Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 166, 25 June 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

R.M. Court.—This morning Hemi Waka was fined 10s. for a breach of the Dog Registration Act, 10s. for the registration of his dog, and ss. for costs. In default twentyfour hours imprisonment. George Booin was fined £1 and costs 7s. for disorderly conduct whilst drunk. In default, if the amount be not paid in twenty hours, four days imprisonment. Inquest.—An inquest into the case of the fire, which occurred a short time ago in the back premises of Mr. J. East’s store in Gladstone road, was held yesterday afternoon at the Court House. It lasted some considerable time, and a verdict was returned to the effect that the evidence did not disclose the cause or origin of the fire. Temperance Movement.—At a meeting convened in the Wesleyan Church last night for the purpose of considering the advisability of re-organising the Temperance Society connected with the Church, a resolution to the following effect was submitted and carried unanimously:—“ That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is expedient to establish a total abstinence society, to be called “ The Gisborne Wesleyan Total Abstinence Society, and Band of Hope.” The election of officers and members of committee resulted in the following being appointed—President, Bev. G. W. J. Spince, e.v-qfllclo ; conductor, Mr. Edwin Goldsmith; secretary, Mr. Edward Reynolds, junr.; treasurer, Mr. William Searle; registrar, Mr. J. A. Slack; committee, Messrs. W. Scotter, T. Berry, W. Morgan, Mrs. Spence, Mrs. Ling, and Miss Webber. The first public meeting will be held shortly.

Robbery.—On Friday night last at Matawhero a disgraceful robbery was perpetrated, the clothes lines of Messrs. Boyd, Brigham, aud Von Pein being stripped, Several safes of other people were broken into, and the contents made away with. At present there is no clue to the perpetrators of this deliberate theft, though it is not considered to be the work of Maoris. Sickness among the Natives.—We hear from our Coast correspondent that a great deal of sickness prevails just now among the Ngatiporu tribe, and we are inclined to think it is a species of low or typhoid fever that has spread among them. Several chiefs have been taken off suddenly, among them being the Rev. Ranuia Kaxvhia, whose demise we shall refer to at more length in our next issue.

Electoral.—Sir Julius Vogel has definitely decided to stand for Christchurch North, and has declined all other requests. A requisition is being signed at Hawera asking Sir Julius Vogel to contest the Egmont seat with Major Atkinson at the coming election. Sir George Grey has expressed a desire to address the Hawera electors after his visit to Auckland.

Nothing Vesture, &e.—As sweeps on racing events are pretty well over for the season speculators are presented with a new thing in how to get rich for ten shillings—vide an advertisement which has appeared in our columns for some weeks past, headed “ A rare Chance—a House and Laud for Ten Shillings.” If the buyer of a sweep ticket does not get the house and land he may get a cash bonus of from £lOO down to £5, according to his or her luck in the drawing. Of course, on the other hand, he may not. However, everything appears all fair and above board. In consequence of the very rapid disposal of tickets in all parts of the Colony, the drawing will be held earlier than was and is now expected to take place during the ensuing week. Anyone here wishing to take a ticket must do so before the time of closing mail for Wellington this week.

The “Bobby.”—The perpetration of the memory of Sir Robert Feel in sobriquets by which people are universally known does not meet with the approval of Judge Johnston. The Timaru Herald states that one of the common jurors drew upon himself a severe reprimand from Judge Johnston on Tuesday for using slang in the Supreme Court. He was asking to be excused from serving on the jury, and, in doing so, said he “ told the bobby ” he was not the man named in the summons. “ Told the bobby! What do you mean, sir ? asked his honor. “ I told the bobby who gave me the summons,” repeated the juror “I know what you mean,” said his Honor. “ You have no right to use such a word. It is nothing less than contempt of Court to use slang here. “ You told the policeman.”

Dynamite.—The latest advance in colonial industry appears to be the manufacture of dynamite. According to the Age, in the Sydney Legislative Assembly the other night, Mr. Cameron asked the Colonial Secretary if he was aware that a company had been formed in Sydney for the manufacture of gunpowder and dynamite, in the neighbourhood of Narrabeen Lagoon, at Manly, and whether he would be willing to have inquiries made, and if the report was found to be correct, to appoint an official to superintend the distribution of explosives, in order that the Government might be aware of the quantities and destination of the explosives manufactured and delivered from the establishment. Mr. Sturt replied that he had heard nothing of the matter, beyond a general impression as to the existence of such an establishment. He was of opinion that if such a manufactory was found to exist, the whole business ought to be subject to close inspection, and he was sure the House would approve of the proposal to closely supervise the manufacture and sale of such dreadful engines of destruction as dynamite and gunpowder.