LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 273, 14 March 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Harbor Board’s last meeting lasted until a few minutes to eleven. The Maori footballers defeated Manchester on Tuesday, by two goals and a try to a try. The disbandment of the J Battery has been gazetted. There is at least one wise man in Gisborne. In reply to some remarks made by Mr Graham, Mr Weaver stated that he had never read a novel in his -life.

The contractors for sinking the artesian well near Mr Brassey’s residence, have now reached a depth of over 80 feet. Among the enquiries in Lloyd’s Weekly of January 20 and 27 is the following Joseph, William, and Elizabeth Shellard—left England in August, 1879, and were last heard of in 1885, at Poverty Bay, New Zealand. Their sister Fanny inquires. It is stated that a gentleman has left for Sydney with a view of seeing whether an Australian syndicate could be induced to go in for the purchase of the Tikitere geysers and other natural wonders adjacent, comprised in a block of some 6000 acres. There are said to be some 80 leading natives interested in the scheme, when the title is secured, and that Sydney Taiwhanga is taking an active part in the negotiations.

It is computed that fully 80,000 people in Melbourne have at present no settled means of subsistence, and that matters are likely to be worse yet before the full effect of the late wild land gambling has been reached. The County Council meets at 2 o’clock to-morrow afternoon, when the following business will be brought forward: —Examine V iuation Roll, appoint committee to select works and make estimates for ensuing year, consider Mr John Thomson’s claim for £5O for finding stone, and the ordinary business.

At a meeting of the Charitale Aid Board last night, it was reported that five persons were receiving relief and it was decided to discontinue further relief to three of these. Mr Hare has decided to devote the hour at the Tent to-night to answering questions that have been handed in on various important points—Predestination : Was Peter the rock on which the Church was built ? The Thief and Paradise—The Spirits in prison—Can we keep the Sabbath on the round woill ? All are invited.

The Hospital Trustees met last night. Present: Messrs Lucas (in the chair), Watson, Harris, Dunlop, Coleman, Nobn, and C. A. Brown. The Treasurer reported a credit balance of £7B 19s Bd. The Medical officer in his report mentioned that there were three oases of typhoid fever now being treated at the Hospital. Messrs Brown and Nolan we re appointed visiting committee for the month. Accounts amounting to £5l 15s 6d were passed payment. Mr Watson gave notice of motion to have the bye laws revised.

Our London correspondent writes in reference to the hop market Since the opening ol the year demand is a little better, and holders are firm in their ideas. Total exports, which are almost entirely to Australia, average 25,000 cwt., shipments to the present time have been 13,000 cwt, only, and as there is not a sufficient stock of fine hops in this country to supply the deficiency, and many brewers have not yet satisfied thqir requirements, we may look tor advancing prices both here and in the colonial markets. Our Melbourne correspondent writes The Central Board of Health is certainly doing its best to remove the stigma which has of late attached to our colony on account of the want of sanitary measures. Only the other day we heard of seven successful prosecutions in the Colao district, and after that several impending at Mentone. This was after the visit of the board's inspector, Mr Taylor, who, although he has been over two years in the service, still appears to act as a “new broom.” Some little time ago there seemed to be a certain amount of friction between the City Council and the board, but that, we trust, has all passed over, as it must surely be to the interest of the community for the two bodies to work harmoniously together. The recent lamented death of one of ths most respected of the city councillors irom the dreaded scourge “ typhoid ” will probably bring vividly before the corporation the necessity of sanitation and cleanliness. A fire occured just after we had gone to press on Tuesday morning, a cottage belonging to Mrs Hastie being burned down, The Brigade was out in splendid time and the water was on in equally good time, but they could only save a small portion of the woodwork. The inevitable “ third fire " occurred on Tuesday night, in the back portion of a dwelling house above Roebuck Road. Fortunately it was suppressed before much damage had been done. Mr Christian Watermeyer, a well-known sheep farmer of Graff Reinet, South Africa, visited the Australian colonies recently to see for himself the position of the sheep industry in that part of the world. From Melbourne he wrote to a friend the other day, and the following excerpt from his letter may not be uninteresting “ I can almost say that ever since I have been here I have been up to my neck in sheep and shows. The very day after my arrival the Melbourne Show opened, and I had enough to occupy me two days going through it. Combiue all our shows in one and you will hardly come up to this show for machinery, stock, &o,— counted by hundreds of entries. The only disappointment of the show was in the sheep, but that was accounted for by a special show of sheep held on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the show there was certainly not disappointing. I was a day on my legs attending the sale of stud sheep, but the best sheep went at unapproachable prices—£soo, £6OO, and £630. Anyway, they would not have suited me, as the fashion for sheep here in Lincoln (or geelve). I was disappointed in the Victorian ewes offered for sale. They were not all up to the mark, and I would not buy, as I consider I have as good myself, This much I learned—that Tasmania, not Australia, is the place to go for sheep. Alli bought were Tasmanian, and I found that all the famous breeders of Victoria cultivate Tasmanian sheep, lam glad I came over here, as I now find out how utterly ignorant wo are about the Australian sheep. ” The following is an extract from the proa, pectus issued by the promoters of the Colonial Fish Company to the Melbourne public:—lt is not intended that the company’s operations shall be restricted solely to importation and sale of fish, but as favorable opportunities offer trade can be pushed in the direction of dairy and farm produce, poultry, horse feed, <fco. Nor is it proposed that the company’s business shall be confined to Melbourne and suburbs, but, in view of the facilities, in the * way of cool oars in the trains, about to be offered by the Railway Department for the transmission of the perishable articles of food the business can be extended by including Ballarat, Beechworth, Sandhurst, &0., where branches or agencies might be established. Every assurance has been given to the promoters that a large number of shares will be taken up in New Zealand, and one-third are consequently reserved for that colony, The following statement of comparative prices will give some idea of the large field of profitable commerce open to the company Sohnapper ; In New Zealand, 2s per dozen ; in Melbourne, 2s 6d to IDs each. Flounders t in New Zealand, 2s per dozen ; in MelbOUfhC, 8s to IGs fid per dozen, Garfish : In New Zealand, Id per doaen; in Melbourne, 7s to 25s per bucket, frevalli: In New Zealand, Is to 2s 6d per dozen ; in Melbinrne, 18 to 2s each. Mullet: In New Zealand, Is to 2s per dozen ; in Melbourne 7s to 17s per basket. Whitebait: fn New Zealand, 6J per gallon (bucket). Hapuka (fiOlbs): In New 'Zealand, 3s eaob. Bed cod : In New Zealand-, $d to 9d each. Blue cod : In New Zealand, fid lo Is eaob. Butter fish : In New Zealand, 6s per dozen. (The five latter species are not in the Melbourne market.) Soles in New Zer. land, Is tn 9s each; in Melbourne, not -quoted, These prices are copied from actual market reports in the New Zealand and Melbourne papere of a recent date. They are sometimes lower in New Zealand and often higher in Melbourne.

It is stated that a Feilding gentleman has produced a composition to take the place of salt in the preservation M butter. It is claimed that the composition, which will shortly be patented, effectually removes «U water and buttermilk, and keeps tha buttenn a firm state.