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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 86, 10 September 1873, Page 2

On the question of our many coinplaints against Mr. Stubbs, for the manner in which he has conducted the Post Office in Gisborne, the editor of the Napier Telegraph assumes a sufficient knowledge of the local circumstances which led to them, as to settle the matter to his own mind, on the ex parte evidence of Mr. St übbs himself, who has written to that journal a “ long letter,” so long, indeed —and so “ fully explaining the 'causes of the hostility shown him by the Poverty Bay Standard,” —that the editor refuses it insertion, but pat ronizingly adds : “ There is no necessity for Mr. Stubbs to prove his innocence of charges that bear on the face of them aversion to an official who has refused to bow down and worship the golden calf set up at Gisborne in the form of the local journal.” There is a small word, whose alpha and omega are A and S, which significantly applies to the writer of such palpable Stuff as the foregoing. He knows positively nothing of the question which he so ostentatiously assumes to judge of; his ignorance is as profound on this matter as it is on many others which he a Id Sarey Gamp, will keep prating about in his own province. He is. however, evidently too well acquainted with the infirmity of Mr. Stubbs’ position to further damage him by printing his letter, which we challenge him to do. Mr. Stubbs might have had the courtesy extended to him by the Standard which he has been denied by the Telegraph ; and we promise him an insertion of his letter, if he thinks he has been unjustly handled. It is just this sort of moral cowardice which so easily imposes on people at a distance, the editor of the Napier Telegraph amongst the number; but knowing the justness of our complaints ; backed, as we are, by ninety-nine hundredths of the residents in the district, we do not intend to take any more notice of this meddling editor than to advise him to mind his own business. When he presumes to interfere in the affairs of Poverty Bay, he soars into a space unsuited to his capacity. He, the maximus m minimis of all the literary teapot squabbles he is continually forcing upon other, journals, should mind his vocation and attend only to those matters which are congenial to his disposition, such as settling points of doubtful grammar with the Herold, and magnanimously kicking his opponent the Times when down.

Turanganui Nann School — Applications are invited from married men only for the appointment of a teacher to the Native School at Turanganui.

Abt Union.—Mr. Nasmith informs ns that he is now organizing his Annual Art Union for the approaching Christinas season, the particulars of which will shortly be made public. Cession Court.—The Government have considered it advisable, under the difficult circumstances in which the Commissioners have been placed, to adjourn the Court for two months. Mr. Commissioner Munro explained this particularly to the natives at the sitting yesterday morning. The Commissioners will leave for Auckland by the Paterson to-morrow. Thb roads throughout rhe district are in so untravellable a state that Bi-lgood’s Express is taken off the line between Gisborne and Ormond for the present; and the heavy traffic drays find it a difficult matter to keep at work. The metal question, for which some £4OO was voted by the Board, seems to have died a death of some kind. Query : natural or unnatural ? Target Practice.—Sections off Capt. Hardy’s Troop of Mounted Volunteers held their usual monthly parade at the butts at Gisborne and Ormond on Monday last. We have not space to append the individual scoring, but, considering the boisterous weather, the average was very fair. There were 3 ranges, 5 shots at each. At the Gisborne end, Volunteer Douglas scored 53, well seconded by Volunteer Thelwall with 52 points, leaving 10 points between himself and the next best. At Ormond, Volunteer Tarr made 51, Volunteer Walsh 43, and Lieutenant Kempt horne 39 points respectively. The tintinnabulation of the bell, —or whatever that cracked article may be called, that does duty outside the Court-house on Sundays, —is u monotonous, dreary sound, even when there’s music in it; but the tin kettle noises, which hebdomidally waketh up the people of Gisborne to pious duty, savor of something so very discordant to the ear, that a feeling of relief pervades the system on their cessation. As it. is necessary to have something of the kind ; and as it is possible that Divine Service will be held in the Court-house for some time to come, would it not be advisable to take advantage of the opportunity, and enlarge upon the idea which this necessity has begotten ? A Town Clock or Bell is much required, for public convenience generally, and the central position of the Courthouse, —added to Captain Read’s known liberality in these matters, —points to that building as a desirable spot in which to place it. It would be the means of supplying a great want, and help us to keep an uniform time, which, when the telegraph is extended thus far, we shall be able to do evenly with the rest of the colony. We propose that a subscription list should be opened for the purpose of purchasing a Town Bell, or failing that, that the congregation of Sunday worshipers should obtain one for Church purposes. We notice that an application has been made by the Tauranga people to the General Government for the supply of a public clock there; perhaps a similar application from this, for a subsidy to our own exertions might be successful. Nothing venture ; nothing have.

Police Accommodation.—Some time since the Provincial Government sent down instructions to the Resident Magistrate here, to get a Survey and Report made on the present Block house, and to suggest what improvements were necessary to make it a safe place of custody. Mr. Skeet made a plan, which accompanied the Report.— sent, we believe, by Major Pitt to the General Government—showing that the present building stands partly upon the public street, and that on removing it certain additions and alterations were indispensable to render it habitable as quarters for the police force, and secure as a place of confinement. After some considerable delay, an answer was returned to the effect that the Government had no money to undertake the expense with : and here’s the consequence. Last week two inebriates, who had been awarded 48 hours each, hud to be released after two hours’ durance, because there was no accommodation for them ! No place to lock t hem up in ! No Cookhouse ! No out offices! No nothing! The prisoners must sleep either in the same room with the police, and be fed from the neighboring hotel, or "be let loose, which they w> re. Professor Harrison, the Wizard of the South, and Company, gave aa iccessful entertainment at the Music Hall on Monday evening last, at which there was a very good attendance. This Company are obviously very little removed from amateurs, and as sueh may be said to have made a fair impression, but this we were prepared for, since at the rising of the curtain Mr. Harrison thought it prudent to apprize his audience of the possibility of failure, requesting, at the same time that if through any mishap he should be detected in the manipulation of any of his tricks, they should be lenient in their criticism. The Professor introduced nothing new to those of his audience who have seen feats of prestigiation executed with a skill of the most marvellous kind, with quickness defying all detection ; but to those to whom such exhibitions are a first sight there was much to make one wonder. Charley Verner’s songs were characteristically rendered, and Frank M'Cabe, put all in a good humor by his impersonation of some very droll characters. We regret not having space to give an extended notice, but the entertainments are to be repeated ; and we advise everyone who wishes fora present to take his chance and judge for himself. The presents were distributed on Monday with a liberal hand, and seemed to give general satisfaction. Petroleum Springs.—ln reply to Mr. Kelly the Government said t hey had already taken steps to obtain possession of land on the East Coast where petroleum springs existed. At a recent meeting of the Central Board of Education a- grant of £5O in aid of building, and towards which some £BO had been contributed by the residents of the Ormond district, was allowed on the condition that the site, plans, and specifications, should be submitted to the Board for its approval. Thb wheat harvest, is nearly finished. The minimum deficit in France amounts to 15,000,000 hectolitres, and the falling off in the English harvest is at least 20 per cent.