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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1310, 17 April 1883, Page 3

A steam launch called the Pacific put out to sea (say the Sydney Morning Herald) under circumstances not often heard of. •• The story is that, when ostensiby every* thing was in readness for a start it was first w discovered that there was no water on board and afterwards that there was no coal. These two necessaries having been supplied, a start was made, the vessel being bound for Brisbane Water. After a time the engineer announced that his steam-power was insufficient to make way against the north-east wind, ! and it was agreed, after consultation, to turn back. This was done, but in a little while it appeared that the vessel was unable to go even with the wind. To make matters worse, no sails, paddles, or anything else was on board to make her move. She began to take in water, and there were no buckets to bail it out i she began to drift, but there was no anchor no chains to check her. The ship lying like a log on the sea, passengers began to look about for a commieariat; but there : was none, not even a little fresh water to I drink. Then it occurred to them that in ' their peril they must hoist signals of distress ; •but the means for that also lacking.” Ra- i ther an unpleasant position for the passengers 1 we should imagine, The “Tablet,” reviewing a meeting held I in Dunedin, rays :—ln answering object- , ions, Major Atkinson repudiated with • indignation the notion that people can. ' not be made good and thlrfty by ; of Parliament. "An Act of Parlia- j meat,” he added, “ Is the law of the land ; it is j the will of the majority, I should like to know , what our education system is but the law." i What, indeed, we repeatand a very bad 1 law into the bargain—But here the will of ! the majority Iras been exercised in a sure • provision for making people had by Act of j Parliament. The following somewhat curious advertise- , ment appeared in an English country jour- • nal t " Wanted immediately, to enable me ! to leave the house which I have for these I last years inhabited, in tire same plight and ; condition in which I found it, odd live rats, tat which I will gladly pay the sum of £3 wßFrlmg ) and, as I cannot leave the farm attached thereto in the same order in which I got it, without at least five million docks and dockens (weeds) I do hereby promise a further sum of £.j for raid number of dockens. N.B.—The rats must be full grown, and no cripples.” for Continuation o/Xewo »cc Fourth Fago