LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 298, 14 May 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Yesterday Mr McLoughlin, the contractor for the supply of stone for the Harbor Board, gave notice of his intention to abandon tha contract. A meeting of the Public Works Committee took place yesterday to discuss the matter, but as our representative was not admitted, tha ratepayers may rest assured that they know as much as to the nature of the discussion that took place as we do ourselves. The decision arrived at, we are informed, is that Mr McLoughlin is to keep the stone supply up with the use of drays until the next meeting of the Board, and in the meantime the Engineer is to got the plant in order. If thia is really tha decision it does seem a slipshod way of doing things, and wo shall not bo at all surprised to hoar of tho works being again stopped for the want of stone. It will take about £3Q to get tho line put in order before the end of the main'and is reached, and it may bo considered a piece of good fortune that ths £70!) crane has not toppled over and been smashed beyond repair; other portions of the Board's property have also been left lying about in a way that looks the reverse of workmanlike. The line had been taken more then half way across the connection will? Tuamotu Island, and through an attempt to do the work too cheaply, assisted by the destructive elements, it is now in a sorry mess, a couple o! chains of rails being swerved to right angles, lying higgledy-piggledy, and the fascines and stays of the other pans being mostly washed away. To make a good job of the thing it is probable that the }ine from where McLeod knocked oft’will have to bs al! made over again. Whatever tbe final result may be it seems that tho ratepayers will be snffarers to a cons dsrabic extent. Tha importance of tho mat'er ought certainly to warrant more immediate action than that upon which the Board's Oommittse appears to bo resolved.

A report was cirolated in town yesterday morning to tho effect that a Maori man had been drowned while crossing the Big River, but he turned up in Gisborne later on looking as jolly as a sandboy, and when last heard of was treating himself to a picnic in town. He had been washed off the saddle while crossing the river, but .managed to swim ashore and then caught his horse again, tho Maori no doubt singing, in his own language, “ Willow, titwillow, etc.” A general meeting of intending members of the Union Gymnasium Club takes place in the Holy Trinity Sunday-school room tc.night, There is promise of a strong membership, and the Club is likely to be of much service in the community, which has hitherto been singularly deficient in tha provision for the youthful ‘ population, Rules will be submitted to-night and officers appointed for the management of the Club, which is not restricted to members of the Church. There were two tenders received by the Park Company yesterday, for tho erection of a grandstand and other works, Mr W. O, Skeet ti ndeted nt £BB9, end Messrs Little and C”. (j( £075, Tljs fornjer tender was

An interesting article entitled “ Is suicide justifiable? 1 ’ will be found on our fourth page.

Tenders are invited for the supply of 10,000 to 20,000 bricks for the freezing works.

A strange accident has befallen a young lady, the niece of the Mayor of Cherveux She was playing with a little child on her lap when she suddenly threw back her head and remained motionless. A hair-pin bad penetrated her skull. She never recovered consciousness, and expired a short time afterwards.

At the public reception of the Governor and his wife in Wellington, Lady Onslow wore a handsome dress of sapphire blue velvet, with pleated white vest, and a small neat bonnet to match the dress, trimmed with a long spray of stephanotis, She wore tan gloves and patent leather shoes, and carried a bouquet of chrysanthemums. We are pleased to be able to inform our readers that the third section of concrete was put in successfully on Thursday last at the Minerva Company’s bore. Whilst waiting for the concrete to harden the men are fitting in the new main sill,

An Auckland paper says that McQuarrie is to be tried at the Gisborne Supreme Court. This we believe is a mistake ; we do not expect to see him in Gisborne at all—excepting he is not convicted.

A Wellington telegram states:—Tha following is the result of the general knowledge law examination, in the order of meritßarristers : W. E. Bruoe, Auckland ; M. Donnelly, Christchurch ; T. M. Hilford, Wellington ; W. Meldrum, Auckland; J. A. Cassidy, Christchurch. Solicitors : A. Wylie, Wellington ; E. R. Reese. Auckland ; T. 8. Bassett, Auckland ; H. W. Batger, Wellington ; G. B. Ritchie, Christchurch; T. H. Wilson, Auckland ; W. Crow, Dunedin. Two bakers were fined half-a-crown and costs at Newry for working at their trade on Sunday. It is 40 years since a similar conviction took place in Ireland. The brigantine Clansman still remains an unsightly spectao'e on the beach. The impression appears to bn that the purchaser is too economic in tho present tense, and that the longer the vessel lies where she is the less chance there is of her ever again taking her stately course through the placid Waters of the Pacific. In another column Messrs Sandlant Bros, have an announcement of their carriage building and blacksmith business, which is carried on in the premises formerly occupied by Mr Tharratt. These enterprising young men are well deserving of success, and tho excellent work which they gat out certainly entitles them to it, All new work guaranteed for twelve months. Painting, repairing, trimming, etc., are undertaken at the most reasonable rates.

All that was needed yesterday, besides the interruption of steam communication, was a breakage in the telegraph wires, and an asylum wotjld have been a necessary addition to our public buildings, the residents of Gisborne being so “mad” at tho steamers passing by when there was so little reason for it,

At tha Trust Commissioner's Court yesterday, Mr Booth granted a transfer of Kaiti sections 145 and 149, from Ani Waaka to T. J. Dickson, and also to a deed of conveyance of Kaiti section 123, from Mere Karaka to A, J. Fyson.

General Burke is one of the most prominent among the old Fenians now in the States. “ Irishmen here,” says he, “ have lost all confidence in I’arllamentary agitation to redress Irish wrongs. ”

The first big match of the local football season takes place next Saturday, when the two leading clubs try conclusions, the Rovers and the Gisborne. The Rovers team will be picked from the following.l. Down, Simon, Skeet, Rua, Lemuel (Captain), Fairley, Wade, Leslie, King, Nepia, O. Lewie, Weka, Riki, Marshall, Austin, Arundel, Heruwina, and Hemi. Sergeant Bullen was not catried on by the Manapouri, because he happened to go to Napier by the small boat and then the big boat did not'eall in on her way North, The Sergeant seems to enjoy “ life on the ocean wave,” for he hardly ever goes by steamer but he takes a ride hither and thither over the briny deep. There is already on record the third time that Sergeant Bullen has been tossed from port to port without getting to the one for which he started, and when he steps aboard ship he gets as much lost to public notice—or earns it—as a celebrated man of oil of whose whereabouts nobody but the Divine Being appears to have knowledge. A critical correspondent points out ths fact that out of 46 “ so-called locals ” in our oouteinporary'e issue of Saturday evening, only two can be said to have any reference to local affaire, 11 the one dealing with an insane Maori, and the other with a passing passenger who is not even said to have been ashore!” The burden of our correspondent's complaint is that he wants au explanation, but surely ho does not expect us to explain, or excuse our contemporary’s shortcomings, and at the same time be answerable for our own, We might just as we'l be asked to explain how an enquiry wh'oh was not worth reporting was yet considered of sufficient importance for a leading article, but if our correspondent thinks that we ean afford to notice, let alone explain, all the idiosyncrasies of our contemporary, he is mistaken. Gisborne people are beginning to wonder what has come over the captains of the Union boats when they choose to give us the go-by with only the poorest excuse for doing so. On Friday Captain Sinclair passed by on his way South, when the sea was not nearly so bad as it has been on other occasions when Captain Kennedy has successfully done lightering work' and Oapiain Neil has taken the passengers to and fro in tha Snark. But there is an impression—with what justifioatiou we are not prepared to state—that Captain Sinclair has no love for the Bay, and is not at all displeased when he has a shadow of excuse for passing, it by. On Sunday afternoon those on the breakwater oould plainly see tha Manapeuri on her course to Auckland. There appeared at first to be an intention of coming in, and then the vessel was observed to steam on majestically towards the Nortlu with a good gale behind her. In tho Bay, however, the sea was only unusually choppy; certainly there was nothing to deter a Union boat coming in end being tendered. Tho worst the sea oould have done would have been to make a landlubber sick, yet besides the great inconvenience that has to be submitted to, the hqrbor is given a bad name when there is no justification for i*, There was no doubt a very rough sea outside, and it was probably from this experience of the elements that tha captains based their judgments, but th4t is a sorry contemplation for us in our present mood.

The confusion over the election of Road Boards is just as great this year as it was last year. In the Auckland district some of ihe Boards seen] to have got into a complete muddle. In a recent issue of the N.Z. Herald the following appears I — We printed a telegram which Mr A, Jack, of the Wade, has received from Mr Sparrey, Property Tax Oomtnissioncr,; to the effect that the’ratepayers' roll for the Road Board elections must be compiled from the now assessment roll, and that the e'aotions must be put off till the new rolls were completed. Ou seeing this, Mr Seaman, who is returning officer for several Road Boards, wired to Mr Sporrey that the elections were taking place at the date laid down in the Act, under the existing roll, and asking if the elections would not be valid, Mr Sperrey's answer was somewhat singular, as he stated that he could not answer questions as to the interpretation of the law. Mr Seaman his ootri municated with the Colonial Secretary on tho subjro*. It is very singular that Mr Sporrey should have given a very authoritative statement as to the law to Mr Jack, while ho directly after tells Mr Seaman that he declines to answer such questions. However, returning officers have but one course to pursue. The Act specifies that tho elections must take place in the first week of May, and as the new rolls are not made up, the only roll which can be used is the one which is in existence, The Aofc presumes that tho now rolls should bo ready at the required time, which is the first week iu

At the Mutual Improvement Society last night two essays were read—“ Slang ” by Miss Lee, and “ Spare Moments ” by Miss May Steele. Both essays were first attempts and as such were very creditable. As Miss Sylvester is detained in Gisborne, on account of the interruption in steam oominunicaiion with the South, the management of the City Rink has decided on giving her a benefit to-night. Many have expressed a wish that Miss Sylvester should give another performance before leaving Gisborne, and their wish will thus be gratified. Tbe admissions to all parts of the Bink has been fixed at a shilling. A telegram from Hong Kong gives advice of a collision of two vessels off the Philippine Islands, the result of which was that over s xty persons were drowned and many injured. Persons suffering from affliction of the eyes have now an opportunity of consulting Dr. Kurreem Bux, an Indian Specialist, who has lately arrived from England, and may be consulted at the Su tlers’ Hotel. No charge is made until the patient has been three days under treatment.

The N. Z, Herald says ;—lt would appear that since that time (the arrest of To Kooti) Inspector Goodall has found that he could not work harmoniously with the looal authorities having charge of native matters, and he therefore requested that he might be removed from the district. There is no question but that on the occasion referred to, Inspector Goodall, under very trying circumstances, displayed great firmness in the execution of his duty, and earned for himself the most unqualified approval of ail the settlers. At Kenepuru, Marlborough, the skeleton of a paroquet that is supposed to have fallen into a nest of bees, and was stung to death by those insects or smothered io the honey, has been found.

An inmate of the penitentiary at Salem, Oregon, his cut off his hand in order to get a spell of idleness. First on his way to the penitentiary he told the officer that he did not intend working while in gaol. He was then assigned to the foundry. On tho first day he burnt his foot, Afterwards he asserted he was sick, and, when this was found not to be the case, he mutilated himself, Ho used a hatchet, and made two blows at the hand before he accomplished his purpose.

An extraordinary story is reported from Bl mon t, a small town in Moutana, A boy, while teasing a oat, conceived the idea that it would be great fun to sot it on fire. He applied a match and tho fur Instantly blazed up. The tortured and frightened animal rushed about tha house, setting fire to curtains and other inflammable things which camo in its way, until at length tha whole house was in a blaze. Tha youthful miscreant himself managed to escape, but three of his little brothers and sisters were burnt to cinders, The death of Mr Edison would be a serious blow to science, Yet the other day a terrain, ation might have been put to his useful career by the explosion of a pot of chemicals in his laboratory. Fortunately, he avoided the full force of the explosion, but his eyes are slightly injured. Considering the daring nature of many of the experiments made by Mr Edison it is 4 wonder that he is still alive.

The following, dated Matata, Friday, May 3, is explanatory of a brief telegram sent to Gisborne!—Three natives (brothers) left here on Monday to hunt pigs in the bush, above Te Humuhika. One of them returned to Te Humuhika late yesterday evening. He had no clothes on, and was quite out of his mind. He oould give no information of the other two. A search party left here early yesterday morning, and about two o’clock the party found three horses and dogs, also the place where the two brothers must have passed part of tha night on Tuesday or Wednesday. The blankets and clothes that were found were covered with vomit, and it was then ascertained that all of them must have been poisoned by eating honey that they had obtained from a tree not far from the spot, After some time they tracked the two brothers down the hill to the ereek, at the bottom, where they found the eldest brother, Pare, in the creek, quite dead, and about two chains below they found the clothes of the otber brother. The party continued to search up till a late hour, but without success. The whole tribe are going this morning to search for the one stiff living. There were six brothers of this family, and great sympathy is felt both by Europeans and natives for the poor old mother and the young wife of Pere, the one that was found in the creek dead. A later message said :—News has just come to hand that Te Ngarara, the younger brother, was found two hours ago jammed in the rocks about half way down the waterfall, which is at least eight feet high. They must have left to go to the creek at the same time after feeling bad with the honey, Both bodies were found within three chains of each other,

It ie painful to think that a few black sheep are disgracing the whole of the Volunteer corps of New Zealand. It a few of these blackguards got subjected to the stiff old methods of “the cat” and the shackles the corps would soon ba freed of the stigma whioh has now been cast upon them—not upon individual corps only, for the good has also to suffer wilh the bad, A Wellington correspondent telegraphs:—Tho Auckland volunteers are not, I regret, singular in manifesting a disposition veiy uneo’diarlike on public occasions, when their discipline should ba conspicuous. Several of the Wellington volunteers who took part in the ceremonial appointed to welcome his Excellency, are credited, or, I should say, discredited, with imputations of unseemly conduct towards their officers. It is said that the subject will form matter for enquiry. It appears that a squad of volunteers had just beau dismissed from parade when one of their officers rode by. Ha was saluted with slang eal’s of “ Majah,” apparently approved of by the whole of the volunteers presept. Tffe officer, Major Loveday, rebuked this insolent conduct, and informed them that this larrikin behaviour would be reported in the proper quarter, It is said that the affair will receive official censure st the next general parade.—lf “ official eensure" is all the “ punishment ” to ba inflicted on these overgrown larrikins it is time tho public were exempted from the burden of subsidising such schools of blackguardism, for if there are many more instances of this sort of thing respectable qpd soldierly corps will prefer to disband rather than bear the contempt which tho few black sheep will eventually, if the scandalous conduct is not cheeked, bring upon the Volunteer service generally,