The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1883.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 24, 20 December 1883, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1883.

The length of our reports compel us to again defer the publication of leading matter and correspondence ; therefore, we will publish an extra supplement on Saturday. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, yesterday morning, one case was called on, but withdrawn. That was all the business.

A witness in a case in the Supreme Court, on Tuesday evening last, perpetrated —perhaps unwittingly— a rather good joke. Wi Pere —who proved himself to be a well-versed, cute witness—remarked in reply to a question, “ This Court sits in darkness, but the Native Lands Court sits in daylight.” Whether the 'witness applied to the proceedings of the Court or not we are unprepared to say ; but the answer, having been given in reply to a question of no dark character, “ brought down the house so far as Court etiquette would permit—a hearty laugh going the rounds of the legal table, and even the judge permitting a smile to illuminate his countenance.

Talking about darkness and parsimony, the manner in which the Supreme Court in Gisborne has been illuminated of an evening induces one to think that either kerosene or manly energy is at a very great premium here. Why, the light was so bad on Tuesday evening last that the Court sages had nobeven the pleasure of distinguishing their lady friends in the gallery. Would it not be wise—as the “ powers that-be ” appear to be in a state of impecuniosity—for the legal gentlemen of Gisborne to subscribe towards buying a few lamps, to somewhat dispel the darkness that pervades the sacred hall of the “ Supreme Court !”

The appearance of the Supreme Court, on Tuesday evening last, forcibly brought to our minds so me of the old pictures of an inquisition chamber. There sat his Honor, in Court attire, with a green-baze back-ground and surroundings that indicated very plainly the whole thing had been very hastily get up for the occasion ; while the motley gathering, with just sufficient light to make, in the greater part of the hall, darkness visible, put in a very strange appearance. The legal gents had ce .ainly the be t of the 1: process, for lamps, wi tbout shades, shed so bright a lustre on. their intelligent countenances,that the “ face divine ” appeared to be teaming with sparkling imaginations. We pitied his Honor when the tapestry —green.-baize—close to his back, fluttered in the; draught, and could not but come to the conclusion that the

present “ get-up ” of the Supreme Court is really the worst of the kind we have had the honor of sitting enraptured with. Assuredly, the courtly arrangements arc not of such a character as to impress our Maori friends with their dignity. We are pleased to find that at its last meeting the Gisborne Borough Council decided to have the channels and drains in this town cleared out. The next sittings of the Borough Council will not be held until the second of January, on account of New Year’s Day falling on Tuesday.

Here is encouragement for the Gisborne Gas Company :—“ Manchester is enabled to make city improvements, costing nearly ,£50,000 a year, out of the profits of its gas-works.”

The School Concert to take place on the 20th instant, will be held in Messrs. Parnell and Boylan’s Hall, and not in Mr. McFarlane’s as previously intended. The s.s. Southern Cross, with the Gisborne portion of the San Francisco mail, left Auckland at four p.m. yesterday, and may therefore be looked for sometime this morning.

On Christmas Day the Post Office will be closed, and the Telegraph Office opened only from nine to ten a.m. On Boxing Day the Post and Telegraph Offices will be open for one hour,—-viz., from nine to ten a.m. All countiy mails closing on Tuesday will be made up on Monday evening at seven p.m. The members of J Battery who intend taking part in the carbine match on the 26th inst., for the gold medal presented by Major Finn, are reminded that they must notify the same to the Orderly Sergeant to-day, otherwise they will not be allowed to compete. Our contemporary the Gisborne Herald of last evening notifies the following :— “ Captain Porter has, as a Christmas present to visitors and frequenters of the beach, given half-a-dozen seats to be placed along the beach. This is a thought ful act of kindness that will be appreciated by many.” This is news to us ; but it may be true, although we have not been apprised of the fact. In a few places in town, the long grass and weeds have been cleared out of the channels ; therefore, we are curious to know why those places are the exception to the rule ? Have the ratepayers who desire decent surroundings to “ pay the piper ” when they require rubbish taken from their premises ; or, are there a favored few in this pretty poplar-adorned settlement ?

The dangerous practise of stablemen galloping a row of six or eight horses—fastened together by ropes around their necks—through the main street of Gisborne, while taking the animals to, or bringing them from their paddocks, is commonly adopted, and it is but right that the authorities should put a stop to it. The boy or man on horseback leading a number of spirited animals, has very little control over the beasts after they have been put into a gallop, and could not possibly pull up to avoid an accident.

The following are the names of the crews selected from the Gisborne club to take part in the respective races of senior and junior fours in January next : —Senior, No. i crew : A. Barnes, stroke ; G. Bourne, 3 ; T. Hanna, 2 ; E. Bourke, bow. No. I crew junior : E. A. Pavitt, stroke ; H. Mouat, 3 ; R. Bullen, 2 ; Gibbes, bow. No. 2 crew senior : E. H. Pavitt, stroke ; Allom, 3 ; Grossman, 2 ; Chrisp, bow. No 2 crew Junior : H. Jackson, stroke ; Martin, 3 ; Sage, 2 ; Isles, bow. No. 3 crew, senior : C. Ward, stroke ; A. Gibbons, 3 ; A. Omeara, 2 ; A. Webb, bow. No. 3 crew, junior : W. O. Skeet, stroke ; Jamieson, 3 ; A. W. Vennal, 2 ; B. O’Meara, bow. Wm. Ratcliffe and H. C. Boylan, selection committee. Gisborne, 7th December, 1883.