Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 58, 5 February 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Bakbino Fmncino Wire.—One of the most useful specialities for runholders and farmers we have seen for a long time was brought under our notice yesterday by Mr. M'Clennan, of the firm of Woodcock and West, of Oamaru. The ingeniously-formed instruments comprise a substantially-made and effective pair of nippers, into grooves in which the ends of two short pieces of pointed wire are placed at different angles ; when the second implement—an iron double plate of about an inch in width—is put on the wire fencing—close to the nippers, and two or three twists of this instrument binds the barb wire around the fencing-wire, leaving four barbs projecting in different directions. The barb wire is very firmly fixed by the operation, and the work is so easy that it can be performed by a small boy, It is estimated that by this simple process wire may be barbed at a comparatively small cost, and a boy can do about twenty chains of the work in a day. One great advantage of these appliances is that one or more wires in a fence can be barbed without any trouble, and we feel convinced that the instruments only require to be seen by our settlers to secure for them an extensive sale. They attracted much attention at the Christchurch Exhibi. tion, and should be the means of creating a most important industry in Oamaru, Samples of the barbs and the instruments can be seen at this office, and our bookkeeper will be pleased to explain the mode of operation to anyone who may take an interest in this ingenious though simple little contrivance.

Bad Roads.—We note that Aberdeen Road is being formed to the town boundary, and would suggest that one at least of the crossroads leading from Crawford's Brewery to Gladstone Road should be formed and metalled. At present a loaded dray cannot be taken up either the cross-roads from the brewery, and, as there are two important Industries in operation In that locality, the work we suggest should be put in hand without delay.

Itinerant Musicians.—The dulness of our town has been relieved during the past few evenings by two itinerant musicians, who have discoursed sweet sounds at the hotel comers, through the aid of a violin and a harp. The violinist is a very creditable performer.

Roads and Bridges. — The County and Borough Councils have received notice of the allocation of £l,OOO for the former and £1,500 for the latter under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act.

Fire.—A fire, which resulted in the total destruction of Mr. D. Malone's premises, Makaraka, took place yesterday morning between 3 and 4 o’clock. It appears that Mrs. Malone was awakened by some unusual noise, and found the house in flames. The alarm was given, and the inmates alone escaped. The premises consisted of a small shop and dwelling-house, both of which were insured in the Imperial for £lOO each. The stock-in-trade and furniture were also insured in the same office for £225 and £59 respectively. No cause can, at present, be assigned as to the origin of the fire.

Quick Travelling.—Mr. Cecil Ward left town yesterday at 1 o’clock for Napier (overland) on urgent business, which necessitates his presence in that town not later than 9 o’clock to-day, thus giving him twenty hours for the journey. It will be remembered that Mr. Ward once before, on October 6th, 1882, performed the same journey in twenty-one hours, the cause being which of two gentlemen could get certain important deeds registered first.

Valuation Lists (County).—All persons who have acquired or disposed of rateable property since January, 1883, are required to send in the particulars of such changes to the County offices on or before the Ist of March next.

Hardor Board,—The ordinary meeting of this Board will be held to-night in the Borough Council offices. Poverty Bay Statistics. — The following are the Registrar’s returns for the last quarter ending December 31, 1883 : — Births, 49; marriages, 9 ; and deaths, 10.

Cause-list.—The following is the cause-list R.M. Court, for to-day:—Common and Co. v. Perriam, Parnell and Boylan v. Matthews and others, King v. Bidgood, Wade v. McDonald, Keefer v. McNeil, Dunlop and Goldsmith v. Henri.

County Council.—A meeting of the Cook County Council will take place at 11 o’clock a.m. on Thursday, the 18th March, for the purpose of revising the valuation-list now in force. A list of the proposed alterations is now on view at the office of the Council,

Youthful Depravitv.--~-A ease of depravity, which, we are pleased to say, is rather exceptional here, came before our R.M. yesterday in the person of Alice Greening. During the past week people about town have bee pained and shocked at the sight of two young women patrolling the streets and behaving in a most disgraceful manner. A young girl happening to pass them in the Gladstone Road one day raised the younger one’s ire by looking at her—a liberty which she immediately resented by fiercely assaulting the astonished gazer. Our peace-conserver, in the person of Sergeant Bullen, speedily put an end to such vagaries by introducing her to Mr, Booth, who humanely secured her seclusion from public life and its temptations for the next three months at the Napier Retreat.

EsdAFH AND HeCAVTURE OF CeTEWAYO.— A telegram, dated London, January 80, states that “ information has been received from the Gape that Cetewayo had escaped to the Scows Country, but that he was subset quently recaptured by the militia force," Attempt to Poison Russian Royal Family.— Under date London, January 30, “ it is stated that it has been discovered that the baker at the Royal Palace at Peterhoff endeavored to poison the whole of the Imperial Family of Russia with strychnine.’’

Free Library and Art Gallery. —ln reference to this new institution in Auckland, the Harald says :—“ The sum of £21,000 has been put aside for the purpose of erecting a building to accommodate these two public institutions, and we feel sure that all the money will be required. We must erect the best building we can obtain for the money. The site is one of the most beautiful and commanding in the city. The Free Library is already a fine collection of books, and will be certain to grow rapidly. As for the Art Gallery, we have already a splendid beginning, and it is expected that as soon as there is a building suitable for the pictures, Mr. Mackelvie’s splendid gifts will be added to from several sources. The committee of the Council to which was remitted the plans now in competition have taken great trouble in examining them, and we have little doubt will select one which will be suitable in every respect.”

The North Island Railway.—“ A deputation waited on the Premier and Minister of Public Works to urge the immediate completion of the survey of a railway through the Manawatu Gorge, which forms the connecting link between the East and West Coasts of the North Island, and being the only practical pass through the great Tararua-Ruahine mountain range, which forms the backbone of the island, it must also be part of the main trunk line both to Wellington and Napier and from Napier to Auckland. The deputation strongly pressed Ministers to complete the survey at once, and also place a sum on the Public Works estimates next session to issue out of the million loan just floated. The Ministers received the proposals very favorably, and expressed their recognition of the importance of the work as essential to a portion of the North Island Trunk Railway system. Mr. Mitchelson promised to place the needful sum on the estimates, and to instruct the Engineer-in-Chief to proceed with the necessary surveys, &c., forthwith."

Proposed Mercantile Marine Association. —The N. Z. Herald reports that “ a meeting of master mariners was held last evening at the Waitemata Hotel, Mr. Thwaites occupied the chair. There was a very fair attendance. It was proposed by Captain Haddock that a shipmasters’ aud officers’ Mercantile Marine Association be formed, under rules and regulations as may be hereafter proposed. This was seconded by Captain Morrison, and carried. The Chairman proposed that his Excellency the Governor be asked to act as patron, The resolution was seconded by Captain P. Jones, and was unanimously adopted. The following other officers were next nominated President, Mr. C. J« Stone ; vice-presidents, Captains D. H‘ McKenzie, H. F. Anderson, and McGregor. Mr. Bennett was asked to act as Secretary for the meantime. Captains Thwaites, Haddock Morrison, Jones, and the President and Vice Presidents were elected as a sub-committee to draw up rules, &c., to be presented at another meeting to be held at a future date to be fixed by them, and duly announced. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting." Troubles at Parihaka Again.—The following telegram appeared in the Auckland Herald of the 30th inst. :—“ The latest information from Parihaka is to the effect that Te Whiti is apparently beginning to chafe under restrictions placed on native visitors staying at Parihaka in any numbers, and evinces a disposition to encourage their remaining, instead of firmly discouraging it as before. He is said to have expressed a strong desire to revive the monthly gatherings at Parihaka, which formerly proved so dangerous and prejudicial to peace, and had accordingly to be suppressed. It is rumoured that the change in Te Whiti’s disposition is the result of insidious counsel and representations made to him by certain persons whose interests are directly opposed to the main, tenance of the good understanding and friendly relations which have existed during the last two years between Parihaka Natives and Europeans. However this may be, it is quite certain that Mr. Bryce will not permit the present satisfactory position of affairs on the West Coast to be jeopardised by the renewal of the old tomfoolery and seditious fanaticism. Any attempt to rekindle the embers of the old fires will be promptly and resolutely repressed. As yet there is nothing definite, but a careful watch is kept on matters in that locality, and there will be no indecision or dilatoriness of action should necessity arise for interference.”

Cheese.—“ In connection with the cheese tasting and cheese testing experiments made the other day, at the offices of the Auckland Agricultural and Mercantile Company, with a view to the ultimate export of locally-manu-factured cheese, it may not be uninteresting to give some particulars in reference to the

great annual Cheese Show, under the auspice* of the Ayrshire Agricultural Association, and recently held in that city, There were about 500 tons of cheese exhibited, of the estimated value of £40,000. A new feature this year was the appearance of four competitors from Canada. There had been great anticipations of success on the part of these trans-Atlantic exhibitors, and the cheese shown by them was certainly of good quality, but they only succeeded in gaining high commendation, none of the prizes being gained by them. It says much for the high quality of the prize cheese at this show that American cheese of similar excellence to that exhibited here carried off the chief honors at London. A new English competitor was Mr. Crees, who carried off the second prize at London and the first at Frome, Here he has only gained the fourth in Class 1,, and the third in Class IV., the sweepstake competition. The prize-lots of Mr, Crees brought the high price of 325. per cwt.

Election of School Committees. — “We (N. Z. Herald) learn that very considerable interest is manifested in I’amell regarding the meeting to be held to-night for the election of a School Committee. Like some of the adjoining districts, Parnell has a little difficulty of its own regarding the appointment of an assistant master in the place of Mr. De Silva. The outgoing Committee has nominated Mr. Talbot, formerly assistant master of the Grafton School, for the vacancy ; but the Board of Education declined to make the appointment, and referred the matter back to the Committee, who again nominated the same gentleman. The matter has again been referred back, and the nomination will, therefore, be the duty of the newly-elected Committee."

School Committee Trouble."—A correspondent telegraphing from Tauranga to an Auckland paper, says :—“ Much indignation was expressed last night when the hour for the meeting to elect a School Committee arrived, and it was found that the Board of Education had made no arrangements for the holding of the meeting. The local School Committee resigned in a body lately, and no report was forthcoming, nor anyone ap•pointed to conduct the meeting. A large number of householders assembled, and it was some time before an entrance could be gained to the place appointed to hold the meeting. Further delay then took place till candles were obtained. The late Committee deprecated the holding a meeting at all, but some of the leading householders proceeded to elect a Chairman, and go on with the business. A very animated discussion followed for a considerable time, till finally the meeting voted for an adjournment till the 19th February. The action of the Board of Education in making no provision whatever to have the meeting legally conducted, and the last year’s report available, was very severely commented on."

Mosgiel Woollen Factory.—The xV. Z. Herald reports that “ among the passengers by the Takapuna yesterday, from Dunedin, was Mr. John H. Morrison, manager of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company (limited), who is paying his customary yearly visit to Auckland on the business of the company. The Mosgiel woollens, we notice from the Melbourne Argun , have received unqualified praise in the report on Australian woollens furnished to the Elboeuf Chamber of Commerce by M. Henri Courmeaux, who was specially sent to the Melbourne Exhibition for the purpose. He declares that ‘every article manufactured by that company is superior to any other Australian woollen goods I saw at the Exhibition,’ and he thinks that ‘ the Mosgiel Factory will take first rank in the Australian markets over all European importations.’ Testimony like this, from a critic so competent and disinterested, must be very gratifying to the company."