Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. Saturday, March 1, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1044, 4 March 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. Saturday, March 1, 1882.

A subjebt deserving earnest attention, and one, unless precautionary steps are taken, bound to force itself unpleasantly upon the notice of the people of the Bay, is the rabbit nuisance. There are places in the district, especially in the vicinity of the Borough, where rabbits are kept. It would be a great misfortune to this district if it were to become overspread with them. The fecundity of the rabbit is well known. Once in possession of the sand hills along the Waikanae beach, so admirably adapted for them, or the sandy soils of Whataupoko, they would speedily overrun the County, and it would entail enormous cost to eradicate them. The ravages and the ruinous consequences upon landowners in the South and in the Wairarapa district through this plague are well known. Timely action here on the part of the local bodies is all that is required. The Borough Council and the County Council should adopt stringent measures for dealing with the evil. The Hon. Mr Holmes, in moving the second reading of the Rabbit Nuisance Bill in the Council last session, spoke strongly on the subject. A committee of both houses, remarked the bon. gentleman, had sat and taken evidence of a very important character, proving the great increnseof the evil, and showing clearly that if energetic steps were not taken it would be almost impossible to put an end to the pest. “ Every week,” said the Hon. Mr Holmes, “ that the country remained without a morestringent law, vigorously carried out, lessened the value of the Crown laud to be let or sold, and lessened the value of land subject to rates throughout the country. The Crown was more interested by far in this subject than any private individual, even those who were the largest landholders. For instance, they were looking forward to 3,000,000 acres running out of lease in September, 1882, all of which was to be cut up into smaller holdings, and it would be impossible for small settlers to live there unless this rabbit pest was dealt with with a strong hand, because the rabbits had already got over this very country, and were now doing an immense amount of mischief. Not only were rabbits decreasing the number of the flocks of sheep, but they were deteriorating the quality of the wool. There was a new term now in the wool market, “ rabbity wool ” —that was wool grown on rabbit-infested land, and which was not of a strong staple. This nuisance was not peculiar to New Zealand. In South Australia they had spent within a few months £21,000 on it, and £lO,OOO had been voted in Victoria for the suppression of the pest in the Western District. That was a tract of country about 150 miles long. In his own time in that country there was not a rabbit to be seen, but now he believed they were so numerous that it was almost impossible to deal with them.” Runs that had been let for £2,400 a year were so depreciated in value in consequence of the rabbit pest as to bring in only £670 a year. Other runs had been abandoned altogether. In some cases the carrying capabilities of the runs were reduced nearly seventy per cent. Although the danger so far as we are concerned is somewhat remote, nevertheless, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Even at the sacrifice of private convenience it is well that some steps should be taker. We commend the matter to the earnest consideration of the Borough aud County Councils.

Ax Order in Council amending the rules of practice and procedure under the Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act has been issued. The new regulations will facilitate in a great degree the completion of transactions in land between Europeans and Natives. The Poverty Bay Herald with its characteristic obtuseness, takes a different view, and says the rules will “ impede many negotiations for the acquisition of Native land which have been entered into.” This is altogether wrong. The amended rules have been approved of by His Honor Sir James Prendergast. The most important feature in all is the provision that is made empowering the Commissioner to take statutory declarations in a form set forth as evidence cd an alienation having been made. Much inconvenience to persons at a distance from the town is thereby avoided. There is also the provision that the person acquiring the land, his solicitor or agent, may give evidence as to the transaction. Hitherto the power practically lay with the Natives, who if they thought fit, as they sometimes did, after being paid for their land, on going before the Trust Commissioner, repudiated the transaction. The duties of the Commissioner are clearly and

distinctly defined, and the amended rules while being a great improvement upon the old ones are framed in such a manner as will tend largely to facilitate business between the two races, and at the same time protect the interests of the Natives. In the hurryburry of land speculations when the “earth hunger" is strong upon the the people, it must- not be forgotten that a noble race is every day parting with its patrimony, and unless careful provision is made for the people now growing up, the rising generation will be thrown as paupers on the State.

Lately we announced that Messrs. Muib, Greenfield, Stewart, and Finlay, of Wellington, had obtained the whole of the Native signatures to the deed of conveyance to them from the Native owners of the Waipaoa block, some 37,000 acres. So far so good. The next step was to have the land vested in them by the Native Land Court as purchasers, and a Crown grant issued. The usual tedious delays that seem always to accompany Native land transactions threatened to impede the issue of the grant. However, under the legal captaincy of Mr. Willoughby Brassey, of the firm of Bbassey and Fraser, of Gisborne, the case has been safely engineered through the Native Land Court. In the early part of the week Mr. Brassey who appeared for the Europeans interested, asked their Honors Judges Brookfield and Puckey to make the necessary enquiries under the Native Land Act. This the Court did ; with the result that after an examination extending over a considerable period it was ascertained to the satisfaction of the Court that the transaction was a thoroughly fair and just one, and completed with the full assent of all the owners. Their Houors, after giving this important matter their most careful attention, signed the necessary certificate to that effect required by law, and now there is no impediment in the way of the Crown grant being issued direct to the Europeans. To thoroughly comprehend the important bearing the whole matter has upon the interests of the district the subject should be looked at from au opposite poiut of view. Had those gentlemen who came here to invest their capital failed in their negotiations, another black mark would have beeu added to the Bay’s history. As it is we may look forward to the introduction of a large amount of capital, ere long, into the district.

A sitting of the Assessment Court for the Poverty Bay Highway District was held by Matthew Price, Esq., R.M., at Mr Scott's Hotel, at Makaraka, on Thursday last. Fifteen objections to the valuations fixed were made. In only three instances were the objections sustained. Many persons made objections, but they were informal. Mr Price, while making every allowance possible for their want of knowledge of the requirements of the Act, said that at future sittings of the Assessment Court he would adhere strictly to the law, because his experience taught him that by giving latitude his goodness was liable to be imposed upon.

We would remind cattle sellers and purchasers that Messss. C’ariaw Smith and Co., hold their monthly sale at Waerenga-a-hika, on Monday next, 6th inst., at 2 o’clock. A lecture on the “Four Judgments” will be delivered by Mr W. Powley next Sunday afternoon, in the Masonic Hall, at 3 o’clock. An evening service in the same place will be held at 7 o’clock.

Tenders are invited in this morning’s issue, by Mr W. P. Finneran, Architect, Gisborne, for the erection of a 16-roomed dwelling house for Mr T. E. Read Bloomfield. For further particulars we refer our readers to the advertisement in another column. Messrs. Bond and Hatten, by advertisement in this morning’s issue, announce that they will be prepared shortly to run a coach from Ormond to town and back, full particulars of which will be given in future advertisement. We wish the new firm every success in their new venture.

From an advertisement in another column it will be seen that Messrs Henry Williams, Andrew Reeves. M. J. Gannon, Enoch Kirk, and S. R. Stewart have been elected for the Licensing Committee for the Tologa Bay District. Himona te Kani, Native Assessor, is also elected for the Native Licensing District.

Yesterday as one of our Native noblemen was driving out cf town in his buggy with a pair of horses, an officer of justice presented him with “ Victoria, by the grace of God.” The look of supreme disgust that overshadowed the aboriginal's features as he flung foom him in ineffable contempt, the legal-looking document, should have been seen to be properly appreciated. The laughter that greeted him from a body of his countrymen who witnessed the affair, did not tend to soothe his equilibrium.

Some time ago much of the ratepayers’ money was spent in tree planting, mainly along Gladstone Road. The trees were planted, and, without any protection, were left to their fate. As might be naturally expected, many of them were destroyed speedily. At Coombs’s corner, near East’s store, two of the poplar trees have been ruthlessly broken down, and unless some protective measures are resorted to, it will be merely a question of time when the whole will be destroyed, either by the carts or by the horses nibbling off the bark.

There was no meeting of the County Council on Thursday evening last, owing to the want of a quorum, the only Councillors who turned up being Crs. Ferris, Common, and Gannon. However, there was no very important business to be transacted, and, therefore, no public inconvenience was occasioned. The month’s notice required by the Counties Act before balloting for the £7OOO loan proposed will expire in a day or two. Mr J. W. Johnson, the Chairman of the Cook County Council, has, we understand, appointed in the terms of toe Act the different Councillors for the various Ridings to explain the objects for wliiuli the loan is to be raised.

That a human bite is as dangerous as that of any animal, is shown by an occurrence in the German city of Munster, where a man, who was bitten in one of his fingers (luring a fight, has had the alternative of losing his arm or his life. Blood-poisoning set in, and speedy amputation at the shoulder became necessary. A man named Bourke got drunk at Melbourne the other day, and abused his wife and dang' ter, running after the latter with a knife. In self-defence she threw a stone at him which cut his head. The wound was not much, but erysipelas set in. and being of an unhealthy habit through over-indulgence in alcohol, he died.

The editor of The New Zealand Presbyterian Church News is evidently sore at the Rev. \V. lieringham Root who has now taken charge of the Blenheim diocese, taking up Episcopal views of religion. Under the heading Greyrnouth we find the following : — “ This charge is vacant ; the Rev W. Hevingham Root has crossed over to the ranks of those who claim to be the successors of the Apostles. He came to the Presbyterian from Ihe Baptist Church, and so thoroughly satisfied was he with the Divine right of Presbytery, that he urged the Assembly to circulate Wilberow’s Catechism far and near. Might we not then say ‘ P. vsician, heal thvself ?”

A rifle match took place yesterday morning between Messrs Prain and Gunn, of Napier, and Messrs. A. Taylor and O. Hansen, of Gisborne, resulting, so far as actual scores were concerned, in a tie, but Gisborne claimed a victory, having made the highest scores at the longest range. The firing was at 200 yards, 300 yards, 400 yards, and 500 yards. GISBORNE. A. Taylor ... ... ... 87 O. Hansen ... ... ... 82 Total 169 NAPIER. G. Prain ... ... ... 89 — Gunn ... ... ... 80 Total 169 Mr. Thompson, the contractor of the punt, complains that he has not been fairly treated by the Borough Council in the matter. He states that the terms upon which he entered into the original contract were subsequently altered by the Borough Council, and in consequence of such alteration he experienced much inconvenience, besides actual loss through detention. These delays, according to Mr. Thompson, were solely owing to the original specifications having been departed from. Mr. Thompson also complains that what is charged under the heading of “extras” are not clearly set forth. With the merits or demerits of the case we have nothing to do, nor are we in a position to state authoritatively, whether or not the Borough Council are in the right or wrong. The question is one that should bp very easily settled if one or two of the Borough Councillors will take the matter up. If Mr. Thompson has any just claim the Borough Council should not delay recognizing it. Fiat justitia ruat caelum. The longevity of the better class of the Jews is a subject of general remark. It. can, however, be easily accounted for. In the first place, the Jews are a temperate race, and, at all events after marriage, a moral race. In the second place, they take care to live well. In the third place, they never give themselves up to exhausting work. In the fourth place, they are forbidden to eat unclean animals. Finally, the Jew has fifty-two fewer working days in the year than Christians, for both Saturdays and Sundays are days of rest to him. There is probably another cause for the longevity in question, which is that Jewesses are rarely in any class of life converted into drudges.— Vanity Fair.

The Bishop of Auckland, in preaching at St. Marr’s recently, referred to the mi.-taken and uncharitable ideas of these Christians who persist in confounding Sunday with the ancient Jewish Sabbath, and insist on so rigid tin observance of it that even children were not allowed to enjoy themselves on that day in the only manner possible for them to do so. He well remembered the gloomy views of God which were imparted to bis mind from the facts that w en a boy, on a visit to some pious relatives in Scotland, he was taught that, to pluck flowers, or t,o look at. pictorial representation of God’s works, was a desecration of his day. The Church of England, on the other hand, had always observed Sunday as a joyous festival in which they met togother to to worship their Maker. A resident at. Karamea, on the West Coast, named Ray. arrived at Nelson recently with a sad story of the plight, to which the settlers had been reduced, Nine weeks had elapsed since a steamer last, called there ; when Mr. Ray left, there was but 2cwt. of flour in the settlement, and the people were living on what, they themselves could grow. The miners had not left the settlement for their claims since Christmas, owing to having no provisions to take with them. Fruit which should have been in the Westport market weeks since had rotted in the cases in which it was placed for shipment. During the nine weeks but two small letter mails reached Karamea. and these were taken up by chance travellers. Altogether, Karamea appears to be remote, unfriendly, melancholy, not. to say slow. — 'Evening Post. The Bishop of Wellington, we learn from the Manawatu Herald, held a confirmation at Foxton lately. In the course of his address to the candidates, he said :—“ I for one do believe there is more unbelief—more disbelief of Holy Scripture—now than there was some years ago. I do know there is greater latitude of opinion now than there was at the beginning of the century, and that men who then kept their ouinions to themselves now send them forth broadcast., instigated by the devil. In reference to the statement sometimes made that there is more light in the world now than there was sometime ago, I believe (and I speak from the experience of half a century) that Christianity has made greater progress during the last half-century than it did at any period since the time of the Apostles. So I say, do not believe that Christianity is about to pass away. As to whether Christianity has accomplished all that was expected of it, that is a point upon which we are not competent to judge.”

A good yarn (says the Wanganui Chronicle) conies from the Armed Constabulary Camp at Ngakumikunii. It seems two of the AC. had been bit. by a katipo. and were removed to the Hospital at New Plymouth. A third one, when asked the cause of his lameness, also complained of being bitten by a katipo, but refused to be examined or removed to the Hospital, and went on with his work as usual, although evidently at some inconvenience. Some of the knowing ones identify him as one of two men who made a quiet, raid on an apple tree growing on Messrs. Reid and Stent’s farm ; but in anticipation of such a visit these gentlemen had borrowed a dog from Mr. Hall, coach proprietor. The animal, it appears, was tied to the tree with a fair amount of chain, aud on the arrival of the foragers was out of sight among some tall grass. One of the two had no sooner commenced to scale the tree than he was seized behind by the dog, and vigorously shaken. After some difficulty, a separation was effected ; but they forgot the apples, as a yell of triumph burst from a thicket not far away, and, as they ran, something like a flag of truce, or, as some say, a shirt-tail, was exhibited in the rear of the one bit by a katipo.

Here is a specimen sentence from a New South Wales legislator: —“The foul fiend that has stalked through a damning catalogue of crime in all the ages up to the throat in the gore of the innocent and the pure.”

The London Tinies said of the Methodist Ecumenical Conference, that “ it offers, in some very important points, favorable comparisons with other religious conferences. There is really no sign of squabbling. The common resolution to do as much good as possible is so universal and strong, that it over* powers petty selfishness.”

From an American source we learn that the second trans Continental Railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific, via the Southern States, Texas, and Southern California, has been completed, and is now open for traffic, connecting with all the southern and eastern ports, and that, during the present year over 16,000 miles of new railways and extensions will be opened.

Married for twenty-five years, Jacob Rhodes, of Lansing, Tomkins County, celebrated his anniversary by eloping with the wife of his neighbor. The event (says the Ithaca Journal) caused a great, deal of comment, as he was a leading temperance man, ex-Sunday school superintendent, Knight Templar, a prominent member of the Methodist church, and a well-to-do-farmer. His wife is a deaf mute, and her society had become unendurable. A lady decorating a church at. Christmas time, asked her husband when he went to town to procure her a text, stating the size she required it to fit in with her decorations. Having lost his memorandum he telegraphed to his wife to send him the words of the text she required and the size. Fancy the astonishment of the clerk who opened the telegram of the wife to his master, when he read, “ Unto us a Child is Born,” six feet long, by two and a half wide.”

The inconvenience of an umpire with an impediment in his speech is shown in the following ludicrous incident. On one occasion, when Multon was playing with Surrey, the latter place was favored with the services of one who stuttered. On being appealed to in a case of 1. b. w., the umpire said nothing, but shook his head. The next ball took the bails, and the umpire surprised the natives by exclaiming “ notout.” “ What do you mean?” queried the bowler. “Don’t you see I’ve bowled him ?” “ Y—yes,” said the deliberate, “ but I m —m —mean the ball before.” An old opera-goer writes to the London World from Malta :—“There is an American singer here, by name Sargent. She is fair, small, tolerably nice-looking, a small voice, but admirably trained and taught, and a very superb singer. She has made quite a sensation in “ Sonnambulo and if there was more of her body and voice, she would become a great artiste, well worth transplating to the London boards.” Probably this is the Jennie Sargent who visited New Zealand some eighteen months ago, with Madame Urso.