ROAD BOARD ACCOUNTS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 75, 2 August 1873, Page 2

ROAD BOARD ACCOUNTS.

Sib, —I have waited patiently for the issue of your paper in which I had hoped to see the publication of the statements and accounts read by the Chairman at the Annual Meeting of Ratepayers on the 21st inst. The hasty and generally ill-con-sidered way in which the business of these meetings is usually conducted, affords no opportunity for the public to investigate its own affairs from one year to another; aud it is very lit tle satisfaction to be told that ratepayers have free admission to the accounts of the Board at all reasonable times. I would therefore suggest that the accounts of the Board be published at the end of each financial year, which would give the public a greater interest in its affairs.—Yours, Ac., CIViS. Gisborne, July 31,1873.

Sib, —My attention was attracted some time since by an article in your paper, describing the working of Building Societies. 1 have since looked in vain for any awakening of the people to the advantages to be gained by, and the necessity for, such a society here, where there is a daily increasing community, and plenty of building ground, but no houses. It was only a few weeks since I saw a family wandering about the whole day looking for shelter, money in their pocket, but no accommodation to be had, till at last they found shelter in a miserable calico tent. I am satisfied that the people only want the matter put into working order for them; and I would suggest that a meeting of all settlers interested in the prosperity of the place be held, a definite plan of operation be decided upon, and a society be farmed without further delay.—l am, Ac., P.

Sib, —In your remarks on the proceedings at the Separation meeting on Monday last, you say that it a matter of congratulation that the small show of opposition against the adoption of the Petition, praying for separation, was overcome ; but I think in fairness to your readers you ought to have stated that that opposition was only overcome by the casting vote of the Chairman, as the report in your last issue will prove. You also say that my objection to Separation was solely on account of the expense of working a local board.

Now, sir, I must protest against you leading the public to infer any such thing, for, although I may have stated that as one of my reasons, my principal one was that the movement is premature; and, whilst admitting that we have not had our fair share of revenue (on which subject I think all agree), I cannot but think if the matter is fairly represented to the Provincial Government they will not refuse to treat us with common fairness, and as it is most probable we shall be represen tod in the next Council by a man elected by ourselves : it will be his duty to see that they do so. I must also point out a fact to your readers winch is familiar to yourself,—namely—that the late Road Board applied to the Provincial Government for a share of the Loan, which it is supposed is about to be raised by them ; and no doubt if this agitation is carried ou it will damage our chance of getting it. In conclusion I may add that I am backed up in my opinions against separation at present, by a considerable number of my fellow-settlers, who think with me that it will be time enough for that when the Provincial Government refuse any just demands we may in future make en them.—-I am, sir, yours truly, 8. Parsons. Matewhero, Ist August, 1873.

Excelsior Vabiety Tbovte,—The heavy rain which continued throughout Wednesday last necessitated a postponement of the performance by thia Troupe advertized for that evening, until Thursday evening. The weather was beautifully fine, and, many visitors being in from the country, we were glad to see a well-filled house. The great attraction was the fact of a lady gymnast making her first appearance in Poverty Bay, and, we dare say, to many, for the first time m their lives, as, outside large towns where tastes differ, and it requires a modicum of everything to please everybody, females are seldom known to take part in such performances. Mdlle. Laura, is an exception to the rule of physique generally acquired by those who professionally train themselves down to what we may term a muscular condition She is fair, fresh, and embonpoint to a degree which obviously impedes the facility of quick movements; but, nevertheless, she acquited herself very creditably on the trapeze, and her performances were evidently well receiv«d. Of the rest of the Troupe we cannot wiy enough, and, therefore, do not know where to begin. The programme was varied by the introduction of new feats, new songs by Mr. Brodie, and a change of Comic Nigger Scenes by Messrs. Mason ana Bandell, which sent the audience home grinning immensely. We shall be pardoned by the other members of if we call .Mr. Mure before the public as, in his profession, being in every way worthy of their special commendation. This gentleman in his College days, won distinction in calisthenics, and was rewarded by a substantial recognition of his prowess, iu the shape of a silver medal which he generally wears on his breast during the performances; it bears the following inscription on the obverse “ Mr. Long’s Gymnasium, Glasgow, Session 1863-64. First prize,” and on the reverse “ For Excellence in Gymnastics. Won by Mr. John M. Mure I” That the medal was not unworthily bestowed, we have much pleasure in bearing testimony to ; and the reputation gained by Mr. Mure in days lang syne—when he entertained no thought of turning it to such practical results as are necessary sometimes in the vicissitudes of colonial life—has been maintained to the delight of all who in later years witness his feats of skill and strength, and to have additional lustre added to it by the small, but very appreciative audiences in Gisborne, which will continue to greet him so long as he stays among them. We regret to add that an accident has befallen one of the member*, which will, probably, preclude him from performing again here. During the rehearsal on Thursday, in turning a summersault, one of the Fran coni brothers, alighted on the side of his foot, giving a violent sprain to his ankle; this somewhat interferes with existing arrangements, but the public will not suffer. To-night the Troupe will appear again with an entirely new programme, introducing the treble trapeze, and Mdlle, Laura in her new sensational pose.

The Wanganui Herald says :■ —A striking example of the vicissitudes of colonial life has lately come under our notice. ■Our readers will recollect an advertisement appearing in our -columns a few days since, inviting applications for the office of teacher for the native school at '“Jerusalem,” a settlement some 60 miles up the Wanganui river. The gentleman appointed to the post is Captain Curling, late B.M. of the Napier district. For many years Captain Curling occupied the -chief position at Napier, and was generally respected and esteemed by the settlers there. By one of the many changes only to be met with in colonial experience, the same gentleman, talented and highly educated, now fills the post of teacher at an obscure native school.

Lettebs which we have received from Ontario, Canada, show that several families in that State are contemplating removal to New Zealand. We extract the following from a letter dated in April last: —“ A number of my friends desire me to write to you, asking you to be kind enough to forward say three of your leading weekly papers, namely, your Weekly News and the Christchurch and Dunedin papers. My friends are mostly farmers with capital. Their object is to buy land and farm it, if such can be done to advantage. The reason they are dissatisfied with Canada is the extreme length and severity of the winters: there is not less to-day than 4ft. of snow on the level, and it takes nearly all that can be made from cows in the summer to feed them during the winter.”—Daily Southern Cross.

I believe (says * lady correspondent) London is now the most musical capital in Europe. The great perfection to which the art is being brought in public is telling upon private society. One hardly ever hears young ladies play and sing nowadays. They learn music, indeed, and from the most expensive masters, but their friends profit by their acquirements on only the most informal occasions. Professional musicians form a portion of all private entertainments of a certain style and importance, and concerts have taken the place of the “ dances,” as distinguished from balls, of a few seasons ago. It is the custom now, at the “ afternoons ” of certain great ladies, to "give music”—that is, a professional singer of great repute, attired in splendid afternoon dress, comes in, sings a song or two, and retires, to do the same in some other drawingroom. This costs money, and is only one of the innovations which are fast turning '* afternoon tea” into an institution involving great expense and excessive luxury. The toilettes worn on these occasions are very magnificent, and the flower decorations of the rooms are superb. All the fire-places in the re-ception-room are to be turned into jardinieres this summer, and already at one or two great houses the new fashion of suspending wreaths across the entrance on festive occasions has been adopted. Natural flowers only are worn in the hair at balls, and huge bouquets are carried in the hand, to the general inconvenience. Young girls wear large bundles of violets or primroses, tied in with the bows of the long and wide sashes which adorn their gowns, white the elder ladies wear sprays of lilac, purple and whits. The flower shows are to be more than ever wonderful thia year; there are rumors of marvellous results in rose nmtwn, and perfect prodigies in dwarf flowers.