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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 916, 9 February 1881, Page 4

Mr. E- P. Joyce announces that the price of admission for man and horse tothferacecourse is the usual fee of half-a-orown. There were oriljTa’ few ordinary debt cases heard in the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, and possessed no public interest. A private meeting of shareholders in the South Pacific Petroleum Company is convened for Friday evening next, at 8 o’clock. Vide advertisement. The Board of Reviewers under the Property Assessment Act met in the Court-house yesterday morning, and, we believe, got through a lot of business ; but, owing to the transactions being of a private nature, we are unable to report on them. It is pleasing to learn that our townspeople have so far appreciated the efforts of Sergeant Kidd that they intend, before his departure, to present him with a testimonial. No officer ever better deserved one, and we are glad that the movement has been taken up and responded to as heartily as it has been.

■ -On Monday last, we are informed, that Captain Skinner, of the schooner Minnie Hare, and some of his crew had a narrow escape from drowning at To’oga Bay. They were taking off some maize to the schooner, when the boat they were in filled and Went down. The men swam ashore, but were very much exhausted. The maize was the property of Mr. M. Mullooly. Mr. T. Faram, the Town. Ranger, is certainly to be complimented upon the assiduity with which he has performed his duties. The number of snapping and barking cure he has caused to be destroyed is a great boon to our townspeople, who, formerly, had to put up with dogs of all sorts, sizes, and breeds, making “ ni ght hideous ”by “ baying the moon.” Mr. Faram has carried out his unpleasant task without fear or favor, and has made no distinction between high or low, rich or poor. .. The Hall nt Makaraka, having been recently decorated is tp be opened to the p.ublic on Friday evening. "The Thornton family, assisted'by local talent on the occasion, will give u grand and varied performance. The new and beautiful scenery painted by Messrs. Huddleston, and J. Nash, junr., will be on view as well as one painted by Mr. Thornton, the scenic artist, now with us. In addition to these attractions there is to be a BaH at the conclusion, so ’that a great treat may be anticipated,. A story comes wafted to ua from just across the classic Murray (says an Australian paper). A squatter’s wife had in her employ a pretty housemaid arid" a good looking Chinese gardener. With the natural acuteness of woman she soon found out that John was “ wellymuchee gone ” on the maid-of-all-work. One evening just before dark the lady thought she heard John’s dulcet notes in the front garden and crossing the room to the’open window she ’* popped out her head ” just to see what was going on. The celestial cabbage-raiser saw the head, took it for the housemaid, and, in the twinkling of abed-post, slid up and ktssed the owner thereof. John got six months in a New South Wales gaol, and the lady never thinks of the “ stolen kiss ” without a shudder.

Our observant readers will notice some few differences between our report of the County Council proceedings t’ is morning, and that of our contemporary on Saturday morning last. We have carefully compared ours with the minutes of the Council, and can answer for their correctness. We do not call attention to this matter in order to disparage the Herald's reporting ; but for the purpose of explaining where the incorrectness lies. It is almost impossible for any reporter to catch the flying shots of business which are carried on for some hours in a conversational tone, not unmixed with jokes, tobacco, and a little conviviality. Motions, amendments, and counter-amendments, pour in by the score ; members jump up and down, many times, interjecting remarks on the same question, until such a Babel of sounds takes place, as to render it difficult to state at the conclusion, how matters (stand. As this is the almost invariable practice, we suppose the Council is always in Committee, hence the confusion, and inaccuracies of newspaper reports. A new source of local industry is about being started at Halcombe. The Advocate states that Mr. Marsh, a chemist, has purchased 70 acres of land at Kakariki, and intends erecting a mill there to crush linseed. Experiments on a small scale have proved that Exropean flax will grow luxuriantly on the West Coast. Hence Mr. Marsh is not likely to go short of raw material, for it would pay the settlers well to grow flax if they could get. a local market for it. It is hard to see why we in New Zeland should not manufacture our own linen instead of importing it, since we have abundance of land and a very suitable climate for producing flax. In the event of no local demand arising for flax for linen manufacture, it is not improbable that Mr. Mawhinsy start • paper -manufactory to utilise the -waste fibre