Local and General

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 412, 23 August 1876, Page 2

Local and General

Mr Commissioner Brabant held his first Land Court at the Maori Court House on Monday forenoon. The time of the Court was taken up arranging about boundaries- and the order in which claims should be heard. It was agreed finally that the Waitaha block should be first for hearing, and the Court then adjourned until Tuesday morning. There was a large assemblage of natives present. Tho- Court resumed yesterday. The room was crowded with natives when Mr Brabant took his seat on- the Benoh. The Waitaha case was called on, and the investigation to the titles thereof, proceeded with. This block of land is in the immediate vicinity of Tauranga, and is within the run known aa Mr Jonathan Brown's. The number of claimants and oounter>claimants is-, considerable, and we may, . therefore, naturally conolude that the Court has its work fully out out for it. Much interest is evinced by both Europeans and Natives ia the proceedings. Wi Parera and party are on one side, and the Maungatapu natives, John McLeod, and others, oppose.

Wo remind members of the Tauranga.Ljght Horse Volunteer Corps that their p->rade to return tlioir arms and accoutrements takes place this afternoon at 3 o'clock.

The Rev Henry Ward Beeoher's a»lary has been fixed for this year at £4,000. List year his congregation presented him with £20,000 to cover the cost of defending the Tilton case.

Mr J. H, Bheath, the returning officer, informs us that- Mr William Kelly, of Tauranga, and M* Tabuteauj of Napier, have been nomi> nated to act as diocesan synodsmen for the Church of England, Tauranga, for the ensuing three years.

We draw the attention of our readers to the necessity of posting their English letters (to leave Auokland by the mail ou fehe 28th instant) by the mail closing for Auokland at half-past four this afternoon- This is the laot opportunity that it is known will ooour.

We saw yesterday, at Mr Maxwell's bakery, what may without exaggeration be called the finest sample of eggs that has been offered in the Tauranga market for some time. T<he eggs were laid by Bratnah and Dorking hens at Mr Roger Hill's farm afc Te fianga. Six of them averaging no lesß than a pound weight.

Let ladies beware of " lacing back," "strapping up," or whatever the correct term is, their dresses too tightly; at least when they go to Court. At one of the Queen's Drawingi rooms a lady, after executing a most low and loyal curtsy to hep Majesty, found herself' quite unable to " get straight " again, and actually had to be helped into an uprightposition.

We understand that Hori Tupaea had an in' terview yesterday with Mr Commissioner Brabant touching the rumour which has been afloat as to the. threatened oppoaition^of some H'auhaus to prospecting. We believe every thinghas been satisfactorily arranged, and the party will start some time to-morrow for thoir'desti* nation, accompanied by Afeuhata, Hori Tupaea's son. We need not say wo wish them every success.

We congratulate our friends at Ohinenurion the cheering accounts received from that, quarter. Those miners who for years have waited patiently, enduring all sorts of hard' ships and privations, are apparently about to reap their reward at last. We were shewn some very rioh stone the other day by Mr James Kelly (who has just oome from Ohme 1 ' muri) from the Morning Light Olnim, at Owharoa, on a different, line of reef from Parson's, about four miles distant.

A new supply of light literature has. at length arrived to the order of the Committee of the Mechanic's Institute. Subscribers will be- glad to- learn that some eighty volumes were unpacked by the Librarian yesterday. Tho books appear to have been judiciously selected by the book-committee, though we must say we regret to notice that a large number of them are bound in "yellow- covers," instead of serviceable and more agreeable cloth.

Tbo Evening Star writes — " The terms on which the English cricketers are to visit .New Zealand, will, in* the opinion of 'a Christchurch sporting writer, be nullified by the retirement of Lilly white in favour of Grace.. He thinks it probable- that we shall not know for some time what Mr Graco will oonsidor New Zea' land ought to pay for the privilege of meeting the Englishmen, and trusts that a determined stand will be made by the cricketers of New Zealand against any exorbitant demands, and that they will not consent to pay whatever may be aakod.''

A little patience will have, to be exercieel by all those who are anxious to. know what will be the result of the ousting ofOaptain Tunks as a member of the Town Board,. as nothing is definitely known at present as to what steps will be next taken in the matter. In the mean' time, we understand that' Mr E GK . . Norcis is in immediate communication with the Super in ten 'ent of the Province, and the action of the Board will depend upon his reply. The report of Mr Inspector Broham, of Auckland, for the past year is worthy the attention not only of Good Templars but social reformers generally. During the year, 1,504 persona were arrested for drunkenness; and for vagrancy, mostly proceeding from the same source, 321; lunacy, S3 ; for assaulting the police, almost in every instance from the same oause, 27 ; for petty larceny and other oaaesj 703. So that ib may safely be said that out of-the 2,717 convictious at the Police and Supreme Courts, 1,908 proceed more or less from the abuse- of intoxicating drinks.

Ihere was great excitement on. the wharf on lusb Saturday morning, on the depiriure of Mr John Thomson for Opotiki. On Mr Thomson's arrival at the end of the wharf, he waß placed on one of the tracks by his^friend?, and propelled by twenty willing hands at railway speed to where ttie Staffs was lying. Here the usual hand. taking was indulged in, and as the steamer ronnded abreast of the wharf, three hearty cheers were given. for Mr Thomson, It was gratifying to see- one so universally respected receiving so convincing a proof of the appreciation of his friends. We believe it is intended to present Mr Thomson with a more tangible token of the respect in which he is held.

A melancholy Btory % of fallen gentility is recorded in Australia. A strolling minstrel .named Frank Ralph died in the train at Ben' digo, and at the inqueßt it was disclosed that Hulph'a wife, lately deceased, was of no mean origin, being the daughter of a band fide earl in England. She used to accompany the erratic and somewhat diseipated hiubaud in his itinerant minstrelsy, and sing. in. a clear, cultivated soprano to liis cornopean acconn paniments. Such exquisite harmony did they produce — and often was it beard in Sand 1 hurßt — that' many persons, in no wise acous tomed to loiter in the street at the sound of music;. would stand still and listen as long as the melody lasted. Two years ago, the fair vocalist died at Sandhurst of tubercular consumption, and now the husband, who has a military reputation it appears, has also succumbed to the adversity of life.

Mr John Thomson, of the Armed Constabulary Force, who for the last five years has acted as Assistant Olerk to the Resident Magistrate's Court at Tauranga,. and. baa been appointed* Olerk to the Resident Magistrate's Court at Opotiki, as mentioned* in our issue of the 16th foist, was a passenger to Opotiki by the s s Staffaon Saturday last. During the time Mr Thomson has beea connected with<theTau' ranga K.M. Court his attention to his duties has been unremitting, and his manner to all those who had ouoasion to visit the Uourt on official business has been obliging and courtejas in the extreme. There is no doubt bub that the Government hare an extremely trustworthy and valuable servant in Mr Thomson, and though, from personal motiws, hia friends may regret his departur , yet. they cannot bo otherwise than pleased at his promotion.

Kelativatothe reduction of General Government offioials'in Auckland, the N. Z- Herald has the following-: — " We have beon favoured with a copy of the joint circulars which have been transmitted frem Wellington to many of ,the officials both fixed and temporary of the General Government in various public depart' mentsat Auckland; la-many cases fcheoffi iah have received three' months' notice, and in others a lesser time. If the contemplated reductions follow, tho departmental cost of the General Government will be considerably lessened, but until the changes absolutely take place it is difficult to form an opinion, for many believe the circulars have been sent more to place Ministers- in a. favourable position with the House when the Estimates are being considered, than with a view of carrying out anything like real retrenchment. The 31st of October is the period on which the proposed changes are announced to'take place, aad after that date the public can form its opinion as to the sincerity or ofcherwiae of His-Exoellency's advisers."

The special correspondent' of the Dunedin Evening Star; in referring to tho proceedings of the East Coast h lection Committee, says that the evidence adduced showed that there h»d been a great deal of Bribery and treating on the part of Mr Bead's committee, but there was nothing to conneot him with the transactions-, or that he even had a knowledge ot them. One witness said he had received in one way and another £90- to vote for one candidate, and he voted for another. It is placed beyond all doubt that the committee put Mr Read forward, and being a man of means he proved a perfect milch cow. Much atunsement was caused by Mr Read's exainiua> tion ; — its frankness was perfectly touching, and when he said that instead of furthering him, his committee had put him in a hole, thVcomi mittee were fairly convulsed with laughter. It is believed the committee will report reconv mending tv fresh' election} each- side paying its own costs, which will close on £500 apiece.

We have been requested to publish tbe foli lowiiig letter to the Licensing Board at Tauranga, written in accordance with a resolution pjreed by the Sohool Board at Katikati, at a meeting held on the 10th insfc., the proceedings of which were published' in our last issue: — "Mount Stewart,. Katikati, August 15, 1876. —^IB, — In my capacity of Chairman for our Katikati School Committee, I have been requested to send you, as Chairman of the Licensing Court at Tauranga, the copy of a resolution adopted here by the School Com» mittee at their last meeting with reference to the proposed publio house on this block. I would also add in my. individual, capacity (both aa magistrate for this district and as expressing the almost unanimous feelings of the settlers) my. most earnest remonstrance against such a license being granted. In the first place the house is-not as yet even erected, and though ifc has been urged that such is required for the aocomodation of travellers from Tauranga to Bo wen town, I submit that every. required accommodation (except Bpirituouß drinks) can be obtained at the Pioneer- Store, of the enterprising proprietors, Messrs Shepherd and Wylie. Injustice to* the applicant, Mr Preston, I should state that I always considered him a highly, respectable ' man, and one's objections to the license being gratfted are not directed against Mr Preston, but against 1 the principle of wayside public houses being placed in our midst. — 1 have,&c, , (Signed) Geo. Yesex Stewabt." j