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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1030, 31 January 1882, Page 2

Our attention has been drawn to a matter that certainly deserves the consideration of the powers that be. It is customary, we understand, in cases decided before His Worship in the Resident Magistrate’s Court in Gisborne, where witnesses’ costs are allowed, to include the same in the total amount for which the verdict is given. The solicitor then acting on behalf of the successful suitor, draws when the total is paid out of Court the whole of the money. Between solicitor and client we have no desire to interfere. But it does sometimes occur that upon the termination of a case, witnesses residing in the country, and who are anxious to receive what they are entitled to, are debarred from so doing, owing possibly to the solicitor having many other engagements on hand. An instance is before our mind, where a hard working man from the country was subpoened from his work at this busy season of the year, and forced to undergo the misery of hanging round the court house three or four days before he was called upon to give his evidence. He had to neglect important agricultural operations he had on hand at the time, and all the remuneration allowed him by law as a witness was by no means commensurate with the actual loss he sustained. He expected at all events to bo paid when the case had closed ; but it was not so. Bay after day he repeated his visits to the solicitor’s office, but for divers reasons the payment was not forthcoming, and the quondam witness naturally became, rather aggravated. The climax to the story was reached when ou the last occasion of the de-

mand for payment being macle the young man who officiated as clerk for the solicitor, informed the irate applicant, that it was folly on the part of the Legislature to allow payment at all to persons who came to the court simply to speak the truth. The youth received a Roland for his Oliver in the prompt reply that if lawyers pleaded for nothing witnesses would give their evidence on the same terms. But dealing with the serious aspect of the subject, some change is really needed. Mr Greenwood, as Clerk of the Court, Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Superintendent Collector of Agricultural Statistics, &c., &c., cannot leave the court when a case has concluded to settle with the witnesses. We refer to this subject in the interests of the public, and with a view to some steps being taken to obviate the existing drawbacks.

Judging from the cablegrams published in the Colonial press during the past week or two, the political affairs of Europe seem, to be in a state of fermentation. The present situation of Ireland is of the gravest character. The military forces assembled throughout the country are now at a greater maximum of strength than they have been hitherto for a considerable period. Notwithstanding the violent efforts to suppress the Land Leagures, or the strict enforcement of the Coercion Act, the number of agrarian outrages continue to be alarming. The object of the Irish Land Act was to afford means of redress to the Irish peasant for grievances that undeniably existed. That those grievances did exist was fully admitted, not only by the present Government, but by the members of the Richmond Commission, and by Tory landlords such as Mr Kavanagh. "While two powerful organizations are working zealously from opposite quarters it seems idle to hope for a better condition of things in Ireland. The Irish Land Leaguers Association is moving heaven and earth in one direction. On the other hand we find the Irish Property Defence Association, an Association established “to uphold the rights of property against organised combination to defraud, and to sustain freedom of contract and liberty of action,” working in another direction, and, between the two, the state of Ireland, according to Mr Forster, its Chief Secretary, is more serious than ever. There are now 463 political prisoners in the gaols of Ireland, with every probability of that number being largely augmented. The landlords themselves are dissatisfied. In Dublin recently, they assembled to the number of 4000 protesting that if the Land Courts continued to reduce the rents of the Irish peasantry as they were now doing they would petition the British Parliament for compensation to be awarded to them for the reductions so made.

The Irish Land Act of 1881, which appears in a large degree to be unpopular with the landlordsand tenants of Ireland, has been looked upon with favorable eyes by a powerful Association lately sprung up in England and known as “ The Farmers’ Alliance.” They recently passed a resolution calling on the Government to provide some similar measure for England and Scotland. While the system of the land tenure in Great Britain and Ireland is permitted to remain as it now is—the worst in the known world—we need not wonder at the country being shaken to its foundation in the great struggle for land tenure reform.

In Russia, Nihilism is again rampan t. Unsuccessful so far in the attempt on the life of the Czar, the Nihilists have transferred their attentions to the Czar’s brother, the eventual regent, should His Majesty meet with the fate from which he has, providentially, so often escaped. Almost simultaneously with the attempt to assassinate the Grand Duke Vladinir, the Czar’s brother, a plot was discovered for dropping dynamite cartridges from a baloon on to the Gatschina Palace, where the Czar and Czarina were expected to be staying at the time. The Russian Government itself, by its unfair pretensions with regard to the war indemnity from Turkey, has alarmed Turkish bondholders. Russia is making an effort in contravention of the Berlin Treaty and October Note to acquire the complete administration of affairs in Erzeroum and other districts. When the negotiations for the settlement of the war indemnity from Turkey to Russia were concluded, the taxes to be raised in certain Turkish districts were set aside to meet the demand. The Russian Government are now striving to enter into the different districts, alleging that she is the proper authority to gather the taxes to pay off the indemnity. The Porte looks helplessly on at this attempt on the part of Russia to do what would virtually amonnt to an annexation of the districts for which Russia has so long struggled. He dreads the impending state of affairs, but he knows full well he is powerless to avert it, unless England or some other power will come to his aid. Earl Granville has been communicated with soliciting English intervention to enable the Porte to maintain the Berlin Treaty against Russia’s demands. However, while Germany’s sympathy is bound up with Austria, as it now is, Russia will not deem it advisable to provoke anything approaching extreme hostilities in the East.

Just as we are going to press wo have received information of Native visitors who have arrived at one of the Native settlements in the Bay. They come from Te Kooti. AU accounts against the estate of Henare Potae, a bankrupt, must be sent in to the trustee, Carlaw Smith, Esq., on or before Thursday next, or they will not be recognized. A meeting of the creditors in the estate of Herman Krippnor is called for the 11th day of February next, for the purpose of enabling the debtor to apply for his discharge. A meeting of the Borough Council will take place this evening. We are glad to hear that the Town Clerk, Mr J. Bourse, has sufficiently recovered from his late illness to be able to resume his duties. The English Cricketers, who were passengers on board the Rotorua for Auckland, passed through Gisborne on Sunday last. They play at Auckland on February 2nd, Xid, and 4th. The Rosina will leave for the East Coast this evening. Mr Davis, the contractor for the new works at the Petroleum Springs, and Mr Clarke, the manager of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company, besides other gentlemen, will be passengers on board. Mr Carlaw Smith, trustee in the estate of Henare Potae notifies in our columns that, all accounts against the estate must be rendered to him on or before Thursday next at noon the 2nd of February, if not, they will not be recognised. The Patea County Council have resolved that in future every bona Jide drover be allowed to keep two dogs, and every farmer of over 20 acres one dog, at 5s each. All other dogs to be charged 10s each. The Shareholders of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company are reminded that the first annual general meeting takes place on the 10th of next month ; also that the 11th call of 3d per share is payable on Wednesday the Bth of February. We publish in ertenso in another column important judgments delivered recently in Auckland by His Honor Judge Gillies in reference to the Native Land Act. The judgment will be read with, care by those interested in lands in this district* A private letter says : —So great is the tide of emigration to Australia and New Zealand, that three Orient steamers sailing fortnightly to Australia had all the cabins booked in advance. Any person booking Ist or 2nd of November could not sail till the fourth steamer after that date. The proprietor of the Masonic Hotel, Mr Dan. Page, is determined that nothing shall be wanting on his part to make his establishment as attractive as possible. The spacious dining-rcom—the largest in the district—has undergone important alterations of late. The room has been entirely re-papered, and no expense spared in upholding the reputation this well-known hotel has so long sustained. Wc beg to draw tne attention of our readers to the annual sale of rams from the flocks of J. B. Poynter Esq., of Bushmere. The sale will take place at Mr Poynter’s yards on Thursday next the 2nd of February, 1882. at 2.30 p.m. and will consist of 30 selected 2-tooth Lincoln Rams first-class, and 30 second-class. From the well-known care and attention Mr Poynter has bestowed for years past in irnprooing the breed of sheep of this district, a large attendance of buyers is confidently anticipated. Mr Poynter has entrusted the sale to Messrs Pitt and Bennett. At this time of the year too much care cannot be exercised in preventing the possibility of fire. Yest erday in passing along the Gladstone Road, between Peel-street and Page’s corner, we observed in a narrow passage between two wooden buildings a large quantity of inflammable matter consisting of paper shavings and similar material stowed in an open box, and some lying loosely around. A person passing casually along, might accidentally drop an ignited match. With the dry state of everything at the present time, there would be little chance of averting a fire that might cause serious damage. We have no desire for an epidemic of fires such as took place a year or two ago in our midst. Our fire brigade is by no means of such an effecient character as to be relied upon in cases of emergency.

What may be fairly termed a remarkable specimen of that tuberous plant termed in Spanish the patata is now on view at the Argyll Hotel. Where the remarkable product has been grown wo have been unable to ascertain. It is a little larger in size than the ordinary potato, and is of irregular form. Looked at generally it bears a strong likeness to the human face • the appearance, when viewed more closely, resembles the countenance of a prize-fighter after having undergone a severe smashing. The eyes in a semi-blink-ing condition, are clearly indicated, while the nose appears to be abnormally flat. Other tuberous roots of the same genus are also on view at Mr Dickson’s, but by competent judges they have been pronounced mere “ spec-taters ” compared with the one under consideration. We have to acknowledge with thanks from the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited), the receipt of the first number of its monthly produce circular, giving in a condensed and handy form the quotations at the various centres throughout New Zealand. This publication which supplies a long felt want is admirably got up, and reflects great credit upon all concerned. In the present issue will be found the quotations of wool, sheepskins, hides, tallow fat, the different grains, wheat, ryegrass, cocks foot, oats, etc., at the leading centres in the Colony. Hitherto, the class of information furnished by this circular, such as the ruling price of grass seed, etc., was only obtainable by individuals in tin’s district at considerable cost to themselves, wiring privately to agents in Christchurch, Dunedin, or Auckland. The usefulness of the new circular is incalculable, and affords a ready means of possessing reliable data for producers to go upon. We understand that any person desiring to receive the Colonial issue of the Company’s cirtular can do so by registering their address at the Company’s local office in Gladstonc-road. Wc inspected, yesterday, the maps of New Zealand drawn by two of the competitors— Master Ross, whose age is fifteen, and Master Steel, who is twelve years old—for Captain Russell’s special prize. It will be remembered that at the recent examination the prize was awarded to Master Ross. If the ages of the boys had been taken into consideration, that is to say, if they were allowed to be handicapped after the principle of “ weight for age,” it would would really be a difficult point to decide which of the two lads were the more deserving. As it is, of course, the palm goes to the eldest, for undoubtedly he Las executed with great taste, accuracy, and judgment, an excellent map of the North and Middle, or rather, as it is generally called, the ’ South Island. Master Steele’s work seems almost incredible fora child of his years. The former carries with it what might be termed more force of character, but this is to be expected coming, as it does, from an older boy. In both cases the drawings are extremely well done, and the outlines very correct. The roads, railways, different Counties, districts, and old provincial boundaries, are deliencatcd with remarkable accuracy, and the whole bears evidence of careful tuition under able mastership, and reflects great credit upon Mr Morgan of the Gisborne School.