Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 162, 20 June 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

To Correspondents. — “Walter Henry Clayton,” unavoidably held over.

Bankruptcy.—His Honor Judge Gillies will sit in bankruptcy at ten o’clock tomorrow.

East Coast Election.—The official declaration of the poll will be made at 4.30 p.m, to-morrow, Saturday, in place of 2 p.m., as notified in last night’s paper.

Druids.—A meeting of the above order was held last night in the Lodge room, Good Templars hall, when seven more members were initiated into its mysteries.

R.M. Business.—At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning before J. Booth, Esq., R.M., only one case came on for hearing. J. Warren v. Te Kuni, which however was withdrawn in court.

Next Election.— Dame rumour has it about town to-day that next election contest will be between Mr. Locke and Mr. Gannon. She 'also has it that if so it will be a close and purely party one.

Notice to Jurymen. — Mr. G. L. Greenwood, Registrar of the Supreme Court, gives notice that jurors summoned for Monday next need not be in attendance.

The Pinnacle Rock Buoy.—There has been a terrific sea on in the harbor during the day, the heaviest experienced for some months past. During the morning the buoy which marks the Pinnacle Rock was washed adrift from its moorings. Notice of this has been telegraphed to the several ports of the colony. Nothing can be done to place the buoy in position until the sea becomes calmer.

The Gale.—The heavy fresh in the river, which has prevailed during the last fortyeight hours, has not carried off any of the silt. Indeed, it is believed that large quantities of debris have been added to that previously existing. At Makaraka, Matawhero, and at Roseland the low-lying lands have been submerged, but no great amount of damage has been done. It is too early yet for reports to come in from the country, giving particulars of the consequences of the heavy rain storms. It is feared, however, that many sheep will have been lost.

Just So.—The Civil Service Bill proposes to divide the Service into five grades and that promotion shall take place as the result of competitive examination. For instance, if a vacancy occur in a particular grade, the senior officer in the grade below will be eligible for examination to fill the vacancy. To this we may add that many of the greatest noodles in the Civil Service have come well out in competitive examinations but are not worth their salt for the work they are called upon to perform.

Dramatc.—The talented Wilmott Company will give a performance at Macfarlane’s Hall to-morrow evening, unless by some cause the sittings of the Supreme Court have not terminated. This, however, is not likely to be the case, as his Honor, Judge Gillies, is anxious to leave Gisborne by the next outgoing steamer. An excellent programme has been issued, and should the weather prove auspicious we have no doubt there will be a large attendance.

Government Morality.—lt is thought very probable that Wahanui will be called to the Legislative Council. During his visit to Wellington he and one of his wives and several followers will be maintained at the charge of the Colony. In this paragraph our readers will observe with pleasure that the Government does not encourage a plurality of wives so far as allowing the superfluous ones to be maintained at the charge of the colony. Wahanui is allowed to have one wife on the cheap; also “ several followers but the sable chief has, we presume to keep all his other wives at his own expense.

A Question Asked.—A Plymouth journal of some influence—the Western Figaro winds up an article devoted to chanting the praises of New Zealand frozen mutton as follows:— “In the Karikari Valley, about five miles from Dunedin, where the company unfleeee their flocks and refigerate the delectable and very nourishing flesh, the frozen meat costs 2|a. a lb.; in Lnndon the average price appears to be 7d. Odd! What becomes of the odd pence ? The Company fleece the flocks, but who fleeces the English consumers of frigid mutton ?

Register, Register.—ln view of an early dissolution of Parliament we must again urge all who have not registered their names on the electoral roll to lose no time in doing so. When an application to be registered is made, the registrar is allowed by law fifteen days in which to satisfy himself that the claim is right. As no claim can be registered after a writ for an election has been issued, it follows that there can be no guarantee that registration will be made if the claim is not put in before fifteen days of the issue of the writ. Forms may be obtained from Mr. Greenwood, registrar, at the Government buildings at any time during office hours. The Ministry.—There was a warm debate in the House last night in the matter of Ministers having asked for and having obtained a dissolution, An adverse amendment to Ministers was lost by the casting vote of the speaker. The debate was on very easily understood grounds. Those who wanted portfolios—the Grey party—were against the dissolution. Those who had no hope of being asked to take office were for it. The finincial statement will, it is understood, be made to-night and placed on the wires immediately after. The House will probably not be dismissed until the end of next week: or possibly later. Still Missing.—Nothing has been heard of poor Downes. The constable sent after him has not returned. All is in miserable doubt. The constable has not, it is certain, been able to cross the swollen rivers, and Downes, if not lost in the seething waters, must be in great straits for food and shelter. Until the rains cease and the weather settles down nothing definite is likely to be ascertained. [Since the above was written Seargeant Bullen has placed us in possession of the following information :—“ Constable Tronson hae just returned from Mr. Johnson’s station. There is no trace whatever to be found of the unfortunate man. Before the Constable arrived at Mr. Johnson’s, Mr. Downes was tracked into the last crossing of the river; but no traces were found of his going out of it. It is therefore concluded that poor Downe’s has met with a watery grave.]