Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 125, 7 May 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Coastal.—The Rosin a is at present taking in cargo, and will probably leave for the Coast shortly.

County Council.—A special meeting of the County Council will be held on Thursday evening.

Strange if True.—lt is understood that an extraordinary vacancy will occur in the Borough Council on account of Cr. Tucker having neglected to pay his rates, whereby his seat at the board becomes forfeited.

European Mails.—The outward European mails via Suez and Brindisi, dated London, April 4, arrived in King George’s Sound yesterday morning.

The Oriental Bank.—lt has been ascertained that the Oriental Bank Corporation is indebted to the Associated Bank of Australia in the amount of £50,000, of which, however, £21,000 is covered by securities.

Dance.—A dance was given last night at Messrs. Porter and Croft’s Hall, by the bachelors of this town. There were about twenty-one couples present, who seemed to enjoy themselves immensely.

U.S.S. Service.—The Wairarapa, having been detained two days in Sydney, will not arrive in Gisborne till Saturday next. The last boat leaves the wharf at a p.m.

Fire—A fine occused at Waerenga-a-hika this morning at 2 o’clock, by which the building known as the Mission Station, at present in the occupation of Mr. Wyllie, was, together with all the furniture, totally destroyed by fire. It is understood that the building is uninsured.

R.M. Court.—There was only one case at Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. Philip Pi-in, one of the hands of the brig Rio Grande, was charged with being drank in a public place, for which he was fined 10s., or, in default, 21 hours’ imprisonment. ’

Special Rate. The poll of the ratepayers of the County, to ascertain whether they are willing to pay a special annual rate for ten years of l-200th part of a penny in the £, on the value of all rateable property within the County, for the purpose of re-paying to the Government Jth of £l,OOO, granted under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, was taken to-day, with the following result : Makaraka, 54 for, 6 against ; Kaiti, 0 for 0 against ; Ormond, 21 for, 0 against • Patutahi, 10 for and 1 against; Te Arai, 1.3 for and 0 against.

Sale or the liro Gbaxle.—The brig Bio Grande, was sold to-day by public auction and was purchased by Mr. H. E. Johnston, lhe bidding started at ,C2O, and ran up to £llO, at which figure she became the property of the above gentleman. The two anchors and chains, with the coal in her (125 tons more or less), were also offered and fell to the same purchaser, the former for £l3, and the latter for £4O.

Tawhaio.—Referring to Tawhaio’s visit to England the Melbourne Leader says The real reason of the mission is that Tawhaio finds his policy of isolation completely defeated by the" taeties of Mr. Brjce, and wants apparently to secure the intervention of the Imperial Government. The hew Zealand press seems to be afraid that he may be taken up by the Exter Hall party, and that a good deal of confusion will result but we imagine the Colonial Office is not likely to interfere except for very stron« reasons between the New Zealand Parliament, in which Maories sit, and a chief who neaded a formidable rebellion. What lawlnao proposes to ask is not altogether unreasonable. He wants the whole of his present territory to be kept intact by a regulation that no individualchief or common—con alieim to 1 ; >ml There ispo doubt that if unrestricted sale is permitted land jobbers will soon be in possession of titles, more or less legal, to nil the native domain. On the other l lalH l it i 3 scarcely fair that the Maoris, who are declining in numbers, should keep more land than they want or can use, simply to debar whites from coming upon it. It ought not to bo difficult to arrange that there shall be a native reserve, inalienable for twenty or even fifty years, and that the New Zealand Government may acquire the rest of the lands as it wants them bv paying a fail- price for them. Tawhaio’s other request is to be that a Maine Liquor L may b* euforc-.l in Naiivj t rritory. iii ' a- I to be the v.i-li th< ; Natives, It Governor ,d. However, it is sati f--t >ry to ’ am that the old king has donned the blue ribbon for the time of his absence— not, we believe, without cause.

Hospital.—A meeting of the sub-committee was held last night, at the residence of the Treasurer, for the purpose of going into the question of rations, to ascertain as near as possible, the difference between the cost of this and last year. The Committee will report on it on Wednesday next, when the usual monthly meeting will be hold. France.—The French nation is undoubtedly using its best endeavours to be “ at enmity with all mankind.” By to-day’s cables we are informed that the friendly relations between that country and Morocco, which have of late been somewhat strained on several occasions has now sustained a complete rupture, and ministers have been recalled, thus adding another to the already ominous list of her enemies. Isolated and estranged from the whole of Europe, she is now seeking to include the rest of the world as her opponents.