The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 1875.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 335, 22 December 1875, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 1875.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right: V s shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no ntan justice or right.”

Mb. William Bruce’s name, like that of many other public benefactors, will bebandeddown to posterity, iu connection with Bruce Auctions. The term “ Bruce Auction,” is exclusively an Australian one—the originator of which auctions being a Mr. Bruce, a railway contractor iu Victoria, who, at the completion of his contract, caused to be disposed of, by auction, the whole of the tools and implements used in constructing the railway, together with some surplus stores ; and handed the proceeds thereof to the Managing Committee of the Church in which he worshipped, and which was then in debt to the amount of £BOO. Bruce Auctions, upon a different and more extensive scale, were afterwards successfully got up for the liquidation of similar liabilities, in other parts of Australia, and'notably so in Queensland, where one sale of this description realised £5OO. To these auctions contributions of a very miscellaneous characteraremade by people of various religious persuasions indiscriminately, either voluntarily or through being solicited by a committee of the particular Church for whose benefit the auction is intended. Thus, one denominationhelps another without inconvenience to themselves; for there are few who, although they may not be in a position to contribute money, are, nevertheless, in a position to contribute something that can be converted into money, under the fiat of the auctioneer’s hammer. We notice that a Bruce Auction in l aid of St. Andrew's Manse Building Fund, is to take place on Friday next, being the first sale of the kind

that has ever taken place in Gisborne,! we have no doubt it will be largely attended, and that the proceeds will! amount to a very handsome sum. The erection of the Manse—which is! to cost nearly £6O0 —is about to bel proceeded with ; and so great a liability requires no ordinary liberality on the part of the people to meet it. The live stock—which consists principally of horses, cattle sheep, and poultry—will be disposed of in Mr. Hall’s yards, Gisborne,'at ten o’clock in the forenoon ; whilst the sale of a great variety of fancy and ornamental articles takes place in the Masonic Hall, in the afternoon at two. In the evening, at seven o’clock, the drawing for the Art Union—the proceeds of which are also to be appropriated to the Manse Fund —will take place in the Masonic Hall; and is certain to be well patronised —the tickets being only ten shillings each. Amongst the prizes are various articles of a superior and attractive description, and, doubtless, many will not hesitate to invesl half a sovereign to enable them to try their luck at prize drawing. Noah’s Ark of Chinese work, valued at £4, it a great curiosity of itself, and has been much adfcired by all who viewed it. There are also seme valuable pictures, and books, as well as an extensive variety of woolwork, shawls, and other articles. There are, besides, a “Windsor Castle” colt, and one or two horses.