Untitled

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 981, 24 September 1881, Page 2

Mr. Locke’s address —imprimis to the Wairoa electors, secundus to those of Poverty Bay—will be found in our reading columns. The Cook County Council did not form a quorum last night ; but Mr. Warren will endeavor, to get the members together for a short meeting this morning. Private telegrams received to-day inform us that the Government s.s. Hinemoa was to leave Wellington last night for Auckland via the East Coast, with returning members of Parliament. The Wairoa Guardian is informed that a sitting of the Native Land Court will be held in the Wairoa some time in October, under the presidency of Judge Fenton. This will cause a little stir in the place while it lasts.

We notice that Messrs. Croll and Ingle, late of Wellington, have opened up the premises lately in the occupation of Mr. W. Black, in Gladstone-road, as an ironmongery warehouse. We predict the new arrivals will have no cause to regret their venture. The Post-master requests us to state that in order to provide opportunity for exchange of correspondence, between the incoming mails, North and South, those arriving by the steamer Arawata on Sunday—including the English ’Frisco Mail —will be sorted and delivered soon after arrival.

We are again obliged to leave out a galley or two of local matter owing to severe pressure on our limited space. Printers will understand our predicament, and the extra work entailed, when we state that we were between two and three columns overset. Indeed, if things go on at this rate, we shall have to beg of some kind friend to lend us £5OO to enlarge with. We congratulate Mr. W. F. Crawford on the prospective opening of his new brewery which is to take place in the Aberdeen Road,, on Saturday next the Ist of October. Mr. Crawford says he shall be glad to welcome his old friends to try the NEW brew. We have only one word of advice to give our ancient friend, namely, that when he sends us an editorial keg — don’t forget the stamp, although its deuced hard to be taxed for being civil to one’s friends.

A soiree in aid of the Holy Trinity Church funds will be held in McFarlane’s Hall, on Wedesday, October sth, proximo.

The Oreti did not reach Auckland until yesterday morning, at 10 o’clock, and would, probably, leave again last night reaching Gisborne sometime on Sunday. Bishop Waiapu, owing to the detention of the Northern steamer will preach at Holy Trinity Church to-morrow at both morning and evening services. The Rev. Mr. Williams will hold Divine Service at Ormond, in the morning, at 11 o’clock, and the Bishop at 3 p.m., at Makaraka. * Mr. J. Browne is prosecuting the work* of attaching names to the Roll of qualification for voting for members of the House of Representatives, with a business-like vigor, which should guarantee success. There is no expense attached to it, all that any person wishing advice is to call at Mr. Browne’s office, sign a form, and he can claim equality of voting power, with the oldest settler in the Colony. If anyone is shut out from voting at the coming election it will be his own fault. Amongst other places which are going ahead in this district, we hear good accounts from the Patutahi. One of the more recent instances is the arrival of Mr. Joseph Price and his family from Havelock, in "A Hawke’s Bay, who have taken up their permanent residence on the land bought, we learn, at the original sale of Patutahi land. Mr. Price has a large block fenced and under cultivation. He has erected a commodious dwelling house thereon, which makes ft a welcome addition to the place.

We notice that although Auckland has lost the Southern Cross steamer, she will not be content to be unrepresented on the ocean. Recently a meeting was held to promote the formation of a Company to be called “ The Auckland and South Pacific Steamship Company,” with a capital of half a million sterling. The movement was warmly supported, and upwards of 5000 shares were subscribed for in the room. We join with the Herald in wishing the project every success; but the Auckland slow coaches must “ wake up ” more than they have done, or they won’t stand a show in these go-a-head times. We learn that Mr. Bedford Sherriff is likely to resign his appointment as Town Clerk of the Borough of Gisborne, and that a posse of applicants are ready to step into the dead man’s shoes, before he is decently interred, many of whom, by the way, are about as fit to be Town Clerk as they are to be Prime Minister of England. Some of these hasty buttonholers should remember the scriptural truth that in many instances, the last shall be first, and the first last. When we are assured of the vacancy as a fact, we shall have a word or two to say on public grounds, anent that same. There is already a lively agitation going on in the shape of canvas for the suffrages of local electors, for County Council honors at the coming elections. Several candidates are spoken of, and there seems to be every probability of an unusual amount of interest being taken. This is as it should be. Nothing can be more gratifying, or healthy sign of the progress of public affairs, than tx> find the public spirit of the time taking an active, rather than a passive form. When our settlers voluntarily come forward, and take part in the business of local government, there is hope for that place—the country is safe ; and we trust we shall be able to congratulate the public on the further development of activity amongst the ratepayers generally. We were requested the other day to inspect an oil painting, the portrait of Mr. J. Scott’s little girl, which had been enlarged from a photograph, and colored with great skill and taste by Mr. Osborne, of Gisborne. The expression of the features is admirably transferred to the canvass, which in size is about 24 in. x 18 in., and the result is a most faithful delineation of the limner’s art. MrOsborne, it will be remembered, recently exhibited a naval painting in Mr. J. Townley’s window, showing a ship in ftill sail, passing a Lighthouse by night, in which the light* and shades were admirably blended; there arealso several other paintings executed by Mr. Osborne, which will be shown at the forthcoming exhibition in Gisborne, and which amply prove him to be an artist of conspicuous merit ; and should encourage him to bring his lights out from under a bushel.

The steamer Rosina arrived from Tokomaru yesterday morning, whither she steamed on Wednesday last with a party of excursionists, to be present at the opening of the new Runanga House there. Most of the party remained behind, having business on hand, and will not, probably, return for some days yet. Visitors were hospitably entertained, and received marked attention from their darker friends who made every possible effort in conducing to the comfort of all. It is estimated that there were upwards of 2000 persons at the gathering, and speechfying, merry-making, hakas, and Maori songs, were the order of the day, all of which served to enliven the, otherwise prosaic bay of Tokomaru. The preliminary ceremonies, according to the mode a la Maori, being over, the real business of land discussion, and other interesting topics would be proceeded with yesterday, and con- v tinned until all the food is consumed.

Amongst the many and varied signs of improvement and advancement we are called on to chronicle, in this, our fair land of Poverty Bay, not the least may be said to be the establishment of a branch of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company in our midst. Mr. R. Hill Fisher, the gentleman appointed to the charge of this branch, has taken temporary offices adjoining the Masonic Hotel, in Gladstone-road, and is prepared, in accordance with an announcement which appears over our leading column, to do business on the same basis, as has been done while under the agency ef the Bank of New Zealand. In fact, the only difference between the past and present is this: That hitherto the local Bank Manager has done the business which, in future, is to be undertaken by the Mercantile representatative ; and we are sure in our prediction that those who interview Mr, Fisher will find he is the right man in the right place.

By reference to our mail notices it will be seen mails for Southern ports and Australia will close this Saturday evening at 7 p.m., per 8.8, Albion, and supplementary mails for the above places will be made up on Sunday night at 7 p.m. This latter is rendered necessary on account of the steamer being obliged to leave at an early hour on Monday morning. Mr. Vesey Stewart is urged to apply for another special settlement block, in a memorial signed by 384 persons, including all the leading residents of Tauranga, who speak warmly of the beimfit conferred on the district by Mr. Stewart* past undertakings. The block applied for is 20,000 acres of the Pukeroa and Rangiaru lands. The Waste Lands Committee of the House of Representatives recommend that the application be granted. Additional Lands. —The Chairman of the Auckland Waste Lands Board announced that since last meeting he had received intimation of a considerable addition to the public estate in the Provincial District, as per Gazette notification. There were six blocks in the Taupo district, and thirteen in Poverty Bay. The Chief Surveyor reported re the Taupo block, that there were about 10,000 acres. The land was broken, and would make fair runs, but was not suitable for agriculture. The report on the whole was far from favorable. However, none of the land was wanted for immediate settlement. The blocks on the East Coast were all adapted for pastoral purposes. The definite reports would be ready by next meeting. Mr. M. McLeod, of the Coal Prospecting Party, has furnished an ad interim report in which he says that the camp is now at Rangatira ; and that they have traversed the source of the Waipaoa and Mangatu rivers, but without success. During their search the party learnt from a shepherd that he had seen coal, or something like it, in several of the creeks running down from the spur at the foot of which the camp now is. On searching, large blocks of lignite were found, samples of which are now to be seen at Messrs. Ratcliffe and Piesses’ office. They also came across other lodes, from 300 to 400 feet above the river level, and have every reason to believe that coal may yet be found. A meeting of subscribers was convened by Mr. Ratcliffe yesterday, who takes a deal of gratuitous trouble in the matter, but no one attended. We learn that a similar attempt will be made to-day.