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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 50, 7 May 1873, Page 2

Public Meeting. —We understand that a public meeting is to -be called at an early date to discuss the advisability of enlarging the present Road Board District. We have to acknowledge receipt of two catalogues of trees, plants, seeds, &c., from Sturm’s celebrated ' nursery at ‘ West Clive, Hawke’s Bay. They are replete with information, and seem to comprehend: everything likely to be required either in the garden, the orchard, or the forest, and. at prices whieh are reasonable. We shall have much pleasure in placing them at the disposal of any of our readers, -who-do not happen to have them.

Sheet Inspector. —ln a recent Provincial Government Gazette we observe that Mr. James Meldrum of Gisborne has been appointed Inspector of Sheep and Registrar of Brauds for the East Coast District, in the place of Mr. George Scott; also Landing Inspector of Sheep for the port of Turanganui. Oil Springs. —We are given to understand that the success whieh has attended Mr. Cooper’s project of starting a company here to test the capabilities of the Oil Springs yielding abundantly, gives promise of a .Speedy fulfilment of it. Mr. Cooper has already got some of the leading interests in the block, arid no unnecessary delay wdl in putting things into practical shape? The Weather. — After two or three fine days, the atmosphere has again become thick with humid.-vapor. The storms and redundancy of rain with which -we have been visited for some time past, are now telling their tale. The sullen dampness of Autumn has brought its usual-companions, whooping, cough and influenza, and other disagreeables incident to the time of year ; the temperature is unseasonably mild • and the growth in gardens, and luxuriance of pasture feed, are simply magnificent.

The Mail Service in our port is in a disgraceful state of collapse ; on two or three occasions lately very inconvenient delays have been occasioned, and unseemly disputes have arisen as to whose duty it is to see to the carriage of mails to and from the Post-office and the ship. Last week volunteers were solicited from among the crowd,- —but not by any, recognized authority, —to take charge of the bags, and they did ; two stalwart citizens undertook the duty of staggering through the streets, each with a load, to the Post-office, to the evident delight of Squills who looked on with all the complacency of which he is capable. On Monday last we had a repetition of it, with variafions, and we got our mails (which arrived on Sunday) by 12 o’clock the following day. If Shakespeare lived in these days and desired to improve on the character of Romeo’s Apothecary, he would decidedly have made him a country post-masted as well. > - 1 • ' - -

The Sheep Act. —We believe it is not generally known, even by those most in terested in the transport and ■ shipping of sheep, that an examination fee of sixpence per head is leviable upon all sheep water-borne from places without the province of Auckland and landed at the Port of Poverty Bay. We reprint the clauses of the Sheep Amendment Act bearing directly on the subject, so that it may be seen what difficulties there are in the way of an even, and satisfactory carrying out of its provisions. Attention has been drawn to the matter before ; and it is certainly high time .something were done to remove the perplexities that must arise, in every instance, as the Act stands at present. That in practice it will prove abortive in preventing the spread of disease is self-evident; and that as a piece of local legislation if is .something like a farce, is being proved atteach’ wage of the proceedings. At the present time there are' some thousands of sheep on the road overland, and about to be shipped to this Port; and nothing has been done to remedy the defects that have imperceptibly crept into the Act. On Monday the newly-ap-pointed Inspector met with a difficulty in his first examination, whieh, as it opens up a new feature, might have placed all parties in an unpleasant position. Clause 4 says that “the owners ” shall pay the fees. The Opotiki brought' some sheep, without the owner, from Napier, und what is worse no one was authorized to pay the demand made by the Inspector, who properly refused to examine the sheep unices the money were paid. At length a guarantee was given for the due liquidation of the fees and the landing was effected in course. But that may happen again and not be so easily disposed of. Then again the sheep coming overland from Napier will escape this tax. They can come free, as it is only in “ landing sheep ” that the Inspector can interfere. He is bound to inspect them, however ; if they have the foot-rot he cannot detain them; if they have the scab he cannot permit them to proceed; he cannot quarantine them as he has no ground for the purpose ; and if they are driven on he must enforce the penalty for breach of the law 1 We hope Mr. Meldriim yill represent the matter to the Government with a view to removing this quadruple absurdity without delay. The following are the clauses alluded to:— “2. From and after the passing of , this Act no sheep in course of transmission from any place without the .Province o£ Auckland shall be landed in any place within_the Province without the written permission the Inspector of Sheep for the District such last -"mentioned place shall be situate or of sornri person duly appointed in writing in’’that behalf by the Superintendent. 3. Before granting permission for the landing bf 'any such sheep the said Inspector or such appointee shall examine such sheep for the purposes mentioned in the sixth section oft he 'said Act and if such sheep shall be free from scab, foot-rot, and other infectious diseases permission may be given to land them forthwith upon compliance with the other requirements of the-said Act and of this Act.; 4. it shall be lawful for the said Superintend 6®t from time, to. time, wheyeyer. and as -often as to him it shall * seem meet to fix the ' charges to be paid by the owners.of suchsjieen.ui respect of siich 'examination which charges the said owners shall ppy to the paid Inspector or appointee before each sheep'shall be landed Provided ajways that sucji fees and charges shall be duly notified in thri Provincial Government Gazette. 6. Eveiy owner of any such sheep who shall land or permit or suffer the same to be laaderi' before; the same shall have been submitted to such examination or before the charges payable under this Act shall -have brien paid shall in either 'of such cases be deemed to have committed an offence against this Act and shall conviction be Hable to a penalty not exceeding One hundred pounds.”

New Hotel.— The for further hotel accommodation in Gftborne win fully tested yesterday morning on the arrival of the Rangatira. The Albion and Argyll Hotels *s well as Daly’s boarding house were ail pretty full, and it required some tact and nianageuient to cater for the wants of the large influx of population. On Saturday l(r. Morey after a delay of about three weeks waiting for a steamer started overland with 50 horses for the Auckland market. He purposes taking the Taupo road for it, whieh, although it will add 150 miles to the journey he thinks preferable to, and more profitable than waiting here any longer. The Columbia is to take on a cargo of sheep and pigs from Tologa Bay also for this gentleman immediutelv.

Mammoth Troupe.— lt will be seen by advertisement that an important, addition has been made to our population by the arrival of the Rangatira yesterday. Dogs and Monkeys abound pretty well in this district already, but, amusmgnrthey are, they are not capable of pleasing so much as those we are promised to witness perform this evening. Miss Neilson, the charming singer, will also prove a great attraction to the lovers of music.

Larceny. —A rather daring theft was committed on Monday night by some persons at present unknown. An entrance was affected into the back premises of, Mr. Skipworth's residence, and the clothes hues were completely stripped of their contents. Either in the hurry, or in the jubilarit delight of the thief at finding himself in possession of so much ready made linen, he (or they) dropped several pieces in effecting his escape, and left besides a sufficient number of other glides behind as to enable the police to his, or their, identification. Much damage was ;also done, it is believed by the same marauders, .to the building at the old brewery site.

Education Ratb. — Sergeant Shirley, the Collector of the Education Rate has, we understand, sent in his resignation to the Provincial Government. It appears that when he undertook the duty it was understood that the rates for the year were to be made in one payment, which is quite correct. The collector now finds that a great amount of opposition, or rather, we may say, objection, has been offered to this arrangement, it being urged that the rates should only be paid quarterly. This assuredly, is an unjustifiable attitude to assume; as there is no foundation for its excuse in the Education Act. Sergeant Shirley should test it by application to the R.M’s Court, but he prefers peace to fighting.