Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 38, 12 January 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Maori Newspaper.—The want oi a medium for circulating the news of the world at large among gie Native race of New Zealand is one severely felt by the Maoris, who number nearly 50,000 souls. This want is about to be supplied by the resuscitation of the Waka Maori, under the care of a well-educated and clever young chief Ngataporo, Paratene Ngata, the editor and proprietor, who notifies in our advertising columns the intended publication of the paper on and after the 23rd February.

The Faulty Stookyard.—«lt will be remembered that the Engineer, in his report to the Harbor Board, on Tuesday last, called attention to a slight subsidence in one corner of the stockyard, and asked the Public Works Committee to inspect the same, According to a resolution of the Board, the Committee met on Wednesday morning and arranged with the Engineer that the inside, where the tide was sapping the filling away, should be daubed with stiff blue clay. This, it is believed, will effectually prevent any further trouble in this quarter.

A New Aspirant to Greatness I—We have it on the very best authority—from the gentleman himself — that Mr. MorganMorris, late editor of the Poverty Bay Herald t purposes coming forward as a candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives, in opposition to Mr. Locke. Probably, our journalistic friend will very soon figure as a member of the Ministry ! The Finn Mmdad.—The second competition fur the handsome gold medal presented by Major H. J. Finn, will take place at the Range on Tuesday morning, the loth inst., at 5.30 sharp.

Hale v, Reeves.—The numerous charges arising out of the misunderstanding which occurred between these two gentlemen were brought to a close yesterday, after occupying the greater portion of two days, besides numerous previous adjournments. After a large amount of litigation and consequent expense the two remain in exactly the same position “ as they were,” no doubt, “ sadder and wiser men.”

Bankruptcy,—A rather exciting meeting in the matter of A, Y. Ross’ bankruptcy took place yesterday. Some very strong animadversions were passed upon the bankrupt, Mr, E, K. Brown stating that the debtor had behaved “ in a most disgraceful manner, and was clearly guilty of fraud, and had obtained goods without intending to pay for them.”

A Welcome Visitor.-Yesterday, we had the pleasure of a call from George 8. Graham, Esq., District Grand Master of the E.C., who was on his return to Wellington from Auckland, where he had been to install his D.G. officers.

The Grant for Bridge.—It was published lately in the local papers that, from a private telegram received from Mr. Allan McDonald, M.H.R., the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson, Minister for Public Works, had promised that a sum of £2OOO would be granted to the Gisborne Borough Council towards the construction of the bridge across the Turanganui River, at the end of Gladstone Road. At the last meeting of thq County Council the question was asked by one of the members if any intimation had been received on the subject, and the Chairman stated that no information whatever had reached him with regard to the alleged promise.

New Store.—Mr. H. W. Kurtain, having nearly completed his new business premises at the corner of Disraeli Street and Gladstone Road, has opened the same as a store in the drapery, grocery, clothing, and general line. Mr. Kurtain’s advertisement will appear in our next issue.

A Desirable Colonist I —From the Napier Daily Telegraph we gather the following:— “ The man Patrick Loughnan, who was remanded yesterday only a charge of burglary has a history of his own. He arrived in the colony as a free immigrant only a few years ago, and since then has given moat of his time to the service of Her Majesty, On tour separate charges of burglary he was sentenced to four years’ hard labor at Dunedin, where two previous convictions certified to his character, and in the circle in which he has moved he is considered a person of great ability. Since his arrival in this district he has worked as a cooper at the Hikutoto boiling-down establishment, and when work was slack in that line he took a contract to paint a sacred edifice at the Spit, It is supposed, and not without good reason, that one of our local importers involuntary supplied the material for this work. In other ways Mr, Loughnan has so distributed his patronage that few tradesmen can grumble at not having contributed towards his household expenses. The Clive and surrounding tradespeople will therefore miss the favors of this gentleman during his temporary seclusion,”

Tricky Journalism.—The Otago Daily Times says“ Donald Dinnie has filled no small space in newspaper literature recently, The correspondent of a contemporary tells the following story ;—‘ Some years ago, when Donald Dinnie was at the summit of fame (where ho has remained seated ever since), he was admitted to be an unconquerable wrestler; but going home one evening from some athletic gathering he was pitched out of the trap In which he was seated, fortunately sustaining no injury. Some enterprising newspaper got hold of the affair and turned it to profitable account, for next morning its posters and placards contained the startling announcement s ‘ Donald Dinnie thrown,i and in the next line in very small type, ‘ from a trap.’ The first three words created a panic ; every copy was instantly bought up, and an extra edition had to be published,”

The Platypus.—“ Few of the mammalia have interested naturalists more than the ornythormatus, or duck-billed platypus. Dr. Geo. Bennett carefully studied, observed, and dissected them 20 years ago, and a good summary of all that has been published concerning them is contained in Mr. Arthur Nicholl’s new book Zoological Notes. So important is the anomalous position of these animals regarded by scientists, that our Cambridge University (which has come rapidly to the front in matters relating to scientific research during the last few years) has determined to send out Mr. W. Cauldwell, fellow of Gains College, and a distinguished comparative anatomist, to Australia, purposely to endeavour to solve the important questions connected with the reproduction and the embryology of the Monocremata, to which the platypus belongs, and which have so long baffled inquiry.” Railway Trains.—” Sixteen hundred trains a day run over the Clapham Junction in London. The rails lie together like the wires of piano. There is no shrieking of whistles or clanging of bells ; the signals are kept for their officials, and trespassers expose themselves at their own peril. A tunnel-way for passengers connects the whole, so that no one is allowed to cross the rails except the employes, who grow reckless and occasionally come to grief. On an average, one man is killed on the crossings every six weeks.” Immense Shark. —“ Another immense shark, of the white or diamond-toothed species, was caught in Portland Bay recently, having become entangled in the Fishing Company’s nets. The monster is 19 feet in length, and about two tons in weight. It had six rows of diamond teeth, in splendid condition, and its skin was deeply cut and scarred from old wounds. The shark has been sent to Ballarat for exhibition. Photo.—At length a process has been discovered, so it is alleged, for taking photographs in colors, being produced by the action of the light alone.