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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 87, 13 September 1873, Page 2

Parliamentary Papers.—A batch of Parliamentary Papers, Government Gazettes, and Mbs. 11, 12, and 13 of Hansard, came to hand per Paterson, from the Government Printing Oflice. New Telegarph and Post Office. —A quantity of timber is on the ground, and the contractor, Mr. Ross, is beginning to make a shew in a direction which we hope will soon supply two or three of our most pressing wants. Steam Launch. —The Lily hunch proved her usefulness most undeniably during the week on the arrival of the Rangatira and Paterson. A heavy swell had been on the bar during the last few days, and without her assistance neither passengers nor cargo could have been landed. Cricket. —A meeting, tolerably well attended, was held in the Court-house on Monday evening last for the purpose of forming a cricketing club. The nucleus of a committee was formed consisting of the Rev. H. Root, Mr. Thelwall, and Mr. Carson; and a goodly number have subscribed their intention of becoming members of the club. The entrance fee is to be 10s 6d, with Is per month subscription. The rules of the club are, we understand, being framed. Bazaab. —It gives us great pleasure of at last being able to announce that a coterie of ladies has been formed in Gisborne for the truly laudable object of augmenting the funds in aid of Church purposes in Poverty Bay. It is intended to open a bazaar of fancy articles about Christmas tide, for which object the gratuitous labors of the ladies will be given unceasingly, as they alone can do, to make it at once a financial and a social success. The Rev. Peter Barclay, ever ready to lend a helping hand, has already advised of a shipment of goods suitable to the event, and several ladies in Napier have promised to assist by their influence and best wishes, in the furthering of the project. Larceny.—An advertisement appears in our columns this morning requesting that all those who purchased front seat tickets for Professor Harrison’s performance at the Music Hall on Wednesday evening last will send in their names to this office. It appears that a number of those tickets have been dishonestly obtained by some means, and presented at the Hall without payment, or they have been sold unauthorizedly by some one, who has not accounted for the cash, and it is to get a clue to this individual that the advertizer asks the favor to which we draw attention. The tickets alluded to were card-board and numbered, (and should have been sold at the door only) in contradistinction to those sold outside.

National Fire and Marine Insurance Company. — The Prospectus of this Company appears in our advertizing columns this morning. As will be seen it consists of Shareholders with Mtsx&auavwA.*. , 1 C|7l UOUUVing AUUjVW BUiUUO £lO each, consequently a capital of a million sterling to start with; and from the success which has so far attended the promoters’ efforts, gives evidence of great stability. Money is plentiful just now in the colony, and there seems to be no lack of a desire to invest in sound commercial enterprises. 80,000 shares have already been applied for in Otago; 30,000 in Canterbury; 25,000 in Auckland ; and 20,000 in Wellington. Captain Baldwin, one of the Provisional Directors, is now in Napier and will shortly pay Gisborne a visit in the interests of the Company. Messrs. Graham and Co., have been appointed agents here, from whom forms of prospectus and further information can be obtained.

Assessment Notices.—Mr. Skeet, the present Collector and Valuator to the Highway Board, has brought under our notice the great difficulty he experiences in finding out the present proprietors, and owners of property that may have been acquired since the valuation was made last year; and makes a very practical and useful suggestion that purchasers should be required to send a notice into the Board on each occasion of any assessable property changing hands, or being altered in any which would require a search to be made at the next Annual Assessment. Unfortunately there is no power here to put any machinery in motion which could compel the performance of this most necessary work. A good deal of time is, we might almost say, unnecessarily wasted by the Valuator in being obliged to possess himself of facts connected with his duty, in any haphazard way he can. He has to rely upon hearsay information, or accept it, cum grano satis, from second or third parties. This naturally places him in an unsatisfactory position, and tends to weaken hie and the Board’s authority. The Assessment Roll should be like a Census return, as correct and reliable as it is possible to make it; it should be based upon data, as to ownership at any rate, so true, that any appeal from, or objection to it, could not be maintained. The value of a property is a matter of opinion, merely; the ownership of it should be an undeniable fact —failing this, it is but playing into the hands of objectors to make an assessment roll at all. Again, as a question of revenue it is desirable that strict accuracy should be obtained, as, if a wrong person or property be assessed, the chances are that in the face of the tedious delay required to re-eomply with the terms of the Highways Act, the amount of assessment is lost for that year. It has occurred to us that an instalment of good may be effected by the Road Board, so soon as the present disadvantages shall have been officially communicated to them. Although they have not the power of enforcing, they have an opportunity of requesting, that, for the expedition of public business, respect should be paid to any arrangement they may make which would give facilities to the economical working of their department, such for instance as opening a Record book, in which all persons should be invited to register any alterations that may fake place from time to time in their properties. Such a plan would be invaluable, and we cannot but think that if put in force by the Board the settlers generally, in their own interests, would gladly co-operate.

Music Hall. —An agreeable entertainment is provided for this evening at the Music Hall. The Franconi brothers will perform in their gymnastic feats, including the Flying trapeze and Sensational Leaps. Ned Mason, the great, will also show up once more, assisted by members of Professor Harrison’s company and other local talent. After the performance, the Hall will be cleared for a dance until 12 o’clock. Such a Bill of Fare ought to attract a good house, and we wish them one.

Masonic Hotel. —Mr. Caulton, who returned to Gisborne by the Rangatira on Tuesday, informs us that the tender of Messrs. Jones and Pollard of Auckland has been accepted for the erection of his new hotel in this township, and that he is daily expecting the contractors and timber &c., necessary to make a start. It is a pity Mr. Caulton should be compelled to lose all this time since the date of his license, but his house will be appreciated, doubtless, when it is up. The Masonic will front Gladstone-road and Lowestreet—a most valuable site—and from an estimate we can make of the elevation it will be both handsome and commodious. The bar, a fine dining hall 32 x 22, with private parlors, bedrooms, and spacious kitchen, will occupy the ground floor. The upper story is to consist of 12 bedrooms, bath-room, Masonic Lodge-room, Commercial-room, and a spacious billiard saloon, the latter being entirely separated from the main portion of the building. French casement windows open on to the balconies which front on to both streets, and altogether the building will be a handsome and welcome addition to the town. The Hotel is to be finished by the 24th of December. Port of Taubanga.—A General Government Gazette to hand per Paterson announces the following limits as the Port of Tauranga : —“ All the navigable waters included within a radius seaward of one and a half nautical mile from the centre of Mount Maunganui, and a straight line drawn from Omokoroa Point to Pouni Point, and including the Township of Te Papa.