Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 123, 5 May 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Borough Council. — The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council will be held at the usual time and place to-morrow evening. Rowing.—A match has been arranged at Sydney, for £5OO and the championship of the world, between Hanlan and Laycock. The race will take place on the Nepean river, and will bo rowed on the 22nd inst. Mails.—Mails for Auckland per Southern Cross will close at seven o’clock this (Monday) evening. Tenders.—Tenders called by Mr. Finneran for the erection of a dwelling house on section 51, block D, North Gisborne, will close tomorrow.

Gold Prospectors. — The Natives have arrested two gold prospectors on the Upper Wanganui, and have forwarded them to Alexandra, where they await Mr. Bryce’s pleasure. Mr. Mitchelson. —The survey party arrived at Waitara last night and report to have discovered coal on line of route. Mr. Mitchelson is expected to reach New Plymouth on Wednesday. Bankruptcy.—A meeting of creditors in the estate of George Beveridge, was held this afternoon at the office of the official assignee in bankruptcy. Trust Commissioner’s Court.—There was no Trust Commissioner’s Court held this morning, on account of Mr. Booth’s absence in Napier. He will probably return by the Southern Cross to-morrow; if not the J.P.’s will officiate in the R.M. Court in his stead. Bank Failure. — The stoppage of the Oriental Bank this morning has caused much alarm in Sydney on account of the Corporation being liable for £45,000 on note circulation. It is also stated that the Victorian Government has £150,000 on deposit in the same.

Thanks.—Mr. Tattley takes the earliest opportunity of returning thanks to those who so energetically and effectually assisted in extinguishing the fire at his residence on Sunday last, as it was solely through their efforts that the main building was saved.

Southern Cross Petroleum Co. — The Southern Cross, which will arrive to-morrow, has on board some pipes for the Southern Cross Petroleum Co. She will not land them here, but will carry them on, and calling in at Tuparoa, discharge them there. U.S.S. Service.—The Rotomahana and Omapere arrived yesterday morning early from South, and left again towards the latter part of the afternoon for Auckland. The Omapere will call in at Tauranga. It was impossible to ship any cattle by them yesterday, as the sea was too rough. Gisborne Institute. —Not much business was transacted at the meeting of the Committe of the Gisborne Institute, on Saturday night last. There were present Messrs. Pollen, Tharatt, Warren, McKay, and Chrisp. After discussion it was resolved that those members who wished to join the drawing, shorthand and law classes, be asked to leave their names with Mr. Warren at the County Council office, by Wednesday the 12th inst. It was also agreed to hold a debate on Wednesday week, the subject of which has not yet been chosen. The meeting then adjourned. County Council.—A special meeting of the County Council will be held on Thursday next, the Bth of May, when the following business will be taken :—Settling the annual balance-sheet, to confirm the bye-laws regulating the tariff on bridges, to consider the proposals of persons willing to construct a railway to Patutahi, to discuss Cr. Stewart’s notice of motion to amend the representation of Tologa Riding, and to consider Cr. Johnson’s motion re the non collection of special rate, 1884.

Our Late Member.—Referring to our late Grey puppet, the Napier Telegraph says:— The Gisborne people are furious at the manner they have been treated by their representative, who has gone off to England without resigning his seat in parliament. It almost serves them right for electing such a man ; he was a useless member of the House, and he always regarded his presence there as a huge joke. The East Coast will just as well bs represented without him.”

The North Township.—A correspondent writes:—“The New Zealand Land Settlement Company sold the North Gisborne sections at good prices on cash terms on January 17th last, guaranteeing a good title under the Land Transfer Act. The solicitors to the Company punctually demanded costs of transfer, etc. It now appears that the fact of the block being mortgaged was concealed and that no title can be granted unless subject thereto. To say that many of the purchasers are uneasy would be putting a “ very fine face on it.” Can you give any reliable information on the matter.—Yours &c., What-a-pucker. [We will explain matters to our correspondent in our next.]

The H. B. Teachers’ Association.—Referring to the first general meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Teachers’ Association, which took place on Saturday last in the district school, the Telegraph says:—The Association promises to be a great success, as already over 30 teachers have paid their yearly subscription, and many more have intimated their intention of doing so. The Association, we understand, is to be at once affiliated with the New Zealand Institute, and thus the Hawke’s Bay teachers will be enabled to make their voice heard at head-quarters. The proceedings were most interesting to members of the profession, and certainly important. The new rules received the assent of the meeting, papers were read and discussed. It is hoped that a branch may be established in Poverty Bay district. Lunacy. —At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, Daniel Courtney was brought up charged, on the information of Constable Pegley, with being a dangerous lunatic. The sergeant stated that the accused was not a confirmed lunatic, but that he was addicted to drinking, and whilst drunk had threatened to take the life of his wife, who was now confined to her bed, and who, therefore, had the prisoner brought up. He asked for a remand of eight days, when the accused might be examined by the medical officers. Remanded accordingly. The lunatic Christina Tardieu left by the Omapere yesterday for the Auckland asylum. Presbyterian Church. — At the Presbyterian Church last evening the Rev. J. McAra delivered a very impressive sermon to a crowded congregation, taking for his text the aspiration of Baalam, “ Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.” After pointing out that these words camo from the lips of a wicked man and in his case led to no good result, and comparing it with the wonderful prophecy of Caiphas the High Priest, mentioned in the New Testament, Mr. McAra dwelt in a very solemn manner upon the fact that death comes to all alike, that “ as the tree falls, so it lies,” and that in some cases the actual departure of a wicked man might be more peaceful than in the case of a righteous one, and then proceeded to demonstrate the great difference with regard to the future state as illustrated in the case of the rich man and Lazarus. The reverend gentleman then affectionately exhorted all his hearers, in order to be prepared to die the death of the righteous that they should now all live the life of the righteous, and in this respect to copy the life of one whom they had, during the past week, so sorrowfully consigned to the silent tomb; one who showed her practical Christianity, not by any great outward profession, but by a quiet, consistent life, being always “ diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,” and thus was fully prepared when death came to_ “ die the death of the righteous.”

The Main Trunk Line.—Referring to this subject the Taranaki Herald says ;—“ All the survey parties under Mr. Holmes, District Engineer, returned last evening to town, having successfully completed the survey of the main north line of railway via Mokau. Mr. Holmes and party have thoroughly explored the entire line from Kihikihi via Mokau, and the grades are all easy. The whole party were stuck up for two days at the Ohura by the Natives, and, although the surveyors outnumbered the natives they quietly submitted to be detained rather than occasion a breach of the peace. No threats were made by the Maories, or personal violence offered, but they refused to let the surveyors pass until Wahanui had been communicated with. This occasioned a loss of two days, as messengers had to be despatched for Wahanui’s in-

structions. The instructions were favourable, and the surveyors were allowed to pass. It is probable that this was all a ruse on the part of the natives so as to extract money or goods from the surveyors. If that was their sole object they must have been greatly disappointed, as they did not obtain presents of any kind.” J Battery.—A meeting of the finance committee of the above corps was held at the orderly room on Saturday evening, for the purpose of considering the best means whereby they could obtain clothing for the corps. It was found that twenty-five new uniforms were required. The cost of these by colonial contract being nearly £lOO, whilst the same could be obtained from home for much less than half. The difficulties were of a two-fold nature, the first being an insufficiency of funds, there being but £2O in hand, and the next, as to how they were to get them without funds. The strongest, in fact, the only argument against sending home _ for the uniforms was the length of time it would take to get them returned, it being computed that they could not reasonably expect them under five months. As the colonial contract required more cash than they had in hand, it was decided to call the members together and ask those who desired new clothing to subscribe £1 per head, in ss. instalments, as a sort of loan which will be returned, where required, out of the next year’s capitation grunt. As this appears the only practical way in which the difficulty of the situation can be overcome, there can be no doubt but that members will cheerfully agree to the proposal. After a few minor details referring to the ball, which will be held on the 23rd,

had been arranged the committee adjourned. The Rotorua Railway.— The Ohinemutu correspondent of the Auckland Herald says : —Since the ignominious retreat of Messss. Bryce and Rolleston in connection with their futile visit here, re the railway, ex-Judge Fenton, at the pressing invitation of the

chief of the Ngatiwhakaue, arrived here about a week ago, and has had several meetings with them, with the result that the chiefs have unanimously agreed to set apart 20,000 or 25,000 acres out of the Thermal Springs block for sale to the Crown, as en dowment for the Waikato railway. It is expected that the Ngatituara and the Ngatirangaweoreahi natives will also be agreeable to sell a portion of their land for similar purposes. This will give a fresh impetus to the railway scheme, which will eventually tend to advance the Lake district. The Native Land Court is now individualising the RotoruaPatetere Block, containing about 65,000 acres.