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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 108, 26 November 1873, Page 2

Bank Holiday.—The Banks in Gisborne will be closed on Saturday next in honor of St. Andrew. Presentation Cross.—The Gisborne Rifle Volunteers will fire their second competitive contest for the cross presented to the Company by Lieut. Daly, on Wednesday, the 31st December, and not on Saturday, as previously advertised. Sheep Census.—The curious in these matters will be glad to learn that the number of sheep in the district lying between the Wairoa and Lotten Point, amounts to over 150,000. P.B.M.R. Volunteers.—We are glad to learn that this Corps is to have a week’s field exercise under canvas some time in January. It is the way to acquire proficiency, and a knowledge of one’s duty, and we commend the patriotism of the troop in making a bold step in the right direction.

Vice Regal Visit. —It is stated that there is every probability of the Governor Sir James Fergusson, paying a visit to this district during the Summer. We believe some Volunteer movements will take place on the occasion. Mr. Bold, District Engineer arrived in town via the Reinga and Ormond on Monday last, and proceeds up the Northern Coast to-day, accompanied by Mr. Winter, District Surveyor. Resignation.—Messrs. Kinross and Co., have resigned the Napier Agency for the Poverty Bay Petroleum and Kerosine Company. No reason is given in the minutes of the Board’s last meeting for this step being taken by that firm. Ram Clip.— Messrs. Harris and Ferguson finished their ram shearing last week. These animals are reported to be of very fine structure, and superior both in breed and wool product, the latter of which may be gleaned from the fact that amongst many other excellent yields, one of the rams clipped within an ounce or two of 201bs weight. Scab. —We have been requested by the Inspector of Sheep to contradict a report stated to have been circulated in the Auckland papers, to the effect that the Poverty Bay District is infected with Scab. Mr. Meldrum sent in his report to the Government some weeks since, wherein he certifies to the peculiarly healthy state of Ihe district; excepting a station at Tologa Bay there is no part of the whole sheep district of Poverty Bay,in which the scab disease exists. Accident, —A serious accident occurred on Monday afternoon last by which Messrs. Barker and McDonald lost a very valuable draught horse. It appears that the dray, to which the animal was attached, was on the point of starting from Captain Read’s lower store for the Wainui station laden with grass seed and commissariat supplies, when fiom some unascertained cause, the horse would not immediately take to the collar, and backed the dray to the abrupt embankment, precipitating into the river, which at that part is very deep. Ready assistance was at hand, and the dray and goods were saved, but the horse was drowned.

Path Metal. —We do not say that there is no necessity for the pathways of our streets to be properly formed and metalled ; but with all due difference we submit that if the Road Board intends to take the matter of our causeways in hand, it should do so with a view to the general convenience of the public, and begin where traffic most needs an improvement. The long line of metal which is being laid on Read’s Quay can really benefit but very few pedestrians, and, from the fact of nearly the whole of the frontage being unoccupied and unfenced, seems to be, at present, a needless waste of energy. If the Road Board arc in a financial position to do this much needed work, we opine that many other more pressing wants will be found in the town than the seldom frequented foot path leading to the wharf. Spiritualism Unveiled. — To attempt to write a local affecting to criticise what one does not understand, and at the same time to convey an accurate idea of that which is passing before one’s mind’s eye in a very imperfect manner, is is about the most difficult thing to succeed in with satisfaction to anyone. To say that we can explain what was explained to the highly delighted audiences at Mr. Chapman’s performances on Saturday and Monday evenings would be simply incorrect. Mr. Chapman has a worldwide celebrity for being a fearless opponent of what is now commonly known, and believed in, as “Spiritualism.” He is an Anti-spiritist; he ridicules the idea of spirits leaving another sphere to minister to our fooleries; and takes special delight in clothing with contempt that which charlatans attribute to the agency of superior powers, be they those of darkness or any other region ; or, as he facetiously puts it, “ the theory of supporting a spiritual agency by a series of ‘ knocks ’ is most ‘ obnoxious ’ to one’s intelligence.” There is one feature connected with his entertainments which bears out his own theory, and that is the frank way in which he shows and explains to his audience the wonders of his illusions. The celebrated “Devonport Knot” was practically illustrated by showing how he could free himself from apparently inextricable meshes, in the short space of a few seconds. This was truly wonderful, but requires to be seen again to arrive at an idea of how it is done. But the attractions are the ‘wit and humor’ and ‘ illustrated thought ’ part of the entertainment. Mr. Chapman is a host (as well as a ghost) in himself, and by scintillations of pungent wit, and ready fashioning of circumstances to the occasion, keeps his audience in a perfect roar of delight. This, too, is part of the ‘ illusion,’ inasmuch as it is necessary to keep the mind in a state of constant oscillation between speculation on the one hand and admiration on the other. Not that Mr. Chapman at all fears publicity in the manipulation of his tricks,—quite the reverse. If he cannot “ call spirits from the vasty deep,” he produces unknown quantities and flavors from the same grog bottle ; he makes an egg travel in and out of, and all round a hat, without touching it himself; he connects and disconnects a dozen rings within a foot of one’s nose and still defies detection. He allows the audience to place four figures in a box which is locked and the key retained by them, and he tells the numerical order of their arrangement without opening it; and all these, as he says, “so close that one understands them less.” Mr. Chapman has vei-v few stage accessories; —none indeed for the mere

purpose of a clumsy mystification. He exhibits the modus operandi with an evident desire that all who can, may detect him, while he explains others which, although good for parlor pastime he evidently holds in supreme contempt as possessing no professional merit. On Monday night the entertainment was agreeably varied by the introduction of new puns and tricks all of which created great merriment and wonder at the extremely dexterous and accurate manipulation of the performer. More wonderful, however, than the Devon port Knot is the escape of the man Sealed up in a Sack full of Ghosts. Mr. Chapman is securely handcuffed from behind by a “ special ” spectator from among the audience. He is then placed in a loose bag drawn round the top with a piece of tape, which is so far hermetically sealed as to appear impossible for the inmate to emerge by his own unaided exertions. He is then seated within a screen and the curtains surrounding it are lowered, when in a few seconds hands and instruments appear, bells are rung, and other demoniacal sounds are heard ; garments fly about the stage ; “ manifestations,” accompanied by weird music are palpable, the curtains are raised, and Mr. Chapman is discovered out of the sack, still handcuffed, but minus his coat and waistcoat. An examination of the sack takes place, the seal is still intact, Mr. Chapman is released, and every body wonders, which, of course, was all they could do. Mr. Chapman then expressed his great gratification at having been the means of really exposing this so-called “ Spiritualism,” and alt hough he had nearly lost his life in his own country in doing so, he defended his antagonism to what he could but designate a “ stupid and wicked imposture." The performance will be repeated at the Music Hall on Saturday evening next, and to-morrow evening at Ormond.

The Napier Telegraph says : — “The continued wet weather, we hear, has seriously interfered with shearing operations, causing great loss to those sheepfarmers who, having commenced shearing, find themselves unable to continue work, while they have to maintain a large number of idle men on their stations.” Why Don’t the People Emigrate ?—At a meeting of the butchers of Edinburgh recently, it was resolved to raise the already exceptionally high price of meat, the reason assigned being the advance in cattle and sheep. The following scale was fixed for cash or monthly payments:—Roast beef, Is 2d per lb; boiling beef, lOd to lid; stewing beef, Is ; steak, Is 2d to Is 8d ; legs and loins of mutton, Is Id to Is 3d ; chops, Is 4d ; boiling mutton, lOd to Is. Inferior qualities at corresponding low rates. The Napier Telegraph learns that a telegram has been received from the Agent-General, at London, to the effect that the ship Queen of the North sailed for Napier in October last, with 216 souls on board, and that another vessel was to leave for that port on the 19th November. The total number of emigrants who left Great Britain for New Zealand in October, was 1069.

The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society now has a large number of young trout, estimated at 5000, ready for ditribution. £5 per hundred is the price placed upon them. A newspaper calculated for wide acceptance and general confidence should, above all things, be absolutely truthful, out spoken, vigorous, and independent. It should calmly and temperately discuss every principal topic that arises, in pure judicial spirit; saying honestly and with perfect candour what it thinks, and holding itself studiously aloof from the meanness of partisanship, or tendency to favor any individual, any creed, class, or country. It should keep jealously clear of all compromising entanglements of whatever kind, and, as utterly fatal to its position, avoid the merest suspicion of any form of ulterior object.