The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1884. Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 80, 1 March 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1884. Local and General.

Crowded Out.—An article on “ The Education Question ” is crowded out from our leader column. Native Land Court, Tologa Bay.—The Court has been closely engaged, during the last week, in investigating the titles to various blocks of land, or original claims—principally in the Waiapu district. Judgment was given in the Pukeamaru, Mangaokura, Mangatahito, Kaiaua, and Puhunga Blocks, and the Court is now engaged investigating the cirims to the Wairoro Block, fronting the Tologa Bay River. The sub-division cases are not expected to be brought on for hearing for at least three weeks or a month, by which time it is expected the original claims will be disposed of. A large number of the Coast claimants interested have in the interim returned home. The Under-Secretary for the Land Purchase Department is expected to be in attendance at the Court about the Bth of March, to pass the various Government claims through. The settlers of Tologa Bay and Coast Districts are anxiously looking forward to the same satisfactory completion of their titles by sub-division as that so ably and impartially dealt with by the same Court during its last session in Gisborne.

An Unusual Sight.—A rather unusual sight presented itself yesterday afternoon to strollers about town in the shape of one of the largest and finest teams of bullocks ever yet seen in one lot; but there was one huge, massive beast which attracted most attention, on account of his towering high above the rest—a perfect mountain of flesh. They were yoked to a large, heavy sledge house—the gift, we hear, of Mr. Hurrey to Mrs. Heber Pritchard, —which they had drawn from Roseland, and were taking to the Waikanae paddock. On remarking on the jaded and distressed appearance of the poor beasts,their driver and owner, Mr. Twohy, informed us that it was owing to there being no water, in the trough at the Makaraka Hotel. This is a matter which we hope the County Council will at once take cognisance of, as it is only a few days ago (on the 12th ult.) that that body gave £l2 10s.—half the total cost—towards the repair of the artesian well, the main, if not the sole, reason for such liberality being out of humanity for the poor dumb beasts who had been in the habit of refreshing themselves at the trough. It seems somewhat remarkable that no sooner is this donation maue than the trough is again dry. The thing we would suggest to the Council is that should it be necessary to further repair the artesian pipe from which the water is derived, they will get the work done under their own supervision and control, otherwise the affair may become a constant source of expense to the County. We hope, for the sake of the poor dumb beasts, that the County Engineer will at once give this matter bis attention.

The School Picnic.—The School Committee desire to tender their sincere thanks to Messrs. Wilson, Fryer, Kennedy and Bennett, Miller, Brookes, Hearfield, Hepburn, Beveridge, Silk, McNab, Crawford, Page, East, Knight, Adair, Graham, and the Rev. J. McAra for so kindly providing traps and drays for the conveyance of the children out to Te Hapara and back again; also, to the Band for their services, to Mr. Weston for supplies of milk and butter, to Mr. Kempthorne for a quantity of peaches, and to several others who kindly assisted, in various ways.

Biting the Dust. —A rather singular accident happened between six and seven o’clock last evening, in Gladstone Road, but was, fortunately, attended with no serious results. A horseman was riding along at a slow canter, and on pulling his horse up for a walk the animal fell suddenly on its knees and then on the right side in the dust. The man “ quietly,” as he described it, “ walked out of the saddle,” and on the horse rising speedily mounted again. The poor animal received a bruise over the right eye and its both knees were skinned. It was thought that the beast overstepped and trod on one of its fore shoes.

Rowing-club Races.—We are glad to see that the crews to take part in the forthcoming races are going in for hard training. Every night the strokes have their crews on the water. At the present time it is difficult to pick one crew in preference to another, though some are inclined to fancy Pavitt’s, and certainly they have every reason to do so, as they are not only strong, but pull well together, Still the other two crews, Messrs. Ratcliffe’s and Barnes,’ do not intend to be “ out of it” unless they cannot help it. Though perhaps now they do not appear to be equal to Pavitt’s, yet, in time, we feel certain, if they continue their regular work, they will improve. In their practices both crews pull well, though they should take care to watch the stroke, and not spoil the time, as they generally do.

Gisborne Institute.—Previous to the commencement of the conference last night Dr. Pollen and Capt. Tucker attended at the Board, the former gentleman stating that, believing the present to be an opportune moment for preferring a request which he had to make to the joint bodies, he would now, prior to the business of the meeting coming on, venture to mention the matter. He then stated the efforts which were being made to organise the above-mentioned Institution, together with its requirements and difficulties, and requested that the two Councils would graciously permit their rooms to be used one or two nights in the week for the purpose of holding classes in them. If this permission were granted, it would prove a great boon, and would relieve the Institution from much difficulty, as they were quite unable, on account of their limited means, to build or hire adequate rooms required for their purpose. He had interviewed the County Clerk, who could not see that any inconvenience to business would arise if the permission were granted. He then further strongly urged his request, stating that compliance would not entail any expense whatever upon the public bodies. Crs. Lewis, Chambers, Gannon, and others having expressed themselves in favor of granting the required permission, his Worship thought it best for Mr. Tucker to make a formal application to each body in writing. This having been agreed to, Dr. Pollen thanked the Board and withdrew.

Assessment Court.—Ratepayers who have made objection to the Assessment Roll are reminded that the Court sits to-day in the Court-house, at 11 o’clock a.m., for the purpose of hearing and determining such objections.

County Council Tenders.—The following tenders were opened last night:—B. 23: Supply of repairs to road between Waipawa and Arai Bridge—Jones and Young, 2s. per yard; Muldoon, Is. 6d.; Hall, Is. 4d. (accepted) ; Doleman, 2s. B. 22 : Gravelling road from Scott’s Flat—M. Bolan, £2 7s. 6d. per chain ; Cooper and Bond, £2 Bs. 9d.; Conway, £4 7s. 6d.; Mullone, £2 2s. 6d. (accepted); Knox, £2 3s. 9d.; Currey and Mills, £3 10s.; McDavitt, £2 19s. 44d.

No Quorum.—The question of holding the County Council meetings during the daytime having cropped up yesterday afternoon whilst waiting for a quorum, Councilloi Johnson remarked that he never yet knew a day meeting to be a success. On several occasions, upon fresh members being added to the Board, the question had always been mooted, and he had always said “try it;” ■which had frequently been done with the invariable result of—no quorum !

County Council.—The special adjourned meeting of the County Council to have been held yesterday afternoon lapsed for want of a quorum, there being only Mersrs. W. K. Chambers, J. W. Johnson, A. Weston, and Gannon present. The next meeting will be held on Thursday the 13th of March.

Reasonable Amount of Refreshment.— During the hearing of a case yesterday in the R.M. Court the question arose as to what was a reasonable amount of refreshment to take at a meal. The Bench thought two pints ample, whilst Mr. Nolan thought the amount charged in the account (16 pts.) not excessive when in company with friends. Mr. Brassey said that circumstances altered cases, and that he managed three pints to a meal the other day at Tologa Bay. The Court allowed two.

Catholic Church.—We remind members of this Church that an important meeting will be held after last Mass to-morrow.

The Oldest Tree.—“ Probably the most wonderful tree in the world is the Baobad or Maibey bread tree. It grows only to the height of forty feet but is thirty feet in diameter. The age of this tree is quite incalculable. Humboldt considers it ‘ the oldest living organic monument of our planet.’ A good-sized room can be cut in the trunk of the Baobab, with comfortable accommodation for thirty men, and the tree stilt live and flourish. The fruit, which is nourishing, is about a foot long. The tree grows very slowly, a specimen at Kew, in England, which is more than eighty years old, having only attained a height of one and a-half feet. The oldest known Baobabs are estimated to be over 5,000 years old.”

Trout.—“We are happy to says (writes the Western Star) that the second attempt to introduce trout into the Waimeamea at Orepuki has proved highly successful. Mr. Pennefather, the Acclimatisation Society’s ranger, arrived at Orepuki on Wednesday morning with 3,000 fry from the ponds at Queenstown, and on being liberated in the stream immediately afterwards it was found that not more than half-a-dozen had succumbed. Mr. Pennefather is to be congratulated on the success of his efforts, attributable to the care and forethought exercised in the treatment of the fry during their transit.”

Killing Heat.—“ There is so much sickness at Narrabri (N.S.W.), in consequence of the extreme heat, that the railway authorities have been asked to grant facilities to enable families to visit Newcastle for a change of air. Deaths from the effects of heat continue to be reported from various parts of Queensland. James Pender dropped dead at Mitchell while driving a team of horses; William Bell died suddenly at St. George from sunstroke ; William Haines, a newlyarrived immigrant by the Linlithgow, died in the Brisbane Hospital from heat apoplexy; Walter Buchanan also died from the same cause.”

Mammoth Locomotive.—“ There is now a mammoth locomotive in process of construction at the Central Pacific Railway workshops at Sacramento (U.S.). The name is “El Gobernador.” The total length of the engine and tender is 65ft. sin.; driving-wheel base, 19ft. 7in.; five pairs of drivers, 4ft. 9in. in diameter, with a four-wheel truck in front; water capacity of tender, 3,600ga1.; cylinders, 21in. in diameter, with a 36in. stroke ; total weight of engine, 73 tons ; weight on drivers, 64 tons ; weight of tender (light), 50,6501 b.; total weight of engine and tender (light), 98 tons 6501 b. There are two six-wheel trucks under the tender, making a total of 26 wheels under engine and tender. The valve gearing, designed by A. J. Stevens, is something entirely new, there being nothing like it in in the country. It is said to be the largest engine in the world. It is for use in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and it is expected will do more work than two of the engines now used, with less comsumption of fuel.”

Great Faith.—Says an Otago paper:— “An old identity of seventy years of age consulted her medical man the other day respecting a pain in her leg, which threatened to settle down into sciatica or some other permanent disease. After receiving a receipt for a liniment to be rubbed upon the injured limb, the old lady informed the doctor of an illness under which a daughter in the country was suffering, and received a prescription for twenty drops of a mixture, to be swallowed thrice daily. Her daughter being on a visit to Dunedin, the proud mother produced both bottles and handed her daughter the bottle of liniment still unopened, hoping that it would do her as much good as her medicine had done. The old lady had been rubbing her daughter’s mixture, intended to be swallowed, upon her rheumatic limb, and believed that it had effected a perfect cure. Truly, in the medical as the religious world, faith works wonders nowadays as of old.” Weighty Troubles. —“A man named Thomas Ruff had an unpleasant experience in the bush at Waikawa last week. He and a man named Ferguson were exploring the bush towards Tautuku Bay. A packhorse they had with them in attempting to scale the bank of a creek fell backward, and in its fall struck Ruff, breaking his leg. It was impossible for Ferguson to get Ruff on to the horse, so he had to lie where he was all Monday night and part of Tuesday, whilst Ferguson sought assistance. To add to his mise'-y his clothing got drenched in the fall. Ferguson procured assistance at M‘Lellan’s homestead, and eight or ten men set out to bring Ruff in. A litter having been con. structed (says the Southland Times) and the injured man placed upon it, the return journey was commenced. The litter was carried shoulder-high by four men, while the others of the party cleared a way with their tomahawks, but, with the utmost exertions that could be used, it took them something like twelve hours to do the distance—about twelve miles. A doctor had to be got from Wyndham, and it was Thursday morning before the leg was set. Then Ruff started for Wyndham, doing part of the journey on a sledge, and from Wyndham he reached his home at Clifton by rail, where he is doing fairly well.”

Going on a Cruise.—An expedition has been organised by four residents of the Thames, having for its object a cruise among the islands, and more especially a tfisit to the Island of New Guinea and its neighborhood. The intending adventurers are Messrs. S. Roe (late captain of the Despatch), G. Clark (optician), W. Gibbons, and a gentleman fiom Te Aroha. The party have made arrangements for the forty-ton ketch Wild Duck, and intend bringing her to the Thames within the next few days, and equipping her for a long passage. A captain and crew will then be engaged, and the vessel will very shortly put to sea. The precise nature of the trade in which it is intended to embark has not transpired, but pearl-fishing and commerce in island produce are among the probable eventualities.— Thames Advertiser.

Lenten Pastoral.—The Auckland Herald of the 25th instant says :—“ The Lenten pastoral of his Lordship Bishop Luck was read in all the Catholic Churches of the diocese yesterday. The pastoral deals with the ordinary fasts and duties of the Lenten season, also at some length with the question of parental or home education, the laxity of which so far as regards the spiritual welfare of the rising generation, the Bishop says, in numerous instances is greatly to bo deplored.”