Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 32, 5 January 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

The Weather. —In common with other parts of the Colony, the weather has been most erratic in its character in Gisborne of late—alternating with oppressive heat and sharp, cold winds. Yesterday rain set in and the barometer indicated 65deg. in the shade. P. B. Tvar Club Meeting. — The entries for the above will close to-night, when the final payments will be made. The Tbivmph.—After the most strenuous efforts and perseverance on the part of the men employed, this steamer has at length been successfully towed into Auckland Harbor. The inquiry into the cause of her loss is still going on. Tkisiti- Chubch. — The congregation of this church will be pleased to hear that the Rev. J. Hill arrived by the Manapouri yesterday afternoon. He will conduct divine service to-morrow. Mails.—Mails for Napier and Wellington, per Southern Cross, will close this evening (Saturday) at 5 p.m. Plundesebs. —Our correspondent at Patutahi reports that some unprincipled persons have been making free witn then- neighbors gardens, plundering them unmercifully. Mr. Hydes’ garden has suffered greatly, and nearly a ton of potatoes have been stolen from a barn on Mr. Hill’s premises. Mr. Edwin Matthews, of Makauri, who has sections 37 and 38 at Putatahi, has also suffered a loss. On section 37 he had in stock a quantity of wire for fencing, and two days ago he found that quite four hundredweight had been stolen. Information has been given to the police.

Dbi'Abiube.—The iftv. Mr. Cocks purposes leaving Gisborne, by steamer, to-morrow, for Auckland en route to Sydney, and we feel assured that the good people of Gisborne—to whom the rev. gentleman has endeared himself—will wish him a pleasant voyage and future health and happiness, as well as prosperity in his new sphere of usefulness.

New Stables. —Mr. George Eurnand yesterday opened the British Empire Stables, which have been largely extended, and are now capable of accommodating fifty horses. Our country friends will accord a liberal amount of support to the proprietor in his new venture —more especially as he has a thorough practical knowledge of the requirements of the business and conduct of a livery and bait stable.

Notice.—The Southern Crone may be expected in the By this afternoon, and leaves for Napier cid Wellington in the evening, last boat at I p.m.

Glacialike.—lt is fir from generally known that this “great preventative” possesses qualities which should comment its use—not only to dairymen, butdiers. drc., but to housekeepers generally. It has been in general use for six years, highly commended by eminent doctors and well-known English milk-dealers and dairy farmers, and the following advantages are daimed to result from its use;—“ Cream can te bought in localities where it is cheap, and brought from long distances into town, as it can be preserved sweet for weeks. Butter can be preserved in summer, during the hott®t weather, in splendid condition, both as to irmness, flavor, and appearance. Eggs can bebought in summer, when they are cheap, and kept until winter, when they are dear, Also ( you can preserve your meat in summer, and hang it until as tender and digestible as chicken, Not a scrap of meat, fish, or any <ther food need be lost in the hottest weathv.” The sample packets are excellently got up, enclosing full directions for use, and can hi obtained at the store of Messrs. Graham, Pit, and Bennett, Gisborne.

A Veritable Mermaid.— 1 At Eastbourne, Miss Thersea Johnson, of Leeds, contested for £2OO and the ladies’ swimming championship of England against Miss Laura Saigemau, of Devonshire Baths. The distance was one mile. Miss Johnson, who is only fifteen years of age, swam h splendid style, and won easily by 150 ft. Tine, 85 minutes 84 seconds.”

An Equine Dwarf.—“ Tom Thumb’s fame is to be eclipsed by a member of the equine tribe, A full grown horse has arrived in Sydney, 19 inches high, and weighing only 27lbs. The Liliputian midget was reared at Boccacia Park, Fern Tree Gully, Victoria,”

The Labob Market.—“ As i curious commentary on the alleged scarcity of employment in Canterbury, it is slated that no fewer that thirty men who were working for one contractor on the Wellington-Manawatu railway left him one Saturiay night for Christchurch to take work in the Canterbury district. These men were receiving Bs. a day on the Wellington oontract. Seizure of Chinese Tebbitobt by France.—London, December 18.—“ It is now stated to be probable that the Islands of Hainan, Formosa, and Chusan, situate off the Chinese coast, and forming part of the Empire, will be seized by Fiance as a guarantee for the payment by China of the French war expenses in Tonquin.” Report of the Western Pacific Commissioners.—London, December, 29.—“ The r eport of the Western Pacific Commission was published to-day. The report condemns the supervision of the labour traffic by colonial agents, and urges that agents should be appointed by the Crown. It recommends that the labour trade should be more closely watched by the naval authorities in Australia, and that Resident Deputy Commissioners should be appointed to the various islands. The report is opposed to the control of Polynesian and New Guinea racea being vested in colonial Governments.”

Scene at a Banquet.—The Press Association telegraphed the following to the New Zealand Herald on the 22nd ult.:—“ The directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company entertained a number of the leading citizens at dinner on board the Tongariro last night, the Deputy Chairman (Mr. MuirayAynsley) being in the chair. Toasts customary on such occasions were duly honoured. There was a “ scene ” at the close between Mr. Bracken and Captain Hallett. The latter in his speech said that articles in the Heiald reflecting on his management of the ship had been written by a man of a poetical tun of mind. Mr. Bracken in responding for “ r Jhe Press,” regretted that Captain Hallett’s feelings had been wounded by the article, tut disclaimed all connection with it. Captain Hallett thereupon denied that he associated Mr. Bracken with the authorship, but the latter said he had been by implication, aid retired abruptly from the room. With tie exception of this incident, the proceedings were highly successful.” Orange and Catholic Riots in New • foundland. — The latest intelligence from Newfoundland states that twenty-eight persons were seriously wounded in the riot which occurred at trie Harbor of Grace between Orangemen and Catholics. As a renewal of disturbances is feared, the authorities have asked the Imperial Government to despatch some troops and a gunboat to the scene of rioting. A Too-Smart Lay Reader.—From the N.Z’ Herald we glean the following :—“ Some time ago, we published several letters, one from Bishop Cowie, in reference to a young man named Rogers, who was travelling the Northern districts, representing himself as an Episcopalian lay reader, and who, on the strength of an alleged intimacy with Bishop Cowie, was hospitably received by the settlers, only to subsequently discover that Rogers was not the real Simon Pure. We have now received a letter from Mr. John Dukes, of Hamilton, stating that the young man has, within the past fortnight, turned up in the Waikato district as John Clement Cotton, representing himself as a recent convert to Protestantism, having been all his previous life a Roman Catholic. On Thursday last it appears that he was identified at Hamilton by a young gentleman who was a fellowpassenger with Rogers in the ship Warwick to this port, and the same afternoon he left Hamilton for fresh fields and pastures new.”

Cricket.—From the N. Z. Herald of the Ist inst. we take the following:—“ The cricket-match, Auckland v. Canterbury, concluded yesterday afternoon in a win for the local team, with four wickets to spare. As the Canterbury representatives have been looked upon for some years as the first team in the colony, the win yesterday was hailed with great satisfaction by all who take an interest in cricket. The attendance was perhaps not quite so large as on Saturday. In the forenoon the general opinion was that Canterbury would win, as Auckland had 150 runs to make in mrir oemnd innings; and it was thought thuoe figures could not be reached in the face of the excellent fielding and bowling of the Southern team. At the adjournment for lunch Auckland’s hopes were better, and at three o’clock the spectators began to manifest excitement as the score was gradually creeping up to the required number, and there were still five wickets to fall. Shortly after three o’clock, Arneil, who was playing a splendid game, was joined by Dewes. The numbers then quickly ran up to 150. The excitement reached its climax at twenty minutes to four o’clock, at which time 150 were shown on the telegraph board; this was greeted with cheers and waving of hats. After the match was won, the crowd soon dispersed. The takings at the gates on Saturday amounted to £6O. We regret to state that the receipts will not meet the expenses.”

A Sad End.—The N. Z, Herald reports that “during the passage of the ship Bobraon from London to Melbourne, a number of deaths occurred among the passengers. The saddest death of all, however, was that of Miss Gertrude McCousland, the adopted daughter of a lady and gentleman bn board. The event happened on November 4. The young lady was of a very nervous and oxcitable temperament, and some exception having been taken by her friends to the relationship she was forming on board, she threw herself overboard. This was at ten o’clock at night on November 4. The ship at the time was going about nine knots. The weather was fresh, but not stormy. Two life-buoys were thrown towards her, neither of which she reached. The ship was put about, and every effort made to rescue her, but without avail. She sank soon after she went overboard. Miss MoOousland was about nineteen years of age.”

Htlencio of Ministers.—The Canterbury Frew, in a leading article, says :—“ The silence of Ministers is doing a good deal of harm ; and the Premier ought to devote himself without delay to taking a complete sur* vey of public affairs, and doing all that the head of the Government can do to correctly inform people regarding them. It is scarcely credible, but it is nevertheless a fact, that there has never been one real political address by a Minister to the public of New Zealand since Sir John Hall’s last speech at Lees|on; and the public are beginning to wish very earnestly that he was back again to put their affairs in order for them, and address them once more in his straightforward, conscientious way.”

"Butter” fob Stout.—“ Mr. Wakefield, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Stout, who lectured at Timaru the other day on the local option question, said:—‘lf the prominent men of the community would come forward as Mr. Stout was in the habit of doing, many social questions would be more easily solved, and those delays and difficulties which now so often stood in the way would not arise. He referred to the calm way in which Mr. Stout had handled his subject, and to the almost entire absence of figures, generally so largely made use of by temperance lecturers, and which were so wearisome to an audience. The local option clauses of the Licensing Act had been a success. They had in a great measure pnt a stop to many of the evils which existed two or three years ago.’ ” No Indication of Gold.—“ Mr. Roohfort, surveyor, who has been engaged in exploring the country west of Taupo for a route for the main trunk railway, reports to Mr. Bryce, Native Minister, that he has not met with any indications of a gold-bearing country.” New Zealand Mutton.—The following is an extract from a letter received by last mail: —“ I saw some mutton last Saturday in Laadenhall market ticketed ‘ New Zealand mutton,’ and was told on inquiry it was ex Catalonia. I am perfectly sure it was not New Zealand mutton at all, as it was very small, very poor looking, and very dark in appearance. It was so bad altogether that I am sure you, for instance, would not have had it on your table at all, or any one else who could afford better. What you want is shops under the management of the Freezing Company, to retail the real New Zealand article. It must do the trade an immense deal of harm for any butcher to have the power to ticket anything he likes as New Zea. land mutton ; and this will always be the case until reliable men are provided to sell nothing else than the real thing. Surely some such arrangement could easily be made.”

Hubunui Railway Bridge.—“ Considerable delay has been caused in the work of erecting the Hurunui railway bridge in consequence of the difficulties met with in driving the piles. The piles are of iron bark, protected with very superior shoes, but, though of the best materials, the force of a 80cwt. pile-driver has failed to force them to a sufficient depth to meet the conditions of the contract. Some twenty or more of the piles wdl have to be withdrawn owing to this, and, as it seems more than probable the piles are being driven on to a reef, it may be ultimately necessary to erect piers, formed in cylinders, to carry the main portions of the structure. Should the latter course be adopted, there will be a delay of twelve or eighteen months in the construction of this important bridge.”— Presa Dec. 21. The train which conveyed the Convention delegates back to Melbourne did the trip from Sydney in 17| hours.