THE STANDARD. SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1873.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 65, 28 June 1873, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1873.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right: , We shall deny to no man justice or right#' We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

Inspection Parades. — The Commanding Officer’s usual Inspection Parades have been held during the first four days of the week in town and country. We are glad to find from the Militia Office reports that a great improvement, over any parade yet held, waa noticeable throughout the whole of the exercises of the various companies and troops, both as regards discipline and behaviour in the ranks. On Monday Captain Tucker’s No. 1 Company of Militia; Captain Hardy’s Troop; and the Rifle Volunteers, under Lieutenant DaW w«mt through their usual evolutions in P' the afterpoon the mounted m*the beach, (which, at low opportunit’*'

reported as being in a very satisfactory condition. On Thursday, No. 3 Company of Militia under Captain Johnson were paraded at Ormond and shewed up very well. An unusual number of sick certificates are reported among the absentees. We have alluded to the “ exhibitions which these inspections present. One of these is the old sore of the officers keeping so much in the back ground. Why on earth they should be contented to act the dummy on parade, which they would be ashamed to do in the field, we cannot account for. The effect of this was seen on Monday, when a subaltern was ordered to take a portion of his company (men without weapons) and move them about. This was carried out to the letter, until long joumeyings, and an exhaustion of said subaltern’s military knowledge, induced him to seek repose and his mens’ comfort, under the friendly shade of the Music Hall. Here, reclining safe from the eye of observation, the pleasant weed wiled away the hour, and the veterans of the ranks improved the occasion by putting said subaltern through his facings, and sundry cross bantering*, on an officer’s duty in extending and closing his company; also sundry kind enquiries as to whether his maternal parent was aware of his absence from home. Had these men been properly armed and officered, their time and the colony’s money would not have been wasted; to say nothing of the post of an officer being covered with ridicule through the incompetency of those whose chief glory is their uniform. Quadbille Assembly. — The usual fortnightly assembly, Tuesday evening next at 8 o’clock punctually. On Dit. —The last new thing out at the Gisborne Post-office is an invitation by the Postmaster to enquirers for letters, to the effect that if they are in a hurry they had better fetch the mail from the vessel themselves. We are getting on! Church Sebvices.—The Rev. Mr. Root wishes it to be notified that through the kind permission of Captain Read and Dr. Nesbitt, Divine Service will be held in the Court-house, at Gisborne, on Subday evenings at 6.30 until further notice. The bell at the School-house will be rung as usual. Local Industry.—lt gives us great pleasure in announcing the laying of the keel for a schooner to be built for Capt. Trimmer at Tologa Bay. She is intended to trade on the coast, and possessing a light draught, will be a welcome addition to the carrying capacity of the port. We shall take an early opportunity for giving full particulars _of this, work as its proceeds.

Pig Hunting.—Mr. Wyllie’s public notation for porcine sport has received many responses. On Wednesday several parties, fully armed and equipped, sallied forth over the hills and dales of the run in search of prey, but, we understand they did not succeed in “ bagging ” many. The fem and bush render it almost impossible to find pigs without a good dog or two which Mr. Wyllie objects to on account of the sheep. Mb. Mobey, who left Poverty Bay some two months since with a mob of horses, arrived safely in Auckland with a loss of onjy a few stragglers, which can be easily picked up. Mr. Morey reports favorably on the journey and his speculation ; but he says it will not answer any one’s purpose to undertake it at this time of the year; the feed was so scarce along the road, that some of the animals were hardly recognizable from the effects of the journey. Obmond Dbamatic Club.—We are glad to hear that this club is likely to have extended means at its command, for the production of plays, and other entertainments. The Government have decided upon enlarging, and otherwise improving the building, used at present as a theatre, for the purposes of a gymnasium. The stage will also be enlarged considerably; in fact, as it is to have a new roof, sides, and flooring, it will be much like the school boy’s knife that he had kept for years, giving it, in the meantime, two new blades and three new handles.

Pheasants. — Two fine English pheasants, cock and hen, have been presented to Mr. Wyllie, by a friend who procured them from the Auckland Acclimatization Society. Mr. Wyllie intends to keep them for a season for breeding purposes, when, as their numbers increase, he will let them loose. A large aviary has been built, to let them have as much wing as possible. Farmers are divided in their opinion as to the advantages to be derived from the presence of these birds in the country; but we should certainly like to see them down in this direction, as well as many other birds which it will require, perhaps, a little local effort and money to procure. Harbour Improvements. — These are high sounding words to be used in reference to the port of Poverty Bay; but we have been taught in a hard school to look upon small mercies with much gratitude. The Provincial Government have sent down an anchor and a buoy consigned to the Road Board, whose engineer succeeded, with the assistance of Captain Kennedy of the Tawera, in putting them in position on Tuesday last. The following particulars, obligingly furnished to us by Mr. Skeet, will be of great benefit to sailing masters and others in making the mouth of the Turanganui river. The buoy floats in mid-channel, about 250 yards from, and outside of the bar in 2| fathoms at low water. '* T ’’ *' v; ng the entrance will steer N'F two beacons, keeping rt bank, and the other anchors, to which ced 15 fathoms ng due West, der this head reps down on supply that op of the ration of wing not the Bay nents to obliged

by a sKbrt report of the various Native schools the Colonel has inspected in this district.* To dur extreme surprise, the note was returned to us with this endorsement s— ‘ Colonel Russell ienotin the habit of tupplying any information to the Preet.’ Possibly the Government may have good and substantial reasons for not making such reports public, but we ask our readers, was the Inspector** reply one that we have a right to receive from a public Official ? We fear (like Tittlebat Titmouse) Colonel Russell is unaccustomed to the position he is at present allowed to occupy; that he has become to use a vulgar, but expressive phrase, ’ too big for his boots ;’ fancies himself a ‘ triton among the minnows.* and a very great man indeed. He has frequently broken a lance with the Press of the colony, and has been admonished by more than one journal for his arrogance and want of courtesy. Only a short time ago our plucky contemporary the Povebty Bay Standard took Colonel Russell severely to task, alleging, in substance, that he had not the ability, prudence, tact, and manner, or indeed one single qualification for his appointment as Inspector of Native Schools.”