The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, JULY 10. Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 179, 10 July 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, JULY 10. Local and General.

Political Association.—A meeting of the above will be held at the usual time and place to-night. Fire Brigade.—The members of the Fire Brigade rolled up last night, and went in for dry practice. Oil Shares.—A number of forfeited oil shares in the South Pacific Petroleum Company were offered for sale at Messrs. Carlaw Smith A Co.’s mart to-day, and brought from 7d. to IOAd. per share. Hospital.—The usual committee meeting of the hospital was held yesterday afternoon at 4 o’clock, when the various officers’ repoifs were submitted and approved of, and a number of accounts were passed for payment. Condolent.—We are pleased to hear that Mr E. Chrisp is gradually recovering from the severe epileptic attack with which he was so suddenly taken a short time ago. We trust tie long to see him enabled to attend to his new business which he had but just embarked in when shuck down.

Electoral Rolls.—The supplementary electoral roll has been completed and printed at this office, and can now'bc obtained at the usual place. There has been 155 fresh names added since the last election.

Wesleyan Abstinence Society.—The first public meeting in connection with this useful institution will be held at the Wesleyan Church to-night, when songs, recitations, etc., will be delivered by the members. U.S.S. Service.—The Ringarooma will be here to-morrow from Auckland. The Southern Cross may be expected to arrive at this port on or about Sunday next, as she left Wellington at three o’clock this afternoon for Napier. Professor Anderson. —This gentleman, who bears the celebrated name of being the Great Wizard of the North, Cosmopolitan Monarch of Magicians, Scientist, Philosopher, and Traveller, will arrive at this place by the Ringarooma to-morrow from the Thames and Auckland, where he has been performing and exhibiting his wonderful feats of magic to large assemblages. He will open here on Saturday night for the first time, at McFarlane’s Hall, and will remain here for one week only, The Night Watchman, —We have had many instances of the practical usefulness of maintaining our night watchman, and must express regret at hearing that a strong probability exists that this useful and necessary functionary will, through circumstances over which he can exercise no control, shortly be compelled to resort to a more remunerative method of showing his concern for the safety of his fellow citizens’ lives and property than that of patrolling the streets during the whole of the night. It would appear that his income is gradually becoming smaller by degrees and beautifully less, and those voluntary recognitions of his useful services which used to reward his labors have dwindled to such an extent as to render it a matter of extreme difficulty to meet the reasonable demands of the butcher and baker. We confess that the times are hard, but still property must be protected, and the watchman’s protection is all the more needed, seeing that poverty is the main incentive to crime. We hope that our fears are groundless, and that the generous public will not prove unmindful of the necessary and valuable services of the watchman who devotes himself, while all others aie asleep and at rest, to patrolling the streel- during the whole of the night, foul or fair, keep-.ig watch and ward over our lives and property. Gisborne Institute.—The most sanguine expectations of the promoters of this Association are being realised. Last evening despite the fact of several other meetings being in progress, there was quite a good room full. A chess club lias been started, and anyone who desires to study this interesting game will find a capital teacher in connection with the Institute. An animated discussion on the merits and demerits of the poetry of Tennyson was indulged in. There is an impression abroad that the doings of the Institute are dull, but attendance at the meetings will soon dispel this idea. Mr. W. F. Crawford made some useful suggestions, and also promised to give, in about a month, a lecture on scientific photography with experiments. The secretary is prepared to take the names of any who desire to learn freehand, model and geometrical drawing—a competent teacher having offered his services. A numerous phonography class has also been formed, which anyone wishing to join will promote the interest of all parties by doing at once. Next Wednesday the public are invited to a lecture on astronomy. This is a subject to which Mr. W. O’Ryan can do ample justice, and as the lecturer has provided numerous means of making his subject interesting we hope to see a good attendance. Other lectures on the tapis are, “ The Microscope,” “ Queen Maj',” “ Photography,” and others, not the least interesting, being one on Maori JKaiatas by a gentleman well versed in Native literature and customs. Wednesday week Mr. East gives a paper on Physiognomy, with illustrations, to be followed by a debrie “ Is national insurance a fad?”—Mr. Warren taking the negative side. A list of lectures open to the public may be seen in the Library reading room.