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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1308, 12 April 1883, Page 2

Mr Warren, Clerk to County Council, informs County electors that the Roll for the year 1883 is now on view at the office of the Council, and a copy of the Roll of each Riding may be seen at the following places until the 15th May nextGisborne Riding, Messrs Davis’s store, Makaraka; Arai, Mr Bilham’s house, Pututahi; Tologa, Mr W. Brown's store, Tologa; Waikobu, Mr G. Scott’s house ; Waiapu, Mr Milner’s store, Tuparoa, Any person feeling aggrieved may, on or before 31st May, apply lor redress to the R.M.’s Court which is nearest to the place where the Roll of the Riding is kept. On account of the two tenders for the erection of a fire shed, opened on Tuesday evening, by the Borough Council, being found informal, fresh tenders are invited in this morning’s issue, Mr Milner Stephen, in Dunedin, on Saturday last, pertinently asked why he should not make a charge for healing the body, when so many parsons—who found fault with him—expected to get some very handsome salaries for curing souls. We beg to call our readers’ attention to the very commendable action Mr Joyce has taken with respect to tradesmen delivering their invoices open and unenclosed in envelopes. We hope to see others follow his good example.

We have to thank our obliging postmaster, Mr Shrimpton, for forwarding us a copy of the Postal Guide, No. 38, for April 1883. The number is replete with useful information, and no business man should be without it on his desk.

This is the sort of prize which is worth securing, on April 2nd, it is chronicled that a a fisherman Groose, who resides on one of the small Islands at the mouth of the Waimea River, found a fine whale stranded in shallow water, and made fast his boat’s anchor to its tail. On Saturday morning, on going back for his prize, it was gone ; but he found it later on, stranded on another small island a mile or two distant, anil so high up that there was no danger of it getting off again. It is a large specimen of the southerner Cape whale, being 60ft long and 25ft in girth. Bravo Nelson ! You must have awakened but the story is “very much like a whale.” Messrs Reardon and O’Ryan inform the public by advertisement that they have removed to the premises in Childer's-street, near the Roman Catholic Church, lately occupied by Mr Mackay, where we trust they will meet with increased support,

The following gentlemen have been duly gazetted as appointed to the postal staff of the Poverty Bay district: —J. Wallace, Matawhero ; L. Stevens, Patutahi ; J. D. Watts, Te Arai Bridge. This latter postal station is also gazetted. There is an evident rush for land and speculators. A solicitor, and native agents are now traversing the coast searching eagerly for signatures. It is all very well to talk about hunting deer, or foxes, in the Home country, but securing Native signatures presents ten times more difficulties, if not the same amount of pleasure, A City Father, a well-known martinet to parochial laws, committed a flagrant breach of the same in his anxiety to show hia goodwill towards his neighbor. Espying a strange and to him terrible-looking bird in a gum tree, close to his dwelling, he thought it an eagle, and having a great fear lest the said voracious-looking bird might slay and destroy «ome of his dear neighbors fowls (for which he had conceived an unconquerable love) he rushed in, loaded his beat gun, and taking aim, brought down the supposed destroyer. Being Sunday the gentleman said that he felt justified in his breach of God’s and man’s law on account of the good turn (?) he was endeavoring to do his neighbour —The bird proved to be a parrot I

Thia may read “ fishy,” but there is a sufficientcy of interest in the incident to give a few of the details, fished out by our reporter, who we affirm is efficient in getting news. Remember this is not official, but we relate it as told to us. Two Natives had a barrow load of splendid fish, but although apparently in partnership, their ideas were not assimilated as to the value. They halted at Page’s corner, and one of them went into the bar for a glass of gingerbeer, the other remaining outside. The latter, in the absence of his mate, sold them holus-bolus to one of the “picker’s up of unconsidered trifles.” The partner on his return, and after wiping his lips, complained that the money his companion had received was not enough. The silver was returned, but the Knight of the Gutter couldn’t altogether see it, and explained that he had made the bargain and intended to stick to it. Here ensued a row, and it seemed as if a rough and tumble was about to amuse the onlookers who had by this time mustered pretty strong. Fate had, however, determined otherwise, and the European dealer iu fish having first secured the money which he had paid away, threw the fish one after the other into the middle of the road. There was nearly being another rumpus, iu which two well known gentlemen would have been concerned, had it not been for the good sense of one who turned on his heel and walked away. It was a close shave for the other however.

The Napier “Telegraph” announces that Mr J. S. Hislop has secured the Masonic Hotel there, of which Mr Fugard was the licensee. “Johnny,” who was so well known in Gisborne, needs no recommendation from our pen, his name being almost a household word amongst us in Poverty Bay. Fat as a porpoise, jolly as a sandboy, and a friend to each and all, he should assuredly prosper, and we hope he will.

It has been reported to us March 2nd) that another gigantic and fraudulent “ job” has taken place. It is said that Messrs Whitaker and Russell have “acquired” a block of Native Land, one million acres in extent, bordering on Kawhia and between that place and Taupo, at the ridiculous price of 2d to lOd per acre. It U further stated, although the statement seems and ought to be incredible, that a well-known Native lands Court Judge, receiving a yearly sa'ary from the Government of nearly £lOOO, and bound by his position to be contiually adjudicating upon Native lands, is also in receipt of £lOOO per year from Messrs Whitaker and Russell, to “ watch the interests” of the latter in the Native Land speculations. We sincerely hope the report will turn out to be illfounded, although we are bound to confess that our hopes are not sanguine enough to confer any great degree of confidence. If this “ job” has taken place, it does not need a very acute intellect to discern the bearing it possibly had on the pardon of Te Kooti. The Mr Whitaker alluded to is not, we beleved, the premier himself but his son, and the Mr Russel is Mr T Russell, of the Bank of New Zealand. We sincerely hope, for the credit of the country and for the prospects of the rising generatiion, that the rcoprt may turn out to be without foundation.