LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 280, 30 March 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

On Thursday th* Maori footballers played another match, defeating the Southern Counties of England by three tries to one try.

Messrs W. Weaver, Graham, and Maude returned to town yesterday, after a visit to the Oil Springs. The State School at Greymouth has had to be closed for an indefinite period, owing to the sickness among the children.

Tenders invited for woodwork at Gisborn Foundry until 4 p.m. to-day (Saturday).—Ad,

The Charitable Aid Board has resolved to strike a rate of l-12th of a penny in the £ on the rateable value of property on -all the contributing bodies. Only three civil cases came on for hearing at the R.M. Court on Thursday morning, two of which were struck out and judgment by consent being entered up in a case against a native. After tha conclusion of the murder case Constable Villers applied to the Judge as to whether he should retain possession of the exhibits produced in Court or return them to their respective owners. He was ordered to maintain them in the meantime until the sentence was carried out. Justice Richmond had to make his report on the case to the Governor, and it was possible some of the exhibits might be required. Two interesting subjects are to be taken up at the Tent on Sunday at 3 and 7 p.m. These will oloee the Tent meetings in Gisborne. There will also be a meeting at 8 thia afternoon.

The Jubilee medals that were presented by the Mayor to the school children are now being passed for pennies. The gilt has worn off, leaving the copper bare, and the medal can easily be mistaken for a penny. As some four thousand of these tokens were given away at the celebration of the jubilee, t may be expected that there will be a large circulation of this bogus Coin.—Napier Telegraph.

On Thursday afternoon, on a question arising as to whether the charge against Mossman for sheepstealing might not be taken before the Chief Justice on account of the illness of a material witness for the prosecution (Mr Campbell Thomson), Mr Justice Richmond said he thought the Chief Justice would have no objection if it were agreeable to the parties. The reason he bad not taken the Criminal sittings was that in the event of a verdict of guilty having bsen found against Haira Ta Piri, the cue would necessarily some before him as Administrator of the Government whan the Executive were considering whether the death sentence should be carried out.

The prospectus of the Co operative Colonising Association (Limited) has been issued. The capital is £lOO,OOO in 100,000 shares of £1 eatm, 6s being payable on allotment and the remainder in one month. Power is reserved to increase from time to time. Of the first issue of 100,000 ordinary shares, 15,000 will be reserved as part payment for properties to be required ; 30,000 will be reserved for a peried of time at the discretion of the council for allotment to the industrial classes, the co-operative and other associations ; 15,000 are reserved for intending settlers, and the remaining 40,000 are offered to the public for subscription. The council consists of Messrs. Frederick A. Beer, David Crombie, the Rev. A. Styleman Herring, Willoughby Mullins, Wi Pare, and Alfred D, Basson. Mr. W. L. Rees is[the manager; Mr. J. E. Cracknell, the deputy^manager; Mr> John R, Day It th* sewetary.

It is stated that Te Kooti has broken his Blue Ribbon pledge. The Mararoa left Wellington at 7 o’clock last night, for Napier and Gisborne.

The New Zealand Bible, Tract, and Book Society have opened a depit, in the premises next the Theatre Royal, with -a large collection of Prize Books, Wall Cards, Church and Sunday School Material, Family Pew and Pocket Bibles, in variety of binding. Hymn Books, Prayer Books, etc. Birthday and Reward Cards. Inspection invited.—Ad.

The City Rink will probably be open for skating purposes to-night. The skates are not likely to require oiling, as the floor will be extra " easy ’’ after the ball last night. The weather could not be better for skating or dancing.

A correspondent writes :—Sir, —Although no doubt children playing round about the Salvation Army outdoor gatherings are a great nuisance to the soldiers, still such conduct does not justify such violence on the part of the [members of that body as was exhibited on Thursday evening. A well connected boy [of between six and seven years of age incurred the displeasure of one soldier, who seized the youngster by the throat and then flung him with great force upon the ground. This ebullition of temper was certainly not creditable to one who preaches the doctrine of peace and goodwill, and was calculated to make one believe that the devil has not quite lost his hold upon the individual alluded to.

There arrived from England yesterday three intending settlers, they being the first who have been induced come out here by Mr Rees. They express themselves pleased with the appearance of the town, but of course their knowledge of the district extends no further at present. Most likely they will soon be able to satisfy themselves on this point, and as they appear to be of that sterling class which must help towards the advancement of the district, we hope the late arrivals will be fully successful in their new home.

We are informed that the St Patrick’s ball held in the City Rink last night was a great success from every point of view, and that the Committee have every reason to. feel pleased at the outoome of their efforts. The hall looked splendid, the music was excellent the floor was in good order, and there were about SO couples dancing, and the gallery was fairly filled with onlookers. Some remarks disparaging to New Zealand having been attributed to Principal Grant by some of the Canadian papers, he has authorised the Ottawa Chronicle to say editorially that ■ any references concerning that colony made by him had been of a wholly different character. There is no part of the world that he would advise emigrants to betake themselves to rather than New Zealand, Canada alone excepted; and if Canadians wish to emigrate he would advise them to go to New Zealand, or, at any rate, to inquire about its advantages. The colony is blessed with every variety of healthful climate, with fertile soil, excellent timber and mineral wealth. It grows good cattle, good sheep, and a fine class of men. It has good schools, good churches, and other institutions. Both North and South Islands are good, and as they extend over some 1,200 miles from North to South they differ widely in climate and productions.

O’Donovanßossakas instituted an action for defamation of character, claiming 100,000dol damages against Herman Rider, of the New York Catholic News, who accused him of inviting a gang of ruffians to desecrate his first wife’s grave out of spite to her relatives; of being afraid of collecting an insurance policy on the life of his second wife ; of refusing his starving son 10 cents though asked for God’s sake, to Buy him a sandwich j and of allowing that son to die in a charity hospital and be buried in Potter’s Field. The article further accused him of defrauding servant girls by taking their money and giving them bogus passage certificates to bring relations from Ireland, and charged him with giving secret credentials to James Macdermott to betray and sell men into penal servitude in British prisons. Finally, the article accused Rossa of pocketing 2000dol for his individual benefit, which had been given him to send to the worse than widowed and orphaned dependents of the men whom he and Macdermott consigned to a living grave.

In an article in reference to the recent seizure of brewer’s material, the Post says That the Commissioner of Customs gave absolute instructions to prosecute, we have every reason to believe. Why have they not been carried out? Very ugly rumours are current on the subject, and it is openly stated that official and private influences were brought to bear on the other members of the Ministry to over-rule the decision of the Ministerial head of the department in‘ these and other cases of a. like kind. If the Customs authorities, acting on the advice of their Expert, were justified in seizing the goods, then certainly the importer should be publicly exposed and punished. Seizures have been made also, it is understood, in Dunedin, but nothing more has been heard of them, and the public want to know why this is so. Surely, if any attempt has been made to defraud the revenue, the perpetrators should be punished. The mere forfeiture of the goods is not by any means adequate punishment. Public exposure is demanded, and in justice to every honest trader the names of those who endeavor to make an extra profit by unfair competition should be made known. Of course, an importer who saves 20 to 25 per cent, in the shape of duty can command the market, and not only undersell the honest trader who has paid duty, bat actually make a very muoh larger profit in doing Sv. The Customs authorities owe it to those who pay the duty honestly to give every possible publicity to the names of those who seek fraudulently to evade payment. In the meantime the public is pretty well satisfied that in regard to Customs prosecutions in New Zealand, as well as many other matters, kissing goes by favor. It is not always the most guilty that are punished. Influence is better than innocence, and if) a man has powerful [friends he can, with impunity, do things for which otherwise he would be severely punished. The man of influence may, figuratively, steal a horse and escape punishment, but the non-influential man will be punished if he only looks over the fence.