Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 92, 25 March 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Harbor Board.—The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Harbor Board will be held to-night. The Coast Road.—Our Toioga correspondent informed us in his last that great complaints are heard as to the state of the Coast road, and that the County Council is referred to in anything but complimentary terms for not having given some attention to the same during the fine weather. This complaint again points to the necessity which exists for telephonic communication between the two places, as it would then reduce the traffic to a minimum. R.M. Court.—At the R.M. Court on Saturday (before J. Booth Esq., R.M.): —J. B Hurrey v. G. Hill, claim £22 13s. 10.J.' speedy summons (Mr. Brassey for plaintiff)’ Judgment was given for the amount with costs, £2 6s.—J. Heron was charged by the police with inflicting grievous bodily harm on Solomon Black, at Te Arai, by striking him with a manuka stick. Sergeant Bullen said the prisoner was only arrested on Friday afternoon. From the blows received Mr. Black had been in the hospital for some time, and likely to be there much longer. He would ask for a remand of eight days. Remanded accordingly, bail being allowed'in £5O, with two sureties in £25 each. On Monday, Winarapa, a Native, was fined Is. and 7s. costs, for riding his horse on the footpath. Signs of the Thies.—Our Napier friends are rumoured to be on the move in view of the forthcoming contest, and we hear that a numerously signed requisition is about to be presented to Mr. Ormond asking him to come forward as a candidate for their sufforage and promising him their united support. Mr. Sheehan is also skirmishing, and having taken up his residence there is doing his best to render himself popular. As an instance of the good nature and affability which is born of the near approach of the eventful epoch we may mention the following: As the latter gentleman was walking Hasting Street the other evening he was attracted by a crowd of persons who were listening to the enlivening strains which proceeded from an itenerent fiddler, while some were jigging away to the well-timed measure. Quickly taking in the situation, ho immediately joined the group and after going through a pas de deux paid the piper by putting a £ note into the fiddlers hat. On leaving, all confessed that he was a splendid fellow and should have their votes. No notice whatever seems to be taken of Mr. Buchanan.

Plate Glass Insurance Company.—A Dunedin correspondent writes : “ A general meeting of shareholders in the New Zealand Plate Glass Insurance Company was hold at the company’s offices on Friday afternoon. There were about 30 shareholders present, and it was stated that the number of shares in the company were applied for twice over, and that the allotment of shares had been received and was highly satisfactory. A directorate was elected.

“ Oh, What Precious Nonsense !”—We have received a lengthy communication from “ Citizen,’’ referring to “ rhe scurrility of a contemporary,” which we hold over for further consideration; also one from “ Fair Play,” who we advise to forward the same to the offenders, on the principle that “ two wrongs do not make a right.”

Hospital Sports. — “ Makaraka, 24th March, 1884. Sir,—l am not in the habit of answering anonymous letters, as the writers of such are beneath my notice, and shows that the writer is a coward and a sneak and afraid to sign his name to his lying and villainous unfounded letter. Unfortunately, there are many of his or their stamp in Gisborne, only too fond of shooting at people in the dark. Let your ‘ Nemo ’ come forward in his true colors, or else let him be branded as above stated.—l am, Ac., D. Murchie.”

Boat Race.—The first heat of the “ trial fours ” between the members of the Gisborne Rowing Club will take place between halfpast four and five o’clock this afternoon. The following are the respective crews :—No. 1: Ratcliffe (stroke), Allom (3), Chrisp (2), Webb (bow). No. 2: Barnes (stroke), Gibbons (3), Grossman (2), Vennell (bow). The first crew has been hard at it for the past month, but scarcely show that amount of perfection which their constant practice would reasonably lead us to expect, their stroke being catchey, and devoid of swing and power, and their strength all on the port side. This defect necessitates the helm being kept hard up, a circumstance which naturally affects the way of the boat. Although the second crew has not had much practice they make a more tolerable show, and work well together. Taking all things into consideration the last race of the season bids fair to be quite equal to its predecessors. The final heat will be rowed off to-morrow, when the -winners will be pitted against Pavitt’s crew, who are at present strong favorites.

Accident.—A rather laughable accident occurred on Saturday in Grey Street. One of the milk carts was passing down the street, the horse quietly jogging along, whilst the man in charge was busily employed running from house to house, attending to the wants of his customers. Suddenly the attention of the horse was attracted by an emerald patch of sweet and succulent grass, and he immediately diverged from his beaten track, and made for the luscious morsel. Unfortunately the coveted repast was on the banks of a formidable cutting, which does duty for a drain, and the quadrnped, like many of his biped immitators, failed, in his anxiety to attain his wishes, to realise the danger of the attempt. The consequence was that horse and cart were soon reposing on their side in the ditch. But here the latent philosophy of the animal shone forth, and, apparently determined to make the best of his situation, he quietly stretched his neck out, and reaching a portion of the luxurious sward which adorned the edge of his prison, made the most of his time by clearing all within his reach, perfectly oblivious of the fact that his master had issued from the house he had been engaged at, and was looking up and down the street for his missing charge. On the man’s attention being called to the position of affairs he loosened a few straps, and, with a little forcible persuasion, induced the gourmand to rise from his recumbent position and regain the higher level, where he again devoted his energies to the grass while the cart and cans were rescued. No damage resulted. “ Twa Hours at Hame.” —ln another column appears the programme for the first “ twa hours at hame” entertainment, in which our old friends the Kennedy family will delight the ears and warm the hearts of all lovers of song by their faithful rendering of those beautifully pathetic Scotch melodies which are now too seldom heard. As showing the manner in which Mr. Kennedy’s efforts have been appreciated in the past, we subjoin the following:—“ Well may he term his entertainment ‘ Twa Hours at Hame,’ while you listen to him you feel as if a gentleman were entertaining his guests, there is no audience, there is no performer, you are in the midst of a social gathering, you are recalling the past, you are living pleasant memories over again, and when you take your departure you feel as if the performance had been all too short, and go home cheered and with the firm resolve that you will be present on the next evening.” Mr. Kennedy is ably assisted by four members of his family, three girls and one son—the latter a magnificent tenor, whose ability will be displayed to-night in his rendering of “ The death of Nelson.”

South Pacific Petroleum Company.—lt is reported, on good authority, that the Directors of the South Pacific Petroleum Company have signified their approval of the proposition to remove the Company to New Zealand. As very much of the delay at the works, and consequent waste of money, is attributable to the long distance between the head office and the works, it is only reasonable to presume, that with the Board of Directors in New Zealand, we shall see the work carried on with more energy, and contingencies, and difficulties, dealt with more promptly than has hitherto been possible. The head office will no doubt be in Christchurch, as the shareholders in that place have been the principal advocates for the coming change. Educational Board.—At the Educational Board meeting held at Napier last Wednesday the following communications from Gisborne were read: —Lettex* calling attention to the need of a concrete water tank for the school, the cost estimated at £6O. The consideration of this matter was deferred. With respect to the ferry dispute, the Committee were ordered to deal with the matter. The application from Patntahi for the erection of a school and teacher’s residence was met with the reply that “ no funds were at present available.”

Coastal Pilots.—The Napier Harbor Board’s circular re coastal pilots, seems to have met with little favor from the Harbor Boards throughout the colony. Auckland declines to take any action in the matter; Otago thinks the coast a safe one, and therefore coastal pilots were not needed; Timaru did not consider the question affected them ; Waimakariri can see no necessity for action ; whilst our own and the New Plymouth Boards simply acknowledge the receipt of the communication.

Tuta Nihoniho v. Ward.—(Supreme Court Sittings in Banco before Judge Richmond, Wellington). This was a motion fox* a new trial of a case held at the last circuit sittings at Gisborne, by Prendergast, C.J., without a jury, on the ground that the finding was against the weight of evidence. Bell for the plaintiff : A preliminary question will be raised that the application for new trial should not be to the Supreme Court, but to the Court of Appeal. This objection is based on Castler v. Henderson, 2 Q.8.D., but that is based on Order 39, Rule 1, of the English Judicature Code, which especially provides that the application shall be by way of appeal ; Griffiths’ Judicature Act, 2nd edition, p. 386. Buckley, contra : Alloway v. Bennett, 6 Jurist, N. S. 347 ; Wilson’s Judicature Act, p.p. 15, 16, 351. Bell : Solomon v. Bittie, 7 QB. Div. 176. His Honor postponed deciding the point until he had consulted the other Judges.

Drug Company.—The annual meeting of shareholders in Kempthorne, Prosser and Co.’s New Zealand Drug Company was held at Dunedin last week, and the directors’ report recommending the payment of a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, was agreed to.

J Battery.—The Battery will parade for inspection on Thursday night. The Railway Tarriff. — Telegrams from Christchurch state that the agitation against the new railway tariff is still increasing. Calls.—A further call of 6d., payable on the 9th April, on South Pacific shares, is notified. This makes 4s. 9d. paid-up.

Odd Fellows.—The quarterly meeting of the Loyal Gisborne Lodge will be hold in the Good Templar’s Hall on Wednesday next.

County Tenders.—Tenders are called for by the. County Council for the supply of 1000 and 500 cubic yards of gravel, and for clearing outlet drain from Bigg’s Corner to culvert on main road. Tenders must be in by noon on the 29th inst. Sale of Furniture. — Messrs. Carlaw Smith and Co. will offer at public auction on Saturday next, under bill of sale, a quantity of household furniture and effects.

Dairy Factory. — Mr. Bowron, Dairy Factoiy Inspector, will be asked toaddress the meeting of Provisional Directors to bs held at Makaraka on Friday next.

An Exceptional Circumstance.— The following makes it appear as though there had been great deficiency of management somewhereA meeting of creditors of Messrs. J. and J. Watson, of the Grand Hotel, Dunedin, was held on Friday afternoon, at which there was a large attendance. The report of the Committee appointed to investigate the affairs connected with the estate was considered highly satisfactory by the creditors, and it was resolved that the property be vested in three trustees, to be carried on for the benefit of the creditors. The Messrs. Watson are to act as managers of the business. It was resolved that debentures bearing eight per cent, interest be issued for the purpose of carrying on the affair, the debentures to be paid off as the funds come in. It was stated that after* a very careful examination of the books it was discovered that the profits of the business amounted to £3OO per month, and there should, therefore, be no doubt of its being very shortly put on a satisfactory footing and paying 20s. in the £.