Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. Saturday, February 25, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1041, 25 February 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. Saturday, February 25, 1882.

In consequence of pressure on cur space we have been compelled to hold over our leading article, and curtail the report of yesterday’s R.M.’s Court. Sirs A. M. Browne returns thanks to those persons who assisted in saving her business premises from being completely destroyed by fire last Wednesday night. The Hon. Mr Rolleston is expected to arrive in Gisborne this evening. Culonel Whitmore and Mr Sheehan are expected to arrive on Sunday next from the south. It will be seen by an advertisement elsewhere that the Rev. E. Williams will hold Divine Service at Patutahi School Room on Wednesday next at 7 p.m. A meeting of the members of the Church and friends will be held after the service, with a view, we believe, to arranging for Divine Service on Sundays. Messrs Pilt and Bennett will sell this day, at 12 o’clock, some useful hacks broken to harness and eaddle, and at 2 o’clock the same day will dispose of u shop and dwelling house situated in Lowe Street. On Wednesday next, at 2 p.m., they will offer several head of mixed cattle. The late election of the School Committee at Matawhero has been declared illegal, and a fresh election will take place on Friday, March 10, at the school-house. The first meeting of the School Committee will beheld immediately after the election for the purpose of electing a Chairman for the ensuing year. The cable messages in our late Melbourne exchanges are of a highly interesting nature. They give particulars which show that the Bosnian insurrection against Austria may lead to serious European complications, as Russia is believed to be favoring the insurgents, and at the same time she is known to be making great army preparations. The adjourned meeting of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company, which should have been held last night at the Masonic Hotel, lapsed for want of a quorum. Mr Clarke informed our reporter that neither the number of shares (9,600) nor members (8) could be got together in Gisborne in consequence of the party going to Rotokautuku without leaving proxies. We are informed on good authority that Mr John Allanach is about to succeed Mr Cannnn as landlord of the Tologa Bay Hotel. Mr Allanach is thoroughly qualified from principle and experience for the venture he now ernbai'ks upon, and wo wish him every success in his undertaking. The new landlord, we understand, takes possession in a week or 10 days hence. We again remind parents and others of the mali/iee to be given by Lieut. Herman this afternoon in the Masonic Hall. The entertainment will be of a very amusing character. Another feature in it is that every child attending will receive a handsome present; and as the price of admission is fixed so verv low, namely, Is. front seats and 6d. back, the lieutenant should be well patronised. Ton;ght Lieut. Herman will appear in the Mukaraka Hall. The Albion Hotel, Napier, lias passed into the hands of Mr W. Stock so well known to many of the Gisborne people. Mr Stock, having had large experience in the business lie has now entered upon, will, no doubt, meet with a large amount of success at the hands of the general public. Travellers from this part, of the colony will do well to give host Stock a call as they will not fail to meet with that comfort and convenience for which Mr Stock has so justly earned the reputation he has so long sustained. A num 1 er of Nzatiporons wnderthe leadership of the well-known Native Chief, Tuta Nihoniho, gave an entertainment in the Masonic Hall, last Thursday evening, consisting of hakas, war dances, and songs. They first assembled at the lower wharf and marched, headed by the J Battery Band, through the town, and then into the hall. A crowded house greeted the rising of the curtain, and the Natives were constantly applauded throughout the performance. Mr C. D. Berry acted as M.C. during the evening.

London Truth, in announcing the impending marriage of laird Cashel at the rip? age of ninety, declares that it- “ is full time the marriage of people to their grand fathers and grandmothers should be stopped.” The German police have seized all copies ofjthe London Punch that- w.-ro offered for sale in B/rlin, on account of caricatures which recently appeared in it. They considered that t eir tendency was to bring Government into ridicule and contempt. A lecture on “The Coming of Christ ” will be delivered to-morrow (Sunday) afternoon, in the Masonic Hal!, by Mr \V. Rowley, a gentleman w! o has recently arrived in Gisborne. In the evening, and nt the same place, the Gospel will be preached. Sir Charles McMahon and party left at noon yesterday, for the Rotokautuku Oil Springs, accompanied by Mi- Benins, the expert in mineral oils and paraffin. There is held to be little doubt- of bis satisfaction at the “prospect.” t\»r paraffin earth w’ ieh has given stmh excellent results in Melbourne tinier Mr Eenies’s trial. It is rumor? I that it is the desire of the Melbourne holders to remove t 1 e head office of the Company to Melbourne, and ti.at the present Diicct-urs have assented to the wish if a special meeting of the shareoblders endorse the idea. The aruillaceous deposits of the Whataupoko block have been examined during the week on account of Mr Wm. Chukt, by the directions of Mr Wm. Tariey, C.E.. and samples of the various clays, as a’so brown coal, are to be seen at the office of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company. Several samples a e too rich in clay ; these can be easily ameliorated for brick-making by the addition of others of a sandy nature. All have properties peculiar to themselves, and can be adapted to a number of economical purposes. It. is most desirable that the industry contemplated should be etablished, and from our recent experiences, we may remark, “ the sooner the quicker.”

We were yesterday morning shown a letter recently received by a resident in this town from St. Petersburg. We give the following extract: —•* This is a very fine citv. The St. Isaac’s Church ns a classical building is very remarkable—remarkable also for the eostline&H of the materials of which it is built. It is said to have cost £3.009,000, but this probably would include all those middle profits which are peculiar to Russia. The collection at the Hermitage, pictures, sculpture, antiquities, &e., is the most wonderful I have ever seen. The Czar is staying nt Peterhoff, about 18 miles distant, and every hundred yards in the Park one comes across a mounted Circassian, while the railway is lined with troops on either side ; truly a miserable life. A watchman, moreover, sleeps outside every house in St. Petersburg.” In the Native Land Court the investigation of the Maungawnru Block still drags its slow length along. By to day the investigation will be possibly concluded. The Tarewaauru and adjacent blocks are the next in order for hearing. Mr Edward Hamlin is now officiating as interpreter to the Court vice Mr Davies, who has returned to Auckland. In the intricate cases coming before the court a really clever interpreter is required—a gentleman thoroughly capable of coning with the difficulties that are bound to occur where nice points of Native custom and usage so often crop up. A better selection for the office could not have been made. Their Honors Judges Brookfield and Puckcy, in telegraphing to Napier for Mr Hamlin’s services, acted wisely. We understand that all the Natives are highly pleased at Mr Hamlin officiating in the court.

A melancholy interest (says the Taranaki Padget) attaches to the late fatal accident at Wanganui. Watts, the poorfel ow who came to such an untimely end, and Mett am, by whose unlucky hand the fatal shot was fired, had been schoolfellows together in Auckland, mates and friends all their lives, and until the morning of the disaster, were fellow workmen in Mr Donald Ross’s shop at Wanganui.

New Caledonia news states that a duel has been fought been M. de G-imel. a French settler, and Mr Atkinson, a British subject, and settler in New Caledonia. After four shots had been fired with revolvers, and neither one nor the other had been touched, the witnesses opposed the continuation of the fight.—Robberies are more and more frequent in Noumea ; the inhabitants complain greatly. This state of things is clue to the increasing number of liberated convicts, who every day leave the penetentiary settlements. The danger to England of a Channel tunnel say the Broad Arrow, consists mainly tn the possibility that in some future war between England and France this country may sustain a serious reverse, and the certainty that in such an event the main condition of peace w’ould be the construction and the retention by the enemy of a fe'e du po rt at the English end of the tunnel, giving to France the power of throwing an army into Kent at any moment, it will be suicidal to sacrifice our safety to consideration of mere comfort and commerce.

Says the Wellington Evening Post: — Even the com’.iiier of that useful statistical publication—Whitaker’s Almanack—it appears, is not always successful in getting information, but on the other hand be knows how to resent, a refusal to give the details he requires. In the article on the London City Livery Companies in this year’s almanack, there is a blank opposite the name of the Cooks’ Company, explained by the following signifirant footnote :—“All information rudely refused by the clerk.” Next year we expect to find that blank filled up. The Taranaki Herald has heard of a rather strange idea which the great Wiremu Kingi had just prior to his death. It appears the old chief had 100 sovereigns in his whare, 50 of which he distributed a nong his relations, and he kept the other 50 for the purpose of carrying him on his journey into the Lmid of Shades. After his death search was mad? for the money, but it. could not he found. It is supposed the old chief buried the sovereigns, and, no doubt, someday a Native will “drop” upon Wireinn’s “plant,” and celebrate the event by a jolly spree. A young Danish lady residing in Melbourne recently became the victim of a most extraordinary hallucination. She imagined a gentleman named Mclvor was Christ, and insisted on keeping close to him wherever lie went in the streets, and even in l.is own hou°“. He tried to persuade her that she was making a mistake, but she refused to be c mvinr • 1, and at last he gave her in charge. The Magistrate., before w' om she had to appear, reasoned and argued with her, but. she stoutly maintained tat she was not in any wav wrong. She “ had found -the Lord and did not mean to leave him.” She was let. go on her hueband promising to take charge of her. The Hawices Bag Herald says : —lnspector Kemsley has been canvassing the town to see what support would be giren by the townspeople towards obtaining another steam lire engine. £250 was promised by tradespeople, and with liberal assistance from the Insii’-anco Companies and the Municipal Counc.il the project ought, to he accom lished. With such another engine as t he one we have already got the protection against fire would be indeed very strong. Inspector Kemsley deserves great praise for his efforts in the matter, and the Fire Brigades have shown themselves to be well worthy of any support which cun be given them.

It is stated that New Zealand is to be visited shortly by some of the best runners from Austral, a. Colonel Serntchloy will shortly conduct an inquiry into the state of the volunteers force throughout New Zealand. Astronomers (says an exchange) are on the io.-k out for the Star of Bethlehem, last, seen in 1-572, when i: shone so brightly as to be visible at noon day ; then fading away asS'imiug various Lues until it disappeared. This wonderful star is believed to have b-en seen in 1261 and 915, and its apparent period extm led backward would indicate t at it appeared about the lime of the hirt.li of Carist. lienee its name. Ls place is near the constellation Cassi'.pe’a. An article on “ New Outlets for Americian Products” appears in the December number ot the imperial Review, from the pen of Mr Robert J. Creighton, (■['Sau Francisco. The u riler di.-um.-a.-s lhe question from a natural s’andpoint, a;:. I demons: rates by ctliieial stat i-i i s that the Ar.il.u’i colonies ami N-w Zealand offer a more promming opening for American n atiufae!ures than any of the Spanish-Ammcan countries or China and Japan. 11 is tl.vry is t at. the Anglo-Saxon communities turnish the best and most accessible markets lor American products, because they are Lib ei-s of similar u.e:chai.uiae from the Homs country. The fiteing man iz a kind ov Iranian bull farrier, with jaw on him like a wolf trap that has just been sprung. He haz a low, sour foreliaad, a beefy neck, a small eye. and an ugly pug noze. His intelligence konsists in knowing' hew tew maul another human being, able, tew fake ir in return, and not kno it. All biz ideas ov honour are governed bi the code which callsit dishonourable to piinteh a man be'o the belt. His grate ambishun in life iz tew win a phew bloody flights, and then end hiz daze az the proprietors of a gin mill, with hiz name and infamy hung up in gilt letters over his bar. He iz a rank koward by natnr, and never fought a battle yet in which he did not expekt his low cunning would enable him tew outwit his adversary. —JosTi Uillinr/s.