BREVITIES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 249, 19 January 1889, Page 3

BREVITIES.

Sir G. Grey has not yet definitely decided when he will leave for England. The criminal returns for ths Auckland district show a decrease in crime for the year.

Mr Phelps, American Minister in London, has been recalled by the United States Government.

Jimmy Scott’s forensic talent assisted very much in getting him thirty days yesterday morning.

The bookies left a good deal of money behind them over the races; spielers did a roaring trade. Napier people are much exercised over the cutting off of the water supply up to a late hour in the morning. Captain Grinling (Salvation Army) arrives to-morrow—big tea meeting at Theatre Royal on Tuesday evening. The leading winners at ths late race meeting

were—Tatham, £2lB 10s; Parsons, £lB3 ; and Hepburn, £lO9 ss. The Te Anau from Southern ports is due here early to-morrow morning. The last launch goes off at 8 a.m. In the Gun Club’s pigeon contest Mr T. Price won the President’s Cup and Mr Arthur the Midsummer Handicap.

At the Police Court yesterday a lunatic was asked to plead guilty or not guilty.—Where did the lunacy come in ? About 1 o’clock to-day the Waihora should arrive from Auckland. The last launch conveying passengers will leave ths shore at 5. Travelling facilities have so improved that the down trip from the Rotorua lakes to Auckland now occupies only thirteen hours. The Gisborne correspondent of the Napier News says that Gisborne may expect an unenviable prominence over the late race meeting.

“ There no piece for the wicked," as the Sunday school teacher said at the treat when he refused to give the naughty little boy any cake.

The “three card trick’’ is according to English law permissible—in California a man for playing it could get twelve months in the State’s prison. Mr Saunders has been returned for the Lincoln seat by a majority of 850. The num* bar of votes polled was : — Saunders, 076 ; Ollivier, 330, The body of a female infant was found floating in the Dunedin harbor on Tuesday. The body was rather decomposed, but burs no marks of violence. A wild sensation was caused in London by the rumor that the Whitechapel murderer had been arrested, The police, however, do not confirm tha report. Wanted known: the length of a horse, It Fitzjamee finished in the Tradesmen’s only half a length in front of Lady Fiorin ? Beats tha egg and a half puzzle. A Salvation Army couple who were married at Auckland last week received a queer wedding present in the form of a shilling’s worth of mullet from a comrade.

Mr Dawson, of Dunedin, was presented with a valuable silver epergne for his services as Mayor during the past year. Mrs Dawson was presented with a diamond bracelet, The captain of the Salvation Army corps at Wanganui has been fined Is, with 14s costs, for obstructing a public place He refused to pay the fine, but another Salvationist paid, A newspaper writer states that if the same misconduct occurred in Ireland as was experienced in Wellington on New Year's Eve another Coercion Act would be put into force. The barque Loohnagar only requires 57 bales of wool to complete her loading. She will probably clear at the Customs on Monday, and sail on the following morning for London.

The meeting cf the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to have been held yesterday lapsed for want of a quorum. The meeting was adjourned till Wednesday afternoon next at 3 o'clock.

Mother : “ Don't think so much nf getting presents. You know, it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Bobby (six): “Then I hope a lot of people will be blessed on my birthday.” A man arrested, imprisoned and acquitted for an uncommitted crime, or at any rate for an alleged offence of which the constable saw or knew nothing, Glorious liberty of the subject. »

Mr Finn is of opinion the owner of Lady Florin has no legal claim against the Turf Club; notwithstanding this, however, we are informed a writ will shortly be issued on behalf of Mr Ellis.

Napier youths are very fond of fruit—and are not particular as to who owns it; the police have lately been on watch for the pilferers, but the other night Inspector Kiely’s own garden was entered and robbed 1

The magic letters P.D., in printing offices generally signify mischief—with the P.B.T. tub’s Stewards they represent an honorable man who refused to take part in the decision of a protest because he was interested. Audacity finished third in the Tradesmen's Handicap, not fourth, as stated in our report. It is, of course, no use to ascribe the fault to a printer's erior, that game being somewhat “ played out.” It was our reporter’s mistake.

Mr Macdonald (Chief Judge of the Land Court) is as honorable and upright a man as ever breathed, but almost every year since he has been in office, he has had to undergo a badgering before the House of Representatives.—N.Z. Herald. For the mile walk at the H. B. Caledonian sports this month the following handicaps have been declared—E. Tolley scratch, R. 8. M'Nevin scratch, F. Penfold 80yds, J. W. Williams 50, N. Peters 70, W. H. Bowler 85, W. Blaney 90, A. Martin 105. The Masterton Maoris recently received a letter from Remini, who was taken over to Melbourne by a bookmaker to take part in pedestrian events, complaining of bad treatment, and a sufficient sum has been subscribed and sent to enable him to return.

That a Racing Club Secretary’s life is not an unmixed joy, was evidenced both on Thursday night and Friday morning, The friends he was so anxious to meet he failed to see departing. "Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest" it read rightly applies.

Philadelphian—ls it true that you have bet S ourself against 20,000 dol. that Harrison will e elected 7 Indiana girl —I have ) if I lose the gentleman can claim my hand | if I win he must pay me 20,000 dol. " You are working hard for Harrison, no doubt ?” " N—o, lam working for Cleveland."

The Manawatu Road Board is very far from being without troubles, even though the Receiver is in possession. Beside the issue of a

writ against it for £lBO, for damages sustained by a defective bridge, Mr Grant’s solicitor intimates his intention of bringing a third action against the Board for damage sustained through defective drainage. What Dunedinites want a monument of Wallace for we are at a loss to imagine. It is only a waste of money, and does the country no good. If they subscribed £3OOO towards sending Atkinson and his oolleagues to Tinibuotoo, and construct a small railway there for Maxwell to play with, they would do the country a service,—Napier News.

One Wellington paper made a mistake by using the word " gorillas " tor " guerillas," and another journal pokes fun at itFrom the telegram referred to we are forced to the conclusion that in Spain the monkey tribe, which Professor Darwin says was originally in the ascendant, is again contesting supremacy with man, and although on this occasion it 'has not been successful there is no telling what may happen in the future,