Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1883.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1246, 13 January 1883, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1883.

Some of the visitors to the Wairoa races returned last night, and others will pro ha bly be in to-day. Two of those who started, however, having tasted the joys of the journey appear to be of opinion that one can nave too much of a good thing, and have elected to return to Gisborne by water. In fact they would sooner dare the perils of the sea than enjoy a return trip by land.

Nothwithstanding the many reports of cures effected by Mr Milner Stephen all do not apparently appear to be satisfied. A Mr J. P. Hyland writing to the “ Telegraph” says “ I got permission from the Hospital doctor to see him (Mr Stephen) and for twenty-four hours after my visit I felt quite well, out gradually fell back into my usual state and may now say I am no better than before I saw him.”

The “ Colonies and India” has the following :—A correspondent calls attention to an important project in New Zealand, where ! the possibility of rearing silkworms successfully has been experimentally demonstrated, j and where it is proposed that the industry j should be established on a commercial basis. j The proposal is worthy of encouragement, . but we fancy it will have to grow out of ' small private beginnings before it can be taken up on a large scale. The same remark applies to tea cultivation. If it is proved that New Zealand can produce good marketable tea, the industry will thrive without State aid—except, perhaps, that a bonus may be given to help the first enterprising planter through the period of early difficulty and doubt. Another industry which promises well is that of .olive culture. Sir George Grey has grown the olive on his estate at Kawau for a period of fifteen or sixteen years, The trees commenced bearing when twelve years old, but in all probability they would take from twenty to twenty-five years before really becoming a source of much profit. Here is the initial difficulty in the way of the growth of this crop on a large scale. Very few persons can afford to wait so long before reaping some reward for their enterprise. Sir George recommends the culture of the olive as particularly applicable to mining districts, where large areas of ground are yearly rendered practically useless for ordinary cultivation, and where the trees would grow with little attention. Such agricultural experiments are better for a Colony like New Zealand than attempts to compete with England in the manufacture of iron, woollen, and other goods, of which this country can make enough to supply all colonial wants. If the Colonies will persist in becoming manufacturing communities, they will find their difficulties even greater than those attending the cultivation of olive and tea. One direct incentive at least exists to the prosecution of olive culture. It is stated that one or two ounces of oil are used in the manufacture of every pound of wool made into cloth or worsted fabrics. New Zealand cloths and yarns, it is said on good authority, are injuriously affected by the inferior oil used—imported, of course—as may be discovered from the soft, shiny feel in them, and the lack of the crispness of English manufactured cloths. Let New Zealand send us the oil and the wool, and we will undertake to send them the best woollen fabrics in return. Referring to Mr Fish’s strictures on the alleged ratting of certain members, the “ Herald ” says :—Mr Fish’s own conduct was the most conspicuous case of “ratting ” during the session. We are, however, notwithstanding many causes for discouragement, not without hope for Mr Fish, as he possesses a large amount of rough vigour and energy which may be useful to the community at some time. Upon certain subjects his opinions are sound, and evidently his own.”

The Dunedin •* Herald ” says Dunedin : has four members—Messrs Dick, Green, Bracken and Fish. With the exception of the first named, who, as a Minister, is in a | somewhat exceptional position, all these gentlemen have lately addressed their constituents. By taking the beginning to the middle of December, the Dunedin members have secured much more notice than they otherwise would have done, for neither Mr Green, Mr Bracken, nor Mr Fish is in the front rank of politicians. Perhaps their chief importance lies in the fact that they are all new men. Each in his own peculiar way has announced himself, after the example of an Auckland member a few years ago, as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness,” and telling the older generation of New Zealand politicians to make their paths straight. It requires a trinity of them to reform a Parliament so sunk in iniquity as ours. Mr Green represents the voice of conscience, which all members have hitherto left outside the bounds of the Parliamentary buildings. Mr Bracken seeks a higher light on the topic of railway employes, and becomes confused on the subject of confiscation of property and justice to Otago ; while Mr Fish spreads himself over the whole field of politics, and desires to reform everybody, including his colleagues. Mr Fish is a self-assertive, aggressive, and somewhat coarse-fibered man, and is not of those who need to pray that they may have a good conceit of themselves. ” A correspondent of the Auckland “ Herald” states that having read in that paper of a big kauri tree at Hikurangi said to be 15 feet in diameter and 90 feet to the branches, he spoke to several of the settlers in that neighborhood, but none of them had seen or heard of it. However, he heard of a large kauri in the Opowhanga district, 18 miles from the Whangarei wharf, and this tree he made a point of seeing. It measures 43 feet 6 inches in circumference, and is about 40 feet to the branches, with scarcely any perceptible taper, It is perfectly fresh and vigorous, and without any sign of decay. Another kauri that he saw measured 23 feet in circumference, and was not less than 90 feet to the branches, and straight as an arrrow.

Mr W. J. Nash has requested us to state that our reporter was wrong in mentioning that he had moved at the Volunteer meeting on Thursday night, “ That the young ’uns and the short ’uns should be kicked out.” Air Nash says the motion he made was “ That the arms and accoutrements should be handed bax?k to the Government.” Our reporter distinctly and positively asserts that Mr Nash did propose the motion reported in Friday’s issue. That Mr Nash may have jocularly made the proposition we are inclined to believe, but as to its having been made, we have no doubt.

A singular phenomenon was witnessed last night, about 11 o’clock. The whole of the southern sky became lit up, and for six or seven seconds anyone in the street could have seen to pick up a pin. The light gradually faded away, and then two brilliant meteors shot from behind a bank of clouds in an easterly direction. The sight was a magnificent one ; in fact so grand that a few timid persons immediately thought of Proc tor’s prediction as to the end of the world taking place during the present year.

A blue-jacket at Alexandria, in carrying out one of the multifarious duties which fell to Jack’s lot during the Egyptian expedition, was assisting to remove some trusses of hay from the quay, and, stumbling along under the weight of a small haystack, not being able to see where he was going, pushed against a commissariat officer irreproachably clad in review dress. “Who the devil are you ? and what are you doing here ?” save the gentleman. “ Who am I?" says Jack ; “well, I don’t altogether know. I used to be a British sailor ; but now, it strikes me, I’m turned into a d—d commissariat mule I”

The only business brought before Mr Price this morning was a charge of larceny as a bailee of a horse, by one Thomas Fitzgerald, from Waipawa. Sergeant Bullen applied for a remand until Wednesday morning, which was granted.

Goodson’s London Arcade is attracting a considerable amount of attention, and as will be seen by the advertisement appearing in another part of our issue of this evening there is a splendid assortment of useful and Ornamental Goods. Wedding and Birthday Presents are there galore, and only require the patronage of the public to remove them from their present position to the homes ot the happy possessors of the treasures who have duly paid for the same. We recommend every one to pay a visit to Mr Goodson’s establishment, and whoever goes will no doubt be pleased with their purchases.

The meeting of Mr C. D. Berry’s creditors, adjourned from Thursday last, will be held on Monday afternoon in the Court House.

Messrs Graham, Pitt and Bennett have altered the dates of their monthly sales of wool and sheepskins. In future these will be held every first Thursday in each month, in the iron store at Gisborne, instead of as before on the first Wednesday of each month at Makaraka.

The Dublin Gazette again publishes a proclamation offering a reward of £lO,OOO to any person who within six months shall give information leading to the con vic* ion of the murderers of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Mr Burke, and £5OOO for private information leading to the same result, and £5OOO and a free pardon to any accomplice, not one of the four murderers, who shall give information. A further reward of £lOOO is offered to anyone concerned in the murder giving private information ; and £5OO for private information leading to the identification of any person concerned in, or privy to, the murder. or to the identification of the cab and horse used on the occasion' The Government promise that every effort shall be made that the names of private informants shall not be disclosed to the public.

The steamer Omapere will arrive here from the South early to-morrow morning, and will leave for Tauranga and Auckland at 8 o’clock.

Frank McDonald, charged with violently assaulting and ravishing a native woman at Whakatane, was brought up on remand this afternoon at half-past two o’clock. Sergeant Bullen asked for a further remand until four o’clock as the warrant was expected by the Ringarooma, which arrived this afternoon.

Those people in Gisborne who do not care much for butchers’ meat at this season of the year, would do well to pay a visit to Messrs Graham, Pitt and Bennett’s store in Gladstone Road, where they will find a variety of first-class tinned meats of the very best description. We can strongly recommend the tongue and anyone purchasing a tin of this very excellent relish, will, we are certain, have no cause to regret it. The other articles are equally good.

Mrs Mocoble, an Austin lady, rebuked her coloured cook, Matilda Snow ball, in the following words : “ When I hired you, you said, you didn’t have any male friends, and now I find a man in the kitchen half the time.” “Lor bless your soul he ain’t no male friend of mine.” “ Who is it then ?” “Heam only my husband.”