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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 34, 12 March 1873, Page 2

Ous Roads.—The present state of our highways owing to the incessant reins of the pagt few weeks, demands that what little authority we have got in the place should be directed towards mending their almost untravellable condition, and also to look so far ahead as to be ready when the revenue comes in, to metal at least eome portion of them. A detour has to be made from Blake’s corner fakarak towards Ormond, from off the trunk line of road, which has cost many hundreds of pounds to form, and the traffic both heavy and light suffers much inconvenience. t It would be much better to have a small portion good, than all of it so bad as to be impassable.

Banking Accommodation.—Our readers will be glad to learn that that moat necessary adjunct to business operations, is now a fact in Gisborne. A branch of the Union Bank of Australia, adjoining Mr. Parnell’s store, and a ' branch of the Bank, of New Zealand, adjoining s the Albion Hotelfboth opened their doors to ‘ the public yesterday. Excursion to NAPlER.—Captain Chrisp offers a capital inducement to those desirous of . having a cheap return trip to Napier. The ' Comerang is to make three trips between the two Ports, and for £3 any one can remain a ' week in Hawke’s Bay. She will leave about ! Friday evening nest. Monthly Ciecvlab —Mr. Harding has sent s us a copy of his neat little circular, published . during the temporary suspension of the Hawke's , Bay Timet. We nave Ipng thought that a ' periodical synopsis of news, after the style of ! “ Public Opinion,” coupled with a trade circular 1 for colonial and home distribution, is much re- , quired and would be a paying speculation; and > we see no reason why the present circular should , not supply the want, as it has the advantage of being conducted by a gentleman in every way qualified, by experience, to undertake the task. The Weather. —We are glad to report a change in the tempestuous and wet weather which has come in an almost unbroken succession since the middle of January. Last week it cleared up, and there seems to be every probability of February’s weather coming in March, and with it, we hope, a disappearance of the ill health of which most people, in the shape of either influenza or bronchitis, accompanied with low fever, have complained for weeks past. Accidents.—J. H. Campbell Esq., the R.M. at Waiapu, had a very narrow escape, while on the journey from Waiapu to Gisborne on Sunday last. It appears that while proceeding in file, along a precipitous and dangerous part of the road, he hit the horse in front of him, on the rump with a stick. The animal replied with his hind legs, but fortunately, being unshod, the damage did not result in broken bones. Mr, Campbell has a severe contusion on the leg, also on the arm which the horse inflicted on him while down.—Mr. W. Daly also came to grief while tiying to subdue a restive horse on Sunday. The animal reared up and fell backwards on his rider, Mr. Daly has suffered severely, but no bones are broken. Chapman v. Read.—Mr. Chapman has requested us to explain with reference to that portion of the evidence, in this case, heard in the R.M.’s Court here on Thursday last, which we understood to imply a doubt as to his professional qualifications. We have much pleasure in doing this, and further, in testifying to those qualifications ourselves. We did not express an opinion on the evidence, but merely gave, as was our duty, our impression of the nature of the defence. We are now satisfied that there was

no desire to impugn the ability of Mr. Chapman to perform the work for which he had been engaged. We have seen the credentials and other testimony, which Mr. Chapman possesses, from Messrs. Ransoms, Sims, and Head; Hawthorne, and Sone, and other English firms with which he had been connected, and are glad to see that his skill is so far acknowledged as to find employment in the colony under the Messrs. Brogden. Cricket.—There are hopes that this noble game for outdoor exercise will be resumed in this district.' In the old, or rather in the young days of this settlement, cricketing was resorted to con amove, but then, it is true, time was discounted too freely. There can be no possible reason, however, why an institution, as much our own, nationally, as the language we speak, should not take an active and permanent position, without levying a heavy tax on the business portion of the day. It may be too late to act upon such a suggestion this season, but it should not be lost sight of, and even yet there is much fine weather which may be turned to good account. These few remarks are consequent on the installation game which Mr> Bryant gave to a section of his Maori scholars last Saturday afternoon. The Government having provided the usual trappings, several gentlemen were invited to the school ground, where two or three hours were spent very pleasantly —the originals joining in the game, with limited liability, to their intense delight. Mr. Bryant purposes setting aside Friday afternoons for his pupils, and Saturday afternoons for such of the European population as may wish to join in the recreation. Gisborne School Committee.—The first meeting of the Committee elected under the new Act, met in the school-room on Wednesday earning last, to consider matters, jn connection with the school. Mr. Lysnar was confirmed in his position as teacher at the salary hitherto paid to him, namely £l5O a year, with a recommendation to the Board that an additional sum of £25 a year be paid to him on account of house rent. The sum of £lO at present paid as salary in the needle work department was also recommended to be increased to £l5 a year; and a total sum of £6O for part fencing the ground; part lining the school-room; providing extra desks, forms, table Ac., is tote submitted for the approval of the Board. It was also decided to remove the present chimney, and supply a stove for the school-room, from the proceeds of the sale of the bricks. The Committee find themselves in a very awkward predicament from the fact that they will have no money at their own disposal; and while every item of expenditure must have the sanction of the Board, it has decided not to provide for any of the expenses incidental to thto work done by Committees. A proposition n a foot for this Committee to throw itself upon the good fee&ig of the Church people, who use the building on Sundays, to incur the necessary expense of having the room deemed cnee • week. This may be cheap, but it is very nasty, economy I

Dibtbxct Puzbs. —-The following u the scoring of our local company for a special set of , prizes, competed for by members of the two Snider corps,—the Gisborne and Wairoa Eifle Volunteers

The firing of the Militia and Cavalry we'hear was such as not to justify any record being kept. It is only due to them, however, to say that none but a company of Spartans could endure the discomfiture to which they were exposed during their endeavour. A heavy S.E. gale, and a heavier rain, are not conducive to correct shooting. The Napier allows one week for the solution of the following riddle:—“ Why is a tough seat like a domineering wife ?” Perhaps some of our readers will oblige. At the celebration of the second anniversary of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory in Otago, Mr. Burns made a suitable and feeling reply to the remarks of Messrs. Gillies and Wilf. He said he had felt the serious responsibility he had undertaken in advising the removal to New Zealand of Mr. Smaill and party, and that, if anything would have driven him to the verge of despair, it would have been the failure of those people he had persuaded to leave home and friends to make a new home in New Zealand. He, however, had never entertained the slightest fear of the ultimate ssue. Mr. Smaill and party arrived in Otago in May, 1871; in October of that year, the first wool was put through the machine ; but it was the following month before cloth of any kind was sent to market, since which time the factory had turned out 600 pieces of tweed of 40 yards each; 160 pieces of plaiding of 60 yards each; 500 pairs of blankets, 90 plaids, 20 shawls, 180 spindles of fingering worsted, 600 do. yarn, 645 pairs pants, 113 shirts, 1,200 pairs socks, and 550 pairs of- stockings. The stock at present was very low ; there was not a pair of socks on hand, and in other lines there was very little left to sell. Immigration.—On this question the Waikato Times forcibly remarks “On reference to the instructions furnished to the Agent-General by Mr. Gisborne, it will be seen that 800 adults was the number fixed upon as capable of absorption by this province during the year 1872. * Wellington had allotted to it 1,000; Hawke’s Bay, 600; Canterbury, 2,250: and Otago, 3,250. It appears singular that Auckland, with its large area of country, should liave had such a comparatively small number estimated as necessary to supply its requirements. The General Government wrote to the Superintendent of each province, asking to be informed as to the number of immigrants his division of the colony could advantageously absorb. The Government took action in accordance with the opinions thus procured, and, the number suggested have been introduced. In order that our readers may judge of the neglect this province is experiencing, we will inform them that, about the time the letter was received by Mr. Gillies, an agitation of voluntarily unemployed was being carried on in Auckland. He appears not to have been capable of estimating at their proper value the statements of these men. Had he been well informed of the circumstances of the settlers in the country districts, he would have known that the statement was false that work was not to be procured ; he would have been aware that those who were clamouring for work had not attempted to find any beyond the outskirts of the city. We believe it is an indisputable fact that the neglect of this province by the General Government, as regards immigration, is entirely owing to our Superintendent not having taken the trouble to ascertain the wants of the people. It appears not to be yet sufficiently understood that the payment of £4 in this colony ensures a passage to any person nominated. Now, there are few people who have not got some friend in the. county from whieh they emigrated, to whom they could apply for the name of a respectable man willing to come out. ... If every settler who employs labor would send for one immigrant, the market would become speedily supplied with the class of men required. Four pounds is not a large amount to advance, and, in- the event of the person nominated hot coming out, the money is returned. We cannot believe that there would be the slightest difficulty in inducing thousands of laborers to emigrate if proper means were adopted. . . . It is impossible that this colony can become rich and prosperous till labor is procurable at a very much lower rate than at present. Immigration on an extensive scale is the only means of bringing about this desirable end; if every settlement will act on the suggestion we have thrown out, labor and capital will soon be on equal terms.**

Corporal Nasmith.. BOgds 400yds 16 500yds 13 TL 47 Captain Winter .. 17 12 14 43 Lieutenant Daly .. . 15 16 11 42 Private Molntoeh. . 16 13 12 41 Sergeant Reed . 19 15 5 89 Sergeant Pulaford. . 16 14 7 37 Sergeant Stott . 16 11 4 31 Private Hartnett . 7 12 2 21