Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 43, 18 January 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Sub-division or Cook County.-— Wo under, stand that a petition is being largely signed by the ratepayers of Cook County resident north of Tologa Bay River to Cape Runaway, praying for separation and creation of a new county. The principal grounds for separation are the inadequate aid rendered to Coast works by the present Council, too much attention being shown to works south of Poverty Bay, to the neglect of the richest portion of the Co.unty. It is proposed to have the head-quarters of the Council centrally situated—at Tologa Bay or Tokomaru, R. M. CovaT.—A native, named Hoera Te Ulna was brought up under remand, charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on Hemar Mokawai. The accused was again remanded for medical examination.

J Battery.—On attending the drill-shed last night we found the ordinary weekly drill inspection of the company represented by three members.

Goon Passagr.—The Southern Cross, with the English mail aboard, arrived on Wednesday, having made a remarkably smart trip. She left Auckland at 7 p.m. on Monday, and arrived at Tuparoa at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, where she landed a large quantity of cargo and timber for Sir G. S. Whitmore. Leaving again at 1 a.m. next day, she arrived at Gisborne at 8 a.m. Not so bad for the Cross.

Court Minstrels.—The Comedy Company gave another performance last night, with an entire change in the first part of the programme. The ballads, rendered with much taste, were received with prolonged applause by the audience. The corner men—Messrs. Buckley and Cowan—were most amusing, the latter especially receiving great applause.

SOUTHERN Ononis I’gTHOLXW CoMYAMfi*We learn from the Coast that the new boring plant on the lower level is now ready, and work commences at once, Tubes Din. in diameter are to be used, and lesser ones at the old bore.

A Frequent Complaint.—A correspondent writes thus:—“ Please draw attention to the matter of persons purchasing properties upon which rates are due at the time of purchase. In older towns a solicitor will not allow his client to sell or purchase property unless a receipt for the last rates is attached, while here the whole matter is ignored, and an unlucky purchaser is called upon to pay a year's rates for one or two months’ occupancy, the acute seller having departed. Of course, the rate collectors may follow up their work sharply, and catch the seller in time; but the greater part of the changes take place quietly,-—hence the difficulty.”

McFarlane's Hall.—This Hall continues to be crowded every night, the popularity of Messrs. Millis and Moulton being apparently on the increase. Last night the audience was a most appreciative one. There will be another performance to-night.

Election Address.—By a telegram from Christchurch we learn that “ Mr. Wakefield addressed the Selwyn electors at Leeston on Wednesday night for two hours and a half. He declared himself opposed to the Atkinson Government, criticised the borrowing policy, animadverted on the reckless public expenditure, advocated retrenchment, favored a grant to the New Zealand Shipping Company, opposed the perpetual-leases system, and would uphold secular education. He omitted all reference to Native matters*” Tenders.—the manager of the South Pacific Petroleum Co. reports as follows “ Replying to our advertisement calling for tenders for cutting and delivering 200 cords of firewood at the derrick, the following were received :—-Crawford and Carroll, at 225. per cord ; John McDowell, at 225. per cord. The former got the contract, Crawford having also received the last one, Lady Students.—“ Six ladies have distinguished themselves as students in the South London College of Chemistry.” says the Standard, “ where they have been studying with a view to pass the examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society. They mean to begin life as druggists, and we believe they are the first women who have been trained in public school for the business of pharmacy. They will assuredly deserve credit for their enterprise, for if they succeed they will have done good service in widening the area of possible employment for women.” Employment of Immigrants.—“ In view of the objections now being raised to the introduction of immigrants it may be interesting to note how the large number of new arrivals by the steamer Victory and ship Trevelyan, which entered Port Chalmers within a week of each other, have fared in obtaining employment. The Victory brought 96 immigrants nominated by their friends in the Colony, who took them away at once to different parts of the province. She also brought 102 assisted immigrants of various occupations, including a large number of labourers and general servants, all of whom have found employment. The Trevelyan brought 193 nominated immigrants, who have all been taken away by their friends. The assisted immigrants numbered 95, of mixed occupations, a large proportion being labourers and general servants. They have all obtained employment with the exception of one shepherd and two general labourers. The Victory arrived at Port Chalmers on December 23, and the Trevelyan on December 30. The Immigration Officer (Mr. Colin Allan) states that he could find employment at the present time for a large number of men able to do farmwork of any kind. The next steamer to arrive with immigrants will bo the Bombay, which left Plymouth on December 1, and will ba due here about the 19th inst.” — Otago Daily Times, 9th.

Smart Bicycle Ride.—The N, Z. Herald of the 14th inst, says :—“ Mr. Fitton, whose bicycle ride to Wellington has been several times mentioned in our columns during the last week, returned yesterday by the Rotorua at Onehunga. He rode from Wellington to New Plymouth, and there caught the steamer. Mr. Fitton was met at Onehunga by several hicyolists, who accompanied him to town, He started from Auckland on Christmas morning, and went by Cambridge and Oxford, passing through the bush road to Ohinemutu, which he reached on Saturday night, Here hie cyclometer registered 148 miles. He reached Napier on Thursday, January 3, and left again on January 5, for Wellington. At Master ton he took the train for Wellington. Mr. Fitton has had several slight spills, but nothing serious, and on the whole his trip has been enjoyable and successful. No doubt in future many trips will be made from Auckland to Wellington on the bicycle, but Mr. Fitton will have the honour and glory of being the first.”

Lord Mayor’s Show.—ln its report of the proceedings in connection with the usual Lord Mayor’s “ show” in London on November 9, the Scotsman has the following :—“ In the procession there was a novelty surpassing everything in its striking chacacter. Like all specially good things, it was kept to the last. The long string of liverymen and aidermen in their ‘ chariots and four’ had passed to the music of more than a dozen bands. Aiderman Hadley had waved his hat to the friends who sought to buoy up his spirits in the hour of his great disappointment by cordial assurances that he would yet reign in the chair. ‘ Now for the Lord Mayor,’ was shouted. The equipages were seen to be growing in magnificence every minute. Presently, just when the crowd were looking out for the splendid uniforms of the Queen’s Trumpeters, a heavy rumbling car appeared. Even the urchins looked at it in silent wonder, for on the car were hung two rows of sheep carcases, dressed by the butcher, and ready for immediate quartering. As seen from the street, the car was a mystery. It looked just as though some practical joker had carried off part of one of the stalls in Farrington Market, and had joined in the procession in a spirit of wanton mischief. The car, however, had a. meaning. It was meant as a word in season to the thousands of work-people by whom it was seen, for beneath the mutton was an announcement that it was all ‘ frozen meat brought from New Zealand I’ Immediately behind the mutton came the glittering trumpeters, heralding the approach of the Lord Mayor.” Marvellous Escape.—“ The following marvellous escape is narrated in a recent issue of the Liverpool (New South Wales) Herald :— ‘ A man was leisurely crossing the viaduct near the paper-mill, when the goods-train came along at a rattling pace. As he saw no chance of escape by running or jumping, he threw himself down between the rails and allowed the engine and trucks to run over him. As soon as the last van passed he stood up and waved his hat to a number of ladies who witnessed the affair, and who screamed lustily all the time.”

The Lateht ’‘Claimant” Movb, ‘-A rumour is published in a Home paper that on the Claimant’s release from Dartmoor on a ticket-of-leave next year, it is proposed to stai’t him in a public-house, where he is sure to ‘ draw.’ It is proposed to have in the public-house a sort of Museum of Tichborne relics, and the house is to be called the Tichborne Arms.”

Growing an Oak.-—“ If an acorn be suspended by a piece or thread within half-an-inch of the surface of some water contained in a hyacinth glafff, and so permitted to remain without being disturbed, it will, in a few months, burst and throw a root down into the water, and shoot upwards its straight and tapering stem with beautiful little green leaves. A young oak tree growing in this way on the mantle-shelf of a room is a very elegant and interesting object.” Death of a Celebrated Woman. —. Mrs. Harriet Miller Davidson, daughter of the late Hugh Miller, the celebrated Scotch geologist, and wife of the late Rev. John Davidson Hughes, Professor of English Literature and Mental and Moral Philosophy at the Adelaide University, died a few days ago in Adelaide, aged 43. Mrs. Davidson was a woman of many powers, and a brilliant conversationalist, and had attained considerable celebrity as a novelist, poetess, and contributor of fugitive pieces.” Proposed Union of Methodist Churches.— “It will be remembered that in July last the question of union of Methodist Churches of New Zealand was discussed by a conference from each of the Churches meeting at Christchurch, and a basis of union agreed upon. This was submitted to each of the Churches. The first of the superior Courts—that of the Primitive Methodists—is now meeting at Dunedin, and a telegram informs us that the resolution in favor of union was carried by 22 to 2. In respect to the Free Methodists, Primitive Methodists, and Bible Christians, the decision of the local bodies will have to ba reviewed at Home. It is not expected that there will be any difficulty about the Primitive Methodists, for a union of the same nature having been proposed in Canada, the Home authorities wished them God-speed. The annual Wesleyan Conference meets during the month at Christchurch, and the Triennial Conference for Australasia meets in September in Christchurch. That Conference has full power to decide for the Wesleyan body. If no hitch takes place, the first meeting of the United Methodist Church of New Zealand may take place next January.”— iV. Z, Herald, Jan. 14.

Boat Race.—The Napier Telegraph reports that “ for the pair-oared races for the trophies presented by Mr. J. G. Gilberd to the Napier Rowing Club, the following crews have entered, the races to take place early next month, as previously notified by us:—E. Black (stroke) and H. Gibbons (bow); A. Rich (stroke) and F. Parker (bow); F. Kennedy (stroke) and R. Hunter (bow) j W. J. Tabuteau (stroke) and W. H. Arrow (bow); F. W, Harrap (stroke) and W. Provia (bow).”