LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 70, 22 November 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The annual examination of pupil teachers will take place shortly.

The Majeronis left for Auckland by ths steamer on Sunday.

The Harbor Board's usual fortnightly meeting takes place to-night.

At the B.M. Court yesterday William Tarr, for drunkenness, was fined 10s. An M.H.B. named Walker says that landsharking is an artifice peculiar to the North Island.

It is rumoured that there are to be changes in some of ths departments of the civil service in Gisborne.

Mr A McDonald shipped the racehorses Kangaroo and Squire to Auckland by the Tarawera on Sunday. Ten prize Lincoln rams arrived from South on Sunday to the order of Messrs Smith, A, Brown, and Espie, The sheep are from the best studs.

Some time ago a meeting was held for the purpose of forming a Salvage Corps, and the names*of intending members were handed in. Has the proposal fallen through ?

A State pensioner. Dr Grace said in the Council, referring to the proposed reform, that he did not believe the people knew the difference between the M.L.O.’s and M.H.R.’s I

An old man in Auckland had a legacy £l5O left him. He *' blcwed ”it all, and got run in. A man at Napier had £lOO,OOO left him, aud is still carting coal. Such is human nature.

Two papers, one on '• Scandal ” and one on “ Woman’s Domestic Work,” by Misses Thompson and Jones, made up the programme at the Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Society last night and an interesting evening was spent.

At about 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon Mr Robert Williams met with a severe accident. He was riding past Makauri when, by some means, he fell heavily to the ground, breaking his arm at the shoulder joint and getting a nasty wound on the temple. He was brought into the hospital, and is progressing satisfactorily. We have received a letter from " Truck ” relative to matters pertaining to the erection of a certain boarding-house, but as the comments could serve no good purpose wedecli ie to publish it. It would be better were “ Truck ” to send the letter to the Harbour Board, where no doubt he would get some of the explanations asked for.

The harbor works have made another step towards completion. Visitors on Sunday were agreeably surprised to see another block placed in position, and to notice that the erection of the “ Hercules ” crane is being proceeded with. With the beautiful weather now in prospect, it is to be hoped the works will be pushed on vigorously. “ Disgusted " writes a long letter on the number of people who attended the performances of the Majeroni Company, who never pay their debts without being summoned. ‘‘Disgusted ” may write as much as he likes on the scandal, (as ha terms it) but all the writing in the world will not alter the fact that people who will not pay their debts will pay for amusements. It may not be out of place to tell “Disgusted" that ha should look at home before he begins to comment on the evil ways of others.

A Wellington correspondent telegraphs:— "It is auihoritatively stated that MajorGeneral Schaw, who has been deputed to report on the New Zealand defences, will advise the disbandment of all Cavalry corps, with the exception of about twenty-five in each of the large centres.” Whether this means that there are to be only twenty-five members in each of the large centres or twenty-five corps altogether does not appear plain. In any ease it should not affect the Cook County Hueears. If an attempt were made to disband this corps, sufficient reasons might soon be educed to prevent it.

The Majeroni Company on Saturday night gave the last perfoimauoa of their Gisborne season, there being a splendid house. By special request “ Jealousy " was put on, and the acting of the piece was of a quality seldom to be witnessed in Gisborne. The parts of Carlo and Diana by Signor and Signora Majeroni were fulfilled with thrilling effect, and those who saw the performance, even had they previously seen the best of plays, will long remember with feelings of ad. m ration the hiatriouio treat which they were afforded. We can congratulate ourselves on having been favored with a call from one of the best dramatical companies that has visited New Zealand.

At Holy Trinity Church on Sunday evening Rev. Alfred Williams, who is on a visit to Gisborne, preached from the first petition in the Lord’s prayer. The sermon was a simple and plain utterance of Gospel truths. Mi-s Shelton presided at the organ, her execution on that instrument and knowledge of Churoh music certainly surpasses many professors. There is still room for improvement in the singing, the leader of the Choral Society has made a good change in re-arranging the voices. Latterly there have been several additions. While thanking some of those'who have given their services for bo long, the time has come when they might retire.— (Communicated.] At the recent Church Congress at Wolverhampton, the Bishop of Carlisle, we learn from The Times, in a vigorous speech, in compliance with a request that had been sent to him, denounced betting and bad language. He never eaw a race • r a dog t-ght or a cook fight, and never made a bet, Betting was an illogical and absurd thing. Money passed for no earthly reason whatever. He thought they ought to win if their horse or boat was the loser, because then they would get compensation for their defeat. (Laughter.) But betting" was bad, a damnable practice, and a mas who indulged in it was a fool, and if he did not take care would ultimately become a knave.

The Napier Fire Brigade recently held an entertainment with the view of securing funds for sending a team to Christchurch, but the affair was not. a financial success. The Brigade last week voted £5O towards expenses, and the Telegraph gives a growl at this. It says that if this is wholly out of the pockets of members it ie well and good, but it claims that the training of a team is no advantage from a public point of view. A few men monopolise the plant, and the efficiency of the Brigade is neglected for the sake of winning, if possible, some paltry trophy. The Napier paper altogether overlooks the healthy spirit of emulation that competition creates in any body of men, and we certainly do not think it creditable to the Napier people if they are inclined to treat in this stingy manner men who must sacrifice much time in the interests of the public.

A seam of coal has been found at Te Puke, Tauranga.

The Napier Athenreum Committee is going in for borrowing £2OO. The Ohau leaves for Tauranga and Anck. land at ten o’clock this morning. A bazaar in aid of the South Dunedin Presbyterian Church realized £340.

There are 108 princes and 68 princesses of a marriageable age in Europe. It is about time some of them got married. The privileges for the Hospiial Sports are to be disposed of on Saturday by Messrs Graham, Pitt, and Bennett,

Mr Thompson, Sheep Inspector, has been appointed to eaa that the variegated thistle is eradieaied in this district. Whakatane is included in the East Coast sheep district,

Captain Wright arrived from South on Sunday, and hae assumed command of the “ Harmy." We are shortly to be honoured by a visit from a number of officers, when there are to be high jinks.

The dangerous practice of letting off crackers is being liberally indulged in by the youngsters of the town, and on more than one occasion there have been narrow escapes from accidents from the practice.

We regret to see that the Amateur Athletic Club have not liberally responded to the privilege granted them by the Hospital Sports Committee. Two events were specially set apart for their benefit, but it will be seen that the entries are very small.

Mr Thompson, who instituted the Vogelian row, has become better known in a few hours than most men—even Ministers—can manage in years. The rabid Lyttelton limes calls nun the meanest of the mean, but every other paper upholds him.

A peculiar accident happened at the public school yesterday to a boy named McLeod. He put a pistol bullet in his ear, pushed it in so far as to necessitate the sending for a doctor for its removal. The youngster is not likely to repeat the experiment.

At the Trust Commissioner's Court yesterday certificates were granted to a deed of conveyance from Tiopira Tawhiao to Kinroes and Graham for Whatatutu, and con. veyance from Hareta Mangapuhia to the Auckland Agricultural Company of Warekopai block No. 18.

In answer to Sir Julius Vogel on Wednesday last the Premier said the Government would bring in a Bill to legalise such expenditure by municipal bodies which had been disallowed by the Auditor-General as they thought necessary. They would also propose to make provision for future similar cases. The construction of the Manchester Canal the commencement of which was cabled last week, is one of the greatest works of the period, the contract price for its completion being £5,750,000. This new commercial highway is expected to be opened in about four years.

The Colonial Secretary, in answer to Mr b ish, said the date of the Dunedin Mayoral election had been altered on account of• the day fixed being a holiday. He understood it was none at the request of the Council to meet the wishes of the citizens. Our Mayoral election takes place on a holiday—St Andrew’s Day—when the Hospital sports are to be held. Perhaps the day for the election could be altered as in this instance.

Colone! Lyon died suddenly at Auckland on Friday. The supposed cause of death being heart desease. The deceased gentleman in his youth was one of her Majesty’s pages, and his first military service was performed as on officer in the Coldstream Guards. Thence he exchanged to the 92nd Highlanders, m which regiment he served in the Crimea. In 1862 he came to this colony, and in the following year became colonel of the 3rd Waikato Regiment. He was continuously in the service of the New Zealand Govern, ment until last year, when he was superannuated, two years’ salary being awarded to him as a gratuity.

During a debate in the House on Thursday Sir Julius Vogel represented the Premier as having made a certain statement upon the question at issue, whereupon the Premier iuteijeoted “I eaid nothing of the sort.” Sir Julius Vogel at onoe asked the Speaker's ruling on this expression, remarking that " under our new system " he did not think it was parliamentary, The Speaker ruled against Sir Julius, who, however, was about to raise the question again, when the Premier stopped the discussion by saying that he would substitute for the words objected to others to the effect that the hon. gentleman had misunderstood him.

Considerable amusement was occasioned on Saturday afternoon by an incident which occurred in Gladstone Road. An elderly man was observed crossing the road with rather unsteady gait. This attracted the eagle eye of a precocious youth who evidently wanted to see whether the individual in question would overbalance himself by havlug to pick up his hat. The attempt, however, failed, and the next instant might have been seen the boy running at full speed followed by our friend. Tha youngster managed to make good his escape, otherwise, judging by the threats used, the youthful Offender would have had a rough time of it. Hie scene was brought to a close by a policeman taking the man off to the Government boarding-house, and yesterday he was fined 10a for drunkenness.

As the day approaches for tha Mayoral election the interest in the contest increases, and the supporters of the different candidates are even at this early period working quietly in favor of their respective men. The seat on the Harbor Board is, in the present state of affairs, considered more important than the magisterial chair, and perhaps it is well this should be so. It will be a matter for regret, however, it Captain Tucker and Mr Joyce both go to the poll, and thus allow the other candidate a much better chance of getting in. But of course it is only assumption to say what are the views of any of the candidates, as no personal expression has yet been given. We again suggest that something tangible should be set forth for the benefit of the ratepayers who may ba undecided in their euoice. Probably a step has not already been taken in this direction owing to a feeling of deference towards Mr DeLautour, who has been absent from the district for some time. He arrived from South on Sunday, but -had to go on to Auckland by the same boat. Possibly this gentleman’s views are sufficiently well known, judging from his previous term of office. Captain Tucker has certainly taken the lead so far, and this morning publishes a brief address to the ratepayers.