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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 27, 15 February 1873, Page 2

The sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Tologo Bay, has been postponed to Monday, 17th inst. We hear that Corporal Nasmith, of the Gisborne Rifle Volunteers, has officially notified his intention of not contesting for the prizes at the Nelson gathering. An opportunity of of winning further laurels is thus given to Corporal Renouf, of the Napier Rifle Volunteers, who stands, we believe, next in score. Our Port.—lf we are to continue to go ahead we must be up and doing. It will never suffice us in the end to know now that affairs are running smoothly;—tliat our prospects are hopeful, and the day-time bright. Where all have a direct interest at stake, each should use the power and influence he possesses to promote, it. The greatest good of the greatest number, should be our watchword. Situated as we are in an isolated portion of the province, it will never do to leave the whole conduct of affairs in the hands of an Autocratic few. There must be leaders and there must be followers, and each should remember they are useless without the other. There must be some whose duty it is to take the initiative in public matters ; but the vox populi element is the one which accords best with our democratic institutions, and absolutely necessary to satisfy and guard our privileges. A correspondent has written to us urging the necessity and importance for all persons not on the Electoral Roll to register at once ; and we may possibly hit the chord when we say that not half a dozen have as yet applied to us for registration papers, although they can be had gratis at our office, and nearly six weeks of the time has already elapsed. A Banking branch the trading public and others positively require. We are well informed On' this point, and say with authority that the Bank of New Zealand is desirous of being in the field, but do not know the settlers’ views and wishes on the matter; and that if a requisition were made to the Directory we should have a branch here immediately. They are waiting to be asked; and we would suggest that an influential leading of the trading community should put the matter into shape without delay. Another matter of urgent importance is that alluded to by Captains McLeod and Giles recently in our columns viz., the state of the river, and the entrance to it. We understand one or two members of the Road Board have solicited the opinions of nautical men on this subject, including Captain Kennedy and Captaift Chrisp; these members may be useful in the performance of such official functions as they possess, but they cannot do all that is wanting to be done, and, as a Board, practically nil. As a means of opening up a communication, their usefulness might be utilised by a request from the settlers that the General Government be urged to send their Marine Engineer to inspect and report on the condition of the river, particularly with a view to make the bar entrance safer than at present. A general opinion of those competent to judge is that a great improvement could be effected ata small cost; but that cost would be too great for any local effort, and the General and Provincial Governments together might effect something for a district which has not been killed with kindness from either of them. Combined action should also precede Mr. Lusk’s coming, so as to lay all public matters of complaint and requirement before him Poverty Bay or Turanga, Nick’s Head. Let.3B deg. 45 min. S.; long. 177 deg. 59 min. E.—s miles from head to head, N.E. and S.W. of each other, are the S. white colored projections on coast, until Table Cape 24 miles further S. is reached; bay is 4 miles in depth, 9. Young Nick’s Head is 520 feet high, anchorage 1* miles within, off Wero-wero River, in 3f fathoms, i mile from mouth, nearer than | mile on entering, the ground is very foul, changing from 8 fathoms to 9 feet. From 8-E. it freshens suddenly.— Chapman’s Almanac.

The following entries have bean made for the Orlando Cup, presented by Mr. T. Goldsmith, to be run for at the Race Meeting 1875-6, by the three-year-old produce of the celebrated hone Orlando:— Touchstone, owned by J.B. Poynter. Mabel, owned by J. Uren. Maiden Star, owned by w J. Kennedy. Flat catcher, owned by T. Finucane. Yatterina, owned by T. Finucane. Bob Roy, owned by T- Goldsmith. Matilda, owned by T. Goldsmith. Zouave, owned by C. Westrup. Knight Errant owned by J. W. Johnson. Fly by Night, owned by F. Wilson. Lodi out * owned by M. Halt The Stakes, in addition to the Cup, will be worth about £6O; and we congratulate the spirited proprietor on the success which has attended his enterprise, and endeavour to improve the racing blood of this district. Odd Fellowship.—The Napier Telegraph thus speaks hopefully of our venerable friends the Napier Lodge. “At the election of officers of the Napier Lodge of Odd Fellows, Mr. T. Renouf was elected N.G., Mr. R. 'Barrows, V.G., the late N.G., Mr. S. Carnell, becomes G.M., vice, Mr. T. Watt. We are glad to learn that a new lodge, in connection with the Manchester Unity, will be shortly opened at Wairoa. Considering that this will be the third in the province of Hawke’s Bay, we may hope to chronicle ere long, the formation of Napier into a District.” Is it not time that something was done in the direction of opening a lodge here ? It is true we are, geographically, in the province of Auckland, but that does not prevent the Wellington District—-to which the lodges of the Manchester Unity in Hawke’s Bay belong—from deputing the Fast Officers in Napier to open a lodge in Gisborne which would be affiliated to the Napier District when it obtains its Dispensation. Our new Hall offers a good opportunity for the purpose. We may state, for the information of those t desirous of initiating this matter, that the preliminary course to take is to ascertain the number of candidates likely to become members, and to guarantee on application the cost of Dispensation —usually about £lO.

Gisborne Music Hall.—We are glad to be able to inform our friends both at home and abroad that our new Hall is now out of the hands of the contractors —the Directors having taken formal possession; and that the great want of the town which has hitherto existed viz., a convenient building in which to hold meetings and public entertainments on a large scale, can now be supplied. This township, we must confess, has never been very hard pushed for this kin'd of accommodation, for through the public spirit of Captain Bead in erecting the Court-house in the early days, and his continued good will to the present time, in allowing it to be used for universal requirement, we have been able to make provision for our necessities and amusements. But the time had fully come when it behoved, that gentleman to put a veto on its further use for any. purpose save that for which it was intended; but with a genial good feeling which does him great credit, he hesitated curtailing the enjoyments of the people, before he saw his way to substituting some other means of accommodation. Four gentlemen—the present Directors — put themselves in communication with Captain Bead; assumed the responsibility of accepting his gratuitous offer to advance the money; undertook the management of the building, and have become guarantee for the payment of interest and principal sum borrowed for the purpose—and the result is a Hall of which Gisborne may well be proud. Of course the Directors look to it being the focus, round which will gather all the support which can be given; and they have taken, and are still taking, all possible pains to make the Hall replete with comfort, ana ample in its accommodation for all purposes. The Library, at present held in the Court-house building, will be moved up there at once. The “Trio” Club (we trust we may be pardoned this abbreviated allusion—but we mean no offence) have already began their practices in it. Two or three entertainments are on the tapis, and even the moribund Musical Society may write Resurgam over its last programme. The building of the Hall stands in a central and convenient part of the town, fronting the Gladstone road, which, ere long, will form a splendid highway to and from the country. It m built on a wooden frame work 7 feet high from the ground to the lower plate, with a view to utilise the hollow form of the section, and to give an additional elevation to the building without much extra cost. The facade presents an appearance which will be much improved when the Portico is added, as the three circular flights of steps, whose margins are fringed with sweeping balusters, stand out with a rather naked appearance. On each side of the doorways are single pilasters supporting pediments, and raking mouldings are faced on the pitch of the roof and die into the parapets. The entire length of the building is 70 feet with a breadth of 25 feet. The centre Hall, which is to be seated for about 400 persons, is 58 feet long by 25 feet broad, shewing a height of 19 feet from floor to ceiling which is domed. The building is fined throughout with dressed matched boards. There sre no breaks or obstructions likely to mar , the acoustic properties of the Hall, beyond three or four light iron tie rods. A very, simple contrivance, enables the management-, to erect a frame-work stage, proscenium' and galleys for scenery, in an hour or two. Tha was considered to be advisable as, where in the care of a Ball the space is required, it can be had at a very short notice, with little or no inconvenience. There are deposited in the utilised space below by means of strap door, which answers the purpose also of access to dressing and other private roans beneath the building. The main Hall is intended to be entered during entertainments

through the side doors each of which opens into a room, (forming a wing oh either side) 16 feet by 10 feet; these will be Used as cloak or card rooms as occasions may require where tickets will be received, and be a means of separate ingress and egress to and from the front and back seats during the performance. The Hall will be lit by 3 quadrate burners suspended from the ceiling, and 12 bracket lamps ranged round the walls, which, together with foot-lights, will impart a brilliancy so necessary to effect. At the rear of the llall itself is a room 12 feet by 25 feet with fire-place set apart for the use of the Library and Reading room fitted with shelves with folding doors to shut up the books when the Library is closed and the reading room open. This room has a private entrance at the back of the building which renders it quite* unnecessary to communicate with the mam Hall, or to disturb the members of the Institute, during entertainments. One great advantage will be secured by the height of the floor from the ground, in that the windows can be opened for extra ventilation without suffering annoyance from outside ; a nuisance that became Unbearable in the Court-house. The proscenium and scenic paraphernalia are in active preparation under the artistic brush of one of the Directors, of which we shall have Something to write when finished. The building has cost over £6OO so far and, although many improvements have already Jsuggested themselves, reflects the greatest credit on the courage and public spirit of those who have gratuitously entered upon the speculation solely in the interests of the public. The coming in force of the new Education Act is hailed with delight by the Thames people, the majority of whom thoroughly agree with its provisions, and will be only too*glad to see it in full force.— Daily Southern Cross. The Emperor of Germany has created Mr. Hepworth Dixoji Knight of the Order of the Royal Crown. Tho Supremo Court in Melbourne has awarded a policeman £5OO, damages, for being tossed by a bull.