LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 299, 16 May 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A quantity of sporting, telegraphic, and general news appears on our fourth page. The County Council meets to-morrow afternoon.

The privileges in connection with the Waerenga-a-hika Jockey Club’s forthcoming meeting will be sold on Saturday morning. The Harbor Board are issuing summonses this week for all overdue rates for 1888.

At 11 a.m. on Saturday next. Messrs Graham, Pitt and Bennett dispose of the balance of Major Porter’s household furniture.

The Gisborne Congregational Church will shortly again have the services of a resident minister. The Rev. Herbert Livens, who has been stationed in Parnell (Auckland) for about two is the gentleman selected, and will be in Gisborne about the last Sabbath of the present month. From what we learn of the Rev. Mr Liven’s abilities, his selection is likely to give much satisfaction in Gisborne.

There have been meetings in Auckland, Napier, and other places to arrange for a visit from Mr Dillon, who is now travelling through the colonies in the interest of the Home Rule movement. Mr Dillon is almost certain to pay Gisborne a visit while on his rounds, so that the great problem with regard to Ireland will be brought more pro minently under our notice than hitherto.

Some time since (says the Sydney Mail) the backers of John M’Lean talked of a match with Searle, the champion. Early in this week the subject was again opened and a well-known supporter of M’Lean offered to take £6OOO to £lOOO and make a match. The proposal was at once accepted and a deposit tendered, but time to consult other parties was asked. However, after some consideration ths challenge was withdrawn. This would have been a very large stake, probably the largest yet rowed for. What chance M’Lean would hava is not considered at all a good one, for he has not yet shown either form or speed enough to row alongside the champion for a quarter mile. At the Police Court yesterday the information laid by Eliza Lucy Webb against W. Maher, for stealing a, walking stick, was dismissed. John Heaphy, of Ormond, was charged on the complaint of his wife, with failing to comply with an order previously made for the support of his children. After taking the evidence the Bench dismissed the charge. There was a good attendance at the City Rink on Tuesday night, when a benefit was accorded Miss Mabel Sylvester, the champion lady skater. She acquitted herself with the same success as on previous occasions, and the more that is seen of her the more her performances seem to be admired. There were a good many amateur skaters enjoying themselves during the evening and the popularity of the Rink is as great as ever. Miss Sylvester leaves for South to-morrow.

A telegram was received from the Napier Fire Brigade yesterday stating that they will send a team of six men to compete at local competition on the 24th inst. Up to the present twenty-seven competitors from outside have expressed their intention of taking part.

An effort was made yesterday afternoon to get the brigantine Clansman over on her starboard side, but just as the vessel was moving Rome of the gear gave way, which could not be repaired till low tide, and Mr McLeod, who has taken over the work, will make another attempt to-day. If successful he will patch the vessel up prior to floating her off,

Friday, the 24th of May (Queen’s Birthday)* will be observed by the postal branch as a close holiday. The mails usually closing on that day will be closed on the previouseveniug at 7, and a special delivery of town letters over the post-office counter will also be made on the Thursday evening, between 7 and 8 o’clock. The Telegraph branch will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., and from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A telegram, published in Gisborne, to the effect that Mr Balfour “ was absolutely aware that Home Rule would be granted to Ireland within five years,” should have read : “ He would maintain his present policy towards Ireland even if he were absolutely aware that Home Rule would be granted within five years.” There is a remarkable difference in the two versions, but to put the first version into Balfour’s mouth would be like asking a goose to eat straw.

A witness in the R.M. Court yesterday morning refused to be sworn before he got his expenses—“ not even if you put me in gaol, sir I” The witness reiterated his intention several times, and on being remonstrated with by the Bench he still held to it. Mr Booth however cautioned him he must commit him for contempt unless he would give his evidence in the ordinary way, and after a little more talk he caved in, and meekly said “ I suppose I must, Sir 1” This caused a titter in Court, which brought a rebuke from the Bench, that it was no laughing matter. Evidently the witness himself was not abashed if his frequent winking to some one in Court could be taken as a guide. Another inebriated visitor to the Court, but not a witness', felt, himself called upon to make some remark, and subsequently found himself under the fatherly wing of a constable, making for the lock- up. The prime movers in the Holy Trinity Church Union ought to consider the advisableness of giving to their building a name that is compatible with the modern taste for brevity in names that require to be often used. When the paragranhist has to sit down and write that “the Union Literary and Debating Society met last night in the Holy Trinity Sunday school building,” he begins to think that it is time to stop, if he finds himself confined to limited space. Why not call it the Union Building, or some name that does not take ones breath away before he can give voice to it ?

Mr Irving Bishop, the famous thought reader, has gone to a land where his strange powers will be lost in mystery. In plain English he is dead.

The son of Mr J. S. Cooper, who was thrown from his horse a week ago, at Waerenga-a-hika, regained consciousness on Tuesday, and is now fairly progressing towards recovery. A late Berlin telegram states that the Westphalia colliers refuse to agree to the conditions of the masters, who arfe willing to give an increase of wages, but still hold out for the eight hours’ system. The Emperor William will receive a deputation from the colliers in a day or two.

A meeting of the Union Library and Debating Society will be held at the Hnly Trinity Sunday school room to-night, at 8.0, when officers for the ensuing year will be appointed. A lecture on Chess ” will be given by the Rev. J. E. Fox. and all are invited to attend. The favor with which the proposal has been m°t indicates an useful and prosperous career for the Society.

The annual social meeting in connection with the Presbyterian Literary Society was held on Tuesday evening. Among those who contributed to the evening’s entertainment were—Misses Evans, Sutherland, Hyett, and Warren, and Messrs Armstrong, Goldsmith, Turnbull, J. Johnstone, and Scott. Short addressee were delivered by the President (Rev. J. McAra), Mr R. N. Jones (Secretary of the Mutual Improvement Society), and Mr Birrell (a recent arrival from Scotland, and formerly Secretary of a flourishing Literary Society in the old country).

A Wellington paper says A curiosity may be seen in the window of Mr Evans, saddler, Lambton Quay, in the shape of a small piece of leather tanned from the skin of an Australian “black fellow.” The leather was obtained by Mr Evans during the time of the Melbourne Exhibition. It appears that a Victorian medico with a penchant for grim treasures, secured three pieces of human skin, of a white man, a Chinee and a blaokfellow respectively, and had them tanned and con* verted by a Melbourne saddler into purses. The piece in Mr Evans’ window is, he states, a corner out oft one of the tanned skins in preparing it for a purse,