LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 243, 5 January 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Maitai left Napier at 7 last night, for this port. At the Police Conrt on Thursday, Albert Hurd alias Thomas Scott was fined 10s or 24 hours’ imprisonment for drunkenness, and Samuel Caldwell was sentenced to seven day’s imprisonment for using obscene language. Mr Booth,R.M., gave judgment for plaintiffs in the following civil cases on Thursday last:—J B Scott v D McDonald, claim £27 12s 4d, costs £1 Ils ; Boylan and Co. v S D Swainson, claim £2 17s 2d, coses 6s. Judgment summonses—Parnell and Co. v Ehipa Parau, claim £llos 6d; ordered to pay the amount forthwith, or in default two days’ imprisonment. E P Joyce v W Hope, claim £7 1s; order made for immediate payment of the amount, or in default seven days’ imprisonment.

In a recent issue we commented on the ill manners of certain females who at a very early hour one morning stationed themselves in unpleasant proximity to the dressing ground ot some male bathers. Now there is reason for complaint in another form. In the cool evenings that follow the enervating effect of the-warm summer days we are now experiencing, many ladies like to take advantage of the refreshing promenade that may be had on the Waikanae beach, but owing to want of consideration on the part of male bathers the ladies are deprived of the enjoyment. This is most unjust. We do not mind if bathers are allowed up to 7 a.m. to take their dip in the briny, with or without dress, but dress should be compulsory until dusk, for it is only by tha forbearance of the ladies that a practice which is now allowed differs from the most objectionable indecency. If bathers will not retrain from the practice, then it is the duty ot the police to step in.

A correspondent writes as follows, unde the heading ” Very Strange Procedure ” Sir,—When 1 read a letter in your last issue signed “ Fair Field and no Favor,” I becam awaie for the first time of one of those bitte undercurrents that have made our harbo. works such a cause of discontent. The lettei refeired to is masked with a disguise so tbit that the identity of the writer—nettled as hi no doubt was by the lost opportunity—is ai apparent as the fact is plain that he hai completely exposed his own little game. Judging by the Standard reports—which by the way, sir, I must compliment you ai always being the most complete—l believe 2000 tons of oemeut are required, the difference between ths successful and second tenderer being 8s 6|d per ton. I will assume that the £6 odd for cablegrams was actually expended on the cement contract—that is as : ear as can be, there is an actual saving ol nearly £350 I I For saving a sum amounting to nearly half his salary the Engineer has been subjected to the abuse of one whose chagrin at his own loss is an excuse for his intemperate language. Yes, by all means let us have a fair field and no favor, and no filching of £350 of the ratepayers’ money to suit any private person. Your contemporary of course takes advantage of what it considers a good opportunity to follow up an old attack upon an officer of the Board, but it has never the ingenuity to conceal its crafty hand. If the members of the Board and its officers never commit a worse blander than saving £350 to the ratepayers, then I say may they lira long and continue the blundering, heedless of the croakings of disappointed money-makers who regard the ratepayers in the same light as that in which a spider regards a etc., Hesawr,

A steamer of a thousand tons has been built on the Clyde, designed to skate over the surface of the ice, instead of forcing its way through it. The idea is to run the fore part of the vessel on to the ice, and then, by pumping water iuto the forward divisions, to increase tlie weight so as to break down the ice, and thus to a clear passage. Tha vessel is designed to ply between Prince Edward Island and the mainland iu the winter months. No doubt the special requirements have beeu duly considered, although it looks as if this mode of breaking down the ice Will be slow work, and it is a little bewildering to be finally informed that the speed of the vessel will be 15 miles an hour. The body of Philip Beavan, in a horribly mutilated condition, was found on Christmas morning at Waiomo, in a branch creek coming down the left gully, of the Golden Gem Spur. The head and top portion of the breast were completely blown away, and portions of the flesh and clothing were seen hanging to the limbs of the trees twenty and thirty feet above where the body lay, which was covered with vermin, and presented a very sickening sight. From appearances, it would seam that deceased had held a tin of dynamite in his hands whilst in a standing posture, with his body inclined forward, as his breast was literally scooped out. Deceased, who was a miner, had once or twice threatened to take his life. His remains w-re brought in to the Thames on Christmas afternoon, and an inquest was held on them at the Empire Hotel, when a verdict of felo de se was returned.

“ Phaeton ” writes of the Auckland Cup race :—When W. Clifford came back to the paddock after steering Lochisl to victory in the Auckland Cup he complained very bitterly of the treatment to which he was subjected during the race, it being, he said, the evident intention of certain riders to interfere with him. Katterns, who rode Hilda, Clifford stated, deliberately struck Lochiel over the nose with his whip, and he desired to enter a protest, but Mr Stead, who, I may remark, has never lodged a protest during thirty years he has been racing, prevailed on him to let the matter drop. There seems to be no doubt that Katterns did strike Clifford’s horse, and if it was done intentionally (of which Clifford has no doubt), then most assuredly he deserved to be severely punished, and as it seems a pretty clear case, it is a pity that the matter did not go before the stewards, who would no doubt have disqualified him for a period of at least three months, which would have acted as a deterrent to others from participating in like conduct. This unfair riding must on all occasions be severely dealt with, or we may some day have to record a second Caulfield Cup disaster.

The sea serpent is completely thrown into the shade by a creature which has been seen in lat. 39.50 south and long. 0.13 west. Mr Webster, chief officer of the ship Beavenue (says the Standard), has written to the Calcutta papers saying that on the 4th of August when the ship was hove to in a strong gale, the second officer, Mr Parsons, who was on the watch, reported that between 4 and 5 in the morning a tremendous living monster passed the port side of the vessel, measuring nearly as long as the ship itself. It had large wings, or ears, two immense humps on its back 14 or 15 feet high, and a tail like a whale. The monster had two eyes the size of teacups, while its back was covered with shells or scales resembling barnacles as large as cocoanuts. It remained near the ship for 20 minutes, its movements being very slow. It is to be hoped that a party of scientific men will, without loss of time, charter a ship and proceed in pursuit of the monster. It differs so entirely from a'l other described creatures that its capture will create a prodigious sensation, for even the extinct prediluvian monsters were shapely and agreeable to look upon in comparison with this uncouth beast, with large wings or ears, aud two immense humps.

Within the last two or three years eminent French engineers have undertaken the sowing of railroad embankments with poppy seeds, as, when once established, that prolific plant cover the soil with a netwoik of roots that prevent it from washing away during heavy rains, or from upheaval when frost is coming out of the ground in the spring. A new and powerful disinfectant, adapted to' all purposes, has been obtained in Paris from coal oil. It is a syrup-brown liquid of of a not disagreable odor, resulting from a saponification of the oil hy caustic soda. It destroys moss and fungus of trees, and sponging with a weak solation keeps flies from horses.

Major Charles Dean Pitt has been selected to succeed Major Walker in an important position connected with the Victorian forces. He is the son of Colonel Pitt, who distinguished himself in the New Zealand war, and a brother of Major Pitt, of Gisborne. The Garrison Band will play the following selections this evening near the City Rink, commencing at 7.30 : - March “ Wild West,”, Schottische “ The Happy Pair, ” Mazurka “Sultana, "Lancers“MerrieEugland,”Waltz “ Daybreak, ” Polka “ Rosalind, ” March “ My Pretty Jane, ” Galop “ Pell MelL ”

As a people we have gone racing mad, and surely it is time that all thoughtful people resolutely looked the question in the face. What will happen, ultimately, if things go on for any length of time as they are going now ? Will it not mean the undermining of trade, the wreck of our hopes of the future, — the bankruptcy of our people ?—Waipawa Mail.

It may not be generally known that Lochiel was sired in England and was foaled in New Zealand. His dam, Nelly Moore (in foal to Prince Charlie), was purchased by Mr Stead during his visit to England, some eight years ago, dirt cheap, for 150 guineas.

The Auckland police have done very well during the holidays “blue-birdcatching,” They get £1 fir every straggler from the fleet, and £8 for men of-war’s men returned as deserters namely, £3 from the ship and £5 from the colonial Government.

That the pace in the Auckland Cup race was a clinker from the start may be gathered from the following record of the different stages of the race—J mile, 53secs -, 1 mile, Imin. 45|secs; l|mile, 2min. 12secs ; 1 i mile, 2tnin. 39secs; 1| mile, 3miu. s|secs; 2 miles, 3min. 32secs. “ Somewhere in the obscurity of London slums there lurks a man, nameless and unknown, who has clothed himself with a terror which has no parallel in the present century, nor perhaps in any other century,” is the way a Melbourne paper begins an article on the Whitechapel murderer. Congregational Church services—Gisborne 11 and 7, Ormond 2.30, Mr Lane.

Presbyterian Church country services tomorrow—Makauri 1.30, Matawhero 2.45, Bev. J McAra; Te Arai 2.80, Patutahi 7, Mr Scott.