LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 318, 29 June 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Several solicitors leave Gisborne tor Tologa Bay in time to attend the Land Court on Monday. A football match, Pakehas v. Maoris, is set down for this afternoon. The Maoris ore said to be doing all the football ploy in Wairoa this season, the Europeans appearing to have given it best, Mr Booth, R M., returned from the Coast yesterday, the wintry weather having made his journey the reverse of a picnic.

Many settlers will regret to learn of the death of Mrs Browne, wife of Mr W. F. Browne, formerly in charge of the Akuakn native school. Mrs Browne died atWhakatane, of typhoid fever, working on a frame exhausted by constant nursing of other sufferers.

Mr Walker informs us that Monday’s shock of earthquake was not felt up the Coast, or at any rate he knew nothing of it until he came to Gisborne, not even having heard mention of it in Tologa Bay, On Thursday Mr A. Hatton sustained a nasty accident owing to the reativeness of a young horse he was driving in the butcher’s trap, Mr Hatton fell, and the wheel went over him, three of his ribs being broken.

A business announcement from Messrs Bull and Bon will appear in our advertising columns, and those who are about to plant fruit and ornamental trees, flowering plants, etc,, would do well to study it. Messrs Bull and Sun's nursery is a great credit to Gia. borne, and that firm is well able to supply the best articles, and afford a large number of varieties to choose from,

We have received from Messrs Baker Bros., auctioneers and land agents, of Wellington, their list of properties for sale and to let. It is in pamphlet form and contains twentyeight pages of closely-printed information in regard to properties for sale or to let. Any. one desirous of seeing the list may do so at our office.

Mr Hare advertises an important subject for the Sunday night lecture in the Theatre, “' Ye must be born again on tho new birth ’: What doos it mean ? Is it a reasonable conclusion ? What evidence is there to show when it takes place ?” These are important questions, and must make an enquiry in thoughtful minds.

On the morning before the recent shock of earthquake there was a curious thing occurred at Matawhero. A lot of earthworms were seen making their way towards Mr Kydd’s blacksmith shopi as if attracted towards the light or warmth, This caused much wonderment at the time, as nothing of the kind had previously been heard of. It was thought to be an indication of bad weather, though tiia day was a bright oca, but when the shock cf earthquake occurred that was set down aa the cause, The water in the Waipaoa river was observed to rush backwards and bank against itself to the height of several inches. The shock was not felt in Wairoa. A party who has just come through from the Walhou Lakes informs us that there is no question about Mr Arundel’s statements in regard to the earth tremors at Tiniroto. The Coast mailman must have an exceedingly enjoyable time of it—" enjoyment " like that of the thorns laughing and cackling under the pot, only that it lacks the warmth, a little of which might ba acceptable. Mr Walker says that on his last trip it was nothing but rain, rain, muck and slush, and his mud-bespattered costume when he arrived on Thurday night would hardly have been considered presentable at a select dancing party. Still the genial John, So our Coast correspondent certifies, really seems to thrive despite hie encounters with the boisterous elements, At anyrate everyone has it good word to say for him as ie the way in which ho Carries out his Work) Slid at this end of the journey we can fully endorse the seiiti. idsnta of car UMst correspondent. 1

The Napier Park races will be held to day. Mr Allan McDonald left for England, by the Tainui, on Thursday. A rumor was current in town yesterday that a young lad named Ruben Connor had been drowned at the Mohaka, He left last week, in company with three or four other young men tor Napier. The Guardian says that Major Westrup’s Wairoa friends will be very glad to loam of the testimonial presented to that gentleman by settlers of this district. There is danger of further trouble in connection with the Seamen’s Union, but it is believed to have been averted by a compromise. The Union objected to the employment of coolies on the Bothwell Castle, and the compromise is that they shall bo discharged on the vessel's return from Sydney in a fortnight hence.

The following trial fifteen (against Napier) has been selected to play against the Maori team to-day: —Full back : J. Morgan ; threequarters : Skeet, Staite, L, Rees; halves : Snow and A, Rees; forwards: Leslie, Lewig, Lysnar, Marshall, Crowford, E. Rees, Langford, H, Maude, and Hepburn; emergencies: Button, Rowley, Johnstone, and Priestly. The above team is subject to alteration. The Union Literary Society met as usual on Thursday evening, Owing to the bad weather the attendance was small, but a very pleasant hour was passed in reading several contributions from the “ Waste Paper Basket.” For next Thursday a debate has been arranged on the subject “ Is Government by Universal Suffrage beneficial to the State ?” Mr DeLautour maintains the affirmative, and Mr Kenny the negative. About noon on Thursday a boat was capsized near the end of the breakwater pier, and its occupants had a most unpleasant time of it, besides a spice of danger. Mr Hansen (milkman, of Makauri), together with his two sons, had been out fishing, and ths boat getting caught in a big breaker, was overturned, and those who were in it were left floundering in the surf. They managed to scramble up the side of the pier all right. It was well for the unfortunates that the tide was not running swiftly at the time, for just nt the spot there is generally a very fast current, against which, if in a seaward direction, tho strongest swimmer might battle in vain,

Intelligence has recently been received in Sydney telling of another gallant action by British seamen. Letters from H,M. Swiftsure, flagship of the Pacific squadron, which arrived at San Francisco on the 2nd Ultimo, state that while the ship was at Acapulco she had out a spring made fast to a rock in the harbour, A boat aonteinimg seventeen persona put off from the shore to visit the ship, but when about 00 yards from the Swiftaure the boat caught on ths spring and capsized, and all the occupants were thrown into the water. The boats put off from the flagship to the rescue, and Commander Percy Hookin jumped overboard in full uniform to assist in saving life. All in the boat were saved with the exception of one young lady, Wool men will be interested to hear that an important alteration has just been made in the United States wool tariff. The new Secretary has ruled against the policy of his predecessor on the admission of‘‘wool tops," This means that hereafter broken wool tops—a preparation of combed wool—are not to ha admitted as “ waste " by paying 10 cants a pound tariff, but as scoured wool " in other than ordinary condition." The material thus prepared has been made subject to a duty of 60 cents per pound. This ruling will undoubtedly operate to lessen the force of competition which which has for several years proved embarrassing to the American fine woo! industry. For some time past establishments in Europe have been employed in preparing fine wools for evading payment of full duty under a tariff which no one expected to see perverted in the way it has bean. The American wool growers are therefore jubilant in thus securing the removal of an injustice which they claim to have endured far too long. To the Editor Standabd : Sir, —Now that the address to Major Atkinson has been sent away, and in saying a word or two one cannot be accused of any attempt to decry the well intentioned act of our fellow settlers, I would just like to ask a question. Can many of those who appended their signatures to ths address be sincere? Or have they been led away by a feeling of thankfulness that matters have terminated so satisfactorily ? The address states that but for the Premier's action Te Kooti would have visited the district, and so on. Well, I do not wish to make comment on that point, but I must say it insinuates that those who took a leading part in the movement, even at the risk of being called “rebels,” were guilty of cant, and justify merited Mr Mitchelson’s accusation that it was all bounce. Ido not think anyone will attempt to dispute that it was the determined action of the settlers which forced the hand of Government. Sir Harry Atkinson certainly showed that he was more competent to grasp the Subject than was his colleague, but «‘I read in your paper that that he Was publicly, thanked by the Mayor before he (the Premier) left Gisborne, I think we would have done best to let the matter rest.—lam, etc., Settle®,

Mr John Drummond has been appointed local agent for “ Zealand ia,’’ a monthly magazine devoted to the literature contributed by New Zealand authors. Tho first number is to be published on July 1, and will contain the opening chapters of a New Zealand serial tale entitled “ The Mark of Cain," by Mr Owen Graham ; " Wanderings in Lake-land,” by Mr Malcolm Ross; " A Helpless Spectator,” by Mr W. P. Reeves ; and other interesting contributions, including “Our Girls’ Page” and " Our Boys’ Page.” It is claimed for the Magazine that it will afford an outlet such ns does not at present exist in this colony, and such as is now absolutely needed, for the expression of the views of essayists and leaders of thought of all shades of opinion, in a perfectly independent and neutral organ. The subscription is seven shillings per annum.

A correspondent writes to a contemporary • —Sir—Since you are taking up the subject of Irish “ bulls." perhaps the following will prove acceptable. John Brougham, butter known to us than to his native countrymen an an actor, writer, and wit, proposed it as » possible letter from an Irish gentleman to his son at school: —“ My Dear Son,—l write to send you two pair of my old breeches, that you may have a new coat made out of them. Also some new socks that your mother has just knit by cutting down some of mine. Your mother sends you $lO without my knowledge, and for fear you may not spend it wisely, I hare kept back one-half, and only send you five. Your mother and I are well, except that your sister has got the measles, which wo think would spread among the other girls if Tom .had not had it before, and he is the only one left. I hope you will do honor to my teachings ; if not, you arc an ass, and your mother and myself your affectionate parents.” We have several times lately referred to the misleading messages that are sent from this district to newspapers elsewhere. The following is a recent concoction At twenty-five minutes past one this afternoon two of the heaviest shocks of earthquake ever experienced here occurred j Immediately following, some heavy masonry, from the top of W. Adair’s building fell to the footpath, Just missing a group of four persona standing below. The walls of this and other buildings were bulged somewhat." Such false statemanta do tho place a lot of harm, and the truth was bad enough without painting? it with fiction. All the “ heavy masonry," that fell down from Mr Adair’s building was an ornamental ball on the parapet, which had not been made sufficiently secure in case of a shock like that of Monday last. As to tho other buildings that were “ bulged out» wo have yet to learn of their whereabouts.