Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 262, 16 October 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Court.—There was no business at the Court to-day. Bread.—Bread is selling in Blenheim at Id the 41b. loaf.

Baby Show.—lt is contemplated holding a baby show at Wanganui.

Coals.—Mr. 11. E. Johnston advertises thirty tons of Waikato coal for sale at 30s. per ton, delivered at the steamer’s side.

The Polka.—This favorite dance was invented forty years ago, and the inventor, Franz Hilman, has just died. Dairy Produce.—London uses 1,250,000 quarts of milk and £15,000 worth of butter daily.

Tit Bits.—This is the name of the paper which is said to have the largest circulation in the world. Kauri.—Mr. D. Woods, of Dunedin, has manufactured a table top 12ft long x sft Gin broad, out of a single kauri board. Gold Duty.—The Bill to abolish the gold duty was last night thrown out by a majority of one vote. Only 27 votes were recorded.

Constable McGuire,—The Government have refused to consider the cause of Constable McGuire's dismissal.

Mac,—Mr. Allan McDonald, late M.H.R. for East Coast, is expected back in the colony by Christmas. O. E. Hugo.—Professor Hugo will arrive from Napier on Sunday, and open next week in Gisborne. The Professor’s line is physiognomical lectures.

Motu Block.—The Government intend after Parliament prorogues to go into the question of forming settlements under the Homestead Act, on the Motu Block.

N. Z. Factory.—The local branch of the renowned New Zealand Clothing Factory is now showing specialities in new goods. Wertheim’s sewing machines are being offered at 2s. Gd. per week.

American Apples.—Last night Mr. Reynolds stated in the Council that a proclamation would be issued against the importation of American apples, in order to prevent the introduction of the Codlin moth.

Paper Chimneys.—A paper chimney, fifty feet high, has lately been put up at Brcslay. Compressed paper pulp is stated to be one of the least inflammable of substances, and to make an excellent material for fire proof doors. Gift Auction.—At a meeting, held last night, of the Committee appointed to make arrangements in connection with the proposed gift auction, in aid of the funds of the Holy Trinity Church, it was decided to hold the auction on the 22nd of January next.

Parliamentary Union. — The Parliament will be opened by commission on Friday evening, at Macfarlane’s Hall. The business will be the Governor’s Speech, and an Ad-dress-in-Reply. The gallery will be reserved for ladies, and gentlemen will be admitted if introduced by members of the Union or Institute.

A Novel Sport.—The Maori Chieftain Tainui and his followers have been on a Wela (Maori-Hen) hunting expedition latelv up the Hokitika Valley country. That they have been successful, their bag, 1,500, speaks for itself. Joy, glory and grease will reign supreme for some time, we imagine, in all the Maori “ kaingas,”

Darkness.—The question of Wellington darkness was under discussion in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, several members referring to the difficulty they experienced in finding their road home. Our boy wants to know if there was anything more than darkness causing the obstruction.

Differential Rates. — From the annual report of the Inspector of Prisons, we gather that at the Wellington prison a prisoner received a sentence of three days’ solitary confinement for wilfully destroying a Bible, whilst at Timaru gaol a man only got fortyeight hours solitary for fighting.

Conclusive Evidence. — During a recent trial in South Wales to test the validity of a will, it was proved that in 1882 the testator became impaired in intellect to such an extent that he went to the post-office with a postage-stamp on his forehead, and requested to be sent by mail to a place which he mentioned. A Tall Smash.—The schedule of P. G. Prendergast, butcher, of Melbourne, was filed recently. His liabilities are £35,270, and the assets £25. The Colonial Bank is the principal creditor ; but the insolvent says that he has assigned all his property to Messrs. Greenlaw and Pearson as trustees. Hence the apparent smallness of the assets.

Kaiterataiii Hotel.—Mr. Arthur Devery the genial proprietor of this well-known hostelry, has made excellent provision for the accommodation of travellers. Saddle and harness horses are ready at all times for hire. Parcels and letters can be forwarded to any part of the district. A coach leaves the hotel daily for Gisborne, returning the same evening. When necessary a ferry boat is available for travellers crossing the Waipaoa.

Fire Brigade.—Last evening the members of the brigade had a good muster and went through some useful practice, after which the question of competing for the Hop Bitters Company’s prize was discussed. It was decided to get up a local competition about New Year. As prizes a piece of plate was promised by Superintendent Townley, and another by Mr. Pavitt. Others will no doubt be forthcoming in due time. Mormonism.—The progress of the Mormon elders, who lately visited this district, seeking converts, is, we learn from a thoroughly authentic source, likely to be brought under the notice of the Borough Council. Our information is necessarily imperfect, but sufficiently accurate to enable us to give an outline of what may be expected to take place. The Councillor who is to move in the matter, thinks, that so far as the Natives are concerned, that the intention of the Native Minister should be directed to the action of the Mormon elders who are going about among the Maories of this district, subverting the Christian faith. That the Mormon elders in so doing are acting contrary to law. That local bodies are the proper authorities to take steps to prevent such a state of things. That it is a disgrace to any civilized community, to permit, in silence, the laws of God and all Christian communities to be thus trampled upon. Such, our indefatigable reporter gives us to understand, is the nature of the discussion fikely to be brought forward before the Borough Council at an early date.

Licensing Fees.—The following are the licensing fees now in force: —On filing notice of intention to apply for a license where no license has been pi eviously issued, 10s.; on tiling notice of application of renewal, transfer, or removal of a license, 55.; on the grant of a certificate of a license where no license has been previously issued, 10s.; on the grant, of a certificate of renewal or of transfer, ,55.; on making an application to open an.additional bar, for each bar, 55.; on grant of certificate for a conditional license, for every day for or over which the license is granted or extends, ss. ; for every summons to a witness, including service thereof within two miles of the Court, 55.; service of any summons, for every mile beyond two miles of the courthouse or place of attendance specified in such summons, one way, Is.; for every oath administered, Is.; for any order as to payment of costs on objections made, 25.; for j lodging any notice of objection, 35.; for depositing any memorial against grant of a license, 3s. ; and where any order made by a Licensing Court shall enforced by process, the like fees shall be payable in respect of any proceedings taken for that purpose as would be payable in like cases under “ The Justices of the Peace Act, 1882.”

The Anatomy Bill.—This measure, it will be observed by our yesterday’s telegrams, has become law, Parliament has many interesting matters to legislate upon from time to

time, the present cheerful subject providing that human bodies required for dissection, in the interests of medical science, may be held over for six months, before burial, as under the English Act, instead of eight weeks as heretofore. The Bill was introduced at the instance of Professor .Scott, of the University of Otago. Our Railway.—One surveyor who was called to give evidence before the committee regarding the Stratford route says that at first he was of opinion that the country to be opened up by it could not “ feed a goat.” On further consideration, however, he admits that a goat might, if it were of the chamois breed, manage to eke out a precarious subsistence there if it “ worked very long hours Another surveyor who was called as a witness for the defence of the Stratford route told n friend of ours that a railway might be constructed by that route hy tunnelling all the way from Stratford to Te Awamutu I The Chinese.—The Chinese were the first inventors of printing, the first inventors of gunpowder and the magnetic needle. They were the first to hatch eggs of fowl by steam, and to hatch fish eggs artificially ; the first, to have chain pumps and artesian wells. Their great wall and grand canal were made in the remote ages of the past. Their penal code is two thousand years old, and their ci’ il service examinations, which we are just learning to imitate, they have had for the last thousand years. When our barbarian forefathers were wandering about the northern coast of Europe ignorant of letters or of any of the fine arts, the literary Chinaman, dressed in silks and satins, was lounging on his sofa and drinking tea from painted porcelain cups. Harding’s Almanac.—Mr. R. C. Harding, the publisher and proprietor of Harding’s Almanac and Directory, has almost completed the preparation of the 1885 issue. No pains are being spared to maintain the reputation it has already attained, not only on the East Coast, but throughout the colony. Anyone who has perused the work published in former years must acknowledge that Harding’s Almanac and Directory stands pre-eminent amongst its kind. It is the only directory issued which gives information respecting the region as far North as Tologa Bay, and should, therefore, be sought after by the residents in Cook County especially, as in addition to the Directory there are hints on gardening, tides, astronomical notes, calendars in several languages, and a quantity of valuable information, both in Maori and English. A shilling will be well spent in the purchase of a copy. Wanted a wife.—The celebrated Dr. John Dow, in his sermon, gave the following excellent advice to the young ladies of his flock:—'‘The buxom, bright-eyed, rosycheeked, full-breasted, bouncing lass, who can darn a stocking, mend trousers, make her own frocks, command a regiment of pots and kettles, feed the pigs, chop the wood, milk the cows, wrestle with the boys, ami be a lady withal in “ company,” is just the sort of girl for me, and for any worthy min to marry. But you, ye pining, moping, lolling, screwed up, wasp-wasted, putty-faced, comsumptive, mortgaged, music-murdering, novel-devouring daughters of fashion and idleness, you are no more fit for matrimony than a pullet is to look after a family of fourteen chickens. The truth is, my dear girls, you want more liberty and less fashionable restraint, more kitchen and less parlor, more leg exercise and less sofa, more puddling and less piano, more frankness and less mock modesty, more breakfast and less bustle. Loose yourselves a little, enjoy more liberty and less restraint by fashion ; breathe the pure atmosphere of freedom, and become something as lovely and beautiful as the God of nature designed.” George Eliot. — Miss Marian Evans, known as George Elliot in her writings, was born in 1819. It is only recently that her private history has been told. Society has been especially curious on this point, the more so as there was known to be a grain of scandal lurking in it. As a girl she was remarkably plain, and to ordinary people uninteresting. Receiving few advantages, she early showed herself remarkably clever, choosing philosophy as her favorite study. It was not until she was considerably over thirty that her literary undertakings became of any magnitude. In 1851 she went to London, to join the staff of the ll’es twins ter Review. She linked her lot soon afterwards, with Mr. Goo. Lewes, one of the chief writers for this quarterly. Certain circumstances on his side prevented their marrying, but until his death, which did not occur until nearly twenty-eight years afterward, they were never apart, and she was always recognized socially as Mrs. Lewes. It was Mr. Lewes who first put it into her head to try story writing. In 1856 she was one evening going to dine with some friend, when Mr. Lewes said to her, “ Do not disturb me when you return ; I shall be busy.” Before his return, the first two chapters of “ Scenes of Clerical Life ” had been written, and sent to L'icl,wood's Magazine. The sketches attracted the notice of the late Charles Dickens. This was the beginning of that wonderful series of novels so replete with thought, feeling, humanity and philosophy, which it is an education to read, and which raised their ruthor into the very highest rank of English writers. Few can read George Eliot’s works without being the better for the study. So much nobility, deep thought, refinement of ideas, and purity of diction must exercise a beneficial influence on any character. Her best monument is the elevating influence which her writings exert over the human mind. Two years after the death of Mr. Lewes in 1878, she married an old friend Mr. Cross, a marriage which she only survived six months. She died in December, 1880.

His Portrait.—The proprietors of the European Mail have lately presented their traits of tho Agonls-General of the various colonies except New Zealand. Regarding the latter, the following correspondence has been publishedl6l Queen Victoria Street,

London, E.C., July I'J, 1881. Dear Sir,Having reference to the application which we made to you for your photograph, to enable us to have, it lithographed to appear in our group of portraits of the Agent.s-General for the Australasian Colonies, and to my personal interview with you yesterday morning, I beg to repeat my very great regret that we shall be obliged to publish the group minus the representative in this country of the very important colony of New Zealand, and I trouble you again in the matter with the view of affording you an opportunity, should you so desire it, of giving an explanation in our columns which you may think proper. I explained to you that the application for your portrait was made to you in your representative capacity as Agent-General in this country for the Government of New Zealand , and no doubt much disappointment will be felt through your refusal to allow your portrait to appear, and regret that th? jepre-entative of New Zealand should be omitted from a group which represents the Australasian colonies and the Indian Empire. - I have the honor to be, dear sir, your faithful servant,—(Signed) R. Scotl, Manager. Sir Francis Dillon Dell, K.C.M.G., Agent-General for New Zealand.” To

this letter Sir Francis Bell replied as follows 7 Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., July 21, 1884. Dear Sir,—l am favored by your courteous letter, offering me the opportunity of giving any explanation in your columns of the reasons for my declining your request that I should bo photograhed for your paper together with other gentlemen who have consented. Ido not, however, see tho least occasion for any explanation being made by me upon a matter in which the readers of your paper can take no possible interest. Believe me, yours truly, (Signed) F. D. Bell.” The result is, as our readers will observe, that the arrangement of the group in which the other Agents-General for the Australasian Colonies are rej resented had at tho last moment to be altered, with the effect that its symmetry is marred, and its representative character entirely spoiled. We frel sure, on the contrary, (hat our vendors in Now Zealand will share in our regrets (hat their important Colony should have been to all appearance ignored by the omission of the portrait of their Agent-Goneral from onr . illustrated supplement, which is intended tn serve, in some measure, the interests of the Colonies and of India by popularising the lineaments of their representatives in (his