Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 68, 16 February 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Donation to Library.—At the Library Committee meeting held on Wednesday evening last, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. A. C. Arthur for his donation of thirty volumes of light literature to the institution. Sroilation of Fruit-trees.—The flames and heat at the fire on Thursday afternoon destroyed a number of good fruit-bearing trees adjacent to Mr. Bolton’s house at Ormond. Proposed New School at Ormond.—The present school-house at Ormond being inadequate to meet present requirements, it is proposed to erect a new building on the reserve on which the present one stands, and convert the old structure into a dwellinghouse. Arrangements have also been made for erecting eight swings and also a horizontal bar. A croquet-set has also been purchased for the amusement of the girls. At present the school is well conducted, under the headmastership of Mr. Higgins. The children are also well grounded in the rudiments of the old notation of music, and sing very creditably. Wheat; Creek Bridge.—The contractor for this work, Mr. Ledger, has been pushing the job on with all possible speed, but is at present waiting for some castings which are expected from Wellington. The bridge will span the above creek, which intersects the Mangalu new road to the oil-springs, and is of a most durable description. The stringers, which are of fine seasoned timber, are 66 feet long by 15 feet 9 inches; and the bridge, which is 14 feet wide, will permit the passage of two drays at a time. The whole work will be completed about the first week in March, and will afford travellers to the oil-springs a safe journey at all seasons.

Finn Gold Medal.—The final competition for this medal will take place to-day, Licensing Committee. —The nominations for members of the Licensing Committee wi’■ take place this morning, Selwyn Election.—lt will be seen by our telegrams that Mr. Wakefield has been elected to represent Selwyn; so that the Opposition has secured a worthy addition to its ranks. Another Steamer Ashore.—The Waihora is, we regiet to say, ashore at the Bluff, near where the Rotomahana grounded; but it is hoped she may come off. Holy Trinity Choir. — A very successful practice of the above choir was held last evening. Mail to Napier.—The mails per Rotomahana will close at 3.30 p.m. to-day, Solicitor’s Fees.—At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, yesterday morning, Mr. Nolan asked that the usual fee be allowed him in a certain case in which the defendant had confessed judgment the day before, but of which fact he (the defendant) had not given the requisite notice, and he (Mr. Nolan) therefore, now appeared to conduct the case for the plaintiff. His Worship said he could not see how he could very well do it. Mr. Nolan remarked that it had been done before, when he appeared against the same defendant in another case. His Worship still refused, saying that he might do so if the plaintiff had come a long journey to have the case heard ; but, as it was otherwise, he could not well grant the application. Waiapu Races.—The following are the nominations for the two principal events at the Waiapu Races, to be held on the 14th proximo :—Hurdle Race—Maori (late Novice), Sailor, and Matae, Handicap—Blue Jacket, Maori (late Novice)} and Penguin, The latter horse is now in Gisborne, but will be taken to Waiapn by his owner, Mr. Harding, who is in town, in a day or two. The Impounding Act.-—The interpretation of this Act appears to be one of the most difficult problems which our public bodies have to deal with. Up to the present time each poundkeeper, lawyer, or impounder seems to construe its provisions just according to the necessities of the particular case in which they are engaged at the time any hitch or opposition to their wishes occurs. The tact and wisdom which generally guides the decisions and deliberations of our County Council was never more clearly apparent than when, at their last meeting, they were called upon to give an opinion as to the legality of certain action taken by a poundkeeper, and adroitly parried the difficult question by referring the complainant to the “ Impounding Act.”

The Past and Present.—As showing the rapid transformations which have taken place in the present formation of this place, we may mention a circumstance to which our attention was directed yesterday. With a view of obtaining a permanent supply of fresh water for use in the new bone-crushing and manufacturing premises they are about to erect, Messrs. Kennedy and Bennett are sinking a deep well. After passing through the top soil and sand, and below the first water, which is always found just under the surface, the men came upon stiff blue clay, evidently largely composed of decayed vegetable matter. After going through this to a depth of between 40 and 50 feet, the workmen struck upon a large tree, which, according to its state of preservation, must, at no very distant date, have lain on the surface. Should Messrs. Kennedy and Bennett succeed in reaching good spring-water, they will deserve the thanks of the community at large for having, by private enterprise, solved a problem which should long ago have been done by our local bodies. County Carbine Corps.—At a meeting held at Ormond on Thursday evening, Mr. S. C. Caulton in the chair, a resolution was passed, “ That a County Carbine Corps be formed, with head-quarters at Ormond.” Messrs. Devery, W. Boland, and S. C. Caulton were appointed a Committee to report further on the subject at a future meeting. Thanksgiving Services. — To - morrow, thanksgiving services will be held at Holy Trinity Church, when His Lordship the Bishop will preach. Holy Communion will be administered at the evening service. Rotomahana. —The Rotomahana left Auckland at 1 p.m. yesterday, and will probably arrive in the Bay about 2 o’clock to-day ; but, owing to the state of the tide, it is doubtful when she will be tendered. Auction Sale.—Anyone wishing to secure a freehold section, centrally-situated in a good locality, with comfortable residence thereon, will do well to attend at the auction mart of Messrs. Carlaw Smith and Co., at eleven o’clock to-day. And if, after buying a residence, they wish also for a comfortable chair on which to sit and admire their new possession, they will have an opportunity of investing in some Austrian bent chairs.—See advertisement on third page.

Hawke’s Bay Timber Trade.—The Napier Telegraph says that “ the timber trade of this provincial district is rapidly developing itself. There are now to the south of Napier twelve saw-mills, eleven of which are ia full work, and the twelfth is nearly completed. They are situated as follows : —One at Hampden, one at Waipukurau, one at Takapau, one at Papatu, one at Ormondville, two at Norsewood, one at Makatoku, one at junction of Makatoku road, two at Danevirke, and one at Woodville.” Wanted more School-room.—From the Napier Telegraph we find that Te Aute Maori school is full, and can take in no more boarders. Four Native boys, we hear, had to be refused admission this week. With such a magnificent estate as this school has been endowed with by the Maoris, it would be a matter for regret if it were not widely made known that the accommodation for pupils would be largely increased without any unnecessary delay. Opposition to Blinkers.—The Lancet stoutly opposes the practice of putting blinkers on horses. It says :—“ It seems to us that they are useless, ugly, and, to some extent, injurious to the eyesight. The most beautiful feature of the horse is the eye. If it were not hid from our gaze, it would serve to denote sickness, pain, or pleasure. Many a time would the driver spare the whip on seeing the animal’s imploring eye.” Forest Department. — The Woods and Forest Department of South Australia is to be congratulated on the report it is able to give of its last year’s operations. During the year the department has successfully grown no less than 170,000 trees in the old reserves. It has an abundance of young trees in stock for planting out, comprising 225,000 exotic and 650,000 indigenous trees, and during the coming season efforts are to be made to plant out 450,000 trees of all kinds. In addition to the planting operations of the department, it distributes young trees largely to farmers, landowners, district councils, and corporations.