LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 344, 29 August 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The County Council meets to-morrow afternoon, There are over forty civil cases set down for hearing at the R.M. Court this morning. The steamer Coptic arrived last evening, at Port Chalmers, from Plymouth. A banquet to which all friends are invited is to be held at Messrs Currie and Hogan’s Roseland Hotel this evening. A large number of guests is anticipated. A party of gentlemen left town yesterday on a visit to the Oil Springs. Mr Crawford, we understand, formed one of the party, and took his photographic apparatus with him. The usual weekly meeting of St. Andrew’s Literary Society took p'ass on Tuesday evening, when the contributions to the MS. Journal were read and criticised. There were four contributions, all being of an interesting nature. A large number of townspeople have taken a ride or drive out to see the native gathering at Waerengaahika. The natives belonging to Gisborne district are gradually dispersing for their homes, but the Opotiki natives will probably remain until Monday. To give an indication of the public interest that the Standard has worked up in regard to native land matters, we may state that a report became current yesterday afternoon that the Native Land Court Bill had been rejected in the House, and our office was rushed by persons eager to ascertain whether the report was correct. Of course we were happy to state that it was not.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon before Mr J. Booth (Coroner), on the body of the infant son of Mr William Gray Colville, at Wbataupoko. Messrs J. A. Harding (foreman), Brodie, Beresford, J. G. Henderson, and Lewis were the jury. The evidence of the mother, her sister and Dr Pollen was taken, and a verdict of death from natural causes was returned. As showing that the department under Mr Beatty's care has few terrors for some of the aboriginal population the remarks cf a native at the R.M. Court yesterday may be taken as a proof. A Maori having been fined two shillings and costs (£3 3s) had it explained to him that unless the amount was paid within 14 day s hp Would have to undergo seven days’ imprisonment. lie promised that the money should be forthcoming, but as he was going out quietly remarked “ Oh never mind, no get the money, kepai eat bread and meat at the where hare hare for seven days." W.s have been shown in a Home paper a paragraph whioli might well be studied in New Zealand, and particularly sb in Gisborne. The Item js I II Ns fewer than twentythrsO steamers, laden with new pmatfi?*. left Jersey from Tuesday last up to Thursday evening (June 20). Last Wednesday's exportation was the rbrgest on record, the number of packages being 81.329, representing a value of upwards of £14,000." Yet our informant, who is well acquainted wjth the island, states that the soil is no better, if equal, ti) tpat which we have in this district; and only last week Gisborne imported a consignment of potatoes from Napier I

A distressing case, arising from the usual cause (drink), was heard by Mr Booth, R.M., on Tuesday morning. Daniel Beady was charged, on Site Information of his wife, with having beaten her with a iirofimstipjr. Ready is a hard working fellow at ordinary times, but occasionally gives way to the craving for drink. From the evidence it appeared that this led io a domestic separation for a period, and Mrs Ready being herself 9 very industrious woman, things went on smoothly for a time, but shortly after a reunion had taken,place, Ready again took to the drink, and the result of a quarrel was that the wife got very badly beaten, and was laid up in bed through it for some days. Dr. Pollan testified to the seriousness q? the iniuries, and Ready was fined £iQ'. R .;-.ssrig, ! to pay this, he was sentenced to two months* isnprlsOnmont, and jjjjjfe, io !>a bound, over to keep peace for six

Mr Smith is urging the Government to purchaee the Waikopiro Block, Seventy Mile Bush, as soon as possible, in order that the block may be used for settlement. Neal Dow has an invalid daughter who has been confined to her chair for years. She has devoted herself to the study of languages, and now is perfectly conversant with Latin, Greek, German, Spanish, French and Russian.

An amusing circumstance occurred in connection with the temporary occupation of Mrs Dickson’s hotel at Mahakipawa, by the Deputy Official Assignee. That estimable functionary had deputed one of his myrmidons to occupy the house and the police at once came down upon him for selling liquor without a license ; and he had to fly round and get a transfer or “stand up " at the bar of Justice.—Marlborough Exprsss. At the Police Court yesterday morning, Messrs T. Jones, F. Goldsmith and five natives were each fined Is for failing to resister their dogs. The case of Peka Kerekere v. J. Fisher, poundkeeper of Whataupoko, for illegal charges, was adjourned till the 4th of September in order to allow defendant to obtain legal opinion. As an evidence of what may be done on the Wanganui Harbour Board Block with push and energy, we mention the following. In December, 18S8, a section containing about 200 acres was purchased, in the same month men were started to fell and burn the bush. When that had been done the land was sown with mixed grass seeds of twelve varieties. Last week it was ready for stock, and a mob of sheep put on, with abundance of good feed ready for them. Getting bush land cleared, fenced, grassed, and stocked in twenty months is smart work, especially when done —as in this case—at no extra expense.— Fielding Star,

Mr Richard Hutton, for many years editor of the Spectator, has thrown up his post, awd is about to become a Catholic recluse. Till comparatively recently, he was an advanced Unitarian. Unfortunately, an intense love of music led to his associating a good deal with some “ enthused “ Anglican clergymen, who converted him. He has now proved false to them, and crossed the rubioon to’Rome. The cost of the s*ep is his billet—£2ooo a year. In all probability, however, Mr Hutton's religious vagaries are by no means over, His friends affirm he is the very last man to stand Humanism long. Meanwhile, the loss to the Spectator will ba considerable. He is an exceptionally able journalist and editor. A Home correspondent writes The English farmers are said to have stopped grumbling. Their crops and their prospects are both good, and both the landlords and the Government get the benefit of their good fortune. Agriculture, so long believed by croakers to be doomed, revives. Never was such an Agricultural show io England as that of this week at Windsor, whether for quantity or for quality. I asked an American enthusiast who had been there what there was to see. “ Well,” he answered, “ there are eight miles of pigs.” On these, and on the cattle, horses, dairy products, and dairymaids, the sun, the Queen, the rest of the Royal family, and hundreds of thousands of the British public, have all the week been smiling.