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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 290, 17 July 1875, Page 2

Tenders are called for erecting a Church for the Wesleyan congregation in Gisborne. Freemasons’ Hall. — An advertisement appears to-day notifying that the Masonic Hall is open for lease. Theft.— A man named Bnrslam has been apprehended at Wairoa last week, on a charge of watch stealing. He left Gisborne some three weeks since. Church Services To-morrow. —The Rev. J. buialley School-house, Ormond at 11 a.m., Templars’ Hall, Makauri at 3 p.in., and in the Court-house, Gisborne at 6.30 p.m. Trinity Church, morning 11, evening 7 o’clock. St. Andrews, Rev. W. H. Root, morning 11, evening 6.30, Matawhero, 2.30 p.m. School Applications. —At a meeting of the School Commissioners on Thursday last, the names and qualifications of three gentlemen, selected from among the candidates for the appointment of teacher to the Turanganui school, were decided to be sent to Auckland, wilh a request that it should elect the most eligible one to fill the vacancy. The names forwarded are, Mr. J. Hay, Native ' School Master at Waiapu; Mr. T. M. Bryant of Gisborne, and Mr. J. Horne of Auckland. Siddons v. Lusk.— We learn that Mr. Siddons’ application for the £25 voted by theProvincial Council, as compensation for loss sustained in his action against Mr. Lusk, has been refused; the Superintendent being of opinion that as Mr. Siddons preferred going to law on his own account, the Government cannot entertain his claim until it has been further considered by the Provincial Council. We wonder if the money voted to Lusk has been withheld for the same reason. East Coast Representation. —We learn lhat Colonel Harrington has issued an address to the electors of the East Coast. It appears in the Bay of Plenty Times, and will be forwarded to the local press in due course. Wo shall hare something to say on this matter shortly; but we may say now that, considering there are already two candidates canvassing for support, it is a pity we have no one moving in that direction from amongst our own settlers. Oil Springs. —The intelligence received from the company’s ground yesterday is of an assuring character. Mr. Parsons has at last finished the laborious undertaking of moving the plant from the top of the hili to the third shaft lower down the gully ; and everything is in good working order, the machinery being perfect. It will be remembered that some time since Mr. Parsons reached a depth of about 80 feet in this shaft with the test rods, when he came on a rocky formation which induced him to withdraw the trial gear and fix the boring niuchmery ; this has now been accomplished in a most successful manner, atiu as progress is being made at the rale of several feet per diem, a short time will aecide oue of the vexed questions of the. shareholders. Mr. Parsons says he is “ straight on for oil ” now, and is even more hopeful of success than ever. The boring has been going on for the last two dajs, and the indications remain good. Fibb. —A fire was discovered under the stairs of the Uourl-liouae building on Thursday last. Fortunately Sergeant King happened to be j moving about at the time, aud

extinguished the flnmes before much damage was done. From the appearance of the charred timber of the stairs, and an empty arms case belonging to the Government store department, the fire had been quietly burning for some time, but luckily, this was the extent of the damage. There is no suspicion of foul play, as the hour chosen for wilful fire raising was inopportune; but that a most culpable negligence in the use of matches has been displayed, is obvious, and calls for severe reprehension. Had the accident happened at night, no mortal means at disposal could have saved the destruction of the whole block of buildings extending to the river, and including a sacrifice of property representing many thousands of pounds, and a ruinous loss to all concerned.