Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE : TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1200, 14 November 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE : TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1882.

If we had the time at our disposal we should indulge our readers at some length on “Racing; its uses and its abuses. Our space being, however, confined we will shortly state our opinion that in the Bay the spirit of sport has become so thoroughly demoralised that the old saying of “the best “horse wins” has degenerated into “the “ cutest owner collars the stakes.” Racing originallj r was instituted to improve the breed of horses, and for this object thousands upon thousands of pounds have been spent; but what is the miserable result ? . England’s National Sport has been so prostituted that every race now is looked upon with bus- j picion. Squaring jockeys, scratchings at the ; last moment, collusion between owners, i fraud, deceit, and to make the matter short, general chicanery, appears to be the all-im-portant machinery ot the present race meetings. Each man in consequence looks upon his fellow-man as being an infernal rogue, and consequently endeavors to swindle him by every means in his power. In matters “ horsey” it would appear the object is, as far as Poverty Bay is concerned, to follow lago’s advice to Roderigo “ Put money in “thy purse.” We have in our possession a list of very many shady transactions which have occurred during the past five years, and, will on some future occasion, should the necessity occur, publish them with the names of those concerned, and full particulars. This is not an idle boast and will be found to be not so, for we are determined to fearlessly expose “tricky” work played upon the very much too-too confiding public. The sword of Damocles is hanging over the heads of several of what are termed our “leading sportsmen” (Heaven save the mark '.) and when the hair parts those who for years have gulled the public will discover that there’s an angel perched aloft watching over the interests of the “soukars.” This cherub, is, we may state, the Press. The “clever ones” should certainly ponder over this. Robbing a man by false pretence, it must be remembered, is punishable, and more robberies are committed on race-courses than most people imagine, simply by trickery. Scratch meetings are got up as a rule to obtain coin, the promoters having generally, one and all, an object to serve. That object is not sport, but to put it mildly we will say “ something “else.” What this is we leave our readers to guess. Don’t again try it, for as sure as a race-course is a mousetrap it will end in exposure, ______

The meeting of the Hospital Fete Committce was held last evening, at the Courthouse. The prizes were allotted (vide programme) for the various events, in addition to the prizes already advertised. There were in cash subscriptions to the amount of .£lO 9s reported. Five gallons of ale for the Band were offered by Mr Johnstone, and five gallons from Mr Crawford for the Rowing Club members, Messrs Brookes and Doleman agreed to do the necessary carting, gratis. After some routine business the meeting adjourned. Wo do not doubt for one moment that from the excellent programme placed before the public, which appears in this evening’s issue, and given a fine day, we trust that there will be a very large atteni dance at the Whatapouka block on the day in question. Every one connected with the Hospital concert is doing the best to make the a complete success, and we trust that their efforts in this direction will not have been exercised in vain.

A lot of splendid eels were captured last night, and found a ready sale this morning. The demand, however, was greatly in excess of the supply.

We are well informed that the meeting of Mr J. R. Davies’s creditors held yesterday, was, owing to the opposition of Mr E. P. Joyce, one of the creditors, perhaps one of the stormiest, if not the stormiest, meeting under the Bankruptcy Act that has ever taken place in Poverty Bay. Some of the volunteer corps object strongly to the daylight drills required under the regulations of the proposed reorganisation scheme for volunteers. Colonel Scratchley, it may be said, wm very emphatic in his observations c>» the necessity for daylight drills. He held that assembling in drill sheds at night was not favourable to good drill, either for officers or men, and that it should take place in the open, as nearly as possible under the ordinary conditions which would occur in war time. Volunteers who could keep their “ dressing ” on an asphalted floor, might make a poor show in that wayin marching over ordinary ground.

There was a narrow escape from an accident which might have proved serious this morning. A native lad was riding along Read’s Quay at a hand gallop, when a dog rushed out and caused the horse to shy. The youngster was thrown somewhat violently to the ground, and although stunned for a few seconds, soon recovered. Dogs which have a habit of chasing after horses endanger life, and if they cannot be broken of the evil should be destroyed. The owners of such animals would in the event of a fatal accident occurring be as guilty of manslaughter, as would be a fast going driver around a corner who occasioned death. The notice that copies of the local song entitled “ The Fatted Calf,” which was so well received last Thursday, can be obtained from Mr M. Jenning’s, the well known tobacconist in Gladstone road. Mails for Auckland, per Oreti, will close to-morrow, at 10 a.in. The Salvation Army has expanded into a Salvation Fleet. A cutter taking the name of “The Sailor’s Bethel,” has come down the Seine from Honfleur to Rouen. It is manned by three clergymen and a pilot, who is said to be a converted seaman. The cargo is made up of tracts and Bibles in French. As the crew are musical, they give sacred concerts at points where they touch. “The Sailor’s Bethel ” is coming to Paris, and is to anchor near the Place de la Concorde.

A most unfortunate mishap occurred at the circus, on the 21st ult. (says the Wellington “ Post”) after the performance was over, resulting in the loss to the proprietors of one of their most valuable steeds. Many persons have stopped to admire the pair of skewbald ponies driven by Mr Ross in his buggy, and which he had recently purchased at Gisborne for a, good round price. They were a perfect match in size and markings, almost to a hair. It appears that after the audience had left Mr George Gillam brought the two ponies into the ring for the purpose of accustoming them to the gaslight. The foreleg of the filly was stropped up in order to train her for a certain trick, and on Mr Gillam cracking his whip, she reared, over, balanced herself, and fell backwards on the edge of the ring, with such force as to dislocate her spine, causing almost instantaneous death. The occurrence was purely accidental, and no blame Whatever is attached to Mr Gillam.

At the ball after the recent Hospital entertainment we could not help overhearing 1 certain remarks, although not desirous of so doing. One young lady who was waltzing with a noted cavalier, said “Look at Miss , how much she has improved in her dancing.” “ Yes,” was the reply, “but do you know what this is entirely due to ? She, like very many more whom you may see gracefully gyrating, purchases her boots at Garrett Bros.—(Advt). Messrs Wm. Ratcliffe and Co., will on Thursday next, at the Bridge Hotel, offer for sale a lot of prime beef and store cattle. We may mention that the sale commences at 2 o’clock. This should certainly interest our local amateur and professional gardeners : —Mr D’Arcy Haggitt, of Dunedin, has at present in bloom in his grounds at Roslyn, some beautiful specimens of the Waratah (TroL Zopu), one of the flowering shrubs of Tasmania. The flower, which is of a brilliant scarlet shade, has a very striking appearance, its twisted and waxy-looking petals presenting a beautiful contrast to the bright green lanceolated leaves with which they are surrounded. The Dunedin Town Clerk was sharply rebuked lately by a local contemporary for withholding a document read at a meeting of the City Council from the Press. Mr Sutton, M.H.R., has been appointed a member of the Waste Land Board, Napier, in the place of the late Colonel Lambert. At Wellington, an ex-policeman, named Laurie, now a fishmonger, had a fight recently with .Tames Rigby, who was connected with Ross and Woodyear’s circus, Rigby had one eye gouged out (but afterwards replaced), and the top of one finger bitten off. Laurie was so knocked about as to require medical aid.

A number of the tradesmen in Oamaru advertise that they will close their places of business every Thursday afternoon, commencing on the 23rd of November.

A young cricketer in Melbourne, named Bruce, a Scotch College boy, is coming into prominence. Recently he was presented with a gold chain and Maltese cross, the inscription on which denotes the reason of the presentation : —“ To W. Bruce, by the M.C.C., for his excellent play in the Cup match, M.C.C. v. Richmond C.C., in memory of the notable feat of having obtained eight wickets for nine runs, 14th October, 1882.”

Sergt. White, who it will be remembered was at one time stationed in Gisborne, and

subsequently removed to Tauranga, has nowbeen shifted to Auckland. It appears to us from the new- Act the conservators of the peace are to be knocked about from pillar to port at the sweet will and pleasure of Col. Reader, A man named John McNamara (says a Thames paper), employed at the Talma sawmills, was admitted to the Thames Hospital at an early hour on the 27th October, suffering from the effects of an accident which occurred the previous day, It appears that whilst endeavoring to remove sawdust from under the circular saw his left hand was accidentally caught by the teeth of the saw, and fearfully lacerated —in fact to such an extent that Doctors Huxtable and Payne found it necessary to amputate it. The es. Oreti is advertised to leave for Auckland to-morrow morning at 10,30 a.m., and the last boat is to leave the wharf at 10 a.m. Colonists in this part of New Zealand scarcely appreciate to the full the advantage which they enjoy in the matter of cheap and delicious fruits." The peach season will shortly be upon us, when a large basket of that luscious fruit will be obtainable for a shilling ; and to show by contrast how cheap that is, the following instance-may be given of the price of peaches in the Old Coun try ; —At a marriage feast in Glasgow in July last, a dish of peaches was ordered as a delicacy, and duly enjoyed ; but when the bill came in, it was found that the precious dish of eighteen peaches had cost £5 Bs, or exactly six shillings per peach I From this it may be inferred that the peach h not extensively consumed in the Land of Cakes.

We read in the “ Herald ” of last night, that notice had been taken of the meeting of Stewards of the Makaraka Race Meeting held on Saturday evening last, at the Roseland Hotel, for the purpose of making certain enquiries regarding alleged statements made against a gentleman connected with the Poverty Bay sporting circle. We did not send a reporter knowing that we had no business to do so, seeing that all that takes place at such meetings are not for the benefit of the public, it is only the result of the enquiry. But the old woman will poke her nose into business that she is so new at. It is a wonder the totalisator was not taken out and opened upon the result of the enquiry ; it might have brought in a crust. It is a pity that the “ Herald ” should engage psrambulating reporters to attend to their uusiness, as a pipe and a pint are calculated to give him, after three hours waiting, a very poor idea of what is going on. We are informed that it did not transpire that the gentleman who laid the information was unable to attend. The gentleman who called the meeting was present, but had no “ information.” Sarah, you must have sent the Police Court reporter, and a very long one at that! ! I

Mr J. Hearfield will shortly appear in quite an altered character. He advertises that he is now prepared to post bills, ring bells when occasion requires, and generally to act as town cryer. As the advertiser is known to be thoroughly energetic, no doubt his services will be in demand.

A touching story of a dog’s affection is related by the Paris Figaro. The young equestrienne, Mdlle. Loiset, whose early death, owing to a fall from her horse, lately excited so much sympathy, had a favorite dog, a huge creature called Turk, which was her inseparable companion, escorting her to and from the cirque, and guarding her dressing room while she was engaged in the performance. The day after her death Turk arrived at the cirque at the usual hour, waited till the representation was over, and then went away with his tail between his legs. For several. days he came back at the same time refusing to eat or drink, or go home with any of his former friends, an 1 occasionally uttering a plaintive howl. At last the dog disappeared, and, from all appearance, lias crept away into some corner to die.