Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 195, 29 July 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

The Derby Dead Heat.—lt is fifty-six years since a dead heat for the English Derby took place.

The Southern Cross.—The Southern Cross left Wellington to-day at two o’clock, and her arrival here may be looked for about Friday.

New Zealand Cheese.—Some of the cheese ex Doric has turned out perfectly splendid, realising 70s. per cwt., or as much as prime Cheshire.

A Change.—ln the Wairarapa district the young men are said to be deserting the pubs, and billiard-rooms, and going in for spiritualistic, in preference to spirituous, indulgence.

Auction.—We beg to draw attention to Carlaw Smith & Co.’s sale to-morrow, of Mr. Hearfield’s furniture &c., at his dwelling in Roebuck Read. Mr. Hearfield we hear is leaving the district. The Thomas Russell.—The s.s. Thomas Russell took her departure for Auckland by this mornings tide, with a full cargo of sheep, 150 of which were shipped by Mr. P. Bond, and 600 by Mr. A. C. Arthur.

Rough.—Thanks to the Licensing Committeemen says the lessee of a country Hotel, “I am minus LGOO.” His prayer now is, “ Inasmuch as ye have ruined me, may public opinion speak out against such a gross injustice.”

The Frozen Meat Trade.—The present high price of mutton now ruling, has had the effect of causing the Gear and Wellington Meat Freezing Company to suspend operations for the present, and no further business will be undertaken for the next month or two.

The Cholera.—The cholera epidemic is making serious headway on the Continent, and the greatest consternation prevails in France, where every possible precaution appears to have been taken to prevent the progress of the terrible disease. Not all Alone. — “Gracious, Henry!” exclaimed an Austin lady to her husband, “ You didn’t drink all that bottle of claret alone, did you ? ” “O, no, I didn’t drink it alone. I had just taken two toddies and a rum .punch before I tackled the claret. I thought the claret itself might be a little lonesome, and so I took them to keep it company.” The “ Unborn Increment.”—The Marlborough Express gives the following as having been heard on the Railway :—“ Yer see, ’Arry, I don’t believe in these triangular Parliaments with the members a votin’ themselves so many harmoniums on the manhood sufferings ticket.” “ Nor more does I, Bill, I b’lieve in the regeneration of the unborn increment, as Sir George Grey says.” The Pritchard Family.—The Pritchard Family will give their opening performance in McFarlane’s Hall this evening. From the high eulogiums which have been universally bestowed upon them by the Press of the colony, there can be little doubt but what they will be duly appreciated by the Gisborne public, The entertainment is of such a varied and pleasing character that it cannot fail to suit all tastes. The entertainment will conclude with one of Miss Kate Pritchard’s favorite songs, entitled “England, Ireland, and Scotland.”

Savings Bank.—The Savings Bank returns for the quarter ended June 30th last show an excess of deposits over withdrawals to tho amount of £16,784 3s. 2d., which show a more satisfactory state of affairs than was the case during the corresponding period last year, when the excess of withdrawals over deposits amounted to £20,332 Bs. lid. The total amount deposited during the period this year was £308,858 Gs. 2d., and the amount withdrawn £293,074 3s. In the previous year the amount deposited was £309,G60 17s. lid., and the amount withdrawn £329,893 3s. lOd. A Windfall.—We are informed that a well-known gentleman, who drew Chippenham in Ada Mantua’s last sweep on the Grand National Steeplechase, Melbourne, and who is resident at Tologa Bay, becomes the happy possessor of £lOOO by the victory of that horse. Many of the sporting people of this place appear to be very lucky in their speculations in Ada Mantua’s sweeps, and this is not the first time some windfall that has fallen to those amongst us by drawing good horses. Since the 24th of May last, about forty-nine tickets have been disposed of by our old friend, Scottie, and out of which £1,G12 12s. 9d. has come to different people in this district. Judging from this we we think we can safely recomend others to invest a few shillings, and try their luck.

R.M. Court.—This morning a native, commonly known as Rua, was fined £l, or in default, forty-eight hours imprisonment for being drunk in a public place. The accused having no money, was locked up for the forty-eight hours. The following was the civil business S. M. Wilson v. Wi Peri. Mr. Whitcombe, for the defendant, applied for an adjournment. Mr. Finn (for Mr. Nolan) for the defendant, opposed the application as the plaintiff already had been put to considerable expense through previous adjournments in the case. His Worship adjourned the case until Friday. M. DeCosta v. Geo. Cantie. Claim £lB 15s. on a judgment summons. His Worship refused to make an order, owing to the defendant’s inability to pay the amount. Parnell and Boylan v. W. L. Rees. Mr. Whitcome said the case had been settled out of Court. As there was no appearance of the plaintiffs, his Worship took it for granted that such was the case. J. Warren v. W. L. Rees. Adjourned until the 13th of August. A. G. Groll r. C. Robinson. Claim 18s. No appearance of the defandant. Judgment for the amount, with costs, 1 Is.

Not Sufficient.—A printer and publisher of a society paper, in the absence of the editress, inserted an article which offended the Parisian authorities, under the impression that the rank of their employer was sufficient guarantee for its fitness. They were sentenced respectively to IOOf and 50f fine, and reminded by the judge that rank and fine surroundings were not infallible guarantees of decency. The Debtor’s Aot.—lt has too often been the custom in our R.M. Court, in the case of an application for an order upon a judgment summons, to ask and to receive, and Mr. H. J. Finn deserves the thanks of all for tho manner in which he resisted an application of this sort this morning in the R.M. Court. The Act was framed for the purpose of, as far as possible, doing away with imprisonment for debt, and before an order can bo made it must be proved to the satisfaction of thq Court that the debtor has means, or is in a position whereby he can obtain means to satisfy his creditor. We are afraid that this is not always strictly carried out.

Remarkable Telegrams.—We often have to puzzle over some of the fearful and wonderful composition forwarded through the Press Agency, but the following shows that we are not the only sufferers. Recently an announcement appeared in the London Times to the effect that Lady Kennedy, the wife of the Governor of Qeeensland, had given birth to twins, the eldest of whom was a son. As the Governor was known to be a bachelor, it was intimated at Printing House Square that there must be some mistake, and further inquiry elicited the fact that Reuter’s agent had meant to say that a new railway tfaaijj'i be opened, and that Sir Arthur Kennedy “ turns first sod; ” which last three words were ingeniously misprinted “ twins first son! ”

South Pacific Oil Wells.—The following circular has been issued to shareholders in this company, which we reproduce for the benefit of our readers “22 Clarence Street, Sydney, 12th July, 1884.—T0 the shareholders of the South Pacific Petroleum Company, no liability. Gentlemen, —Your directors becoming dissatisfied with the slow progress that was being made in boring operations on the Company’s property at Gisborne, New Zealand, and the enormous expense incurred up to the present time through the peculiar nature of the strata (after reaching a depth of 200 feet the earth closing in on the drive pipe, and compelling the abandonment of the well in every case), before making another start considered it advisable to change the site of operations to one favourably commented upon a few years ago by Dr. Hector, Government Geologist in New Zealand, the indications there being quite as good, and it being 200 feet below the level of previous operations. Your Board also determined to put a stop to all day labor, and find someone who would be willing to contract for the work. In this they are glad to be able to state they have been successful, and a contract has been entered into with a practical oilwell borer, who has had fifteen years’ experience in America, to put down a bore of 1,000 feet. The contractor having seen the site where operations are to ba commenced, immediately expressed himself satisfied that oil should be struck before the depth of 1,000 feet is reached, and has no doubt whatever about getting down the required depth within five months. Your Board have therefore to requeet that calls made to continue the work should be met promptly, to prevent any delay in attaining the end desired.—Yours faithfully, Wm. Fleming, Chairman.”