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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1012, 15 December 1881, Page 2

Messrs Dennison and Grant announce their flrm as having commenced the business of their profession in Lowe-street. Mr Allan McDonald tenders, in this morning’s issue, a complimentary acknowledgment of the honor conferred upon him by the electors of the East Coast. Messrs Bourke Smith & Co., have been instructed to sell the privileges for the forthcoming Boxing Day Races, on Saturday the 17th inst., at half-past one o’clock. After which they will dispose of a quantity of Ale and Stout, just landed ex Lochnagar, a splendid 4-wheeled trap, with hood, and various other useful articles. We noticed yesterday that the half-holiday business is not holding out as was expected. In this issue will be found an announcement that some of the business places intend, in future, to keep open, and many others who did not sign tho advertisement kept their shutters down. In fact, the Wednesday half-holiday may be considered to have died a natural death. The Sydney Horning Tie,raid states that an English company, with a large capital, have offered to construct a bridge to the North Shore if the Government will guarantee per centum interest on the outlay, and further, will hand the bridge to the Government at the- cud of 21 years, on repayment of cost of construction and maintenance.

Even false alarms convey useful lessons : so the to'lmg of the fire-bell yesterday morning, and the general turn out of some hundreds of persons, wains us that, although.the cause was nothing more than a chimney on fire, we must all exercise greater vigilance and care, especially at this time of year, for, in the unprotected and unprepared state of the town, an outbreak of fire would be a most disastrous affair. It is bound to come sooner or later, but it is wise not to hasten it. By the way, what about the Water Supply scheme started some 12 months since ?

An exchange savs :—Considerable amusement was created*during the bearing of a case in the Palmerston Resident Magistrate s Court. Mr Ward, when assessing the costs, held the following dialogue with a witness : — Magistrate—“ What is your business ” Witness— “ A laborer, your Worship.” Magistrate —“ What loss have iyou sustained by your presence at the Court this day ? How much do you earn a day ?” Witness (quite cavalierly)—“ Oh, sometimes a pound, and sometimes two./ “What, as a laborer?” Witness—“ Yes, your Worship.” “ Then I will allow you 5s for this day.” Mr Ward is the very essence of courteousness, and the manner in which he told the witness, by implication, You’re another,” was highly relished by all in Court.

From the 7? ay of Plenty Times we learn that Mr R. O. Stewart, of Tolago Bay, has a claim against the Domain Board at Whakatane, which we hope will be recognised without further delay. Mr Stewart was native school teacher there from 1873 to 1880, and to further the tree planting views of the Premier, Sir Julius Vogel, in 1875 lie planted out some 10,000 trees on Government land adjoining the school-house. He had hopes of being able to purchase the land, but was debarred, as it was retained for a recreation reserve, and it. is now under a local Domain Board. It is very probable that the improvement carried out by Mr Stewart, was the means of inducing the Government to reserve the land ; but at any rate Mr Stewart has received nothing to recompense him for the outlay, and is also prevented from cutting down the trees. It may be that the members of the Board have the law on their side ; but in equity we think the gentleman who spent his money in this way is entitled to some recompence, and we hope the Board will take the matter into consideration and see that be obtains justice. The planting of such a number of trees must have greatly enhanced the value of the land, and it seems unfair that the person by whom this improvement was carried out should be deprived from any benefit from it. We understand that Mr Stewart applied to the Board for a lease of the land, but even this small favour was refused, the reply received being that it was intended to invite tenders for leasing. If the Domain Board have not money to pay Mr Stewart for his labour, it is quite in their power to give him a lease of the land at a low nominal rent, say for 10 years, which they might the more readily do as from what they know of Mr Stewart they might depend on his leaving it in a more advanced condition than it is at. present. We hope the Domain Board will give this matter ample consideration, and see that this gentleman gets some return for his labour.

Mr Creighton is sending down to the Colony for the Government, about 1551b5. imported red amber sugar cane seed, and about 451bs. Liberian. The red amber is the favourite in this country. I perceive you are about going into the sorghum sugar business extensively. Don’t. The experiments of Mr Commissioner Le Due did not justify expenditure. His sorghum and corn-stalk sugar was on a par with his experimental tea farm in North Carolina, which cost a great deal of money, and has to be abandoned. He is now relegated to the cool shade of private life. But sorghum syrup may be made, and it pays as a substitute for sugar in rural districts, and for preserving fruit and other purposes. Mr Creighton sent the New Zealand Government a copy of the official reports on the cultivation and relative value of the various kinds of sorghum cane. The amber cane is by all odds the best. It is now largely bought up by the Japanese Government, which is taken an active in-’ terest in establishing new industries. By the way, a sample of Japanese si.k worm eggs is also forwarded by Mr Creighton to the Government, by this steamer. His advices from Japan are to the effect that the very warm weather prevented eggs from coming forward. By next mail he anticipates receiving a larger consignment. The Government has also, ordered, through him, 2,000 mullberry trees and a parcel of mullberry seed from Japan. Silk may be made a paying industry in New Zealand ; also fruit raising, canning and preserving. The latter may be pushed ahead J the former will be slow work.