The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1875.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 323, 10 November 1875, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1875.

" We shell sell to no man justice or right: \V« shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

Considerable improvements have been lately effected at the Tut’anganui ferry, by the Road Board. Ou the Gisborne side a substantial jetty, with a side railing, and a flight of steps from the elevation in rear of Mr. Thelwall’s butchering establishment, to the jetty, have been erected. By means of these steps, as well as by the aid of the railing—which latter extends from the top of the steps to the extreme end of the jetty towards the wateranyone having occasion to cross the ferry, even in the darkest night, can obtain ready access to the ferry boat, without fear of meeting with an accident. On the Turauganui side the jetty has been also much improved; but it still requires a railing and stepapproaches thereto, as on the Gisborne side. The Board, will, we believe, shortly make these additions, so that both jetties may form counterparts of each other. The unsightly old ferry house has been superseded by a tworoomed new building ; and standing, as it does, at a distance of a few yards from the jetty, with a somewhat inconvenient access to it, it will no longer be a resort for native loungers, as the former shanty was wont to be. These improvements have been executed by the lessee of the ferry (Mr. Shearer) and the workmanship seems to be unobjectionable. The lessee complains —and he has good reasons for doing so —that, notwithstanding his having to pay a heavy rent for the ferry, and having, besides, had to invest upwards of £5O in the purchase of boats for it, private parties have lately entered into competition with him, by ferrying people either gratuitously, or at lower fares than he is authorised to charge, which is a gross injustice to him. The Road Board have, we understand, written to the Provincial Government to ascertain what should be done to suppress this apparently illegal traffic, and a reply is expected soon. It ought to be in the power of the Board itself to protect their lessee, and had Regulations —based upon the “ Ferries’ Act”—been framed by that body for the purpose, private individuals would be debarred from competing with the ferryman, by plying for hire on the river. In the absence of such restrictions, anyone can defy the lessee, or even the Board. Every boat plying for hire—with the exception of the ferry boats —ought to be licensed, as watermen’s boats are licensed elsewhere, and the fees to bo charged by such so fixed as to prevent imposition. As, however, there is little probability of watermen’s licenses being issued here for some considerable time to come, the Road Board should adopt prompt measures for doing away with the competition to which the lessee is now subjected, which, we have no doubt, it is in their power to do. Agricultural and Pastoral Society. —All members of this Society who have not yet paid their subscriptions, for the currentyear, are requested to dosowithout further delay. The New Chemist’s Shop.—We notice that Messrs. Fox & Co’s, new shop, Gladstone Road, is all but completed, aud will be opened in a few days hence —it being already well stocked with drugs Ac. Advance Poverty Bay.—We extract the following from the Napier Telegraph of thelstinstant: —“Gisborne, thy happy days are floating on. A sale was effected the other day at Gisborne which shows what faith the settlers have in the progress of that rapidly rising township. Major Ropata sold to Mr. flail'd (Mr. Blair] the corner quarter-acre section opposite the Masonic Hotel for the sum of £900.” Sheep Inspection.—Mr. Meldrum has just returned from a tour of official inspection of sheep, on the East Coast, as far as Tologa Bay. He reports that scab has all but disappeared in that part of the district, and that the flocks are in first rate condition. He is highly satisfied with the promptitude with which those amorgst whose sheep scab broke out some time ago, acted in eradicating the disease. The Sweet Briar Bush Nuisance. — We notice, with pleasure, that the Road Board is doing' good work just now, by cutting down the sweet briar bushes, with which the town is so much overrun. An unenclosed allotment between Mr. Brown’s store and the river, is literally covered with these briars, and so are many other spot s within the boundaries of the town which have not been yet utilised. The sweet briar propagates itself almost as rapidly as the Scotch thistle, and if not effectually eradicated it will be found dijpeult to keep it down.

Meeting of Ratepayers at Ormond.— This meeting takes place at the Chandos Hotel, Ormond, this (Wednesday) afternoon, at 3 o’clock.

Tubanganui Lodge.—The monthly meeting of this Lodge takes place at the Freemasons’ Hall on Monday next the 15th instant, at 8 p.m.' Judge Rogan.—His Honor Judge Rogau is expected in Gisborne, from Wairoa, in about a fortnight hence. On his arrival he will, we understand, proceed with the division of the Makauri block. The Road Board Punt.—This punt, which sank, at the entrance to the river, a few days ago, whilst, laden with stone, has been successfully raised, and now lies at Captain Read’s old store. She has sustained no damage. R.M.’s Court.—Owing to yesterday being a general holiday, the usual sitting of the R.M. ’s Court was postponed till Tuesday next. Conveyance of Wool from Opo Station.—The tender of Mr. Robb, at the rate of 16s per ton, for the conveyance of wool from the Opo station, to Gisborne, has been accepted by Messrs Hanis and Ferguson. Poverty Bay Massacre. —In mournful commemoration of this cold blooded tragedy, we deam it proper, in accordance with our usual custom, to notify that today is the annaversary of the Poverty Bay Massacre. Gisbobnb Imposts.—As a proof of the progress this District is making, we may state that during the past mouth the weight of the goods landed on the wharf from Auckland, Napier, and Wellington, averaged sixty tons a week. Wesleyan Practice Meeting.—The ladies and gentlemen who have offered their assistance at the concert in aid of the Wesleyan Church Building Fund, meet for practice iu the Alasonic Hall this (Wednesday) evening at half past six. Licensing Coubt. —A court will be held at Gisborne on Tuesday the 7th proximo, for the purpose of taking iuto consideration all applications for the transfer, renewal, and removal of publicans, wholesale, and bush licenses. Applications must be lodged with the Clerk of the Court, (Mr. Greenwood) on or before Saturday next, the 13th instant.

Fbesh Fish.—We learn that a fisherman at the Big River, who is well provided with* boats and nets, intends to supply Gisborne regularly with fresh fish, for which purpose he has lately purchased a horse and light cart. If he carries out this arrangement properly, he will, no doubt, be well patronised, but if he does not, we fear the speculation will turn out a failure. New Saddlery Establishment. —On reference to our advertising columns it will be seen that Mr. Coe —who, we believe, represents Mr. Bowes of Napier—has commenced business as a saddler and harness maker, in the new shop adjoining Mr. Adams’ bookseller’s shop, Gladstone Road. The shop is well stocked with a good variety of saddlery and harness, and presents an attractive appearance. As it is our wish that everyone who commences business in Gisborne, should succeed, we trust Mr. Coe will not have any occasion to regret coming amongst us. Sale of Run at Tologa Bay.—We learn from Mr. Meldrum—the agent in the transaction — that Messrs Morris, Sherrat and Robson, have just sold their run at Tologa Bay, containing 12,000 acres, and carrying 3,000 sheep, to Mr. Noble of Canterbury, for £4,000. Mr. Noble—who was one of the judges at our late Agricultural and Pastoral Show—takes possession of the run on the Ist April next. Child Mubdeb. —The native woman, Hiria Tamatame, was brought up at the R.M.’s Court on Saturday last, before Dr. Nesbitt and Mr. Graham, on a charge of having wilfully murdered her infant child at Owhita, on the 28th ultimo. Mr. Rogan appeared for the prosecution. After hearing the evidence of Riria Tawera, Paratene Pangopango, Paori Kati, Raiuera Te Heu Heu, and Constable Mills, the prisoner was committed for trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court. The body of the child has not yet been found. Pbince of Wales’ Birthday.—Yesterday being the anniversary of the Prince of Wales’ birthday, the day was observed as a close holiday in Gisborne, and, we believe, throughout the district. The S’enic up the Waimata river, was rgely attended, and the weather being I propitious, all enjoyed themselves to their hearts’ content. One or two small picnic parties selected the North side of the Turanganui river, near Captain Read’s I old store, as the scene of their pleasure and amusement; whilst not a few spent the best part of the day in boating excursions. Iu the evening, the ball under the auspices of the Oddfellow’s—and which was well attended —took place at the Masonic Hall- Dancing was kept up till between one and two o’clock this morning, and the affair may be said to have been a decided success. Large Shark. —On Saturday last, a large shark, measuring, it is stated, five or six feet long, was seen in shallow water in the Waimata, a short distance above the ferry, by some boys who happened to be standing on the river bank at the time, and who thus obtained a good view of the monster. It remained motionless for about half a minute after it was first seen, and then disappeared in deeper water. We notice by our Otago exchanges that a lad named Wills, aged about fourteen years, narrowly escaped being killed by a shark whilst bathing in Molyneaux river—a warning to all juveniles who make it a practice to bathe in waters frequented by sharks. We trust our public baths will be speedily erected so that all who may be inclined to indulge in the luxury of bathing, may be able to take ablutionary exercise, without any danger of being bitten by those voracious creatures, which, during the warmer parts of the year, are plentiful enough here.