Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 31, 4 January 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Gas Company.—The first general meeting of the members of the Gisborne Gas Company is convened for half-past seven o’clock on the evening of Saturday, the 19th instant. It will be held at the Company’s office, Lowe Street. The directors will then report progress and table statement of accounts to the close of last year. But the most important business will be the election of a full board of seven directors, the gentlemen who have hitherto been acting in that capacity then retiring in accordance with the Articles of Association.

English Mail.—The Taiaroa, which left Lyttelton for Wellington at 4.20 p.m. yesterday, brings the English mail. Mails.—The s.s. Australia, with the December English mails left San Francisco for Auckland on December 22nd, one day late. Trotting.—A trotting-match for £lO, over two miles, will come off at Waerenga-a-hika on Saturday next at 4 p.m., between Mr. Carroll’s Poihakena and Mr. Burgess’ King Dan, 14st., ownersup. Ormond Sports.—On account of the length of the programme we were unable to get the result of the last two or three events. The wrestling match was won by H. Briston ; the greasy pig by W. McKay; and tilting in the ring by Goodall. Native Races.—On the Ist January the Native races were held at Mr. Taylor’s run on the Kopuwhara Stream, Mahia. All the Natives and most of the Europeans living within a radius of twenty miles were present. The racing was principally for the honor of winning, as the stakes were very small; but each one did his level best to be first and no holding back. As the amount of beer on the ground (an eighteen-gallon cask) would soon have been exhausted if supplied pure and simple, the custodian adopted the plan of (drawing it off in a large galvanized iron bucket a quarter full, and then filling it up with water. Some of the Europeans were heard to observe that they did not object to a mill quantity of water with their grog, bu t ey strongly objected to watered beer. Shipping Wool.—We are informed that all the wool this season from Mr. Geo. Walker’s, Mr. Glenny’s,and Mr. Taylor’s runs at the Mahia Peninsula and Kopu-whara, is going to be conveyed to Poverty Bay by Capt. J. Campbell in the “ Weka,” to be transhipped direct to the wool-ship lying in our harbor. Capt am 4 Camp bell was also to bring down the wool from Mr. James Nelson William’s run on the East Coast to the same destination. This fact shews the growing importance of Poverty Bay and the necessity of providing suitable harbor-accommodation.

Direct Shipment of Wool.—The barque Asterion, now loading in Poverty Bay, has 1500 bales of wool on board, and 600 more are to come from the Coast. This will be the first direct shipment of wool from Poverty Bay to Britain, the Lochnagar having gone to Napier to complete her loading. We congratulate Messrs. Common and Co., the agents of the Asterion, on the increase of their business, and hope that many more direct shipments of wool will eventuate ere another season or two has passed away.

Hailstorm. —About four o’clock yesterday afternoon a severe hailstorm passed over this town. The temperature suddenly fell and the remainder of the afternoon and evening was unusually chilly for the time of the year.

No Discharge.—At a meeting of the creditors in the estate of Mr. D. M. Orr, on Wednesday afternoon, it was decided not to recommend his discharge, on account of previous reckless trading.

New Wharf Contract Declared a “ Dirty ” Job.—Great dissatisfaction was expressed by Member Tutchen, at the special meeting of the Harbor Board on Wednesday evening, at the manner in which Mr. Thompson, Clerk of the Works, was performing his duty. It appears that the Public Works Committee, consisting of members Townley, Joyce, Tutchen, and Hepburn, believing that a large number of the extras which had been authorised by the engineer were unnecessary, went down and spent the whole of the forenoon of Saturday inspecting the work. Finding that the over-laps, joints, and covered portions of the wood-work had not been tarred according to specifications—a serious item as regards the durability of the timber— Mr. Tutchen complained about the same to Mr. Thompson, who excused his dereliction of duty on the grounds that “ handling tarred timber was a dirty job”—a remark which would lead one to suppose that he was in the employment of the contractor, rather than in that of the Harbor Board. Possibly the next item in the bill of extras will be so many hours overtime for cleaning tarry hands. We trust the Public Works Committee will, in the interests of the ratepayers, frequently find time to inspect the work while it is in progress , and see that it is made a clean job.

Scab.—ln consequence of the scab, the road between Napier and Wellington, so far as the conveyance of sheep is concerned, has

Presbyterian Soibeb.—By the kind invitation of the Rev. J, Me Ara, the members of his Bible-class were entertained at the Presbyterian Church last evening, After the good things at the tea-tables had been done justice to, addresses were given by the Revs. McAra and Pinfold, several hymns were sung by the congregation, Mr. Cooper presiding at the harmonium, and two prizes were presented to Misses Maggie Forsyth and Lizzie Watson, for their excellent replies to written questions, Mesdames MuAva and Adair, assisted ijy a few young ladies and gentlemen, waited at the tables.

Not Yet a Triumph. —Tne steamer Triumph has been successfully floated, but owing to stress of weather has been unable to reach Auckland. Specialities.—We draw attention to the large stock of Lott’s ;Diaries for 1881, which have been imported direct from Home, by Mr. James Snyder Browne, whose stationery and book establishment adjoins this office; also to Mrs. A. M. Browne’s tablas, which are covered with all descriptions of toys and fancy goods, both useful and ornamental, suitable to the season of the year.

Traffic Mismanagement,—“ Grave complaints reach us (Wairarapa Daily) of traffic mismanagement on our local railway. At the Masterton terminus there is a deficiency of trucks, and even those that are available are detained loaded at the station because there are no truck-covers on hand. The goods depot is crowded and cargo is daily turned away. An insufficiency of trucks is no new thing, and may be excusable during the wool season, but that goods should be quarantined by the absence of truck-covers, an inexpensive article, procurable at a day’s notice, shows that the management is simply incompetent.” Trout,—The Bruce Herald of the 25th ult. reports that “ the largest take of trout ever brought into Milton was secured by Mr, Burt, in the Waiwera, on Saturday. Twentytwo fish weighing together 33 J lbs., the largest turning the scale at l.jlbs. Mr. T. Kett also brought home a nice basket of a dozen fine fish.”—From the Christchurch Press we learn that “ Mr. R. Richardson, of the Empire Hotel, had on view on the 19th ult., one of the largest, if not the largest, trout yet taken in Canterbury. The fish, which was caught in the Selwyn River, was said to weigh 22f1b.”

Bank Generosity.—The Bruce Heraid informs us that “in consideration of the ser vices rendered during the past year by the servants of the Bank of New South Wales, the directors of that institution have awarded a bonus of 10 per cent, on the salary of each of the officers stationed in New Zealand. The aggregate amount of the bonus is something considerable.”

A Leading Belle.—“ The first B.A. degree ever bestowed by the Mxbourae University upon a lady was won the ouier day by a Miss Bella Guerin. There was tremendous cheering from all her brother bachelors. New Zealand will have the honor and advantage of Miss Guerin’s presence and services, for she has been appointed principal of a ladies’ college in this colony.”

Judicial Opinion.—“ His Honor Judge Johnson said at the Supreme Court, Timaru, the other day, that a person taking notes of evidence was not likely to know so much about a case as one who merely listened. He gave this as his own experience for the benefit of a reporter who, having been called to sit on the jury, asked his Honor if he could take notes of evidence while thus engaged.”

A Good Action.—“ The residents of Curlewis are always to the fore when their assistance is required in aid of the needy. A fair instance of it was witnessed on Thursday, the 6th Dec., when about twenty men, with three machines and the necessary horses and some horse-rakes to constitute a “ harvest bee,” turned out on the farm of Mr. J. Rainford—that gentleman being prostrated on a bed of sickness. His neighbors, seeing the position he was placed in, and his crops all ready for harvesting, wished to show their sympathy for him practically, and accordingly worked with a hearty good will from early morning to sunset, the consequence being some 20 or 25 acres of hay were cut down and cocked. The following gentlemen sent either machines or men (some both) : —Messrs, Dowar, Murphy, Devine, Seyer, and O’Loughlin Bros. At the close of the day the unanimous wish was that they could still further assist Mr. Rainford and also for his speedy restoration of health.”

A Retrospect.—The Bendigo Advertiser of Dec. 7 indulged in the following retrospect:— “It is exactly 32 years to-day since the Bendigo diggings were op About a month previous to that time a number of diggers of Forest Creek were persuaded to come to Sandhurst, in consequence of a certain discovery made at the junction of what was afterwards known as Golden Gully with Bendigo Creek, but they returned to Forest Creek shortly afterwards, having been unsuccessful in their visit. The rush took place in earnest in December, 1851, however, and it was not long before the whole Bendigo valley and the country to the north-west was covered with diggers. The number of Bendigonians who yet remain to speak of the remarkable change effected in the few months which succeeded is small, but many of them are able to give glowing descriptions of the nicelywooded hills with the dense undergrowth, and the grassey slopes so speedily destroyed and transformed by the ruthless searcher for gold. Bendigo has survived the days when its rough aspect sickened the hearts of visitors, and the appearance of the city to-day in its artificial beauty makes up for the losses sustained by nature, when the gold, which has been responsible for all the changes, was discovered.”

The Unemployed.—The following appeared as a letter in the Press of the 10th ult. “ Sir, —It is somewhat surpAsing to read in your paper that so ma..y able-bodied men are at present wanting employment. It must open the eyes of some of the Peninsula farmers, who have been alarmed somewhat falsely that hands would not be secured to gather in the cocksfoot harvest without giving exorbitant prices for cutting. The farmers here are willing to give a price that will pay any working man fair wages ; but when we have to contend with the ring of buyers of cocksfoot who endeavor to cut down the price of seed to 3d. or 4d. per lb. f.o.b. at Lyttelton, and the working man demands 2d. per lb. for cutting, or Is. 6d. per hour, the price demanded in Akaroa, you will see by these prices that fanners have not sufficient margin to justify them in giving much employment. I have known men, especially with a family of boys, make a big cheque 'out of the grass seed, by cutting at If d. per lb, a price which I consider fair both to laborer and grower. If the unemployed can hold on till the New Year, and are willing to work for a fair wage, the Peninsula can find employment for every spare hand. It is a work that the most inexperienced can engage in. I would suggest that the unemployed should appoint someone in Christchurch where Peninsula farmers can apply for men for the harvest season.—Yours, &c.,—•.Farmer.

Rather Ebratio,—“ A printing machine in the Southland Times office was moved bodily along the floor by the earthquake on Tuesday, and a tank tipped about until the water was spilled.”

Direct Descent From Aaron 11“ An exemption from serving on a coroner’s jury has just been discovered by a Jewish tradesman in London. He is neither over the age of sixty, nor does he hold any office that would entitle him to refuse to serve ; but he entertains a religious scruple. In respect to the descendants of Aaron, the High Priest, the twenty-first chapter of Leviticus says, ‘ Neither shall he enter into any house where there is a dead body.’ Claiming to be a direct descendant of Aaron, Mr. Lewis David Cohen put forward his conscientious objection, and declined to serve. For this he wa s lined by the coroner, and subsequently the matter came by way of Appeal before the City of London Quarter Sessions. It was stated that Mr, Cohen’s objection was upheld by the Chief Rabbi, who on the occasion of the Thanksgiving for the recovery of the Prince of Wales declined to attend the service in St, Paul’s on account of dead bodies being interred there, After some consultation the Court remitted the fine, and directed that for the future Mr. Cohen should be excused from serving on coroner’s juries in the City. It was not shown in the evidence brought forward, but it would have been interesting to learn, how Mr. Cohen traces his 4 direct descent’ from Aaron.” At the Dal Verme Theatre, at Milan, the other night, an American gentleman, named Shepherd, created a great sensation by appearing with a luminous scarf pin, which was nothing more nor less than a tiny electric lamp, warranted to go for five hours, by means of a small generator concealed in the waistcoat pocket.