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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 11, 20 November 1883, Page 2

A case of considerable importance to a large number of tradespeople and others in this district, who have dealings with Natives, was disposed of in our B.M. Court last week. We refer to the case of Cooper v. Pabewhai and Ni apuhi. Air. 11. E. Kenny, for the plaintiff, came into Court praying that an order might be made on a judgment summons against certain Natives. It appeared that the female defendant in the case swore that she was not possessed of any property outside certain lands which she held, and which have passed through the Native Lands Court, and are perfectly clear and capable of being dealt with, i'he solicitor for the defence contended that, according to the present law, no order could be made on these lands. Mr. Kenny having called his Worships attention to the importance of the ease, our learned R.M. decided to give the matter further consideration, and, with that view, deferred his decision until Friday, when he decided that no order could be made in favor of the application. Now, if this is really the law, the sooner publicity is given to the fact the better for all those numerous tradesmen and others who, from the peculiar nature of their business, are, to a great extent, compelled to give large and extended credit to Natives, whose custom forms a large and profitable portion of their trade. To know that a Native is possessed of unincumbered freehold land has hitherto been deemed quite sufficient gurantee to warrant any person giving credit to the holder up to any reasonable amount within the estimated value of the same. We acknowledged that in legislating for the protection of Native lands, great latitude must be given to the legislature, but to say that a Native shall be allowed to run into debt, and then defy his creditors, whilst owning valuable freehold land, is not alone to protect the Native at the expense of the enterprising Pakeha, but is also largely calculated to prevent the land from passing into the hands of Europeans, a result which would undoubtedly tend to the benefit of the whole community at large.

Temperance clergymen, lawyers, ladles and doctors use Hop Bitters, Head,

Singer’s Sewing Machines, 2s 8d per week, Repain, parte, etc., to be had at the Singer Manufacturing Co., Gladstone road, We would remind our readers that the property Tax for the current year must be paid on or before the Ist December,

The Royal Geographical Society and British Association are devising plans for the scientific exploration of New Guinea,

Additional contributions have been made to the Hospital Sports prizes list, Mr. Crawford having bestowed two kegs of beer and Messrs. Townley and Gannon one guinea each.

Mr. M. H. Smith’s splendid 2-yeir-old colt Cynic (in charge of George Laing) was lauded on Sunday morning last from the s.s. Ringarooma, and created much admiration.

Professor Aldls, the new Professor ot Mathematics for the University College, arrived in Auckland last week. He hud been a passenger from England per S.s, lonic.

A meeting of the promoters and those interested in the cricket mulch, Licensed Interpreters v, the Wine, Spirit, and Beer Trude, will be held at the Royal Hotel on Tuesduy evening.

Messrs J. R. Morgan 4 Co. have on sale at the Steam Wharf Saw Mills every description of builders material, palings, p ats, dr ,in pipes, 4c. Joiners’ work of every description made to order on the shortest notice.

Madame Stewart has courteously agreed to postpone her concert with a view of preventing any interference with the proposed performance of the Sable Orphans, who are announced to give one of their entertainments on St. Andrew’s Eve.

Captain W. J. Barry has just returned from a trip to the South Pacific oil springs He reports having rode there in five hours, struck oil, and returned in six hours. He slates his opinion that Makaraka is the spot showing the greatest indications of oil. The Sable Orphans, we believe, have decided to comply with the request of the Hospital Sports Committee, by performing on the night of the 30th. The Ethiopian paste will uot be brought into requisition ; a concert will be given by them instead.

In another column is announced “ the last appearance” of Captaiu W. J. Barry, who purposes giving another of his “ world-re-nowned lectures ” to-morrow evening, at the Academy of Music. This is positively the “ last appearances, The New Zealand Berald states that Mr McNab has purchased the Gisborne brewery from Messrs Whitson & Son, and will in future carry on the business as proprietor. His large experience in the business will, no doubt, enable him to conduct the business satisfactorily and profitably,

The Neu> Zetland Industrial Gazette for November is also to hand, and Is, as usual, full of interesting matters to the colonist, and more especially those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits. The main feature of this number is au able article on the “Effects of the meat export," We have just received the Jlfelionrne Leader for November 3rd In addition to the usual amount of interesting nows and ably-written articles, for which tills valuable journal is so justly noted, we find a sixteen page supplement containing well-written tales, amusing incident and instructive matter. This is called the "Special Cup Number." The paper’s well-earned reputation is its own sufficient recommendation, without any remarks of ours, but nevertheless we venture to advise our readers not to neglect a perus..l of this more than usually interesting issue. The long prevalent idea, that the Amerlcan aloe (Agave Americana) flowered only onoe in 100 years, whence it was called the Century plant, was, apparently, not given without good reason. We find it stated that two uno old American aloes—the green and the variegated forms-—so much admired by visitors to the Oxford Botanic Gardens for many years past, have flowered this year in that establishment. The plants are supposed to be about 00 years old, am? tho flower-steins—which have each 24 lateral branches, as well as a tcaminal cluster of flowers—are now 22 feet and 21 feet in height, respectively, from the tubs in which they are growing, Soma fifty years ago, when a certain Western State was but sparsely settled, it was a work of no small difficulty to get a jury together, especially as tho inhabitants were notoriously disinclined to the pleasures of litigation. The court had been forced to adjourn many times from day to day, because the sheriff as often came in and reported an incomplete panel. Finally things came to a crisis. The judge fixed a day beyond which no further forbearance could ho exercised. When that day arrived, the enthusiastic sheriff rushed into the courtroom, and exclaimed, “ It’s all right, your Honour; we ll have the jury by twelve o'clock. I’ve got eleven of 'em locked up in a barn, and we are running the twelfth with dogs 1” There is now no doubt (says the St. James Gazette) that President Arthur narrowly escaped capture during his ro*cent visit to Montana. An informer has revealed to the United States authorities that 65 armed and well-mounted mon. led by five Indians, assembled at a small rill 'go on the frontiers of D'icotali, and started thence far Yellowstone Park, with the intention of there lying in wait for the President and his escort. The conspirators were of opinion that if t'"ey could kidnap General Arthur, and carry him off into the fastnesses of the Rocky Mountains, they could safely defy tho Government, and detain the prisoner until his friends, or the Union, or both combined, should agree to ransom him ; and they would probably have succeeded in their scheme and obtained half a million dollars for their prize if the President’s plans had not been changed. Troops were sent in pursuit of tho desperadoes, but as soon as the members of the band realised that their expedition was destined to be fruitless they separated, and all traces of them were then speedily lost, A young lawyer tells a story about himself which is good enough to go on record, Ho was trying a "rum case" not long ago. when a witness was put into the box to testify to the reputation of the place in question, This witness, a stage-driver, in answer to a query as to the reputation of the place replied, “A rum shop.” The lawyer inquired, “You say it has the reputation of being a rum shop?” “Yes sir.” “ Whom did you ever hear say that it was a rum shop ?” The witness did not recollect of anyone he had heard say eo. “ What I” said the lawyer, “you have sworn this place has the reputation of being a rum shop and yet you cannot tell of anyone you ever heard say so ?” The witness was staggered for a moment—in the words of the lawyer “I had him'.’’—and the lawyer was feeling triumphant, when the witness gathered himself together and quietly remarked, addressing the lawyer, “ Well, you have the reputation of being a clever lawyer, but I have never heard anyone say so.” Why are there no female bill-collectors ? —because a woman’s work is never dun.