Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 263, 17 October 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Juries.—A Bill to abolish coroner’s juries has been read a second time in the House. Cambridge.—The Chief Judge is about to hold a sitting of the Native Land Court at Cambridge. Fast.—Miss Bourke recently rode 102 miles in five hours, using 13 horses and changing her mount 54 times. Apples.—A proclamation appears in last night’s Gazette prohibiting the importation of apples and pears infected with the Codlin moth. Drunkenness.—John Fagan was fined 10s, and John McCormick £l, for the above offence this morning. Railways.—The eighteen principal English railways earned almost exactly a million a week during the first twenty-four weeks of the present year. Oldest.—The oldest inhabitant in Tasmania has resided there 104 years. Next to him is Mr. Cox, who has just died at the age of 112. He landed in 1781. Cheese.—The cheese from the Paterangi Factory, made on the Cheddar principle, is fetching higher prices by nearly Id. per lb. than that sold from other factories.

Nightsoil Contract. — Numerous complaints are being made to us as to the defective mode in which the nightsoil contract is oc’-ried out. If the Inspector of Nuisances will visit the locality of the upper Waikanae Bridge, at high tide, he will have the subject brought under his observation, more forcibly than we care to put it.

Mr. Walter Grey.—Mr. Walter Grey, Regi-trar of the Native Land Court, Gisborne, will be a passenger this evening for Napier en route for Wairoa, where Judge Brookkeld is holding a sitting of the Native Land Court. Mr. Grey will return in about a fortnight’s time. In the meantime, persons having business at the Native Land Court will be attended by Mr. Brooking.

Pollards.—The Pollards Juvenile Company are at present playing the “ Little Duke ” in Hobart.

Bread.—The Benevolent Society at Hobart have arranged with the Government to have the bread issued by the Society made in the gaol. By this means a much better article is secured. Industry.—lt may interest many to know that the Oamaru Woollen Factory employs 58 persons whose united annual wage is £4,000. This is what gives stability to business in a town,

Ecclesiastical.—The Rev. W. Bannerman, one of the fathers of the Presbyterian Church in Otago, has had to resign his charge owing to an accident he. met with some time back.

Pugilists.—Two boys, aged ten and twelve respectively, fought at Hobart. One has since died and the other has been arrested for manslaughter. Ball.—lnvitations for a ball on a large scale have been issued by Sir Julius and Lady Vogel and Mr. and Mrs. Stout, conjointly, to be held next Monday evening at Sir Julius Vogel’s ministerial residence.

Ordered Out.—The reporters and other non-members were yesterday ordered out of the Legislative Council while certain questions were asked of the Government. Curiosity has naturally been aroused to find out what these questions were.

Borough Odours. — Our correspondent “Historicus” directs attention in another column to an important matter, namely, the sanitary imperfections of the town. ' Now that the warm weather is approaching, it is imperatively necesrary that immediate steps be taken to remove the nuisances existing.

New Range.—The use of a certain portion of that vacant land at the rear of the Maori Church on the Kaiti, has been granted to the members of the J Battery in order to construct a new range, on very favorable terms. The work of erecting the targets and forming the range is now proceeding, and will soon be ready for practising purposes. Petroleum.—Russian capitalists are undergoing the petroleum fever. Twelve years ago only one firm was engaged in the petroleum industry; now there are more than a dozen. In 1872 the total amount of naptha or crude oil procured was only 150,000 barrels, in 1881 it reached 4,000,000 barrels, and a twelvemonth later it exceeded 5,500,000 barrels.

Teetotal.—A writer in Temple Bar relates the following I read in an American paper an amusing account of a convert, who addressed a total abstinence meeting as follows “ The first week I took the pledge I saved enough money to buy a waistcoat; the next week I bought a pair of breeches (great cheering, especially from the ladies); then, ladies and gentlemen I bought a coffin—(here took place what the French call movements divers) —because I was certain if I kept the pledge another week I should want it.” Fireproof Paint.—A new material has been pressed into service for the manufacture of fireproof paint, namely, diatomaceous earth, known in Germany as kieselguhr. This material is mixed with silicate of soda and oxide of zinc in certain proportions, and the ingredients are incorporated with water. The paint is the invention of Sir Seymour Blane, and it is claimed for it is peifectly fireproof, waterproof, and non-poisonous. Too Liberal. — One gentleman applying for the position of Clerk to the Temuka Town Board, to which is attached six other official degrees, ranging from treasurer to inspector of nuisances, considered the salary ’ (£6O) offered by the Board for the efficient performance of the duties of these seven offices as too extravagant, he therefore agreed (if appointed) to provide offices, a young man in constant attendance, and a fire-proof safe for documents—all for nothing. He did not receive the appointment.

Tawhiao.—An English paper recently published an imaginary interview between Tawhiao and Her Majesty. The King in halfMaori half-Higland costume, is made to appear as if trying to rub noses with Her Majesty, who is in the robes of State. “ Haere raai! Kapai!” saith the King, and, pointing to his face with its tatooing adds, “ Me big rangatira.” Her Majesty is made to reply that she will be delighted to give him an audience when he has washed his face and donned a swallow-tail and certain other garments which are generally called pants. The Harbor Bill.—Captain Porter received the following telegram this afternoon from Sir George Whitmore “ The Bill is now before the Local Bills Committee Legislative Council, Dr. Pollen Chairman. Large amendments will have to be introduced to provide the machinery for carrying out the Act and making it correspond with the Napier Bill. Sir George Grey has prepared the necessary clauses. Dr. Pollen will fix the matter. Committee will report to-morrow. G. S. Whitmore.”

Library Concert.—The fourth and last of the monthly library concerts will take place on Monday night next, when an exceptionally good programme will be presented, the •first portion of which will consist of songs, to conclude with the well known farce entitled “ Ici on Parle Francois,” which was performed here with large success some years ago by a number of our local amateurs. As the admission is only a shilling we fullv expect to see a crowded audience to witness the performance. Telegrams.—The new arrangement instituted by the Stout-Vogel Government of paying for telegrams with stamps, carries with it a trifling inconvenience to those who have to make frequent use of the telegraph office, that is the mode of sticking 0 the stamps to the telegrams. It certainly should be no part of the duty of the telegraph officials to lick the stamps and stick them to the telegrams. It is not everyone who cares to apply the “ unruly member ” to such ignoble work. A damp sponge on the counter at the telegraph office would settle the question.

Parliamentary Union. — The following gentlemen have accepted portfolios in the first Government. Premier and Native Minister, Mr. C. A; DeLautour; Minister for Public Works, Lands, and Mines, Mr. W. F. Crawford ; Colonial Treasurer, Commissioner of Customs, Stamps, and Postoffice, Mr. Carlaw Smith; Secretary for Immigration, Mr. John Somervell; Minister for. Education and Justice, Mr. J. Bigley. The proceedings will be commenced this evening with the Governor’s speech. It is stated that the Address-in-Reply will be moved by Mr. G. V. Day. Intending members must hand in their names before 7.30 this evening.

Detention.—At thoR.M. Court this morning a case, McCarthy v. 11. Clements, was heard, which was a claim for £l3 for detention. The plaintiff deposed that he went to Clement’s Hotel at Ormond about three weeks ago with a ten pound note, one five pound note, two single pound notes, and some silver in his pocket. Saw defendant at the Hotel and had some drinks, which were bad and made him stupid. Gave defendant £5 to pay for the drinks, of which defendant kept £3, as he said it was due to him on a previous occasion, but which was not so. He gave the servant a £lO note to keep for him, and when he asked her for it the next morning she said she had given it to the defendant, who on being asked for it, refused to give it up without being allowed to keep back the £3 again, as he had already done. He went to apply a second time to the defendant for his money, but found he had disappeared. Therefore he now sought to recover the £3 and £lO which had been detained by the defendant. Agricultural Snow.—The tenth annual I show of the Poverty Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society will be held on Tuesday next, the 21st instant, at Te Hapara, in the paddocks kindly lent for the occasion by W. L. Rees, Esq. The forthcoming show is expected to be a great success. Should the weather prove propitious, a large attendance may be relied upon. Having the gathering so near to Gisborne will be a matter of especial convenience to the townspeople. The number of entries for the various prizes already doubles that of last year. Host Beresford, with his usual tact and forethought, is making every preparation to provide for the wants of the inner man. Count ry set tiers and townsfolk desiring to stroll from the show grounds, will be able to obtain an excellent lunch at the Roseland Hotel, at any time between the hours of 11.30 a.m. and 2 o’clock, and dinner between 5.30 and 7 p.m. Altogether an attractive day’s outing may be looked forward to.

Str Julius.—A few days ago a Canterbury Vogelite called on his political chief, but found he was not at home. “ What time does Sir Julius usually dine?” ho inquired.

“ About three hours, sir,” was the landlady's prompt reply, , Waka Maori,—The usual fortnightly publication of the 717/7,74 Maori was issued from the Telephone office this morning, and contains a large, amount of interesting reading matter.. This paper is rapidly extending its circulation to every native settlement along the East Coast, and indeed throughout the North Island. As an advertising medium among the native population no better channel exists, and tradesmen desirous of pushing their business would do well to avail themselves of its columns.

R. M. Court.—The following civil cases were heard this morning Croft v. Burgess. Adjourned for one month. Goldsmith and Co., v. S. Roe. Claim £4 19s. Mr. Brassey for plainiliff. No appearance of defendant. Judgment for plaintiff by default, with costs £l. Goldsmith and Co., v. W. S. Greene. Claim £6 14s. 6d. Mr. Brassey for plaintiff. Judgment by default, with costs 14s. McKay r. Hanlan. Mr. Turton for plaintiff, Mr. Whitcombe for defendant. Adjourned for one week. Croft r Smith ; claim €3O ss. 31. Mr. Brassey for plaintiff, and Mr. Whitcombe for defendant. After hearing considerable evidence His Worship decided in favor of the plaintiff.

A Modest Request.—The vagaries of ths irrepressible Sydney Taiwhanga are tolerably well known. The scorn ami indignation with which he repelled all enquiry as to the money he collected, fnr the purpose of testing

the validity of the Treaty of Waitangi, is still remembered by the sorrowful aboriginal subscribers. Sydney’s mission Home to see the Queen was a failure. At the late general election he yearned for a seat in Parliament, and in order to make doubly sure of attaining his object he got himself nominated for each of the Maori Electoral Districts. Everywhere, however, he was greeted with defeat. In this morning’s Waka Maori a letter appears from Sydney addressed to Te Puke te Ao, M.H.R., for the Western Maori Electoral District; Ihaia Hakuene, M.H.R., Northern Maori Electoral District, and Wi Pere, M.H.R., for the Eastern Maori Electoral District. Sydney makes a piteous appeal to the three Maori members to resign in his favor, and let him represent the Maori race in Parliament, just for one session only He has no objection to any individual Maori member resigning in his favor, and possibly if his ambition was thus far attained would get over any objection to accepting the portfolio of Native Minister if it were offered. To Te Puke te Ao, Sydney makes an especial address. According to Sydney if Te Puke had heeded his words at Kihi Kihi, the Maories would have “ an absolute Government for themselves by this time, under and by virtue of ‘ The Treaty of Waitangi,’ and the New Zealand Constitution Act, 15 and 16, Victoria Cap. 72, sec. 71.” Things are generally critically with Sydney when he quotes the Constitution Act. That is his trump card and he invaribaly staggers his countrymen when he falls back upon the mysterious words, besides establishing a feeling of awe in the breasts of the benighted natives, in an inverse ratio to the extent to which he is understood. Will no Parliamentary Union take pity on Sydney Taiwhanga and give him a vacant constituency to represent ?