Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE : WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1178, 18 October 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE : WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1882.

The members of ths Harbor Board met last night, but the business transacted was unimportant, as it was simply a case of groping in the dark, those present not knowing where their foreshore boundary started, or where it ended. Although somewhat given to talk, the members appear to be thoroughly in earnest in the work before them.

Why do not printers succeed to the same extent as brewers ? Because printers work for the head and brewers for the stomach, and where twenty men have stomachs but one has brains.

The weights for the Handicaps at Makaraka on the 9th ultimo will be made known this evening.

A meeting of the Fire Brigade for practice will be held at 7 o’clock this evening at the engine-shed. All the members of the Brigade are expected to be present. A meeting of the Poverty Bay Hospital Committee will be held thia evening at the Resident Magistrate’s Court House, at half past 7 o’clock, when the arrangements for tho intended f&te in connection with the Hospital to take place on St. Andrew’s Day, the 30th November next, will be discussed.

The Bazaar and Gift Auction in connection with the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is announced to take place on the 28th and 29th of November next in McFarlane’s Hall. From what we can gather it is likely to prove a great success. Messrs Graham, Pitt and Bennett will hold their first monthly sale of cattle at the Waerenga-a-hika yards to-morrow the 19th instant at 2 p.m. They will submit to auction six head of light beef, 15 choice heifers, one five year old bull, and a number of store cattle consisting of cows, calves and young stock. There will no doubt be a good attendance on this the first of the monthly sales at Waerenga-a-hika. There were no cases for hearing at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. Mr J. W. Witty, with his wife and family, numbering eight in all, arrived in Gisborne this morning, overland, from Wairoa. The undertaking was no inconsiderable one, as some of the children are of tender years. There was only one night’s camping out, and that was at Te Reinga, after which the journey was steadily continued until the Bridge Hotel was reached and there the travellers made a halt. Mr Witty informs us that with the exception of a snail portion of the road between Opoiti and the Waihau Lakes, a trap might safely have been driven through. Mr Witty purposes at a future date establishing a business here as a Land Estate and General Commission Agent, but will have to return again to Wairoa to com* Slete his work of Assessment for the County ouncil. He has secured the new house built by Mr A. Ledger in Childers-street where the family will take up their residence. The Wairoa Guardian of the 14th inst. says : —“ This morning Mr J. Witty and his family start overland for Gisborne, where he intends to make his future home. Mr Witty has ever been a great assistance to the people of Wairoa in the matter of getting up concerts, entertainments, &c., and we shall certainly miss him from amongst us in this respect. As leader of the Presbyterian Church choir Mr Witty’s powerful and well-trained voice will be much missed. Mr Witty and family have our best wishes for their success in their new home.”

We would like to call the especial attention of the Borough Council to the state of Bright-street. The footpaths have never been formed or shingled in that portion of the street leading to the river, and the consequence is that in wet weather the residents near the river in that street have to simply wade through a sea of mud and slush. The other end of the street is in passably fair condition, but something should be done to relieve the inhabitants at the river end from the detestable inconvenience of compulsory mud larking. Mr James R. Scott, of the Roseland Hotel, entertained a party of gentlemen to supper last night. The chair was taken by the inestimable Jumbo, ably supported by the invaluable South in the vice-chair. Jugged Hare was the subject matter, and with the aid of certain ambrosial nectar produced by the worthy host, and harmony which would have delighted the ears of Seraphs, the evening was passed very pleasantly. The usual toasts, “ The Queen,” “ The Host and Hostess,” “The Press,” “The Visitors,” and last, but by no means least, “The Ladies,” were all drank in due rotation, and received with becoming approbation. Thanks were returned in a very humorous style by the various gentlemen present, and shortly after midnight the party broke up, thoroughly satisfied with the pleasant convivial evening they had spent. By the way that Jugged Hare was something delicious. Wasn’t it, Jumbo ?

The dust to-day has been something terrific, and several of the townspeople, especially tradesmen with large warehouses, bewail the want of a proper water supply. Any person who had occasion to travel up the Gladstone Road to-day, must have felt that a water supply for Gisborne was absolutely necessary. Yet whose fault is it we ask that such a supply has not been obtained ? Why ’ the burgesses themselves !! ! A meeting waa held some months ago at the Masonic Hall, and those present pooh-poohed the idea of raising the necessary loan for a proper and efficient water supply for Gisborne- This, we may state, was at a time when water was plentiful and the tanks of the burgeases were full to overflowing. The scheme was, therefore, repudiated, and the result is what we anticipated. The summer season will soon be upon us and if anything like a dry season sets in it is difficult to say what the result may be. Further comment is needless on the subject, but we trust that our City Fathers will not lose sight of such an important matter appertaining not only to the health but the welfare of the community. Mesasrs. Croll and Ingle have been appointed agents for “ The Industrial Gazette] the Pastoral and Agricultural News,” a most desirable publication for farmers and runholders. It is published monthly in Wellington by Messrs. Edwards and Green, and the contents are most interesting. The brochure is extremely well got up. We feel confident that it will be of great advantage to all concerned in agricultural pursuits. The contents for the October number include articles on the selection of dairy cows, man ure and its application, new wheats, European flax, Poverty Bay oilsprings, commercial items, etc. We would recommend our farmers to become subscribers.

Charley ESawyer and his mate Billy Humpheries are conferring a boon on the residents in Gisborne by going round the town with wheelbarrows of vegetables. We purchased some excellent green peas, asparagus, and celery from them the other day, and found their prices very moderate. This is a need which Gisborne has long felt, and wc feel quite sure that Gisbomites will accord ready support to the industry. A few Chinamen would soon grow enough vegetables here to keep the town. As it is, large quantities are imported from Auckland and Napier.

A black-fleeced ewe owned by a settler at Kaikora, Napier, has this year dropped four lambs—all white.

The rifle of Captain St. George, who was killed in action at Taupo during the last native war, was found amongst those taken from the natives at Parikaka. It has the name of Captain St. George engraved on it.

Mr Barker, the Government Life Insurance agent, is, we learn, shortly to be handed over to the police authorities for wickedly, feloniously, and with malice aforethought against the peace and dignity of Her Majesty the Queen, having attempted to take the life of one of our staff. As the matter is sub jud ice we will refrain from further remarks for the present. We understand that a telegram has been received to-day from Mr A. R. Wyllie, at Tarawera—in the Taupo district—stating that he had arrived there to-day safe with all the horses. In our report, published in our issue of the 17th inst., of the case heard in the District Court last Monday, before Judge McDonald, of Porter and Croft v. Clarke and Dobbie,we have, in speaking of the agency in Mr Thos. Russell’s purchase, used the term “ Bank of New Zealand thus making it appear that the Bank were the agents. Mr Matthews informs us that we are wrong. He himself, personally and privately, and not in any way representing the Bank, was the medium, not the agent, in the purchase. We can easily understand how the mistake arose ; but although we regret it, our only means of rectifying it lays in our now shewing the matter in its correct light. To-night the final Assembly of the Excelsiors will take place at 8 o’clock sharp at Porter’s Hall, It is expected that there will be a large number present, and no doubt a most enjoyable evening will be the result. We hear that the case, Adair v. Rees, heard the other day in the District Court, in which the plaintiff was nonsuited, is likely to assume formidable dimensions in which Read’s Trustees will actively share. More work for the gentlemen of the long robe. The funeral of the late Mr Adams, jun., was largely attended yesterday and each and all who were present evidenced regret at his untimely decease. We omitted to state in our brief obituary notice on Saturday that the young gentleman had exhibited evidence of great talent and was studiously inclined. At an examination a few years ago in Auckland he ranked third for one of the scholarships, and, although unsuccessful, received high commendation. We would call attention to the fact that Messrs Graham, Pitt, and Bennett will sell by public auction, on Saturday, the 21st instant, at two o’clock p.m., the following privileges of the Poverty Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society, viz. : —Two publicans’ booths, two refreshment booths, and the right of sports.