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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 117, 31 December 1873, Page 2

Abt Union. —To-morrow evening is the date fixed for the Art Union at Kelly’s Shamrock Hotel. Tenders.—The Road Board call for tenders from perrons willing to contract for rapplying 2,000 cubic yards of road metal, and for other works on the Gladstone-road.

Bank Holiday.—The Banks in Gisborne will be closed to-morrow, Ist January. Cavalry Race. —Entries for this race are to be made, and entrance fees paid, to Lieut. Hall not later than 8 p.m. on Thursday the Bth January 1874- (Vide advertisement.) Acction Sale.—We have been requested to draw attention to Mr. Greene’s Auction Sale of a valuable town property, horses, drays Ac., to take place at his Mart on Saturday next 3rd January. Bazaar and Concert. —We need hardly remind lovers of dolls and music that the Presbyterian Church Bazaar will be continued to-night, and the promised Concert,in connection with 4t, will take place to-morrow night in the Music Hall. The latter we are sure will be well patronized. Excursion Trip.—Messrs. Graham and Co., agents in Gisborne for the N.Z.S.S. Co., announce that intending excursionists for the trip round the Middle Island must secure their passages by making a deposit of £5 thereon not later than the 15th January 1874. The s.s. Taranaki leaves Wellington on the 24th January. Nasmith’s Art Union.—ln our advertising columns will be found a list of prizes awarded to the successful drawers in this lottery on Christmas eve. We believe the drawing gave general satisfaction; the whole of the tickets were disposed of ; and Mr. Nasmith desires us to express his gratification at the result, and thanks to his numerous patrons who so liberally aided him in his project. Next year, if all goes well, Mr. Nasmith contemplates a monster Art Union on an extended scale.

Quarterly Inspection of Arms. —The usual Quarterly Parade for inspection commenced in Gisborne on Monday last. No. 1 Company of Militia fell in at 11 a.m. The Cavalry at 2 p.m. and the Gisborne Rifles at 3 p.m. There was a goodly muster of the several corps except the Foot Volunteers, and the usual evolutions were gone through. After parade, the “ married and settled ” portion of No. 1 Company had their rifles exchanged for the Snider pattern, which places them now, as far as weapons are concerned, on a footing with the Volunteers. There was one noticeable feature in connection with the parade on Monday, and that was the fact of the town having grown to such an extent thatthereisnoroom left for Military display. The old parade grounds are being built on and fenced in so rapidly, that Sergeant Armstrong had to divide his Troop into squads, there being no area large enough in Gisborne in which to deploy 50 Mounted men on the move from column into line. The right half of No. 2 Company were paraded at Makauri yesterday, the inspection of which was satisfactory. Photography.—There are many places in and around Poverty Bay that are worthy the painter’s and sketcher’s contemplation, and some of these possess an historical interest that will live in the chronicles of the country long after the localities themselves have been absorbed and completely changed in appearance by the onward march of civilization. These can, however, be preserved and handed down to future times, as they at present appear, by the aid of photography ; and we are glad to learn that a gentleman following that profession has arrived in our midst with the intention of .settling in this district. Mr. Piesse has with him a number of views taken by himself in Auckland and elsewhere, which are exceedingly good specimens of the photographic art. There is a sharpness and distinctness about the outlines of the pictures which are highly satisfactory, and the details are brought out in a most perfect manner. The tracing of the prints has also been carefully effected, and a pleasing result is the consequence. The samples of cartes-de-visite are all open air pictures—that is taken without the aid of a gallery to soften and direct the action of the light on the features ; and as such, are probably as good as any artist could produce under similar circumstances. Mr. Piesse has commenced operations in Gisborne, and we have no doubt that he will meet with a fair meed of patronage. Christmas Sports.—The festivities incidental to the time of year, an<| the climate in which we are transplanted, have occupied the attention of the settlers, since our last. Christmas day from “ morn to dewy eve,” was redolent with sunlight, and a heated glare which, accompanied by a baking breeze, such as it was, made the pursuit of pleasure a work of toil. Not a few, however, were undaunted and turned out, in “aquatic armour clad,” to seek ambrosial pleasures amid rustic shades, and the limpid waters of the graceful Waimata. Boxing day was the “ sporting” day of the season. Makaraka was the centre of attraction, and Ormond did its best, under the auspices of the Armed Constabulary Force, to draw visitors. Of course, the day was abserved as a general holiday, and “ the world,” and one or two more, held high carnival in obedient deference to the gods who have ruled that certain annual punishments shall be inflicted, which we are to accept in the form and garb of pleasures. We have not received the results of either of the sporting contests, and not being übiquitous we could not very well observe what was going on simultaneously at places half-a-dozen miles apart. Perhaps they may be furnished in time for our New Year’s issue. After the sports, dancing commenced and was kept up, con amore, at Host Dalziell’s Makaraka, and in the Aimed Constabulary theatre Ormond,-until the dancers felt tired, when, as a natural consequence of fatigue, they went home, and like sensible folk “ turned in.” Chbistmastide.—As far os the remembrances of Christmas are concerned —that is, that part which is associated with our Saviour’s birth, and which the Anglican, or shall we say the Episcopalian Church, usually celebrates by commemorative services during Advent —we, in Gisborne, are still behind the age ; and, considering the age of the age, our antiquity, in being found in the rear, claims no apology. Christmastide passed over us, in this respect, quite unobserved. Our Church was silent on the great Natal day. The usual Matin call was hushed." Even Vespers were unheard, because unsung, and Belial had his way. No anthems, of which we profess so much, ascended to the Grand Arch of Heaven’s Canopy. Those beautiful soul-stirring, Hallelujah Hymns with which we were wont in days of yore, to tune the praises of our God, found no voice. The organ too was closed; the loud diapason chorus of Hosannas found no place in Gisborne on the commemoration of the world’s 'Jubilee The appropriate decorations, which fittingly signalise the time of year as worthy the Church’s sacrificial gratitude, were “ more honored inthe breach than intheobservance;” and a blank, quiet, tom; a dull, monotonous, silence, characterized the passing of that event which, above all others, is supposed to make a Christian people thoughtful Some years hence, when the present generation are going down to the grave, this state of ecclesiastical coolness may experience a glow offerer, So we wait and sigh. . '

Threshing Machine.—Ws regret to learn that the threshing machine recently imported into this district oy Mr. A. Parnell has not proved the success the enterprise deserved. Butin this matter we must be dearly understood. Failure, in this instance, is not attributable to any defect in the machine, either in its make or adaptability to the work it is designed to perform. The fault lies with the nature of the ground itself; the irregularities of surface, which are the distinguishing feature of self-made pastures, render it impossible to produce satisfactory results. A practical question naturally arises, namely, will it pay sheep formers and others to lay down permanent pastures and grain lands on such an extensive scale as to make the difference of cost between hand labor and a threshing machine, and the saving of time and risk of weather in garnering crops, matters of material calculation. We do not presume to answer the question, but suggest it for the consideration of those who will be more immediately affected by the results. But cursorily glaucing at the matter, we should think that it would pay, at least on lands that in their present broken state will grow a crop, but over which a reaping or threshing machine will not travel. Even supposing that year by year an additional outlay is demanded, the immense advantages arising from the saving of so much time and labor—money's equivalent — combined with the permanent improvement of one’s property, should make the experiment worth a trial. Libel Case. —The remissness and irregularity (from what cause we know not) attending the receipt of our Napier exchanges, have caused a break in the report of this case. The subject has now passed the allotted time in which wonders are said to be interesting ; and as it was beyond our power to publish the proceedings (of which we had not got possession) during the trial, we conclude that our readers will not care, any more than we do, to wade through prosy particulars that all, more or less, bear on the one point, namely acareless administration ofthe Napier Land Department. His Honor’s summing up possesses a point or two of interest, and we append it for general information:— The case, he said, was one of very great importance, affecting the general welfare of tho community, and one in which the public generally were interested. He was glad to find that tho defence had been conducted in such a highly creditable manner—very ably, very temperately, very discreetly,—and that there had not been any suggestions regarding tho liberty of the Press. Much misapprehension existed in regard to this subject, as if people connected with newspapers should enjoy an immunity from punishment if they broke the law which no other people possessed. An honest, manly, independent Press, actuated by no sinister motives in endeavoring to expose abuses in society, either social or domestic, was one of the greatest blessings a 'free country could enjoy ; but, on the contrary, a venial Press, promoting only the sordid motives of its proprietors. was one of the greatest curses. For himself, he had a great reverence for the Press. In a new country like this, where new experiments were constantly being made, the protection of a free Press was of very great importance. A bold and fearless Press would no doubt find it very difficult at times to carry out successfully its object, without laying itself open to actions of this nature. An Act passed by the English Parliament during the early part of the reign of Queen Victoria provides for the making of apologies in cases of inadvertent mistakes. His Honor then proceeded to direct the jury as to their duty in the matter, and to define the law of libel. In the old days, truth was not held to be a justification of libel; but, in these later days, truth was a justification, although it would be necessary to prove, not only that the libel was true, but that it was in the interests of the public that it had been published. His Honor then went carefully through the different allegations put in by the defendants, and through portions of the evidence. The jury then retired, and after an absence of upwards of two hours, brought in a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. His Honor fined the defendants £5 each, with costs.