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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1284, 27 February 1883, Page 2

The petition against Mr Thomas Chrisp’s election for the Borough Council has been presented, and we understand will be discussed before the R.M. on Thursday next. We have refrained from referring to it, except as a matter of fact, but our contemporary, with execrable bad taste has done so, and his in fact placed itself in the position of " Counsel for the defence.” The position is an undignified one for a paper to take up, but—well pet haps we had better say no more. The appointment of Mr Booth, R.M., to Gisborne will (says the Hawke't Ban Herald) relieve Captain Preece, R.M., from his visits to Waiapu, as Mr Booth’s district includes both Poverty Bay and Waiapu. The Waikato Farmer’s Club are agitating the question of getting auctioneers to sell fat cattle by weight instead of per head. At a meeting held lately, the subject of the commissions charged by auctioneers was also under discussion. It was stated that whereas in Auckland the auctioneers charge only 3 per cent, on cattle sales, the two firms in the Waikato charge 3} per cent. As the Waikato sales have now assumed large proportions it is claimed that they could be conducted on the same commission as city sales.—Auckland Star. Mr Warren clerk of the Cook County Council has received a communication from the Government informing him that they cannot see their way to establish a separate office at Ormond for the Telephonic Exchange, as the receipts would not repay the outlay, The station will therefore remain at Mr Barrie’s store.

Referring to Tawhiao’s recent visit to Wairarapa a local paper says Tawhiao is an oldish man, apparently about sixty. His face is somewhat flat and not very intelligent- He fs about sft. 9in, in height, and is sparely built. He was dressed uery shabbily in a rather cloudy shirt and old black trousers and vest. Tawhiao has certainly by no means a kingly appearance. ” Says the Walraa Guardian of the 21st instant :—" We have received from Mr W, Goldstone, Te Kapu, a specimen of what his orchard can produce, in the shape of an apple weighing 20 ounces. The specimen in question is a very well formed apple, though not nearly ripe, of the Red Luxembourg variety, it measures 1 foot 2} inches in circumference. The tree is only five years old, and was raised in Mr Sturm’s nursery, ” Major-General Sir F. 8. Roberts is of opinion that England should not rest satisfled until she possesses a large and thoroughly trained reserve, and is able in one week to embark a well-organised corns of say, men, every unit being physically fit for service and suitably dressed and equipped, with all necessary arrangements previously made for a sufficient supply of transport at the base of operations,

The Edinburgh correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, referring to the land agitation in the Highlands, writes :—The difficulty may be smoothed over for a time, but it will never be settled, for the crofters have now made it abundantly plain that what they are aiming at is "no rent.” At Clyth, Caithness, things are nearly as bad, and language of the genuine Galway type is being used. It is evident, too, from the signs to be perceived in various quorters, that the leaven is working throughout the Highlands, where the land question is becoming more and more a burning one, and Irish emissaries are actively engaged at a work in which they are now adepts. Mails for Napier and Wellington, per Southern Cross, will close to-morrow (Wednesday) afternoon, at 3 pan. There is one little matter to which we desire to draw the attentign of the Vestry of Holy Trinity Church; and that is the bad manner in which the edifice is lighted on Sunday evenings. Numerous are the complaints that the lamps give so little light, that it is very difficult for members of the congregation to see to read the hymns, and other portions of the service with which they are not familiar. In this age when people are only too prone to avail themselves of any excuse to stay away from those services which our forefathers regarded with so much awe, nothing of an objectionable nature should be allowed within the sacred edifice. It will be a very easy matter for the Vestry to remove the objection to which we now draw attention.

Mr J. W. Witty is inaugurating a series of “ Services of Song,” which are shortly to be commenced. Ormond will be the stait ing point, Makaraka and the town following. Mr Witty has already secured a number of good voices; and the result will doubtless be highly satisfactory to all who take the opportunity of being presentFrom Wellington a story comes about an interesting case likely to come on shortly in an English Court, in which a late resident of Wellington will bear a part. The story is that an individual (fictitiously named Johnston) when at Home was convicted of embezzlemcnt, and served a sentence of seven years. During this period his wife cohabited with a circus performer, and eventually became an equestrienne; excited the admiration, while in this line of business, of the scion of a noble house, and married him. "Johnston,” after serving his sentence, came to Australia, and thence to Wellington, where at one time he was a member of the Civil Service. The relatives of the aristocratic husband having made inquiries, discovered the circus rider’s previous history; and a detective having visited New Zealand, Mr "Johnston” is now on his way Home to ldve evidence against his wife as a bigamist, by which means it is hoped her marriage with the son of the nobleman will be annulled.