Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 279, 6 November 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Larceny.—Mohi Bongo was committed for trial yesterday afternoon on the charge of larceny of a £lO note.

School Committee.—The ordinary monthly meeting of ths Gisborne School Committee was held last night when the usual routine business was transacted. Hospital Spouts,—A meeting of the Hospital Committee took place last night at the Court House for the purpose of drawing up a programme for the forthcoming sports, at Roseland, on the 30th instant. Arrival.—Sir George Whitmore arrived here by the Omapere this morning, and proceeded immediately afterwards to his station up the Coast where he will remain until shearing operations are over. Robin Hood.—Our correspondent telegraphs :—ln Robin Hood’s Consultation on the Melbourne Cup the first (£956) goes to Kaiapoi ; second (£430) to Christchureh; and third to Tairu, on the East Coast of Auckland.

N. Z, Bonds.—The holders of threequarters of a million of New Zealand 5 per cent, bonds (says a London cablegram) refuse to agree to the Government scheme for their conversion into four per cents, and will therefore be paid off in January next. Education.—The annual education return presents some interesting features. The cost of primary education per-scholar is in New Zealand, 1055.; Queensland, 1075.; New South Wales, 1365.; Victoria, 1035.; South Australia, 995.; England, 675. Lightning.—ln a case recently tried in America, it was held by a jury that loss by lightning was loss by fire, and was therefore covered by an ordinary policy. The Insurance Times (of New York) is of opinion that it was uttra vires to trust a jury to decide the disputed question whether lightning is fire. Bank Notes.—We understand, says the Australasian Insurance and Banking Record, that the Government of New Zealand intends to introduce a Bill giving effect to a system which we have advocated, namely, the making of a bank’s note-issue a first charge upon its assets. Bank notes are a first charge in Canada.

Supplement.—Saturday’s illustrated supplement will contain “ The merchant’s story,” “ The Cabman’s Story,” “ Willing to oblige him,” “ A singular Marriage,” “ A dog’s life,” by Silas Snell, “ Blacking and Yellow Fever,” “ An odour of violets,” “ Appropriate Dress,” “ The lay of a Lunatic,” “ Outwitting a widow,” “A Golden Bride,” “ The story of a Pirates Legacy,” and several columns of other reading matter. Waihau Lakes.—Mr. James McMurray, of Frasertown, Wairoa, is about to start a hotel near the Waihau lakes, having leased a block of land there. Mr. McMurray has been long and favorably known as an hotel proprietor. A hotel is much required at the Lakes, and will form a convenient halting place for travellers along the Gisborne-Wairoa road, and break the monotony of the long and tedious journey from Gisborne to Wairoa.

Industrial School.—At the R.M. Court this morning, the two charges of larceny preferred against the lad, William Pierce, were withdrawn owing to tho complainants refusing to continue the cases. The accused’s father, John Pierce made the following application to the Court :—“ That he is unable to control his son, William John Pierce, aged 13 years, and wishes to have him sent to school under the provisions of the Industrial Schools Act, 1882,” Mr. Pierce gave evidence to the effect that it was impossible for him to control his son, who was always getting into serious trouble and staying away from home. He agreed to contribute Bs. per week towards his son’s maintenance at the school. In reference to a question put by Sergeant Bullen, the witness said he did not wish his son to be brought up to any particular religion, but as a Secularist. Mis Worship objected to that, and stated that such a thing would not be permitted. All that could be done would be to state that the boy was baptised in the Catholic religion. The application was granted, and the boy will be sent to the school for two years.

Holiday,—The Custom House offices will be closed on Monday, 10th inst, the Governor having declared that day a public holiday.

Hon. Mr. Ballance.-—Mr. Ballance intends at the close of the session to visit Poverty Bay, and to make a tour of the East Coast. Mr. Bracken.—The New Zealand poet, Mr. Thomas Brackeu, will be a passenger by the Te Anau to-morrow. He is on his way to Napier on a lecturing tour.

Major Ropata.—Major Ropata’s pension of £3OO a year, reduced by Mr. Bryce when Native Minister, to £lOO a year, has been restored. Major Ropata is now placed on the Civil list and will receive the sum of £BOO a year, for which his past services well entitle him to. Mangapoikx Block. — In giving judgment in this case recently at Wairoa, 3,300 acres were to be cut out of the block, and vested in five owners, who would be able to dispose of it in order to raise funds to pay for the survey charges over the whole block, due to Mr. Reardon. For the remainder of the block, about 28,000 acres, there are 128 owners. Lecture.-—Th O lecture to be given to-night by Professor Hugo on “ Eyes ” will be for the benefit of the Public Library and Benevolent Society, we therefore trust that there will be a good house to reward the laudable efforts of the Professor to give assistance to these useful institutions. On Sunday next there will probably be a lecture on “Spiritualism.” A Sad Fatality. —At Droylsden, near Manchester, Mr. Ashworth, a county magistrate and large cotton-spinner, took a revolver with which to shoot a cat that had got upon the window-sill of a room where some tame linnets were kept. He fired, and the charge passed into the head of his wife, who had inadvertently gone to the window, killing her instantaneously.

The Supposed Infernal Machine. — The returned emigrant, Patrick Joyce, who arrived at Queenstown, in the Illinois, from Philadelphia, and in whose possession a supposed infernal machine was found, was discharged from custody by the Magistrates of Queenstown. The chief officer of Customs, Mr. Hudson, stated that the fluid in the article was only common oil. Captain Seymour, one of the magistrates, said the machine was only an oil case, and its contents a sample.