it is to be hoped that all those who are able will attend the meeting.

A detachment of twelve men of the Native Armed Constabulary arrived from Ohinemuiu on Sunday for tho purpose of going through their annual course of musketry. The total number of men stationed at Ohinemutu is about thirty-eight, and we understand that they will come to lira!-quarters for their annual rifle practice in three detachment-, Ou tho completion of their course of musketry they will return to work in the Oropi bu-h. From all parts of tho iliTrict good accounts of the crops continue to reach us, and the effects of the One growing weather with which we have lately been visited is looked upon as a certain harbinger of a ploulilui harvest. The only cause for anxiety, and that a remote one, is the pottttoe crop, the continued wet weather militating somewhat in the opinion of many ugaius- tho soundness of the root, Under tho heading of “ Time when oysters are not to bo taken for sale,” a proclamation appears in tho New Zealand Gazelle of the 28th October to the (-licet. that a proclamation dated tho 21st of December, 1874, in which it was proclaimed that it should not be lawful to fake or catch for sale any rock oysters between Iho Ist January and 31st March in each year is revoked, and a new proclaim:tion made whereby it is not lawful to take or catch for sale any rock oysters from the Ist of December iu the one year to the 31st March in tho following. This proclamation applies to the district comprised with! a tbo Province of Auckland.

Ciiptuin Marks having kindly volunteered his services started in the pilot beat on Sunday morning at five o’clock for the scene of the bio boat accident at the KMikati, arriving there about eight o’clock. At high tide a search was made round all the various bays situated about the place where the uccideut occurred, but no trace of the bodies could be found. At low water Captain Marks and his crew shifted to the banks lying between the mangroves and Egg Island, where in the company of three other boats’ crews which had come out to assist in the starch, they walked nil over the flats but without any success. Joint Murdoch, the survivor of the accident, assisted during thn whole time, and ns well as he could renumber pointed out the spot where the accident occurred, Capt. Marks returned to town on Monday afternoon about one o’clock.