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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 913, 29 January 1881, Page 4

The Waipawa - Mail says that = a defect exists in one of the details of the Act under which Counties are constituted. Our contemporary says the defect is of such a nature as to materially impair the value of County rate-books, as records, and recommends that the error should be rectified at once. The defect referred to by the Mail is this : —“ In the ratebook, in the form prescribed by law, there is not sufficient identification of the ratepayer, neither occupation nor address being recorded. To obtain and insert these particulars when the roll is made up would involve scarcely any extra trouble, but would save a great deal to all concerned. As it is, the officials, in sending out demands for rates, &c., have to depend greatly on memory and local knowledge. This is sufficiently awkward at the best of times, but the full inconvenience of the system can only be realised in the event of the duties being suddenly taken over by a stranger. In the case of our own county, there are hundreds of ratepayers on the roll whose places of abode are beyond its boundaries ; yet there is nothing in the record to distinguish them from those who reside upon their property in the district. When the names are those of wellknown settlers, the inconvenience is not very great; but when one comes to “ the forest of Smiths,” or other names of equal frequency, the perplexing nature of the present system becomes manifest. We have heard of a case in which a resident regularly received claims for rates in a county in which he owned no property whatever. and though he protested, was unable to have any alteration made except by going through the troublesome form provided for the purpose. What avail was it to him that on certain days in the year the rate-book lay open at the county office —a hundred miles away —for inspection ? We would suggest that in future, columns should be provided for the occupation and postal address of each ratepayer, thus relieving the overtaxed memories of the county officials, and adding materially to the value of the rate-book as a record.

The Gladstone Road between Lytton Road and Stanley Road is closed against traffic for the present.

The offices of tiie Southern Cross Petroleum Company are temporarily located in the Exchange next to the Masonic Hotel. The usual quarterly sittings of the Licensing Court will be held on Tuesday the first of March next, at the Court House, Gisborne. The Licensing Court for the district of East Cape, will be held at the Court-house, Awanui, on Tuesday, the Ist of March. Applicants having business thereat had better peruse the advertisement in another column. The Manager of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company calls for tenders for the performance of certain works in connection with the Company. Advertisements relative thereto will be found in another column. This looks like business.

We learn that Mr. H. Haase has been appointed Manager of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company; and from what we have known of that gentleman, and seen of his business attainments, the office could not have been placed in better hands. Messrs Bourke and Smith have been appointed sole agents in Poverty Bay for the sale of Messrs J. and J. Meek’s Oamaru flour. A Vessel is now loading at that port for Gisborne, and orders requiring prompt execution should be given without delay. Professor Haselmayer gave his concluding performance in McFarlane’s Hall on Thursday evening last to a moderate audience. Some new tricks and feats were exhibited, with marked success. Professor and Madame Haselmayer proceeded by the Rotorua yesterday to open a short season in Wellington. Judge Kenny arrived yesterday from Auckland, and will commence the sittings of the District Court on Monday morning next at 10 o’clock. Jurors, witnesses, and others, had better look well to being punctual; as nothing is more calculated to put a Judge in a good humor than a becoming deference and respect to his office. A conversazione is on the tapis, to take place about the beginning of April next, in aid of the funds of the Catholic Church building. The Rev. Father Vaggioli is the moving spirit in the matter ; and we have no doubt when the time arrives that he will be supported by the well-known liberality of the community.

The District Court Calendar, commencing on Monday next is the heaviest in point of quality and quantity of any since the sittings began, There are no less than seven criminal charges. Two civil actions, and three bankruptcy adjudications to be disposed .of in a little: niore than half a week, if His Honor wishes to return by the next Southern steamer.

We learn that Mr. Flood will preside at the organ at the Holy Trinity Church Services, to-morrow. We are also glad to find that Mr. Flood’s services have been in such requisition, as to necessitate his further delay for. at least, another week. It is a pity our rising.; township cannot count amongst its permanent residents a gentleman of Mr. Flood’s musical proficiency. A sort of blight to the eyesight is now unfortunately prevailing in the town, and many of the residents are suffering from what looks like inflammation, but, we are told, it is actually a disease brought about by the heat striking up from the sand and the driving dust. The water-cart is a thing of the past, but surely some steps might be taken to abate this dangerous nuisance. Two well-known pedestrians—Messrs. W. Webb and J. Adeane—have decided to test their running powers by a contest to come off on Monday evening next, at the Hapera (the estate of W. L. Rees, Esq.) Both of these swift-footed peds, are in good trim and a capital race should be the result of the meeting. The stakes are said to be £lO a-side, and the distance 440 yards. Amongst a certain few a good deal of interest has been excited, and through those who are backing their opinions, considerable sums of money are likely to change hands. A good deal of amusement, and not a little knowledge is almost nightly obtainable at Host Dickson’s Argyll Hotel, where a number of local orators meet and hold trials after the style of the old •' Judge and Jury,” so long and so successfully carried on in the Old Country. Some of the orators by sudden transmission from the sublime to the ridiculous, cause intense merriment. The charges are in many instances founded purely in a spirit of mischief, and the examinations by counsel cause roars of laughter. It is said that a Society is to be formed so that these “ trials ” may become a regular institution. Professor Haselmayer nearly made a great mistake on Thursday evening, but through his wonderful skill evaded the difficulty. He, in a moment of thoughtlessness, attempted to extract from a newspaper reporter a halfcrown, and certainly succeeded ; but had that particular reporter known that so much wealth was concealed about his person we doubt if the wonderful magician could have obtained it. In all kindness to the Professor we beg to offer him some really charitable advice, and that is ; when he wants a half-crown let him try a tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, or in fact anybody but an unfortunate ink-slinger. If this warning is not heeded, some day he will discover that nothwithstanding his skill and ability, the extracting of a coin from a reporter is about the most difficult feat he has ever attempted, and, should he again essay it, it would not surprise us to learn that he had signally failed.