Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1087, 15 June 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1882.

During the past heavy weather, and on many previous occasions, the community of Poverty Bay have suffered greatly from the utter absence of nightsignal communication with vessels in the roadstead. Not longer than a week ago two steamers passed on, after laying a few hours at the anchorage, without landing their mails and passengers. Had the Harbor department "been supplied with the necessary gear for communication by signal these steamers would have been detained Lere, as it was intended to send a boat

off when the bar became passable, which was the case very shortly after their departure. The mercantile coininanity especially must feel the great inconvenience of being left without their mails in a larger proportion than others, although to ail it applies more or less ; while the fact, of such a fault being so easily remedied only makes it the harder to bear. It must not be thought that we attach blame in any way to the local Harbor department, who are not supplied with the necessary material, and are therefore helpless in the matter, but we think that if representation is made in the proper quarter, steps will be taken to supply so obvious a want. The Union S.S. Company doubtless suffer also from the same cause. A night code of signals is simple, and inexpensive, and to a port like ours would be invaluable. We would suggest that the Minister of Marine be communicated with, with a view to the institution of such a system. It recommends itself to every port in New Zealand, but to open roadsteads and bar harbors more particularly. There ought most certainly to be a perfect and exhaustive code, embracing nearly every word in English use, with a copy of which all officers and petty officers on board steamers or other vessels should bo provided by their owners, and with which they should be directed to make themselves familiar, while the port establishments should be supplied in the same manner by the Government. A Port code would be easily compiled, and would meet the smaller exigencies of the case; but still the establishment of a comprehensive code is necessary, and should bo by no means neglected. For this work we think the old semaphore of colored and white lights would be found effective, but there are more appliances than one to choose from q and the particular one chosen would doubtless be the outcome of various reports from men well experienced in the matter. There seems to us no earthly reason why a ship in the roadstead, more particularly a steamer, who can always draw attention at any time by her fog-horn, should not be able to talk to the Harbor Department by a system of telegraphy such as we suggest, just as easily'by night as she can bv day-—and, vice versa, the Harbor Department to the ship. The absolute necessity for the introduction of such a system lays clearly before us, and we shall have more to say on this head shortly. In the mean time we would commend our remarks to the attention of the many who are interested in the matter, and who may be able to offer valuable suggestions for its furl her anee, and more particularly to that of the Minister of Marine.

Owing to the indisposition, which it is to be hoped is only temporary, of Major Atkinson, Mr. Allan McDonald, in common with his colleagues who formed the caucus of East Coast members, resolved to defer the prosecution of their schemes until the Treasurer was restored to health. Mr. McDonald has done some good work iu the House which although being to a certain extent non-ap parent, must bo productive of good fruit. Oratory is a useful, but by no means the only requisite qualification for a member of the House of Representatives, and many members from whom little or nothing in the way of speech is heard during the Session, are nevertheless doing good work for their constituencies. Mr. McDonald opposed the Native Reserves Bill as introduced by Mr. Bryce, although supporting him generally in other measures. We question whether Mr. McDonald will be able to carry his measure for the repeal of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1881, butwe think will meet with much support in his “ Native Land Court Act, 18S0, Amendment.” It is a well and clearly defined Bill, and is not over-worded. It is almost sure to find favor in the House. Mr. McDonald’s hopes of getting a breakwater for our harbour are greater than when he went down, and if patient and persistent advocacy will bring about the required end, we stand a chance of hearing something definite shortly. The East Coast and Northern members generally, are working well together, in good harmony and concert. Such a combination must tell in the long run, especially in the present half organised state of the House. There seems no doubt to us that Sir George Grey is, as ho always has been, the real leader of the Opposition, despite everything. How any party could follow Mr. Montgomery or Mr. Mac Andrew while Sir George Grey has power of speech seems to us a sort of Sphinxlike riddle which we are not JEdipus enough to solve. The difference of power in the late and present Opposition leaders was never more apparent than in the opening debates of the present Session, and we can easily believe that the weakness in the leadership of the Opposition as at present constituted will very probably prove the immediate cause of its dissolution and reformation under the more able guidance of Sir George Grey.

The following fenders have been received by Messrs Parnell and Boylan for painting their Masonic Hall: W. J. Nash, £B5; G. Houghton, £B2 10s ; W. Wilson, £75. Mr. Wilson’s tender being the lowest has been accepted. Anent the remarks appearing in our issue of the 13th instant, in reference to Mr Young’s statement that, the booms of the Arai bridge had been maliciously cut away, wo were interviewed on Tuesday by two gentlemen, residents in the Arai district, who requested us to contradict that statement. In this morning’s issue will be seen an apology from Mr. U. Young to Mr, McKay, fur the statements made.

Marshall Baz.iine is bringing out a history of the siege and capitulation of Metz. At a sitting of the Registrar in Bankruptcy yesterday afternoon, the decision as to the application by Rea Is Trustee’s to have Rubt. Cooper adjudicated a bankrupt, was postponed for three werks. A meeting of the Lad»cs’ Benevolent Society was held yesterday afternoon in the Court I House building. The business was unimportant. It was resolved to hold the annual meeting on the 19th of July next. As the Manapouri will not leave Gisborne for Auckland before Tuesday morning next, instead of Sunday, it has been decided to forward the outgoing San Francisco mail South, per Rotomahana, closing on Friday afternoon at 2.30 p.m. sharp. A meeting of the Hospital Committee was held last evening in the Court House room. There were present*;the Ven. Archdeacon Williams, Messrs McKay, Brown, Butt, and Johnston. The business was of a purely routine nature with the exception of appointing the date for the annual meeting of subscribers for the 19th proximo. We apologise to several advertisers, notably Messrs Ratcliffe, H. Bull, Jas. Speight &Co., A. J. Cooper, and the Bazaar Committee of the Holy Trinity Church for not doing as we invariably do in’the matter of supplying locals. If following our rule, the paragraphs would necessarily have been very brief owing to the pressure on our space. We will in our next issue make amends. A gentleman arrived in Gisborne by the Rotomahana on her last trip. His object was to see the country and endeavor to start in the tinned meat manufacturing business. He expresses himself highly pleased with the appearance of the district, and is so satisfied with his prospects of success that he will, after completing arrangements for plant &c., return at the end of the year. Mr. Henry Lewis of the Gladstone Road, calls attention to his large stock of groceries and draperies which will be advertised in our Sat urday columns. Mr. Lewis shows us a curious umbrella which is made to fold up so that it can be packed iu a portmanteau or carpet bag. This is a novelty in umbrella’s, and if they only keep the rain out half as easily as they expand and shut, they must necessarily prove a great success. A potato-digging match against time took place on Thursday (says the Christchurch “ Press ”) on the property of Mr Wild, at Papanui. The wager was that a man named Coombes could not dig half an acre of potatoes in eight hours, the stakes being £5O aside. He won with four minutes to spare, having dug well and cleanly 73 bags of potatoes in 7 hours 56 minutes. The contest created considerable interest in Papanui. The weight of the quantity dug would be 6 tons 2 cwt. The Southern Cross Petroleum Company shipped -on board the s.e. Bosina yesterday a quantity of winding machinery and curbs in addition to a considerable quantity of other necessary material. Mr. Davies the contractor and several experienced shaft-men are passengers, so that the work in connection with the mine may be expected to rapidly proceed. The Engineer for the Company is expected to arrive by the Rotomahana on Friday next with four picked men secured by him for Mr. Davies. In the collision between the steamers Julia Percy and Nelson off Cape Otway in December last, one of the Julia Percy’s passengers, ’?. Mr Cutter, was, unfortunately, drowned. His widow issued instructions to Mr Best, solicitor of Melbourne, to sue the Western Steam Navigation Company, to which the steamers belonged, for £5OOO damages. The case did not come before the Supreme Court, the Company judging it best to compromise if possible. Mrs Cutter agreed to accept their offer of £1,870 in full of all demands.

The schooner Minnie Hare, Capt. Nicholas, left Auckland for Mercury Bay ; afterloading part of cargo at that port, she sailed on June 6th for Gisborne, where she arrived yesterday, 14th inst. She brings the fullowing cargo :— 41,000 feet limber for Common, Shelton and Co.; 15 tons coal for Messrs Kennedy and Bennett; and 6 tons’general cargo for consignees. She experienced very heavy weather throughout her voyage. Messrs Kennedy and Bennett have two other vessels, the Julius Vogel (expected daily), and the Saucy Kate, which left the day before yesterday, now en route from Auckland, and the brigantine Energy from Newcastle, all loaded with coal, which they will be able to supply to customers wholesale and retail at much lower rates than have hitherto been obtained. The Energy may be looked for in about four weeks from date. The case brought against Mr. Page of the Masonic Hotel, yesterday, for an infringement of that iniquitous fraud, the Licensing Act, terminated in a dismissal. How it could have finished otherwise we are at a loss to see. The R.M. can only weigh evidence, and according to the weight of evidence there adduced Mr. Page could only have been acquitted of the charge, no matter under what section of the Act that charge was laid. We thoroughly disagree with Mr. Price’s remarks on this head, and we cannot help thinking that the young man Polgrain is suffering an undeservedly harsh sentence, more through his own stupidity in not defending the action, than through any breach of that most abominable apology for decency and temperance, the Licensing Act of 1881. We shall have more to say upon this matter shortly. The Gisborne Football Club have decided to play the annual match against the Napier Football Club on or about the 15th July, if the passages can be so arranged. With a view of selecting the best possible team to represent Gisborne the following matches have been arranged, prior to the election of the team :—On Saturday next, Colonials v. The World ; on the 24th, Banks and Law v. The Club; on the Ist July, County v. Town (return match) ; on the Bth July, The Team selected to play against the Napier Club, against the rest of the Club. We hope to see the members turn up to practice, so as to get into proper condition before the 15th July, and we trust to be able to record a victory for them in the Napier match. It has been suggested by this Club to join with the Napier one and purchase a Cup to be played for every season, and we have no doubt as to the proposition being favorably entertained. In the “Crown Lands Guide,” published by the authority of the Minister of Lands, the receipt of which we regret to say we have omitted hitherto to acknowledge, we find an exhaustive little work containing general information as to character and localities of Crowm lands, and terms and conditions of sale, a summary of the principal features of the Land Act with general explanation under the deferred payments, agricultural lease, and homestead systems. The general maps attached shew the land districts, principal towns, and lines of railway, the lands which are already sold, and those which are for sale. Under each land district is a list of all lands open for selection, with information as to area, localities, and general character of the soil, surface, natural vegetation, accessibility, etc.; also of lands now being opened up by formation of roads and drainage works preparatory to being offered for sale. The schedules are voluminous, and afford a reliable guide to all wishing to invest money in land purchase, while the descriptions are truthful and not exaggerated. The digest of the land laws is concise and useful, and as a whole this little work is a highly creditable compilation from Government statistics for the assistance of purchasers.

TI:; r> i 'lUii’ls ;it, I ■' k 20 v. -1 Formosa o at the Queen’s ThSKre, Melbourne, J. B. Howe’s company. The Admiralty are refusing all applications from Lieutenants requesting to be allowed to retire. Fat cattle are being shipped from Victoria to Brisbane and the North Queensland ports in large numbers. Kellar the celebrated American Illusionist, is giving a taste of his quality in Melbourne. The birdcage trick is his specialite.

Arrangements have been made by the Post-masF'cr-Generals of Victoria and New Zealand for the reduction in transmission of telegrams between those Colonies from IDs 6d to 8s 6d for ten words. Opotiki in the County of Whakatane (says the “ B. P. Times”) has been constituted a town district under the Town Districts Act, 1881, and Mr C. D. Litchfield has been appointed Returning Officer. The misquotations in prices of English material, as transmitted by Reuter, is creating great dissatisfaction, especially in “ Glasgow warrants,” and the iron and other trades generally. The first instance of a pension being granted to a Volunteer is that of Private James MacDonald who has been allowed sixpence per diem for life in consequence of one eye having been destroyed by the spike of a comrade’s helmet last year. George McQuillan, aged 112 years, died at the Liverpool (N.S.W.) Asylum on the Queen’s Birthday. He arrived in New South Wales in 1834, and is said to have served under Sir John Moore at Corunna, and also under General Picton at Waterloo. The London “ Times ” of the 28th May, has a highly eulogistic article commenting on the cargo of frozen meat forwarded from Dunedin by the sailing ship “ Dunedin.” which has recently arrived in London. The meat when opened was found to be in splendid condition, and realised an average of 6d per lb. in the Smithfield market. Mr Bertram Lambert, Government Surveyor, has made very satisfactory progress with the new line he is laying off between Opoiti and Te Reinga. He has already reached as far as the head of the Mangaehu, or about half way. The grades are easy, and abundant metal is close at hand, so that we may look forward to having a first-class road to the boundary of t he County at no distant date.— Wairoa “ Guardian.”