LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 337, 13 August 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The tender of Mr J. Robb has been accepted for alterations to the premisos lately occupied by Mr E. K. Brown. Father Kehoe was the recipient of a puree of sovereigns on Friday evening last, presented to him by his numerous friends, on his leaving for a trip for the benefit of his health At the Polios Court on Saturday morning Robert Knox was charged with cruelty to animals by keeping some sheep without providing them with sufficient food, From the evidence it appears that the sheep were left in a small paddock on the Kaiti "in charge of one of the defendant’s employees, and that he was supposed to have attended to them. Knox was fined £1 and costs Ils.

Mr Washington Weaver returned from the Oil Springs on Saturday. He reports having raised the pipes to a height of 100 feet, and that another 110 feet will bring them up within the Gin pipe and then it will only be a matter of lifting. James Smith, a Salvationist, on Saturday morning had to pay 31s for not doing unto others as ho would be done by.

He is a man of fiery temperament, and knowing this the larrikins take every opportunity they can to provoke him. He makes an occasional raid on them, much to their enjoyment—when they are not caught—and in a fit of exasperation, he by mistake chastised a Maori boy, who at that particular period at any rate did not happen to be one of his tormentors. The result was that James of the well known cognomen was brought before the earthly tribunal presided over by Mr Booth, the result being as stated above.

At the St Andrew’s Literary Society to night Mr Hugo is announced to lecture’on ’* The Temples of Jerusalem. ” The subject is a very interesting oue, and should the weather be at nil favorable there will no doubt be a large attendance. Thomas Taggart loves (the bottle) too well, but not wisely. Yesterday morning ha again appeared at the Polioo Court to give an account of himself. Mr Booth was perfectly satisfied that nothing less than the forfeiture of twenty shillings, or of 48 hours’ liberty, would be any inducement for him to return to the path of sobriety and virtue. Thomas wanted time to pay the amount, but Sergeant Bullen knew his man better. If it was election time this misguided individual would have a privilege which is denied to the most refined and cultured woman in the country. Yet there are men who will argue that because this has been it should remain so. How interested some men do become Over what may be termed the " small beer ” of life, while they are quite careless in regard to those matters which most deeply concern a community. A raffling case was to come before the Court yesterday; the building was crowded; a disciple of Bacchus was disposed of, and the Court adjourned. Loud were the murmurs of disgust, and bitter the disappointment expressed on each countenance, such whispers as ' hushed up ’ being heard even, it is suspected, by the Bench. The sweet morsel was not to be distributed I However, the case came on in due course, and those who knew the hour fixed had whatever gratification there is to be had in leaving their work to listen to the hearing of such cases.

A Gisborne paper cribbed the following paragraph from the Napier Telegraph, and tried to pass it as a local production While the Mormons are prosleytising the natives along the East Coast, and teaching the virtues of total abstinence from alcohol, the prophets of the Maoris are holding high festival in inland Batea. The latest great and shining light amongst these latter is a young man of the name of Molto. Not so very long ago Moko was a Kai-niald, or, as he would be called on a sheep station, a “ reuseabout,” a hewer ofjwood add a drawer of water, He has now taken to the profession of casting out devils. We do not eunpoae that he attained to the higher walks or deception with the suddenness of some prophets that we have haard of, but his promotion has been fairly rapid, His converts are now numerous ; and ha is recognised as a ” Bs«l among ths prophots ” IB a gathering composed largely of prophets. To thia assemblage have ooms from fat and near the lame, ths blind, the deaf, and the dumb, and women who had no children. Moko desired to signalise himself above all bis brethren; so he Commatided that a deaf and dumb ob>ls should be brought before him, And when the child was brought he shut the boy up In a where for the space of three days and three nights, without food, At the end of that time he called to the child to pome forth before the assembled multitude whom he had jold that the child would come out both speaking and bearing. The experiment was a dismal failure, but the prophet covered his retreat by putting the blame on the assemblage, whom be accused of having no faith. At latest advices from Patea the uroptistg were casting out evil spirits that have teen prevonilag ths psopte b! that dl»» trict frotnmuiiiplyiog their jfiumber even is gs Bu SMfte of the wfe

Mr E. Murphy, the Government nominee to the Harbor Board, has declined to accept the appointment. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Hospital Trustees will be held at the usual hour to-morrow evening, For the first time in ths history of Port Chalmers there were the other day four fullrigged ships lying at the Dunedin wharves, the Visions, Waimate, Caitlock, and Ralston. Since March, when the export of flax to San Francisco commenced, 443 tons of flax have been sent, of which 91 tons was the product of Auckland and 352 of the South, chiefly Wellington. In California it is found that the peach stones burn as well as the best coal, and give out more heat in proportion to weight, Ab the present time the stones taken out of the fruit that is tinned or dried are collected and sail at the rata of twenty-four shillings a ton. Apricot atones also burn, but not so well as peach, and do not command so good a price.

Cremation is apparently coming into favor among the aristocratic classes. Oue of the great territorial owners of London, and the descendant of an illustrious line of dukes, is the latest distinguished convert to the pro-c-83, and has bequeathed £lOOO to the Cremation Society of England, with instructions that his body is to be burnt at Working after death, At Toronto, Ontario, on June 25 fifty persons were prostrated, and fifteen expected to die, from drinking lemonade in the town of Woodstock. Sugar of lead Was found to ba Otte of the ingredients of the drink, which wan served at a big picnic; the druggist having made a careless intetaka in giving that substance for tartaric acid, A crowd started to hunt the druggist to lynch him, after they had raided his shop and scattered his stock broadcast. The rinking carnival on Saturday afternoon and evening was fairly successful. Although the bad weather must have considerably lessened the number present, there was a good attendance of spectators, but the linkers were not very numerous, and with the exception of a few really nice costumes, everything was commonplace. The Gisborne Band played selections during the afternoon and evening, and added greatly to the enjoyment of the occasion. A meeting of the Gisborne Library Committee was held last uight. Present i Messrs Greenwood (in ths chair), Featon, Grant, Morgan, Sceats, and Ak-ayd. The mimites of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Librarian’s report showed an increase of membsrs from 60 to 120 during the month. It was decided that the hours of opening should remain as at present. A committee was appointed to report on the present stock of books with a view of disposing of those little used by readers, and also to draw up a list of new books required.

An alarm of fire made the town look more lively than usual for a short time on Sunday afternoon. A foul chimney in the house occupied by Mrs Martin, in upper Gladstone road, belched forth flames, and they were soon, it was thought, suppressed. But soon after it was discovered that the work had not been completed, and another alarm was given. Matters were again quietened, but not for long, for smoke was then observed coming from the roof. Ths firebella were set going as though the whole town was ablaze; the Brigade was out in splendid time with the manual, and steam was soon got up in the big engine. In the meantime Messrs Mort (formerly of the Nelson Fire Brigade), Watson, Wallace, Markie, and others soon had the fire finally suppressed. The shingled roof had ignited and some of the iron oovering had to be stripped off to gat at the cause of the mischief. Tne Brigade had to trudge back again after getting up as far as Mr Pollock’s shop. General regret will be felt Jn regard to the intended departure from this district of Mr A. Barnes (teller of the Bank of New Zealand), who is to be transferred to Auckland. Mr Barnes has been connected with the local branch of the Bank for nearly nine years. In business matters he has earned for himself the highest opinion of all business men in the district. In the more enjoyable moments of life Mr Barnes has made himself very popular, being an expert in all manly sports, his particular line being rowing. He is indeed esteeemed and respected by all who know him—and there are few who do not know him-and he will be greatly missed from the district. But as the call of duty must be responded to, Mr Barnes’ many friends will have to content themselves with wishing him continued prosperity in the future. He leaves for Auckland on Sunday.

In the Magistrate's Court at Wellington, lately, Hume and Son sought tojreoover from the Union Steam Shipping Company £1 3s, described as anticipated profit upon a shipment of flour, which had arrived by one of the Company's steamers in a damaged, and consequently unsaleable, condition. The flour had been returned to the Company, who paid the actual cost of the flour, but denied the plaintiffs claim for anticipated profit. After hearing the evidence and argument. His Worship gave ijudgmeut for the defendants, holding .that the company's rule, as to responsibility for goods entrusted to their cure, applied to the case, and was a perfectly reasonable oue. The costs of the Court and counsel, amounting to £1 6s, were also given against the plaintiffs.

The Victorian Government have decided to offer a reward of £2OO for the arrest of the murderer of the unfortunate woman Annie Thornton. No trace of the murderer has yet been discovered, Several important facts have been brought to light in connection with the murder. It appears that the woman must have bsen murdered on Monday, the Bth ult, because the naxtjday there was no response to the cry of “milk,” or the day after. It has further transpired that Thornton, the husband of the murdered woman, left, not only to look for work, but because his wife wished to put another in his place. It is known that a man was at the cottage, but so many have been mixed up in the matter that his identity cannot be fixed, However, Mrs Thornton wrote to her husband on the 3rd, asking him to oome back, and he replied on the sth. This, it is assumed, she did to get rid of the last man ) and as the letter would reach her On Monday, it is believed that it furnished a motive tor the deed. Thornton has been cleared of suspicion.

Mr Hugo will lecture on *' The Temples of Jerusalem ” at the Presbyterian Church this evening, at 7.3o.—(Advt.)