Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 145, 31 May 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Football.—No footballers rolled up to-day, as the weather was too wet, consequently there was no match. J Batteby.—The third competition by the members of the J Battery for the Champion Belt, is being fired at the lange this aftir noon. Wesleyan Services.—The Bev. G. W. J. Spence will preach at the schoolhouse, Ormond, to-morrow afternoon at 3 o’clock. Auditors.—The election of two auditors for the Borough Council will take place on Monday the 2nd instant. There are six persons offering themselves for election. Auction.—At the auction sales to-day of Messrs Carlaw Smith and Co., and Graham, Pitt and Bennett, sundry goods were offered, and realised next to nothing. B.M. Court.—At the Besident Magistrate’s Court this morning the man, Bedwin, was again brought up on three charges of assault, before Captain Tucker, J.P. Some evidence was taken, after the hearing of which, his Worship dismissed one of the charges, and fined the accused £1 each and costs, for the other two. Fishing Co.—Replying to a correspondent re the Fishing Company, which was started a short time back, we might state that the whole concern has fallen through, and the Company become defunct. The scheme proposed was found to be feasible, but the funds necessary to carry it out could not be obtained, hence the above result.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church : — To-morrow evening Mr. McAra wiU deliver another of his monthly scries of sermons on the “ Young men of the Bible,” his subject being “ Samson, or the young man’s weakness.”

Mr. Jobson.—Mr. Jobson, for the last eighteen months manager of the Gisborne branch of the Bank of New South Wales, has been promoted to a Sydney Branch, where he is now stationed. During his stay he was very successful as a manager and generally esteemed for his straightforward dealings. He was, in fact, a great favorite with all who knew him. Cricket.—The Australian cricketers seem to be loosing the good name they once had for being the best players at that game in the world. Our cablegrams show that lately the Home teams have been giving them some very ignominous defeats. To-day, cablegrams appear stating that the Australians have commenced a match against the Gentleman Players of England, and to all present appearances it seems as if they would again suffer defeat.

U.S.S. Service.—The Te Anau after a very rough passage from Auckland, anchored in the Bay yesterday afternoon about 4.30. It was found impossible for the Snark or the Noko to tender her, on account of the high sea which was running, caused by the late southerly gale. The captain agreed to lay to till the morning, when the Snark and the Noko proceeded out, and brought the passengers and cargo safely ashore. She took her departure for Napier at twelve o’clock. The Southern Cross got here early this morning from Napier and Wellington, and left again later on for the North. The Manapouri is expected to-morrow from the South. The last boat, for passengers, will leave the wharf at 9 a.m.

Land Sale.—The following land will be offered for sale at the Land Office Gisborne, on Monday next, at 11 o’clock: —Cook County, Waimata Stt.’vey District.—Block VlHa.—Section 25, 513 acres; section 26, 523 acres; section 27, 658 acres; section 28, 596 acres; section 29, 508 acres; section 31, 593 acres. Whangara Survey District.— Block V.—Section 30, 533 acres ; section 32; 551 acres ; section 33, 429 acres. price £1 an acre. Patutahi Survey District.— Section 92, 300 a. 2r. Upset price £1 an acre. For sale on deferred payments: — Waimata Survey District. — Block IV. — Section 13, 315 acres. Upset price, £1 an acre.

Cook County Council.—We would draw the attention of our readers to the Cook County Council notices appearing in another column, to the effect that the Council intend to take certain portions of land for the purpose of making a public road. Full particulars as to the quantity of land required and its whereabouts can be had on reference to the advertisement. It is also notified that they intend to close a portion of the Gisborne Tologa Bay road passing through the Pouawa Block, and to provide in lieu thereof a new road through the same block, and to exchange with the owners of the land required to be taken those lands which constitute the present road line. Tenders are called for the working of the Pakirikiri Ferry for the space of twelve months.

Roebuck Drain. —We would draw the Borough Council’s attention to the following. A gentleman whilst returning home late last night, fell into the large drain in Roebuck Road, striking his face against the ground and causing his nose to bleed considerably. There is no wonder at this and we are surprised that the people living in the locality of that drain have not met with more severe accidents than have been reported. We advise the Council to take some steps to have it filled in as soon as possible, or they will ere long find themselves mulcted in damages to the tune of a few hundreds. They cannot say they have not the funds to do it with, because they have, if not they must waste what little they do command on other works, which are not so urgently required as this. We will give an instance. They have lately been to the expense of having a footpath formed and gravelled in a portion of the road we speak about. Now that work could very well have stood over until some future time, when their funds would enable them to carry it out, for the traffic there is nothing to be compared with that of the other portion of the road in the vicinity of this drain. Last winter Councillor Hepburn brought the matter up for discussion at one of-the Council’s meetings, pointing out what tfte inevitable result would be if the drain waf left in its present condition, but his colleagues did not look at it in the same light as he did, and, therefore, nothing was done in the matter.

The Coalition Ministry.—The N. Z. Herald's Wellington correspondent says :— In regard to the suggestion of a coalition between the Grey and Atkinson parties, there is a feeling here that in many respects the policies of these two sections of the House approach more nearly to each other than do those of the Grey and Montgomery contingents. The greatest obstacle in the way of such a union seems, in the minds of those with whom I have talked on the subject, to be Sir George himself. It is difficult to imagine his taking any subordinate part in any Ministry, and doubts are also expressed regarding the possibility of his working in harmony for any length of time with colleagues not prepared to go the length of his own views. I express no opinion myself on the subject, beyond saying that here, as in Auckland, I fancy people would rather welcome any plan which would insure a relief from mere useless party bickerings, and the possibility of devoting steady attention to the financial improvement of the colony, and the carrying out of needed social reforms. Mr. Bryce and Wahanui.—The Wellington correspondent of the N. Z. Herald, speaking of Wahanui, says:—“ Mr. Bryce has received a letter from Wahanui, the great Ngatimaniapoto chief, stating that it is his intention to visit Wellington in a few days, it being his desire to make a stay in the city while Parliament is in session. Wahanui, as pretty generally known, is the “power behind the throne” in the King Country, Tawhiao being merely a puppet in his hands. His proposals seem to have been viewed with various feelings among the natives themselves, some of the more conservative, to whom the old exclusive spirit strongly clings, being jealous of such a decided advance on the part of their most influential leader. From the European point of view, Wahanui’s determination cannot but be regarded as highly satisfactory as a further evidence of breakdown of the old policy of isolation which distinguished the King natives, and there is reason to hope that the visit may be attended with beneficial results. The Native Minister has written cordially approving the idea, and it is understood that Wahanui will be the guest of the Government during his stay.

Female Labor.—Mrs. Capt. Miller’s recent success in obtaining the command of a river steamer appears to have fired the ambition of another strong-minded woman, who has applied for the post of conductor of a tramway car. What (says a contemporary) is to be the end of this invasion of men’s employments by women? This question is not easily answered, but we much fear that this female invasion bodes no good to the sex generally. Already loud complaints are heard throughout the country that the women are starving the men. A correspondent of a Western contemporary writes a most pathetic letter complaining of the conduct of a female doctor who has taken away all his patients and left him and his family on the brink of starvation. We are no great advocates of strikes, but we think if ever the men were justified in striking work in a body until women return to their places in our social economy it would be at the present critical moment.

Politics in Church.—A very unusual demonstration took place in St. Paul’s Church last Sunday evening, during the delivery of the sermon. The Rev. Mr. Penty in one part of his discourse dwelt on the present political situation, saying that the electors would soon bp called upon to exercise their voting powers and advising them to vote straight. This allusion “ fetched ” some of the occupants of the back sittings who thereupon testified their approbation, by a very audible stamping of feet; while some of those who occupied sittings nearer the front, have since told us that they felt at the moment inclined to say “ hear, hear.” We hope those persons in the back sittings will in future remember where they are, and repress their feelings, or the churchwardens will have to take strong measures to keep them in order.— Wairoa Guardian.

Value of a brand. —The Press has been informed that a firm of storekeepers in North Canterbury sent Home, fourteen months ago, a consignment of butter, including about 200 kegs, which, on the account sales coming to hand, showed it had been sold at Gd per lb., and deducting carriage and expenses, stood at 3d per lb net, In one of the kegs, the butterman, whilst packing it, inserted a glass bottle containing some account of where the butter was made, and requesting whoever received the keg to state in what condition the butter was received and its market value. This particular keg reached someone in the Isle of Wight, who has written out to say the market value of the keg was 14d, owing to the brand being unknown in the maket, but that had it oeen any well-known brand the quality was such as to be worth 17d.

Hanlan. — Hanlan (says a recent cable message) wants to make a match with Beach for £l,OOO a side, but Beach declines to go beyond £5OO. This is a custom the champion oarsman seems to invariably follow. When arrangements were pending for a match between the Canadian and Laycock in England, the champion wanted something very much like his present request, and many people jumped at the conclusion that he was afraid. No doubt a similar idea will prevail in Australia now, seeing that Beach is undoubtedly the best man the colonies can pit against Hanlan. The real cause of the demand is, perhaps, easily explained. A gentleman who passed through Wellington a few days ago informs a contemporary that the champion remarked to him while in Australia that “ he should want a new pair of arms if he stayed in the colony long, for he had got into a sort of hornet’s nest there.” No doubt there is a great deal in this. Several men were to be matched against him, and nothing was more likely than that he should, by some misfortune, lose the championship. Hence his demand for big prices. Sir J. Vogel.—Lafcowr in a leading article of a recent issue strongly condemns Sir Julius Vogel re-entering politics. It says: — “What does Sir Julius Vogel want? The question is a natural one, and it is by no means answered by anything which that very shrewd gentleman has said as yet. Of course he says he had no wish to enter New Zealand politics again. Of course the desires of the Poverty Bay electors took him entirely unawares, and excited a mingled sensation of surprise and gratification in his sensitive breast. Of course in acceding to their wishes he was actuated solely by a desire to throw in a few suggestions which may be of service to the people of New Zealand at this time. Equally of course it is that he has not an idea of forming a party, and that nothing would again induce him to take office in New Zealand. All this Sir Julius has taken occasion to mention, and if he had not mentioned it we might have known that if asked his reasons for contesting a seat these are exactly the things he was sure to say. We knew Sir Julius Vogel of old, and we know him too well to doubt one thing—which is, that in any action he may take he has a reason for it, and that reason is a totally selfish one. That he is an able man it would be foolish to deny. His whole career has demonstrated the fact. That his ability is devoted to self-advancement, and to that alone, a glance at his past political history will convince the most sceptical.”