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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 214, 17 October 1874, Page 2

Challenge.—A friendly match has been arranged to be tired in December next, between the Poverty Bay Mounted Cavalry Volunteers and the Armed Constabulary. At present, the standing army stationed at Ormond consists of three men, all told, but the officer commanding expects his force will be strengthened shortly, when the men will be selected for the contest. The Volunteers shew pluck in challenging their victors for the third time, We wish them better luck.

Poverty Bay Races.—A meeting of members of the Turf Club, and others interested in the forthcoming races, is announced to taki place at the Masonic hotel on Friday, the 23rd October, to arrange preliminaries.

Gisborne Cate.—We are glad to learn that, the business which Mr. Roehfort has recently entered on, as the proprietor of a Cafe and Refreshment Rooms, has already increased to such an extent that, an immediate enlargement of his premises is desirable. Mr. Roehfort spares no trouble to make his customers comfortable, and visitors to his rooms will not, by any means, be turned away empty. The viands are tempting; and the management clean, well ordered, and inviting; the prices are very moderate, considering the many delicacies that are to be had in the shape of creature comforts during most hours of the day and night. Firb.—We regret to record the total destruction by fire of the new dwelling house recently erected by Messrs Barker and M'Donald at Papawkariki, on the Kaiti run, on Wednesday morning last; together with nearly all the furniture and household effects, a considerable quantity of which was quite new, and had recently been put in the house. No certain cause can be assigned which led to the accident, further than that flames were observed at daybreak, in the kitchen, by one of the men servants sleeping in the back part of the house, who instantly gave the alarm, but too late, for the gale of wind blowing at the time, rendered hopeless all attempts to save, even anything moveable, much less the building itself. Two Maori lads narrowly escaped death, having slept until the only retreat left was through a window ; both were much burnt, and one sufficiently to require medical attendance, which was promptly provided by the presence of Dr Nesbitt, who was sent for at once by special messenger. The building alone was insured iu the Victoria Company’s office for £l5O, but still Mr. M'Donald is a sufferer to ths extent of about £5OO.