Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE : SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1883.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1359, 22 September 1883, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE : SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1883.

It will be remembered by our readers that at the last meeting of the Borough Council, Mr A. Graham applied to that body for permission to withdraw from the completion of the metal contract, and for remission of the penalty

of .£2 per diem which had been incurred. The reasons alleged for making the request were that such unlooked for difficulties had arisen, and insuperable obstacles bad from time to time cropped up, as not alone to most materially retard the progress of the work, but also to render the completion of the contract impossible for the present. The Council, knowing full well that Mr Graham’s assertions were only too true, and knowing that he had been at every possible pains, and had spared no effort to carry out a contract which had, from the first, been a source of much trouble and anxiety, and latterly of great loss to him, at. once agreed to forego the delivery of the remainder of the gravel and to remit the penalty ; but before formally doing so they wisely and properly asked the concurrence of the County Council, who were equally concerned in the question. To facilitate matters a deputation waited upon and obtained the ready acquiescence of that body. Thus virtually terminated what is known as “ Oxenham’s metal contract.” It must be acknowledged on all sides that great credit is due to the above named gentleman for the efforts he has made to complete the contract, at the same time it is a cause for regret that we have not formed a metal depot and secured a stock of gravel in some convenient and easily accessible part of the town from which we could have drawn, as occasion required, sufficient wherewith to repair any faulty part of the road. According to the return furnished to the Council by its Engineer, there has been no less than 19,7911 cubic yards of metal put on this one main thoroughfare of ours, at a cost of £3,922 3s 6d. Now we cannot for one momentsay (as did our “ congealed mud ” contemporary) that this money has been wasted, or that at the time any better arrangement could have been made, or with the available means at hand, better metal obtained, but this is clearly apparent to all that the metal is far too friable and soft to make a clean, hard and durable road. In fact the gravel which has just been spread is only fit to make a foundation and act as a binding ingredient to a more indurated substance. This has been amply demonstrated by the fact that the small amount of traffic which has taken place on that portion which has but just been laid, has had the effect of, with the assistance of a little rain, churning it into mud. This is an uncontrovertable fact. At the same time it is not our fault but our misfortune, aud must be philosophically regarded as an experiment. It has had the effect of proving that we must certainly look to some other source for a supply of metal before we can reasonably hope to have a road through our township, which the heavy rains of the winter will only wash clean, and which the heat and draught of the summer will fail to I affect iu any injurious way. There is plenty of good adamantine metal available from two sources, viz., the Kaiti Island and the Patutahi Quarry, and it only remains with us first to decide which one of the two can be worked most economically, and then to husband our resources for an effort which will most amply reward us in the future for any sacrifice we may make at the present time,

An experienced man is open for engagement on a sheep run, Tenders are called for Hospital supplies and will close on Wednesday, September 26. The annual balance-sheet of the Union Bank of Australia appears in this issue. No hospital needed for patients that use Hop Bitters, they cure so speedily at home. The best periodical for ladies to take monthly, and from which they will receive the greatest benefit, is Hop Bitters. Read. Mr T. E. R. Bloomfield’s hurdle racer, Tartar, arrived by the Southern Cross on Thursday last in charge of W. Fox. Mails for Tauranga and Auckland, per Omapere, will close on Monday evening next, at 7 p.m. Singer’s Sewing Machines, 2s 6d per week. Repairs, parts, etc., to be had at the Singer Manufacturing Company’s Depot, Gladstone road. The preliminary announcement of an Industrial and Fine Art Exhibition to be opened about. 17th of next month, appears in our advertising columns. At last tho engine, lately used in the gravel contract, has been safely lodged at the back of Mr Brown’s premises, through the strenuous efforts of Mr M. Boland. The job has nearly taken a week. Mr Geo. Scott, of the Willows, Ormond, calls for tenders for cutting 12 cords of firewood, and for the clearing of about 100 acres of land. Both tenders te be in by the 29th instant. Mr B. C. Fryer will sell by auction to-day at 11.30 a.m. at his Horse and Carriage Bazaar, some excellent hacks and harness horses, buggies and harness. For further particulars see advertisement. By the courtesy of his groom, Mr W. Fox, we had a look yesterday at one of the most symmetrical and beautiful animals we have ever seen in the Bay. We refer to Mr Allan McLean’s entire Prickwillow. His beautiful deep brown mottled coat shines like satin and does the greatest credit to his attendant. We would advise all lovers of a good horse to have a look at him as he stands in a loose box in Mr S. M. Wilson’s stables.