LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 320, 4 July 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A meeting of the Harbor Board, adjourned from Tuesday evening, will be held at three this afternoon. The Town Clerk gives notice that hawkers, carters, and others must renew their licenses on or before Saturday next. A London message says a New South Wales loan of three and a half million at 3J per cent with a maximum ot 102 is announced. Meetings have bean at Nelson, Oamaru, and Wanganui and resolutions passed against the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill. Mr E. F. Harris has land lor sale in lots from 200 to 10,000 acres, principals only being dealt with. Mr J. Robb is holding a clearing sale of paints, paper, etc., and a notification in reference thereto appears in our advertising columns. During the voyage of the ship Loch Eek, from London to Sydney, a sailor named Hume fell from aloft and died from injuries received, A sailor named Rye was Inst overboard during the voyage of the ship Orontes from London to Sydney, What is the beat way of testing brandy ? At the R.M. Court yesterday, Sergeant Bullen relied solely on the virtue of his nasal organs, hut there are many who will still maintain that the old way is the best. Dr Pollen's name has been mentioned as one of the Government nominees on the Harbor Board, hut no official information on the subject has yet been received, At a meeting of the Foresters' Lodge on Tuesday evening the balance sheet for last quarter was submitted and approved of. The funds show a total of £lO2B. The installation of officers also took place. Bro. W, J. Fox, who was elevated to the Chair, congratulated the members on their financial position. The Registrar’s report was freely discussed, and the Court felt they had no apprehension as to the result of their next valuation. The assets in the bankrupt estate of 8. Evinson, hotelkeeper, are set down as follows: Book debts (£lB la 4d) valued at £3; furniture £3O *, total, £55, Liabilities : A. O. Davies (Napier), £8 18s ; G. Matthewaon, £5 7a 0d; Napier Telegraph, £3 2a 61 ; A. B. Muir, 18s ! W. F. Crawford, £l9l 9s 81 | Hatton and Score, £9, Ils lid | Dr, Innes, £fl Ifls i T. Scrivener, £53 | G. Carrington, 10a | J. Whinray, 18s, Total : £2BO 12s lOd | leaving a deficiency ot £223 12s lOd. An up-country paper in Otago says that In its district 11 the ploughing match is the next excitement." In reference to this one newspaper remarks I “ People who get excited Over a ploughing match would go completely wild over a funeral." For our part, we may be prepared to admit that a ploughing match is not quite so exohing ac a bulldog fight, but we should much rather see ploughing matches in this district than the horse-racing and other gatherings that so much money is spent upon. Thera was no quorum at the Harbor Board on Tuesday night, those present being the Chairman and Messrs Shelton and Townley. The mealing was adjourned until this afternoon, tbs payments being passed as follows : — Wharfages, £l6 Us 2d ; weighbridge keeper, £1 s Wingate, Burns and Co., £8 Ss 0d ; E. Spurdie, £llBs6d i Kennedy and Evans, £3i Ifls ?d j Brown and Smaill, £93 15s) T. Adams, £3 9? | 3. A. Harding, £5 6s lid i U.S.S. Co,, £6: P, McLoughlin, £54 0a 41; 3. Mullsße, £3 13a 9d j wages account., £227 12s 9!. The usual weekly meeting ot St. Andra»ia« Literary Society was held on Tuesday evening, when short essays wore read—by Miss G. Adair," Running into debt"; Miss Sutherland, “ Under the Bea ” —and were well received by the members present. The first paper was rather short, but was well compiled, and contained some very good advice to ths business mon of the town, attributing running into.debt to the easy manner in which credit' can be obtained, “Under the Sea" was a> capital paper, containing a large amount ot information, and reflecting careful study iu preparation, After the finish of the business, a letter jfom the secretary of the Union was read, inviting St. to send delegates to the , the compliment should bo that such arrange- 1 ,'sr P'ornote gorj*. to each it to

the^ 0 CWW clauses, rating. No ehanlH passing. Send also copies! Dell's-opinion re same, " Agix casks'of Dunedin beer were seized by Jne Customs authorities on Monday morning, for not having the necessary duty stamps •affixed.- The beer was consigned to Mr R. 'Finlay. The brewers have been communicated vith, but as yet no reply has been received. The first annual general meeting of the shareholders of The Gisborne Standard Newspaper: Company, Limited, will be hold at the end of ibis month. The Fin Brigade bad a wot practice with the manual engine last night, and after practice the men were complimented by Superintendent Townley for the manner in which they went through the work. The School Committee met last night. It was decided to take immediate action against parents who did not allow their children to attend the school regu arly. Resolved that the midwinter holidays commence tomorrow. Sundry repairs were ordered to be done during the week’s vacation. Accounts amounting to £l5 4s 3<l were passed for payment. The force of habit was illustrated in the R.M. Court yesterday. The Sergeant of Folice was in the witness box, and an individual came into Court with his hat on. The Sergeant at once ordered him to take it off, forgetting that he himself was then a witness.

In connection with the enormous export of wheat which took place from Gisborne in the olden days, and to which we referred the other day, it is interesting now to note that all the implements used were spades and hoes. What a pitiable contrast with the state of things at present existing !

A shooting accident, which resulted fatally, to an American seaman, occurred at Apia, on the 10th instant. Several Americans were in a saloon when the proprietor, a Garman named Voigt, took down bis revolver for the purpose of frightening some natives who ware making a “ row " outside, Through careless handling, it is supposed, a charge exploded, and the ball passed through the breast of one of the sailors, who was killed instantly, A crowd gathered quickly, and Voigt was in danger of violence but for the intervention of the dead man’s comrades who had witnessed the accident, The German Consul was holding an inquiry into the matter when the mail left Apia. The success which Miss Von Finkelstein is achieving in Queensland led to a singular dispute. In consequence of the Crowded audiences which the lady's living pictures ot Eastern life attracted in Townsville, " the northern capital," as the Separationisle call it, the School of Arts committee decided to fix the rent of the ball at the amount paid by dramatic companies. Miss Von Finkelstein protested against being classed as an actress; but the president of the School of Arts asserted that she was the finest actress that had ever visited Queensland. The dispute caused a long newspaper discussion, nearly everybody siding with the popular lecturers; and the Protestant Ministers' Association of Northern Queensland presented her with an address of sympathy which expressed a wish that she would pay Townsville another visit.

The indefatigable Mr John Thompson (lata R.E.) will probably never cease to labor for the public good while he is gifted with the breath of life. He may not have been well treated by the local bodies, but his persevering disposition has not yet been repressed. His superior knowledge in regard to anything concerning road metal has stamped him as an authority with whose word few would attempt to dispute, but the people of Gisborne are always slow in grasping a new fact, and it is an almost hopeless task to endeavor to impress them with a knowledge of their own resources. The roads may be in a bog for the want of stone, and yet there be plenty of stone if Councillors only knew where to find it. Mr Thompson has brought us a sample of stone which he has taken from Hapara South and also from Hapara West. The stone is of excellent quality, and Mr Thompson believes it could be obtained in any quantity—indeed, he feels certain that there is a large belt of it which might easily be struck. Yet he informs us that one contractor is carting stone from the beach and then away up a hill, when all the time this splendid stone is close to where he is working, Truly the thanks of tbs community are due to Mr Thompson for the way he exerts himself in these matters, and many will regret that he has cast his lot in with such ungrateful people, At any rate it will be to the interest of the local bodies to pay some attention to Mr Thompson’s recent discovery.

"Vagabond” tells a good story of his visit to a football field. He says The manner in which the small boys watch and applaud all the points is quite refreshing to witness. The young people of Geelong are nothing if not footballers. I am afraid I shall leave a bad impression amongst some of these. Two most respectable young men are talking together, discussing a debateable point, when I hear one say, *' Ask him, he’s sure to know.” The query is most politely pub to me " Is—, who used to play with the East Melbourne, still alive I have to confess I never even heard of the player in question. There is a look of incredulity on their faces. Afterwards as we drive by, I hear one say, '* He was only putting on side; to which the other replied, '• He’s either a liar or a-—■ fool.” Never more will these footballers have faith in me or my writings! In Geelong, as well as in Carlton, prowess in this lino has brought public recognition, one well known player having been elected town councillor. A Gisborne paper which has ever been fond of exposing the weaknesses of the people of the district in which it is.'published, but. does not allow for their virtues or achievements, has, with Its usual presumtion and disregard of facts, taken upon Itself to accuse our footballers of being women and children ; an accusation intended to oast ignominy upon our young men, and in the same measure Insinuating that women and children must be a puerile set of beings—a reflection on both classes. Of course ths journal referred to quietly omits to give a report of the game that was played on Tuesday evening, when our young men rolled up, and in spite of the fierce wrath of the elements, of the mighty downpour of rain, the mud and slush and all that adds to the discomfiture of life, the robust athletes kicked and scrimmaged and scrimmaged and kicked, until they looked like beings of another world, struggling to see which would have the mastery. One that could call them women and children must himself have been of the third sex, which is understood to refer to that class which is a libel on either sex. If the representative team keep up the hard work they are now doing they will be as fit as can be wished when the time comes round for the match with Hawke's Bay. Yesterday afternoon there was some more good practice, the weather being splendid, and last night nearly a doaen of the trial fifteen did a run of seven miles. Next week they take another long spin. Literary Society,—Debate this (Thursday) evening, on, “Is government by ravage beneficial to the State?" Leaders 1 air DeLsutour and Mr Kenny.—Ad,