LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 371, 31 October 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A concert takas .place at ths Matawbero School to-morrow evening, and as the brake fare is only Is, including return, there ought to be a good number of people go out from town.

Some admirers of Mr Rees have sent to that gentlemen asking if he would be willing to contest the vacancy in the the East Coast electorate, but as yet there is nothing definite known in the matter.

Messrs Wingate, Burns, and Co. have been getting large shipments by the Wave Queen and other vessels, in addition to the splendid stock already on hand. A new advertisement will appear in Saturday’s issue. Captain Bennett, Harbormaster, last night received the following telegram from Captain Edwin: — East to south and southwest gale within next twelve hours, with rain and heavy sea; glass further fall; indications are bad.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, Thomas O'Donnell, of Matawhero, was charged with cruelty to a cow, by striking it with a heavy stick on the ribs and hind legs. The charge was fully proved by Mrs J. Sunderland, and the defendant was fined £2 and costs of Court lor.

A good joke is told of Horne Tooke, whom the Tories in the House of Commons thought to erush by imposing upon him the humiliating task of begging the House’s pardon on his knees. Tooke went on his knees, begged pardon for the offensive expression he had used, but, on rising up, he knocked the dust off his knees, and exclaimed, loud enough to be heard by the whole House, “It’s a dirty house after all I” Roars of laughter followed thia exclamation, and the Tories saw clearly enough that they had failed in the object which they had in view.

At the last meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce Mr Stuart mentioned that in answer to the representations which had been made by the Council as to the infrequancy of Chamber and Banco sittings, a Society to the effect that the legal profession recognised the existence of considerable delay, but was unable to suggest any remedy that was likely to be acceptable to Parliament at the present time. He had noticed in the newspapers that the Auckland Judge was to take the Gisborne Court, so this would probably relieve the Wellington Judgar, The U.S.S. Co’s Orowaiti (Captain Mac, donald) went alongside the breakwater on Tuesday, and landed nearly 800 tons of coal. The bay was like a mill pond and no difficulty was experienced in getting in or swinging off rom the pier, the Vestel at first drawing between lift and 12fr. At 8 p.pi. the Orowaiti left the pier and anchored in ths bay, the unloading at the breakwater having been n l ; m P , eted, and yesterday afternoon 40 tons of Coal was lightered to be brought up to the wharf. The vessel proceeded on to Napier last night, for which port she has 200 tons of coal,

At the last meeting of the Mutual Improvement Society the question was whether oratory, poetry, or music had the greatest influence on man. Messrs Jones, Brewer, and Ward championed the respective parts, and a very good discussion ended in a majority declaring in favor of oratory. The question of where the annual picnic should take place also came up for discussion, and arrangements were made for holding it in the country—it being left to the picnla committee to select a suitable epot,

At the Borough Council meeting on Tuesday night Cr Lucas made reference to the approaching holiday and suggested that the Mayor should proclaim the holiday for Monday. November 11, instead of Saturday. The Mayor said he supposed it really depended with the citizens themselves as to which day was selected. Cr Lucas said people would prefer tq have the date settled in good time, so that arrangements could be made accordingly. He noticed that in most of the other towns Monday had been selected. Cr Lewis endorsed the opinion expressed by Cr Lucas and said the country people, as well as citizens, wished to have the date fixed. It would be very inconvenient to have a holiday on Saturday, and the general opinion was that Monday should be chosen. The other Councillors were understood to aß .ree with what was said, and tfio Mayor said J 1 ® would be glad to act on the opinion of the C ounoil - I' ma y thare t° re bo taken for grante d tbst a close holiday will be maintained on tn? Monday. Mr Morell, of -)’ 18 Eoonomy Boot Shop, has resolved to conduo. * l ', B husiness on the cash principle, giving pure-. 0 ”?™ *“ 1 benefit of a large reduction in prices , at thereby be made.

Tha Scarlet Runners will lead tha Army meeting thia (Thursday) evening,

The County Council meets to-morrow afternoon, at the usual hour. The names of two candidates are announced for the East Coast electoiate, and addresses io Messrs Pitt and Maguire are published in our advertising columns, while the reply will be read with interest.

It is related of a mother—a good old coun. try, unsophisticated soul—of one of our famous low comedians, that sbe would never go a second time to see her son act. Having seen him once, she returned home hurt and indignant. “Whatl” she said; “ you don’t see how those people make fun of you? The minute you appear they all begin to laugh at you. Now, just look at Noakes. People don't laugh when he plays; and that’s just what I should like to see with you.”

A floor of mosaic, which probably belonged to a private house, has been discovered at Sparta in tolerable preservation. It is laid in squares, in each of which was the portrait of some distinguished individual. Inone of these is a representation of a woman's bust.. The features of the face are comely and vividly marked by tbe different coloured stones ;the head is adorned with a wreath. A special interest attaches to this mosaic, for at the top in the right corner is inscribed the name Sappho, and thus we have here to all appearances a portrait of the renowned Lesbian poetess. Near this square another inscription is preserved, that of the name Alkebeades, but unfortunately the portrait has not survived ; similarly the name Kalliopes is still legible whilst the corresponding portrait is no longer to be seen.—Athentoum. A correspondent who means to be funny writes :—Granny, who ekes out a miserable existence up the alley way, has made an astonishing A couple of years ago she used to rig the oil sharemarket by publishing all kinds of fibs to enable the wire pullers to make a few shillings profit in buying and selling shares, and she used to get oil struck on an average once a week, much to the injury of the place and the lightening of the pockets of the uneophistioated. But the game was played so often that ths goose that laid the golden egg was murdered, and the brilliant Christmas illumination which was expected to revive tha little games only added shrieks of laughter to the tlszliug stew. Now Sarah, after all these little merriments, has coma to the conclusion that the existence of oil in this district is only “ suspected,” The old lady has surely fallen from grace, or has she for. gotten the fun she used to have at other people’s expense in the young days ’ Ring the bell, Sarah, for tha time has come when you should remember there is another land beyond the bright blue aea,—l am, Ao,, Sammy,

A wave of religious excitement is sweeping over certain sections in the Southern States, and the desire to become a martyr or to perform some trying practical test of faith is paramount within many a dusky bosom. In Upper Alabama there is an anoloat African, named Toby Jackson, who rejoiced greatly in his local reputation of being the materialisation on earth of the shade of the Prophet Daniel, and many and severe are the penances he inflicts on his faithful followers of both sexes. Three young negroes avers recently persuaded that tha Prophet Daniel had a revelation that they were representatives of Shadraeh, Meshach and Abednego, who bid defiance to Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace. They unflinohiogly entered tha gates of the eupola of a blast furnace near Birmingham, and rushed into melting iron. Daniel was quite equal to the emergency, for when the adventurers failed to return he proclaimed he saw them rising in the air in a cloud of smoke, attended by white winged heavenly honris, The Whataupoko Boad Board met on Tuesday afternoon. A letter was received from J. Griffin asking that the outlet drain from Hapara Road should be altered, as it floods his land. Resolved that the County Engineer be asked to have the road drain deepened so as to allow the water to pass down the County drain. J. Thomas wrote asking leave to fenue in part of Clifford Street, near section 58. It was agreed to grant the request providing a swing gats be erected, and the necessary signboard fixed. It was decided that a guard rail be erected at Ballance Street outlet, and the Borough Council be asked to have a rail fixed near the footbridge. On the motion of Mr Clayton it was resolved that the footpath in Ballance Street be out down one foot, and the gravel tipped at Stout Street corner for the paths. The Board decided to inspect the outlet in Busaoll Street, and adopt the best plan to carry off .the storm water. The following accounts were ordered to be paid :—Finch Bs, R. Knox £l3O, J. Warren £5 15s, A. J, O’Neil £4O, J. OUivier £4 4s, J. Griffin £5 12s, Ballance Street outlet £22 0s 61. Leave of absence was granted to Mr J. Warren, clerk, for next meeting day.

After a lengthy tour, embracing Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania, Mr E. E. Bilbrough, the New Zealand representative of Thomas Cook and Son, official tourist agents to the Exhibition Commissioners, returned to Dunedin by the s. s. Te Anau. The firm have arranged with the Railway Commissioners of all the Australian colonies for cheap monthly excursions in connection with the Exhibition, at very low rates. Eor example : Adelaide to Dunedin and back, via Melbourne, £l2 ; Brisbane and back, £2O ; Sydney and back, £l3. They have also arranged for holiday excursion fares by all trains in Australia for return passengers to Dunedin. On their first intercolonial excursion, Melbourne to Adelaide and Broken Hill, which ran the day after the Te Anau left Melbourne, over 400 people booked at their Collius-street office alone, They have further arranged for special through coach tickets in New Zealand and a popular round trip to embrace the cold lakes, the Otira Gorge, and the Spunds. The five bays in the tourist court will all ba fitted up in e similar manner, and are opposite the Governor's reception room. They will be occupied by the Tourist Committee, the Union Company, the Railway Commissioners, and Thomas Cook and Hon. The last-named will also have an office on tha around floor of the Grand Hotel.

The Spectator having published an article on the " Humors of the Bench,” this drew forth a number of correspondents, who gave instances of judicial bon mots, Among these was the following sentence pronouneed by a Scotch Judge—“ Prisoner at the Bar, ye did not only kill and murder the man, and thereby tak® away his valuable life; but ye did push, thrust, protrude or impel the lethal weapon through the belly-band of his regimental trousers, which wore the pro petty of his Majesty I” It V»? a Scotch bailie who addressed the prisoner-“ lyeel, James; the oass is no’ proven against you, but we’ll just fine you seven and saxpanoe ; an’ mind if ye come back we’ll be a lot harder on you 1” On being asked if this story were true the bailie replied—“Na, it'enq' true, for the fine was only five shillings I” A magistrate addressed a would-be suicide as follows: “ Young man, you have been found guilty of attempting to drown yourself in the river, Only consider what your feelings would have been had you succeeded." A Welsh jury returned the following verdict—- “ My Lord,” said the foreman, “ we find the man who stole the horse not guilty." The Americans have also a good story to tall. A newly appointed judge was for the first time presiding, and this is how he summed up—- >' Gentleman of the jury, you have heard the counsel for both sides; if you believe the counsel for the prosecution, you will convict She prisoner; if you believe the counsel for the defence, you will acquit the prisoner; but if you app like me and don't believe a word of what the eoppsel for eithey side say, well I’m d d if I know tyhat you will'do J Constable, take charge of the jury

The great flood at Johnstown has conclusively demonstrated the fact that the site of the destroyed town was a bad one. For years the people had been subject to damage by flood, and in May -last the waters carried away the main portion of the town, and more than 1)000 lives were lost, with mjljjgns of property. These, facts have suggested the re, building of the tpwn in a new place, on a hill west of the old town, and about 300 feet above it. The Oembria Iron Company is .the owner of the new Bite, which is fine table land, and it has been decided to ?FBP B f er Wpl .tp : the Cambrian Improvement Sflippanyi which I will ley put a new town Under ihg of competent engineers. There are some men who have so much genius that they can’t do anything but sit around all day and think about it.