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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 22, 15 December 1883, Page 2

Bev. J. T. Pinfold will preach next Sunday in the Wesleyan Church, morning and evening. Special collection on behalf of connections! fund.

Mr. T. W. Lewis, the Under-Secretary of the Native Department, is at present on an official visit to Gisborne, in connection with Native matters, and we understand is organising the staff in the Native Land Registrntion office, which is at present in want of a sufficient force to enable the Registrar to efficiently carry out the very onerous duties of the Department. We have much pleasure in announcing that Madame Stewart's entertainment will take place on Boxing night. The full programme will be given next week. The total estimate receipts from the St. Andrew’s Sports is £73 10s, which, with the same amount qf subsidy, will make an addition of £147 to the Hospital funds.

Captain Winter has requested us to draw the attention of the members of the J Battery to the detachment firing for Government prizes, which will take place this afternoon, on the Whataupoko. No. 1 Detachment will fall in and commence at two o'clock, the other detachments following in halfhour spells. The four steam-torpedo boats for harbour and river defence ordered by the New Zealand Government from Messrs Thornecroft, of Chiswick, were recently tried in the presence of a number of visitors interested in the colonies at the measured mile at Purfleet. The highest speed attained was 639 revolutions per minute, and a speed of 17-524 knots, by No. 168, and the lowest, 828 revolutions and a speed of 17-222 knots, by No. 169. The boats are intended for the discharge of spar-torpedoes at a distance of about 38 feet from tneir bows, and Whitehead torpedoes from their sides, and they can strike a vessel with a deadly effect at about nine feet below the surface of the water.

The Cook County Council will hold a special meeting on Monday afternoon next, at two o’clock, for the transaction of rather important business; Another special meeting will take place on the following Monday evening, the business of which will be to open tenders for the construction of a work for the preservation of the bank of the river at Ormond. The final sets of the ladies lawn tennis tournament played at Mr C. Smith's ground was brought to a close on Thursday afternoon. The players numbered about thirty, and were all handicapped. The play resulted as follows .—let prize, silver bracelet presented by Mr C. Smith, was won by Miss Julia Croft; 2nd prize, silver toilet, presented by Captain Porter, won by Miss Sl.it ; 3rd prize, silver locket, presented by Mr Dufaur, won by Miss A. Croft ; extra prize, ladies bridle, by Mr Croft, won by Miss E. Skeet ; 2nd extra prize, tennis racket, by Mr W. F. Crawford, won by Miss Porter. The play all through developed excellent skill, more especially on the part of the Misses Croft, Miss L. Stait, and Miss Porter. The whole of the contest has been highly enjoyable and gratifying to all concerned. Mr. Price, at present in charge of the South Pacific Petroleum Company’s Works, advises that since last report on the Bth instant he has spuded down the hole and been successful in driving two lengths of pipe, measuring 16ft. This will now bring the total depth of pipes up to 328 ft. Bin. Some little difficulty was experienced in first starting the pipes, but once started, they went down smoothly. All the loose stuff that was coming in above the rock has now been shut off, but it appears a little soft below the hard seam which will necessitate another pipe or two being driven. The hole has now been cleared of mud down to the depth as last advised, viz. 346 feet. Mr Price does not consider that there will be any danger in driving a pipe or two more, but to prevent accident, as much as possible, he will continue to exercise the greatest care, and be at the derrick from eighteen to twenty hours out of the twenty-four, daily.—David Isles, Manager.