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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1140, 6 September 1882, Page 2

Messrs W. Ratcliffe and Co. have determined to increase their business, and to this end have secured a site on the vacant plot of land between the Albion Club Hotel Mr Eff. Ward’s office, upon which they intend te erect a store. The building will be 60ft. by 30ft., and from the design prepared by Mr W. F. Finneran, which was kindly shown us to-day will not only contain ample acommodation for storing purposes, be well lighted, but will also possess a substantial and tasteful front, having an elevation of 24 feet. The present offices occupied by the firm will be utilised as they will oe removed from their present position and placed alongside the building to be erected. Mr Finneran also informs us that the main building has been so arranged that extensions may be made without difficulty. Messrs Ratcliffe and Co., we understand, intend to take out licenses as auctioneers, and we feel sure from the high estimation in which both Mr Ratcliffe aud Mr Ferris are held, they will have no reason to regret the step they have decided upon taking. One of the most amusing scenes we have seen enacted for some time, occurred to-day. A very downey card noticed that the eagle eye of Constable Wilson was upon him aud also knew that an inquest was pending. Seizing a friend by the arm he rushed from Thelwall’s corner to Page’s to evade the piece of blue paper which he felt certain would, if opportunity offered, be placed in his hand. Having reached the Masonic Hotel he invited his friend in to have a glass of soda water, lemonade, ginger beer, or something else—more particularly the latter. He had just given the order when he espied a blue coat and buttons at the window, and before taking up his glass he was next seen at the Gisborne Hotel corner. The vigilant conservator of the peace was however in close attendance, and away again had the gentleman to make his escape. After fully half-an-hours play at the game of “ Dodging a Bobby ” he was enabled to obtain a drink in comfort. The Tucker petition business has brought in a little money to the Telegraph Department. The House of Representatives didn’t think much of it, and its fate is sealed. We shall see what Captain Tucker says about this in the evening edition of “ Sarah.” We are prepared for a heavy shower and have gone in for a new gamp in order to keep Captain Tucker’s heavy rain off our devoted heads. The Tramway Committee of the Cook County Council consisting of Crs. Chambers, Ferris, and Gannon, will meet at 12 o’dock noon, to-morrow, at the Council Chamber, to consider the tramway question, and will report to the general meeting to be held tomorrow evening. The following is the business to be Iplaced before the Cook County Council to-morrow night at the adjourned ordinary meeting :— To receive Reports of Committees on Tramways, Library, Native Lands Bill, aud Finance; To consider question of erecting toll-gates on County roads ; To open tender for right to collect tolls on Arai Bridge ; To receive report from Mr Barnard on condition of Wairoa Road ; also a circular from Wairoa Council, on political situation of East Coast Counties; and the ordinary routine business. The ideal newspaper man is a man whose brain is crammed full of things classical, social, and political ; whose pen can reel off poetry, sentiment, and sense to order, and into whose presence wo should come with feel* iug* of awe inspired by overpowering genius. The real newspaper man is a worn-out fragment of humanity, who carries a sickly smile significant of hope deferred and financial depression.

Up till recently beef was cheaper in Australia than in New Zealand. The state of affairs is different now. We leant from a contemporary that beef has been fetching high prices in the Sydney market lately. A number of Mr Tyson’s, of Gippslaud, bullocks fetched as much as £l7 ss‘each, and they averaged £l5 Iss 6d throughout. Some extra good cows fetched £l5 10s. Beef was quoted at 32b Gd. New Zealand farmers would be glad to receive similar prices. We hear that an’ Auckland firm intend sending refrigerated beef to Sydney. We have been appealed to by more than one person in the Bay for information as to whether the “Energy” is a three-masted schooner or not. We decidedly say not. A schooner of any kind, two-masted or threemasted only carries flying yards. The “ Energy ” carries a standing foreyard, double foretopsail yards, and topgallant and Royal yards on a standing lower tup and topgallant mast forward, and is without the slightest doubt a barqueiitinc, and should be bo «le»vribe<l in her register.

There were no cases for hearing at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. The Hon. Francis Fitzgerald, Baron of the Irish Exchequer has resigned in consequence of the state of affairs in that country. Speaking of Arabi Pasha, the Alexandria correspondent of the London “ Times ” says : —“ I have always deemed him a simple fellow, of very small intelligence, labouring under the impression that he is supported by an omnipotent Sultan, and without the smallest notion as to the relative powers of Europe Turkey and Egypt. He expresses his intention of fighting either Turkey, England or all Europe. It is difficult to understand his infatuation. It is apparently the confidence of a Napoleon rather than the bravado of a desperado. Speaking to him, one is astonished at the betises that he utters and the childish argument with which he supports his propositions. No pot-house politician could utter more worthless nonsense; no donkey-boy state notions more crude and more laughable.” By our telegrams it w’ill be seen that Baker Pasha (better known possibly as Colonel Baker) has been appointed as Chief of the Staff in connection with the Turkish troops to be despatched to Egypt. Mr H. Lewis, in order to make room for a large shipment of spring and summer goods, advertises that he will, for cash, during the next fortnight, dispose of his present stock of winter goods at prices hitherto unheard of in the district. There can be no doubt that Mr Lewis, having so thorough a knowledge of the drapery and clothing business, is enabled to both buy and sell in the best and cheapest markets, and therefore can dispose of his stock at the lowest p ‘ces. The Fire Brigade will meet at the Drill Shed at 7 o’clock, when a good muster of members is expected. Mr A. Cooper, manager for the Gisborne boot and shoe warehouse has favored us with a new advertisement, a perusal of which will show that the stock is a particularly choice one, carefully selected, and admirably suited to the requirements of the district. He invites inspection and asserts that one trial will give ample satisfaction.

We notice that Messrs Carlaw Smith and Co. will offer to-morrow a number of forfeited shares in the Southern Cross Petroleum Co. As the reports latterly have been most encouraging, we expect the scrip to rule at better prices than at the last sales. There will be quite an exodus of Natives and other persons to attend the Native Lands Court a| Opotiki, to be holden upon the 15th proximo. Judges Puckey and O’Brien will preside at the sitting of the Court. Wi Haronga, Panapa Waihopi, and a number of Natives connected with the Whanuapanui Hapu, leave on Friday. Tuta Nihoniho and a number of Natives have already started en route via the East Coast. The great “ cav.sus belli ” will pe the re-hearing of the Puketauliinu block which was applied for last Easter by the Ngataporou hapu through their solicitor Mr Wasd. Claimants to a few other blocks will be heard at the Court. Captain Porter, of Messrs Porter and Croft, goes through with Mr Ward and a number of Native claimants. A Court has been long ■wanted for Wai-o-matatini, and we hear it will probably be shortly gazetted. It is satisfactory to hear of a sitting of the Native Land Court taking place any where in the Colony, and, more especially so, adjacent to this district, because it brings with it settlement of claims, adjustment of titles, and another more necessary adjunct the purchasing or leasing by men of capital, of lands now lying waste, and unprofitable either to Natives or Europeans. We are glad to hear there is a likelihood of a permanent Judge of the Native Land Court being appointed to be resident in our midst, and clear up all difficulties, whether connected with subdivision or original claims. A specimen of the Colorado Beetle is now on view at Mr T. J. Dicksons Argyll Hotel, and we were not at all pleased at his making his appearance in Gisborne, especially in a new hotel such as the Argyll. It would appear that this obnoxious insect was discovered in a case of American Chairs consigned to Mr Dickson. Several gentlemen who were present on its discovery joined in the happy chorus of— Sound the trumpet, beat the drum, The Colorado Beetle’s come.” The refram was simply grand, eras a French gentleman who was standing next to our reporter at the time, remarked it was superbe vive le Roi ! ! The waltzing tournament this evening must not be forgotten. A most exciting contest is anticipated.