Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 53, 30 January 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

The Value or an Oath During the trial at the R.M. Court, on Tuesday, in the case of alleged perjury against a Native, some most curious facts were elicited as to the value or comprehension by a Native of the value of an oath. Mr. Woon, the Court interpreter, stated that it was usual to administer the oath to a baptised Native, and also prior to swearing it was customary to explain the obligations and penalties attached to an oath; but in the case of the prisoner it had not been done. The Bench stated that the Natives were not generally aware of the solemnity or binding nature of an oath, and that a Native would be more likely to be depended upon if he made a solemn affirmation. Immediately after, a ease in point occurred, when Hamiona, one of the witnesses, was asked if he knew the meaning of an oath, and stated that he did not, it being his first appearance in a Court—he was ignorant of the form and meaning. The difficulty was solved by the adoption of the provision of the new law re oaths—-making the witness take a solemn affirmation. We are inclined to think that the obligation of an oath is often too littleappreciated by the ignorant of our own rgffir < Our Wool-shim.—Messrs. Common, Shelton, and Co. were occupied nntil late last night clearing our second wool-ship, which leaves to-day, She has on board 2,800 bales of wool, 1,167 of which are by the Loan and Mercantile and 1,133 by Messrs. Common, Shelton, and Co. The total value of the cargo is estimated at £28,684 6s. lOd. The Asterion is for London direct, and, should she have good fortune, the next time she drops anchor will be opposite the pretty Kentish town of Gravesend. We sincerely wish her and her skipper God.speed and a successful voyage. Need we say anything further, as showing the rapid progress which Poverty Bay is making than pointing to the fact of two ships carrying away such valuable cargoes as the Asterion and Lochnagar have done this season.

Fish.—We saw an enormous fish last night measuring upwards of 4ft., and weighing about 1201 b., which had been caught by Mr. Hansen on the Ariel Reef. We believe the excursion has been most successful, and that fine hauls have been made. Wesleyan Concert.—The concert in M’Farlane’s Hall last night proved most successful. Though the attendance was scarcely what we expected, the performance was most enthusiastically received. Rowing.—We hear that the Messrs. Pavitt have accepted the challenge thrown out to the Club by Mr. Wells (wharf contractor) and one of his employes to row a pair-oared match. The event will come off shortly. Habbor Board Conference The Conference between the Cook County Council and Harbor Board relative to the reconstruction of the latter will take place this evening. The Perjury Case.—The deferred decision in this interesting and somewhat remarkable case will be given this morning in our R.M. Court by Captain Porter, J.P. West Coast Railway. — Three different parties of surveyors are actively engaged in looking out and laying off a route for the railway to the West Coast via Lake Lyndon, as recommended by the late Royal Commission. Fair progress is being made with the work, but the men are considerably delayed by the inclement weather prevailing in the back country.

Holiday.—Yesterday being the anniversary of the Province of Auckland, no business of any kind was transacted at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, it being recognised as a Court holiday, AU eases set down for hear-: ing on that day have been adjourned until Friday next, the Ist proximo,

Tenders.—We remind contractors that the tenders for Mr. Barker’s large house will close at noon to-day.

A Gallant Tar.—“ A Montreal citizen of ‘ respectable position’ has (a Home paper says) been recently taught a lesson in a way amusing to everybody but himself. A petty officer of H.M.S. Canada heard him speak disrespectfully of the Royal Family, and at once knocked him through a plate-glass window. The bystanders were so pleased at his combative loyalty that they paid the bill of damages, and when the corvette reached Halifax a six-dollar note was found awaiting the ‘ gallant tar,’ with a promise to double the sum if he gave a lesson in manners to • any other foul-mouthed ruffian.’ Prince George of Wales is said to have offered his congratulations to this plucky shipmate of his Royal Highness, who is popular both on the main and quarter deck,”

Westport Harbor,—” The Westport people want their harbor improved. The Government have already spent £233,000 on a rail, way and harbor works in the district. These are now unproductive, but they say if £40,000 were spent in improving the harbor, the Coal Company alone would guarantee an immediate output of 250,000 tons of coal per annum, and would pay 3s. per ton to Government for transit and harbor dues, showing a profit of £13,750 a year after paying interest on £275,000 at 5 per cent. They add that in five years the trade would be 750,000 tons, as there is a great demand for Westport coal in Mauritius, India, San Francisco, and China. Of its quality there is no doubt, and the quantity seems practically inexhaustible,”

The Unbmflo¥kd.—Writing on the ” unemployed ” agitation, a correspondent of the Christchurch Press says■“ As far as I can see good men are getting as high wages as ever they were, and very scarce at that, For instance, shearing is higher this season than it has been for several years—viz., £1 to 225. 6d. per 100 and found, For the cutting and cleaning of cocksfoot grass seed they are asking far more than they have had for years. Farm laborers are getting from £1 to 30s. a week and found, instead of £1 as formerly, Good married couples cannot be got at any reasonable price.”

The Central Railway Route,—The Rangitikei Advocate of last Thursday says:— “ Mr. Rochefort is in Marton to-day. He reports in the highest terms of the central railway route, and is of opinion that no other has a chance of competing against it. We understand that the Native Minister holds exactly similar views. Mr. Rochefort will shortly examine the Fielding route.”

The Contest tor the Selwyn Seat.— The Otago Daily Times expresses the following opinion :—“ It is to be hoped that Mr. Wakefield will get in for Selwyn. A Parliament of incapables sadly needs the reinforcement of a man of ability and eloquence. With Mr. Wakefield in opposition, Major Atkinson will not dare to indulge in the bullying of last session, and we shall perhaps hear some plain truths told in the House about the policy of borrowing and buying. The trickery to which the Government resorted to keep Mr, Wakefield out at Inangahua deserves to be punished, and principle is so thoroughly at discount in the politics of the present day that it is absurd to point the finger at Mr. Wakefield’s tergiversation in the last Parliament as if it were an unpardonable sin. He has paid pretty dearly for it, and has probably learnt a lesson, A Government which came into office pledged to financial reform and no borrowing can scarcely afford to reproach him on that account.”

An Unpopular Governor,—” A great sensation has been caused in London (writes a correspondent of the Ota#o Daily Times) by the reception given to Lord Ripon when he returned from the hills to Calcutta. For the first time in the history of India, the Viceroy has been hooted and hissed and publicly insuited by the Anglo-Indian community, The policy of Lord Ripon has evidently so far aggravated the Anglo-Indian population that the concessions made by the Government in the Ilbert Bill have not constituted the golden bridge which was to bring the Viceroy off. The counter-demonstration made by the Natives a few days later, when Lord Ripon opened the Calcutta Exhibition, has only aggravated the situation, since it shows that class feeling lies unseen to a very serious extent. The return of Lord Ripon to this country is now expected to take place next spring, or a year before the period of his appointment has expired.”