Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 177, 8 July 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Harbor Board.—The usual fortnightly meeting of the Harbor Board will be held to-night. The Omapere.—The s.s. Omapere arrived here from south this morning. She left again during the afternoon for Tauranga and Auckland. Cook County Building Society.—A ballot for £lOO will take place on Wednesday the 16th inst. Application forms can be obtained at the office, Lowe Street. Jacob Faithful’s Consultation,—The consultation on the Hawke’s Bay opening meeting is now open and intending investors should lose no time in making applications for tickets as the lists will speedily fill. Professor Anderson.—A preliminary announcement of the appearance of this wonderfully clever performer is to be found in another column. The professor will give his first entertainment on Saturday next. Public Library. — The annual general meeting of the subscribers will be held in the reading room on Friday next, when the annual report and balance sheet will be received and a committee elected for the ensuing year.

“ The Postal and Telegraph Guide.”— We beg to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt, through Mr. J. Shrimpton, of the current number (43), of this useful work, which contains the usual amount of interestand valuable information.

. Band of Hope.—A meeting of the above will be held in the Wesleyan Church on Thursday, July 10, at 7.30 p.m., when addresses, songs, etc., will be given be members and their friends. The Rev. G. W. J. Spence will preside. All arc cordially invited.

Unclaimed Letters.—The following is a list of unclaimed letters received at the Postoffice during the month of April: — B. Burgess, Bessie K. Church, Dr. John Currie, Mrs. T. Carroll, Thos. A. Davis, James Hume, James Knox, Wm. Strong. County Council. —We are requested to remind County Councillors of the importance of being present at the meeting of the Council on Thursday next, as, owing to the absence from the district of the Chairman and Councillors Gannon and Milner, only six members remain, of whom five must be present or the meeting will lapse, and part of the business is of great importance.

Increase of Female Criminals. —At Dunedin yesterday, on the opening of the criminal sessions, Judge Williams took occasion to call the attention of the grand jury to the only special feature which the calender presented in the shape of the very large increase in the number of female prisoners. Is not this we ask another marked sign of our development and advancement in civilization ?

Corruption and Bribery.—Mr. Locke has received a note from Mr. Rees stating that he has commenced proceedings against him under the Corrupt Practices (Elections) Act, and that he (Mr. Rees) has felt it his duty to take these steps on the grounds of public morality and justice. Pluto must grin, and the denizens of his kingdom roar, to hear such cant. W’e believe the case will come on for trial this day week, when some startling disclosures are promised ! The Maoris.—The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times writes :—“ It is curious to note how completely the Maories are dropping into our ways and habits, even in their method of managing political affairs. All is done en reyle according to Pakeha custom. Mr. H. K. Taiaroa’s constituents in Banks Peninsula, directly the dissolution has become a certainty, have telegraphed to him as if he were the other Hori Kerei from city East himself, assuring them of their confidence, and begging him to stand again. Mr. Taiaroa, like his fellow members, brings the telegram round to correspondents and Press reporters, so that the matter may be known abroad through the medium of the Press.”

Willmott’s Combination. — There was a well filled house last night to witness the farewell performance of the Willmott Company, in “ Struck Oil.” The leading characters were Mr. J. Wilkinson, John Stofel; and Mr. R. W. Rede, Deacon Skinner. They were excellent and elicited great applause and laughter. Miss Amy John’s as John Stofel’s daughter, took her part admirably, and sang several songs with step dances, in which the audience showed their appreciation by calling loudly for encores. Between the second and third acts, Mr. H Teece recited “ The field of Waterloo,” with great expression and feeling, for which he received much applause and a hearty encore. The company left by the Omapere to-day for Tauranga and Auckland, where we sincerely trust that they will meet with that support they so richly merit.

General Gordon. — General Gordon’s choice of a companion for the expedition to Khartoum is characteristic. When he came before the Cabinet and announced that he was ready to start at once, he was naturally asked whom he would like to have as a companion. Gordon paused for a moment in reflection, and then said, “There is a man whom I have met a few times at the Club; I don’t know his name, but he is a man I would like to take with me. If you will wait a little, I will go and see if he can come.” Thereupon Gordon left his Ministerial audience, drove to the Club, found his man in the smoking-room, explained the case obtained his consent, and was back in Downing Street under the half-hour. The man whom Gordon, with instinctive insight, had chosen, was Colonel Stewart, who probably knows more of the East than any other officer in the British army,