Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 304, 8 December 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

Several cases under the Factories Act are now pending in Wellington. The name of Mr. C. E. Bunny has been etruck off the roll of the Supreme Court. The Nelson regatta will take place on Boxing Day. The prizes aggregate £l5O. A girl at Waikouaiti died last week through eating green gooseberries. Fourteen acres of land near Melbourne brought £15,500. The new Impounding Act comes into force on the Ist January next. The Maori King is highly dissatisfied with his own people since his return from England. The corporation of Leeds supplies the in. habitants with gas at Is. 10.1. per 1,000 feet. A Wellington storekeeper is doing a large business in tinning fresh and salted butter for India, Fiji, and China.

The excursion season of the U.S.S. Co., commenced on December Ist, and for the ensuing three months return tickets will be issued at reduced rates.

A correspondent writes, asking whether the Act relating to the employment of females is in force in Gisborne. From our own observation we should think not, but our correspondent had better apply to the police, whose duty it is to know these things.

Hori Ropiha, who was one of the deputation that visited England with Tawhiao, has been quite a great man at the Pah during the last week; and his tales of London, the big city, have filled Lis auditory with a desire to go to England also. Hori is quite a heavy swell now, with long hat, masher collar, and umbrella, in great contrast with his former style, and he says he would like to go back and live in London.

There is no coroner in the Hawke’s Bay district.

A telephone office has been opened at Havelock, Hawke’s Bay. Some patriotic people object to the “ Aus. tralian ” Blondin flying the stars and stripes.

It is stated that Mr, Thomas Bracken intends to start a weekly newspaper in Wellington. Mr. Oakes, aeontractor of Wellington, has left that city and also a number of enquiring friends.

The indictment against Wilson, for perjury at Napier, contained 29 “ aforesaids ” and 36 “ saids.”

A man at a fire in Napier last week chopped down a lot of fruit trees to save them from burning.

Steps are being taken to establish woollen factories in Wellington and Napier. Why not in Gisborne ? Wilson, of the A. O. Force, charged with perjury at Napier, was after two trials acquitted.

Jurors summoned for Monday next are notified that they will not be required to attend the Court.

The pile-driver having been fitted up was removed from the Taruheru to the site of the new bridge to-day. Custom-house street presented a very lively appearance to-day, being crowded witli attendants at Court.

Sout hey records the case of physician who attended 40.000 cases of small-pox and never met a patient with red-hair. All the unmarried clerks in the Treasury Department are to be dispensed xvilh after the end of the year. The Supreme Court was formally opened this morning at the R.M. Court building and adjourned to Macfarlane’s Hall. We have received a pamphlet on Gibbon’s Floating Cradle Breakwater, which shall receive early attention. A Chinaman on the Chang Chow when she was wrecked, had 301 b weight of gold coin in a long leather bag wound round his body. Bv a recent official trial gunpowder made at the Owaka Mills, Catlin’s River, has been proved equal to the imported article. Gentlemen disirous of joining an orchestal class will oblige by leaving their names with Mr, Steward, or at the Telephone office. Mr. P. A. F. Birch has been appointed Patent Office Agent at Napier, and the offices of the Supreme Court are gazetted as a patent office.

A Court-martial decided that H.M.S. Wasp was lost through unskilful navigation and want of care. The survivors were exonerated.

The barbers have been having a field day amongst jurymen, witnesses, journalists, and others whose business let them into the presence of the Queen’s judge.

A cricket match, Gisborne Boys v. Pntu talii, came off on Saturday on the Patu al: ground, and resulted in a victory for th latter by two runs. Mr. Maxton, recently deceased, arrived i Wellington in 1842. He leaves seven sone five daughters, and thirty grand childreuiruly a good colonist. A notice at the Supreme Court notifi' B thn witnesses and jurors entitled to £2 mu‘ bring one-penny stamDs with them bufor they can get their money. A juvenile drew the spigot from a cask c rum and dropped in a lighted match. A fe’ minutes afterwards the inhabitants came ou to see where the earthquake was.

There was a moi ley crew came ashore ye? terday. Bishops, “ Proffits,” priests, and i place of Kings a batch of prisoners, who wer carefully looked after by policemen. A controversy has been started by the Lon

don papers as to why women button thei clothes from right to left, and men from lei to right. It has led to an elaborate displa, learning and wit.

After some delay at the R.M. Court thi morning it was discovered that Mr. Boot was again indisposed, and there being n J.P.’s available, the business was allowed t stand over till next day.

A forest free in Georgia was recently cut down at six o’clock in the morning, made into pulp at a factory, and into paper at six o’clock in the evening, and at six o’clock the next morning was distributed as a printed newspaper.

We are informrd that a Mr. Pearce, ai Wharekaia has gone in for tobacco growing and that at. the present time he has not Jest than t wenty-five acres of the plant, flourishing splendidly and about fourteen inches in height.

“ Mr. White,” said a Harrisburg lawyer tc a witness in the box, “ at the time these papers were executed yon were speculating, were yon not?” “Yes, Sir.” “You were in oil ?’’ “I was.’’ “ and what, are you in now ?’’

“ Bankruptcy ” was the solemn reply. At the Supreme Court this morning his Honor slated in reply to a question put by Mr. Rees, that he would take the criminal business first, then the civil, after that he would sit in Chambers, and then the bankruptcy cases would come on. • The oldest- inhabitant of Napier died last Thursday morning at the age of ninety years. The deceased lady di<l not long survive her daughter, Mrs. Wilkinson, with whom she had been living for many years. Mrs. Roclifort was the mother of Mr. J. Rochfort, surveyor, of Napier. The Timaru Herald says:—The Civil servants in Wellington get so much pleasant female society without any of the charges or responsibilities of matrimony that they have given up all idea of joining the ranks of the Benedicts. It is unanimously voted “ Bad form, by Jove don’t chernow, for a fellah to be engaged.”

At a banquet given to Mr. Ballance, Major Kemp, the well-known Maori chi' f, presented the Native Minister with a very ancient specimen of New Zealand weapons. The weapon in question is a whalebone “ mere,” of the and quaint pattern so familiar to old settlers, and is evidently of Jiigh antiquity. It has the following history attached to it in explanation :— “ Ngapakoko.” “ Name of whalebont weapon handed down from the time of Ran ’iu leka, who lived about 350 years ago. It Slew Tauroaa, Waikato chief.” —T. McDonnell.

There is a judge in Milwaukee who speaks plainly. Three Milwaukee lawyers having put in bills amounting to 25,000 dollars for services in settling an estate valued at 32,000 dollars, the judge made the following timely remark You have charged 25,000 dollars for 60 days’ set vice. These charges are infamous. They are such as men who are scoundrels and thieves at. heart, would make. This chaige of 15,000 dollars is cut down to 1500 dollars; those of 5000 dollars each to 500 dollars. Rn r 2at such a piece of rapine in this court, and I will unbar every one of you.”

Mr. Alexander, the Australian Blondin, gave his open air p-Tformance here on Saturday night last, when a large assemblage gathered around from all parts to witness it. The performance took place in Lowe street on a steel wire rope fastened from the Masonic Hotel balcony to the opposite side of the road. Mr Alexander was greeted with applause as he made his appearance a little after eight o’clock. After making a short speech he commenced his feats by walking straight along the rope, and then returning backwards. This he repeated and then fastening a stool to his back he walked to the middle of the rope and quietly seated himself, at the same time performing all sorts of antics, which proved that he felt quite at home. He then turned himstdf into an animal (we will not attempt to give it a name) which kept firing off balls of fire from its mouth amongst the spectators, and causing considerable amusement. This was followed by his putting on a gown, and blind-folding himself by tying a handkerchief over his eyes, and going through the same manoeuvres as he had done previously. This feat and that, of carrying the boy across on his back were very cleverly and neatly done, and he was much applauded. During the evening he also performed on the trapeze which was hung from the rope, in which he excelled, and displayed considerable strength a.id agility. At, each f-at the band played appropriate tunes which tended very much to enliven the proceedings.