Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1883.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1258, 25 January 1883, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1883.

A box plan is now open at Mrs A. M. Browne's in order that those desirous of hearing the lectures of Mr Archibald Forbes, may secure their seats. Thia we may state is for season tickets only. Mr J. Bourke, the Town Clerk of Gisborne, gives notice that on and after the 24th instant, all owners of unregistered dogs for the year 1883 will be summoned without further notice.

The school children's treat took place today. The morning did not look very promising at an early hour, but towards uouu it cleared up and a start was effected from the school. There were three traps provided by Mr 8. M. Wilson, and three by Mr B. C. Fryer. These conveyances were for the little ones who were not old enough to walk from the school to Mr W. L. Rees’s grounds Te Hapera, where the ffte was held. Every »ement was made in order that an ens afternoon might be spent by the children, and the Committee had everything arranged in the most satisfactory manner. Owing to the lateness of the hour at which the treat commenced we are unable to give any details.

Cigai-smokers in Hungary are in rather an anxious state since M. Muller, of the town of Isaged, found himself suddenly hurled on his back amongst the cinders on the hearth, in the midst of quietly smoking his after-dinner weed. It transpired, on examination, that the cigar had contained a tiny glass tube charged with dynamite, and that there were many others amongst the the stock on the shelves of the bureau de tobae which were similarly prepared. The Austrian police are now trying to find out how so Ingenious an outrage could have been committed; but, meanwhile, there is a decided turn on the part of smokers in favor of pipes, the cigar trade at Izsged especially being well-nigh paralysed. The " Lyttelton Times ” reports of the Pres* dinner to Mr. Forbes that there were about 30 present, and the party was, as far as practicable, a thoroughly representative one (consisting, as it did, of the editors and sub-editor* of all the papers published in Christchurch, together with their respective reporting staffs, including several of their country correspondents, and also the general manager of the Press Association, and several gentlemen who formerly held appointments on the literary department of the Christchurch newspapers). The guest of the evening was accompanied by his agent Mr R. 8. Smythe, who was the only other gentleman invited. Mr R. A. Loughnan presided, and Mr G. R. Hart was vice-chairman ; the stewards being Messrs J. Hebden, P. Robertson, J. J. Izitt, and G. R. Hart, the last of whom was also honorary secretary. The toast list was accompanied by an appropriate quotation. The speakers were the Chairman, the Vice-chairman, and Messrs A. Forbes, R. 8. Smythe, R. Mainwairing, C. Hull, R. E. N. Twopenny, and P. Robertson. It is stated that the Pope has determined to place the North Island of New Zealand entirely under the Spiritual Jurisdiction of the Benedictine Order. It will be remembered that the Marquis of Lome recently held out high hopes to unattached young women who may be disposed to emigrate to the Canadian North-west. He said that a young w man would have twenty offers in a week, and that the further West she went the more offers shy would get. A pamphlet just published, entitled “Fat Lands for Lean Tillers,” states that a good-looking woman can choose among fifty adorers, while a plain one can select from five ; and the writer interprets his estimate liberally by adding that, in his opinion, no good-tempered woman is plain. The author quoted from a Canadian paper the following paragraph on the subject:—“The cry is ; Still they don’t come. Girls of Ontario, come West I come West! We have in our town many eligiblcs. The first comer can choose between a thin lawyer, a stout doctor, a retired but not retiring merchant, and one still in business. All are warranted docile, and tired of a life of single unblessedness.”

The leases for the Marahea and Waione Blocks, situate in th* Waiapu district, will be completed in March next, Tenders arc called for sinking a well at Bushmere. This is for labour only. Tenders must be sent in not later than 12 o’clock, noon, Saturday next, addressed to Mr M. H. Smith, car* of Carlaw Smith and Co.

The favorite schooner Gisborne is advertised to leave for Auckland via the East Coast on or about Wednesday, the 31st inst. As Capt. Skinner is invariably punctual, the date may be relied on, bar weather or accidents.

Full details of the burning of the Abbey Theatre in New York on the night of Mrs Langtry’s first performance seem to fix the origin of the fire, as usual, upon careless workmen. Same upholsterers were arranging laee curtain in an upper box, and this light but most combustible material came into contact with a ' 1 branch light ” or side gas lamp. The fire, once ignited, made headway with startling rapidity. All hopes of extinguishing the conflagration were given up from th* first. The firemen got promptly to work; the chemicals used for extinction were thrown freely about, and the iron curtain let down in front of the stage. But all efforts were quite unavailing. The roof fell in within aS hour ; in another hour the fire was out, but the place had been completely gutted, and only the four walls remained standing. Everything was consumed. Mrs Langtry’s personal wardrobe eseaped, but only by a most fortunate chance. It seems that the trunks had been brought to the theatre on a dray an hour or two before the fire, but the driver had been refused payment, and he accordingly refused to deliver them, but took them back to Mrs Langtry’s house. This is anotherpiece of that lady’s extraordinary luck. Whether it will continue to befriend her remains to be seen.

One of the most extraordinary billiard matches of modem days was recently decided at home. The contestants were W. Mitchell and W. J. Peall, the latter receiving 1000 points in 5000. At one time Peall was 3780 to his opponents 1202, Peall having added 1000 to his score in 1 hour 17 minutes. Mitchell soon after this made a magnificent break of 1055, including no less than 350 spot strokes in succession, and this wonderful break was only terminated by the player’s ball remaining on the red spot, when Mitchell had to give a double baulk, the score then being: Peall, 3730; Mitchell, 2257. Eventually, by splendid play amidst the most intense excitement, Mitchell made the 5000. Peall being 4995, or only five points behind.

The Tuapeka Times reports that two nuggets, weighing about 36oz—one over 17oz, and the other over 18oz—were sold lately to the Bank of New Zealand, Lawrence, by a party of Chinamen, who were very reticent as to the whereabouts of the discovery. It is believed, however, that the nuggets were discovered not a great distance from the township.

The proceeding* in the City of Glasgow Bank liquidation oame to a close on November 21st, and at a meeting in Glasgow it was announced that, in spite of the prediction to the contrary, the Bank had after all paid 20s in the pound. The solvent shareholders bad been called upon to pay £2750 per £lOO share.

Mr George Stevenson has shown us a sample of extracted honey, which he brought thia morning from his Apiary at Ormond. It is really a grand specimen. Mr Stevenson explains to us that the Apiary is conducted on the most approved modem principles of bee culture, the honey being machine extracted, and consequently very pure.

Captain Chisholm, the Chief Surveyor of the surveying department of Lloyd's Associ. atiou, arrived by the Ballarat at Sydney to represent the underwriters of the steamship Austral, and act on their behalf in matters connected with her raising. He states that in England it is considered that there is no fault in her construction, and that the cause of her having listed was through the removal of her water ballast. Captain Chisholm is perfectly satisfied with the preparatory work done to the vessel to raise her. The method likely to be adopted for pumping her will be, alter the sides are built up, flexible suction pipes will be let into the port holes from fighters on either side, and thereby all additional weight will be removed from the vessel, such as would be the case if heavy pumping gear were erected on the decks. This method finds great favor in England. Mr Edridge has been appointed by the Orient Company to superintend the operations connected with raising her, and is to arrive by the steamship John Elder. Mr McDougall, the chief engineer, is now superintending the works.

There was a very fair house at the Matinee to day, at Messrs Parnell and Boylan’s Hall, when “ Jack the Giant Killer ” was repeated by the Juvenile Opera Company. The gallery was very full and the performance was as good as ever. To night this comic opera will be repeated, when we hope to see a bumper house, as it will be the last time the good folks of Gisborne will have the opportunity of seeing this talented little band of artists. The following is a copy of an advertisement appearing in the Auckland papers “ Wanted, a troupe or family of Maoris of four or six—the most uncivilised or wild that can be had ; must be well tattoed. and able to give the Native dances. Will. engage them for one year for our American Travelling Show. Will pay their fares and a liberal salary, and board them ; also bind myself to return them to their homes if they desire.—P. T. Barnum and Co., sole owners of the greatest Show on Earth.”