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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 5, 2 November 1872, Page 2

We are glad to announce, what seems at the time of our writing, a return of settled fine weather. During the past month we have had more severe changes than during the winter portion of the year. Shearing, which generally commences tolerably early with us, is going on cheerily, but the remarkably sudden alternations from very dry heat to intense cold and wet, have told with unprofitable effect upon the shorn ones of our flocks. A correspondent informed us the other day that in the distance of half a mile on a neighbour's run, he counted as many as one hundred and seven newly shorn sheep lying dead, owing to the inclemency of the weather. The seasonable rains have a beneficial effect which we did not experience last year, and the crops, particularly potatoes and corn, promise a plentiful yield. The JFeeiZy Herald says s —lt was proposed in the Hawke’s Bay Club at Napier, to expel Mr. H. R. Russell. A full meeting was held, and twenty one votes were given in negative of the proposition.” (That does not give us the actual result Df the proposition.—Ed. P.B. Standard) - .

The 2T. B. Herald's correspondent, blame tho authorities for bringing women and children to the settlement at the seventy-mile bush. Bo says many of the Immigrants arc totally unskilled in building houses. Their houses are not roofed, the heavy rain has been falling, many of the families are huddled together in one small building, and there is great suffering. We hear that some of the tenders recently sent in to the Road Board, have been rejected chiefly through a non-compliance with the conditions of the specifications. Contractors should understand that, although a tender may be unexceptionable in other respects, any one of the terms, on which it is supposed to be made not being satisfied, is sufficient to cause its rejection.

On Sunday last the Rev. Father O'Connell officiated here, and after mass a meeting was held, when a committee of the following gentlemen, Rev. Father O’Connell, Mr. William Daly, Mr. Owen Cowen, Mr. James Mullooly, Mr George Williamson, Mr. V. Eiffe, Mr. J. Collins, Mr. W. Walsh, Mr. James Mooney, and Mr. Frederick Keating, was elected for purpose of assisting to collect funds towards the erection of a new Church at Gisborne. Before the bjosq of the meeting a subscription was opened, 'and ; those present subscribed to the’ ampjiqt of. £77 13s. We understand that Father O’Comiell purposes making a tour through the solicit subscriptions towards the above and shall rejoice to hear of the same amotmt&f success attending the labors of the reverend gentleman, as that which greeted him last Sunday. We congratulate our friends of the Roman communion on the fact of luiving a resident pastor, and we commend the earnest liberality of their body in so nobly getting over the difficulties of an early start. “. . .He who would be free, * Himself must strike tho blow.” Father O'Connell officiates at Ormond to-mor-row morrl’Pjl- . _ In the interest of Church harmony the meeting which was convened on Tuesday evening for the congregation to make “such arangements as will conduce to the efficiency of tho choir,” cannot be regarded as a success from the convener’s point of view. We do not desire to import anything savouring of a polemical discussion into what might have been considered, under other circumstances, as Church polity, and within the power of the choir members themselves to have arranged without the intervention of the public ; but the invitation of the choir master was such as allows us the privilege of remarking on the proceedings. The “congregation,” exclusive of choir members, was represented by only two gentlemen, which fact plainly shewed that the matter should have been left where it was. That no alteration was effected we cannot be surprised at, as the promoters of the meeting had no suggestion to offer which would secure the efficiency aimed at. Therefore our duty is easily discharged when we report that there is nothing to report on, save a little umbrage which the choir have taken at the uncomplimentary advertising for recruits without any reference to them as a body. But we hink even this has passed away, and the member* have shewn their good sense by not resenting tho liberty the choir master has taken with them, although possibly with the bes 4 intentions. It is as well that these small matters should be settled within doors, so to speak, as much as possible. One’s affairs are seldom improved on by calling for assistance from outside, and “ the congregation’s ” answer to the choir master’s solicitation is an emphatic testimony to the fact that the present arrangements are satisfactory, if not perfect. We give Mr. Lysnar credit for a genuine desire to see improvement effected in the choir portion of our Church service, and we admit its necessity, but think he took the wrong steps for tho furtherance of his object, and with many other choirs, with which we have been acquainted, such a course would have secured the dissolution he was anxious to avoid. From several conversations with some of the members, we take the liberty of suggesting that rules be adopted for the future management of the choir, and to meet emergencies like that which has just occurred.

We draw the attention of our sporting friends to the meeting of the Poverty Bay Turf Club advertized for this evening at the Albion Hotel. We believe it is exclusively confined to “ members,” but the terms on which intending members will be admitted, can be had from Mr. Hall or Mr. Woodbine Johnson.

The usual monthly Volunteer company parades were held on Thursday, but beyond the fact of Captain Hardy’s Troop appearing in their new uniform nothing of a very startling character occurred. This body of Horse are rolling up pretty strong and gives promise of effectiveness in time of need.