Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 72, 21 February 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Makaraka.—At the inquest held at the Roseland Hotel on Tuesday last the proceedings were frequently brought to a standstill on account of the noise and rowdyism going on in close proximity to the room where the enquiry was being held. Mr. Booth had occasion to remark on the advisability of having a policeman permanently stationed out there.

Treat for Children.—Should the weather to-morrow prove propitious, the children of Gisborne will have a fine opportunity afforded them of enjoying themselves at Te Hapara, to which place they are all invited by Mr. and Mrs. Rees. This kind invitation, which was originally given to those attending the public school has now been extended to all the children of Gisborne. The School Committee will, we understand, make arrangements for traps, &c., to convey out the small-fry, the attractions of games of cricket, races, jumping, French-tag, kiss-in-the-ring, &c., &c., being sufficient inducement to the elder boys and girls to travel the distance on “ Shanks’ pony.”

Harbor Board.—During the discussion re new wharf-lamps, at the Harbor Board meeting on Tuesday evening, it was mentioned that they had, altogether, an overdraft of £1,200, which together with an indebtedness of £6OO to the Borough Council, brings the Board £l,BOO ih debt, In the face of this one would naturally think that economy would be the order of the day ; but instead of that some members appear to be ever on the alert to vote money and increase expenses, Road Traps.—Really, our “ City Fathers’’ must walk about in a semi-somnolent state if they do not see the traps in the main roads of this place,—notably a dangerous hole in the tram-line in the unsightly culvert in Gladstone Road and Cobden Street, as well as two or three sand-pits in the sidewalk in the same locality; so that a pedestrian, while admiring the miniature railway-bridge, may well walk into a trap and possibly break his or her leg. And yet all the risk of danger could be avoided by the employment of a daylabor man at the places indicated for an hour or two. Will no spirited councillor move in the matter? Gisborne Licensing District.—The following gentlemen have been nominated for members of the Licensing Committee for the Gisborne District; —Messrs. W. King, W. Judd, D. Dinan, A. M. Gray, D. M. Murchie, J. Wallace, A. Skillicorn, and T. Wright* The election of five of the above-named will take place on Wednesday, the 27th inst. “ Obown Lands Guide.”—We are in receipt of No. 6 of this publication, which not only contains a large variety of information respecting Crown lands in different parts of the colony, but has a most excellent litho, map of the North as well as the South Island. Wesleyan Church.—The annual meeting of the Wesleyan Church connection will be held to-night at 7.30.

Very Important Information !— A telegram in a contemporary states that “ the Dunedin official assignee (Mr. Ashcroft) made a joke at a meeting of creditors. The debts amounted to £1,461 and the assets to £lOO. The assignee said the only property in the estate was a microscope, which might prove of use to see the assets with.” This is the kind of rubbish that papers often have to pay wire-charges for. Who cares whether Mr. Ashcroft ever made a joke or not ? Probably, the importance attached to the fact that the telegraphic agent never deemed the official assignee capable of perpetrating a thing of the kind, and was “ struck silly.” Gisborne North.—We glean from what has been stated that application will shortly be made to the Borough Council to include the North Township within the Borough boundaries, with a view, perhaps, it might be added, of getting the ratepayers’ money to improve the property. Tologa BAY.?-This place presents a busy aspect at the present time. The Native Land Court has been engaged over the Pukemaru claim, it being the second case only yet before the Court, We understand the Court will last for about three months longer. Judge Brookfield granted an adjournment to-day to enable some of the Natives to attend a tangi of an old Native woman recently deceased. Southern Cross.—The Southern Cross leaves Napier at 3 p.m, to-day, and will arrive in the Bay early on Friday morning* After being tendered, she will leave for Auckland, via Tuparoa and Hicks’ Bay. The last boat will leave the wharf at 8 a.m. Austrian Bent Chairs,—ln our notice of Messrs. Carlaw Smith & Co’s, sale on Saturday re Austrian bent chairs, the price which they were passed in should have been stated as 9s. and not Bs, Even this seems an incredibly low price. Kaiteratahi Races.—A meeting of subscribers will be held at the Kaiteratahi Hotel on Saturday evening next, for the purpose of appointing a Committee and compiling a programme for the races to be held on the Kaiteratahi Course on St. Patrick’s Day. Grand Fete.—The programme (to ba seen in another column) for the fete to be held on Saturday next, at the Roseland Gardens, gives promise of a rare day’s sport, and we confidently expect to see a large gathering. A Dog Taking a Spin.— “ Considerable amusement was created at the late races at Bulls by a greyhound, who seemed intent on swelling the ‘ scanty fields.’ On three occasions he joined the pair of horses which were running, and in the match between Creeping Jenny and Spec he joined in the race when about half-a-mile had been travelled, overhauled the horses and cut out the running to the finish, passing the post first. ‘ I’ll back the dog ;’ • two to one on the dog ;’ * the dog wins it,’ were heard among the shouts that arose amid much merriment. The mile spin of the dog’s was certainly no mean performance.” Sending Fish Home.—“ Mr. Williamson, of the Bluff, is (says the Southland Times) taking advantage of the refrigerating process to extend his business. He has decided upon sending a trial shipment of Stewart Island fish in the ship Canterbury to London. It will be remembered that he sent 2,000 dozen oysters in the Opawa, frozen in the shell. Advices have come to hand saying they had arrived safely, had been tried, and, although a little hard, were sweet and palatable.”

Buying the Whole Lot Up.—The Nelson JfaiZ has this rich morceaux at the expense of the local railway :—“ We never thought our railways a very big concern, but scarcely expected to find them regarded so paltry an affair as some people appear to consider it, that is if the story told to us be true. It was during the holiday time that a well-to-do country settler, who had evidently been wishing a few — perhaps several — of his friends a happy new year, drove up to the station. His condition was unmistakeable, and one of the officials, taking him on one side, softly remarked, ‘ You had better not go out to-day, ‘ Me not go out, why ?’ ‘Because you’ve had too much beer,’ replied the frank official. ‘ Too mach beer! Me too much beer I Here give me a blank cheque.’ The official was startled, he could not see the connection between the beer and the blank cheque, and wonderingly asked, ‘ Blank cheque! What for ?’ ‘ Why, I’ll buy the whole lot up, and then I can travel just when I please.’ Utter collapse of railway official.”

Blackguardly Conduct.—“ At a recent Harbor Board election meeting at Wellington while Mr. McKeever, one of the candidates was addressing the meeting, a lump of road metal was thrown at him, just ‘ shaving* the top of his head. Considerable disturbance ensued, and Mr. McKeever said he would fight the man who threw the stone, no matter how big he was. He had very little doubt but what it was one of Mr. Duthie’s (a candidate) men. Order being restored again, the speaker continued. He said Captain Williams was the prince of the port. At this stage a large boiled potato struck the Chairman on the head, and he said if another was thrown he would shy a bottle at the man who did it. Scarcley had he said this when another potato was thrown, striking the Chairman between the teeth. Whereupon the Chairman kept his word, and threw a beer bottle, and followed up with another. He next jumped down amongst the crowd, in the hopes of catching the person who had insulted him. The greatest disorder then ensued, the Chinese lanterns were set on fire, and potatoes and eggs were thrown about freely. There was no Chairman, and the speaker had not half delivered his speech. After the attacks on Mr. Taylor no one could be found to preside.” Two Things to be Remembered. — The Canter&wri/ Times says:—“lt is important just now* to remember two things—lst, the Premier has become an enthusiastic Federationist; and 2nd, the Imperial Parliament meets some time in February. The connection between them lies in the fact that the draft of an Imperial Bill for enabling the colonies to Federate was sent Home to the Imperial Government by the Sydney Conference. That Bill is now considered in political circles in London, the cable informs us, to have a good chance of passing. This may be only the Agent-General’s tip to the news collectors. But, as it may not, we must make up our minds not to feel surprised if an Imperial Act of Federation is introduced to the New Zealand Legislature next session. Those who do not know the Government will probably be surprised at their proposing such a thing to be settled by the last session of an expiring Parliament. Those who do know the Government will not be surprised.”