Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 37, 11 January 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Gisbobsb Library.—A meeting o£ the Committee of the Gisborne Library was held on Wednesday evening. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and con; firmed, it was stated that the new stamp had been obtained. It was decided that steps be taken immediately to change the name of the library from “ Turanganui ” to “ Gisborne.” The following donations had been received during the month, and the secretary was requested to acknowledge them, and return thanks to the donors Mr. Teat, Literary World, 1883 ; Mr. Tucker, two vols. on Gardening ; Mr. Thompson, Rambles with a Philosopher ; Mr- Usher, Temple Bar, 1877 ; Mr. Eempthorne, A Maori Adze; Mr. Wsston, a piece of quartz. Offers of English birds’ eggs from Mr. Image, of Wairakaia, and of Mineralogical specimens and of shells from Mr. G. Johnstone were gratefully received. The librarian's report was read, It was considered satisfactory. The number of members is now eighty, with an average daily attendance of nearly thirty persons to the reading-room. Beside an amount of routine work being done, it was resolved to purchase a new set of draughts, &«., at once, and an outside street lamp as soon as the funds will allow. It was also decided that the thanks of the committee should be sent to Mr. J. W. Matthews, for his kindness in negotiating the loans by means of which the Library buildings had been erected.

Cmsditom’ Meetings —First meetings of creditors in the estates of F, Boland and A. Y. Roes took place yesterday afternoon, Mr. Common was appointed Trustee in the first instance.

Cook County Council.—Judging by the time this body took last night—about six hours—to get through the order-paper, one would naturally conclude that some very important business had been transacted at the meeting. Oh I pity the poor unfortunate reporter I Habbob Board Iscomfbxisni.—At the meeting of the County Council last evening, Cr. Gannon, speaking in favor of the re-con-struction of the Harbor Board, instanced the mess made of the wharf contract as showing that the present body is totally incompetent to carry out the duties it has undertaken. Oh, now, Or. Gannon; give the Board time. “ Rome wasn’t made in a day.” Maybe the body you condemn will awake shortly.

New Maori Pabsb.—About the middle of February Te Waka Maori — a monthly periodical—will be published in the Tblxbbosb office.

Studying Public.—We are pleased to be in a position to state that Mr. C. Edmunds, the Gisborne agent of the U.S.S. Co., has expressed his desire to study the convenience of the public as much as possible with respect to the tendering of the steamers. He purposes notifying in the Telephone, every Saturday, the time, as near as possible, of the departure of the tender from the wharf on the following morning.

Stylish Almanac W. Ratcliffe & Co., agent in Gisborne for the Imperial Life Insurance Company, have issued a sheet almanac of chaste design. The revolving cards for altering the days, dates, and months, are nicely fixed, while the calendar is clearly defined, and the lithographic part of the work in gold and colors is well executed.

“Birth” of Clothing Shop.—ln another column Mr. Alex. Keefer announces the “birth” of his new clothing shop, and enumerates in a humorous sort of a way the various attractions he has provided for his patrons. Mr. Keefer’s object is to do a cash trade, and we presume he adopts as his motto, “ small profits and quick returns.”

Tub Court Mikstmm.—This company is announced to give its opening entertai nntenl in Parnell and Boylan's Hill; Oil Monday evening next, and; dccdMing to the paperb; lite performers — both Indies ahd gentlemen— render their jtarts ih An artistic manner., The Canterbury Times says “ When the curtain was raised it disclosed the stage well filled with ladies and gentlemen, the former in brocade dresses and powdered wigs, with beauty patches on their faces; the latter in court dress suits of the old style, and V-igS to match. Only two exceptions in the matter of court costumes were visible, and these were the corner men, who were the conventional Niggers, blit Vaih knee breeches. The first part of the programme consists of the usual Christy Minstrel business. The voices of the ladies are powerful and pleasing and the concerted refrains to the songs Art given with much taste| while the finale it: most amusing.. Of ectlrSe, a good deal of the usual badinage is indulged in between the Ititellooutor and the corner men, who by the way aw well up in their business, The second part of the programme . consists of the Hibernicon panorama of the beauties of Irish scenery, With the exhibtidn of which is interwoven a vdfy amusing comedy, entitled Jfoiltc O'Connor ; or, Ireland , in shade and sunshine. The scenes 61 the panorama are as fresh as ever', and the fun of the comedy is capitally sustained throughout, and as a Humber of songs and dances are introduced the audience cannot but be delighted. The concluding “ allegorical vision ” representing the origin of the Irish harp, forhls a fitting finish to a very pleASaiit night's entertainment-. The same programme has been gone tiitough every evening during the week to good houses'.”

Saius of Townsbib of Kawhu.—By the -V, Z. Garette of the 6th ult. we find that sections in the naw Township of Kawhia are to be sold by public auction for cash, in thp Land Office, Auckland, on the 28rd Jnai. The upset prices range from Sl9 10s. to SAG, and the areas from 28p. to tri 2Sp;

Rathsb Ac-ec.*-" Da Prase has an account of a peasant named James Zygelof, who has just died at Odessa, aged 157 years. His son is still alive, at the age of 115; he has a grandson of eighty-five, and a great-great, grandson of forty-five. He never drank nor smoked.”

Oldest Musical Instbvmbxt.—“ The oldest musical instrument known to be in existence is said to be in the museum at Copenhagen, It is a large bronze war-trumpet, which was found in a graveyard in SohleSwig. The instrument is cast of nine-tenths copper and one-tenth tin, is very large; and its tube is in the shape of a corkscrew; so that it must have encircled the player. The nibuthpiUce is comparatively very wide; And the opening is flat, like a cymbal. The length of the instrument is nearly seven feet; it has a very oiV, full, and exceedingly far-ranging tone.”