LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 405, 18 January 1890, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At the Police Court yesterday a jockey named John Farrell was charged on the information of H. Partington, with using obscene language, After hearing the evi deuce Mr Booth dismissed the case. A dance will be held in the Karaka schoolhouse on Friday, the 7th February, at 8 p.m., and as it is for a laudable purpose it is to be hoped that the friends of those who are interested will not fail to put in an appearance, thus giving desired assistance. The privileges in connection with the Gisborne Racing Club’s annual meeting are to be sold this morning, by Messrs Graham, Pitt, and Bennett. It is expected that, as the meeting is likely to be a great success, the privileges will realise high prices. In consequence of the two horses entered for the Gfi.C, Maiden Plate having since won more than the amount stipulated, according to the new rules they cannot ” start.” The Club, therefore, have substituted a Free Handicap, the weights for which will appear on Monday evening. In ths Official Assignee’s report on Mi Page’s bankrupt estate he notes that th< assets include 350 arres of land, which he con

aiders valueless. At first sight this woild seem strange, but on enquiry we learn t lai its only use would ba for a goat farm, and then the animals might starve. In our advertising columns there is a lis of prices of admieeitn to be charged at the Park races next week. Popular prices have been decided upon, and arrangements have been made for the Garrison Band to be in attendance. la other respects every preparation has been made to secure th" success of the meeting. A special meeting of shareholders in the Gisborne Stand a no Company was held at the Standard office on Thursday afternoon There was ti good attendance of share holders, and Mr Townley was voted to the chair. The Chairman stated that the meeting had been convened to consider an offer made by Mr Akroyd (the Secretary) to purchase the Company's intereat in the GisBOBNR St'ANDAnri. After consideration it waa resolved to accept the offer, the figure being deemed a satisfactory one. The concert to be given in the City Rink on Tuesday next should attract a large attendance. The programme is an exceptionally good one, and the funds are to be devoted to a worthy object. As the Rev Father Kehoe has for every good purpose heartily rendered the assistance which as an accomplished musician he can give, we trust that in turn he will be well supported by the members of other congregations. The names of those who have promised to assist in connection with the concert is a sufficient indication that it will be not only a popular one, but an entertainment of much merit. The Hospital enquiry on Thursday night lasted from 7.30 tilt 11. Before the enquiry commenced Mr Watson moved that the Press be exo uded while the ordinary meeting of the Trustees was being held. He thought the enquiry should be open to the Press but not the ordinary meeting. Mr Harris could not see why they should object to the proceedings being made publio, and the Chairman explained that the Trustee’s meetings had always been open to the Press. The subjet was then allowed to drop. It subsequently transpired that there was no other bu-iue.s but the enquiry, but it passes our comprehension how anyone could seriously propose such a motion c inceining an institution which is essentially a public one. Mr Watsuu shun d remember that Gisborne is not Russia. Of course he may h ve be n joking, but if so it was rather out of p are in a position where one should comport himself with a dignity worthy of the trust reposed in him.

The following cases were heard at the P.M. Oou-t on Thursday last: —J. Bourke v. Wm. Adair, claim £6O 7» 61 for rates; judgmm by default for £3O 7s 6d, costs £2 ss. Same v. W. F. Crawford, claim £3O 12s. judgment by default for £l5 12s B<i, costs £1 14s. Same v. W. Maude, claim £3B 3s 6d, judgment by default for £27 13s 6'l, costs £1 14s, Same v. E. if. Ward, claim £lO 7s 6d, judgment by default for amount, costs £l. J. Hansen and Co. v. Hapi Hinaki, claim £2 5s for goods supplied, judgment by default, costs 6s. J, East v. Elizabeth Solomon, claim £2 la 2d for goods supplied, judgment by default, costs 6s. Same v. J Burns, claim £2 10s 4d, judgment by default, costs 6 a . W. O. Skeet v. Mihi Hetekia, claim £37 13s 4d, for goods supplied, judgment by default, costs £4 Is 61. In the caae Union Bankv. J. Lawrence, claim £7O 6- 9d. the summons was withdrawn owing to the defendant having filed his schedule.

There is great talk in Auckland about the approaching Jubilee. The Herald remarks:— The liberal scale of prizes announced by the Regatta Committee has already had the effect of causing a widespread inquiry to bo made regarding the various events, and the entry list will probably be a very large one, AH the local clubs will be represented in the whaleboat races, while word has been received from Gisborne, in which the local club expressed its intention of competing in about half-a-dozen events. About six crews, including two fori.the Champion Whaleboat Race, are expected from the Thames ; while the big event will also have a Waitara crew included in its lists of competitors. From Wellington it is almost certain that a big crew to contest in the Champion Gig Race will be sent up, anti inquiries from that city were jesterday reoeived regarding the yacht races with a view of sending np the old Auckland crank, the Jessie Logan. The Star says The Poverty Bay Rowing Club, who expressed their intention of competing in the Regatta, were in some difficulty about a whaleboat; but the Waitomata Racing Club have very kindly consented to allow th»m the use of one of their new boa’s so that the Gisborne men will probably compete in ths whaleboat as welt as the gig races. Among other foreign crews for oqr Regatta there will he two from Waitara for ths Champion Whaleboat race, and a crew from Wellington.

Sometimes the R.M, Court proceedings are very dull, and one often wonders what attraction there is for those who constantly attend the Court. On Thursday last, however, a slight diversion was caused by the hearing of the oaee Borough Council v. Maude. There was only £7 IGs in dispute, Mr Maude being under the impression that he was not. entitled to pay it. It appears that he had applied to the Assessment Court to reduce the valuation of the properties owned by Mr Maude, in the block at the corner of Gladstone road and Peel street. This was done, and Mr Maude claimed that the whole valuation was reduced to £3OO. The rata book, however, shows that one ot the properties is valued at £lOO and the others at £3OO, or £4OO in all. The rates 00 the £l6O Mr Maude objected to pay, and as a consequence the case was brought into Court. Mr Booth said that he could not go behind the ratebook. Sir Maude endeavored to explain that he knew nothing about the book, but Mr Bourke eaid that even if there was an error it could not now he rectified ; the only way in which Mr Maude could get a remission was on the ground of destitution. The idea of Mr Maude applying for a remission on such a ground tickled the fancy of the audience, and even Mr Maude himself appeared to be amused. Mr Maude produced figures which he thought would be convincing that he was right, end Mr Bourke produced the valuer’s figures, which differed from those of Mr Maude. The valuer's’figures Were so absurdly high iti Mr Maude’s estimation ss to draw from him the exclamation, “It is enough to make one sick !” When, however, Mr Bourke reached the item “ Independent Office £62 per annum ” it was too much for Mr Maude and he called on Mr Bourke to stop. Ha had, he said, never asked more than 15s a week for that office, and even then ha had to tpend £2OO in collecting it and never got it efisr Ml. Xn the ntid J ad B»«“‘ ■tfas gives by consent* us the b&a no

Mails for Napier and Wellington, per Southern Gross, will close at the Post Office at 4 o’clock this afternoon The sum of £4’234 wag put through the totalisator at the Turf Club’s meeting this week. The total weight of butter shipped from ♦■he breakwater, Taranaki, last month was 89 tons 19cwt Iqr 161 b. During last year the Argus received £5590 for charitable distribution. This amount is the largest for one year with the exception of 1888

The Lyttelton Times, commenting on the sentence. imposed on ths master of the ftotorua in respect of the recent collision, considers it wholly inadequate and farcical. Some of the settlers at Hawera who had their bush prematurely burned in November sowed turnips, and have now an excellent prospect of a fine ci op, the heavy rains of December having exactly suited them. The racehorse Oeo is to be offered by auction at 2 pm. to-day. He is a full brother to the splendid steeplechaser Artist, and the sale will include his engagements at the Park meeting and at the Wairoa annuals. In a cricket match, played at Auckland last Saturday, between the Gordon and A.uckland C.C’s., two Gisbornites distinguished themselves on behalf of the Gordons, Mr George Staite making 25 run?, not out; and Mr Ted ” Bees taking six wickets in the first and four in the second innings.

At the Rale of Crown Lands on Thurs day, the following sections were disposed of:— Town of Ormond : Sec. 23, la 2r lip, to Mr W. Gunn, for £47 Is 31; sec 24, la 2r lip, to Mr W. Johnson, £47 Is 31; sec. 63, la, to Mr W. Gunn. £3O. Small grazing run : 42a, 4463 acre.*, to Mr Waiter Robson, annual rental £29 6s 4d.

On Wednesday evening ths members of St. Andrew’s Literary Society and the elders of the Church presented Mr R. H. Scott with an addreg*, together with a handaoma butter dish and silver tea set. The J. MaAra and Messrs Evans, Smaill, Ambridge, Johnston, and others spoke, expressing their regret at Mr Scott’s departure and their hope for his future prosperity, Mr and Mrs Soott left for Wellington by last night’s steamer. Tata Nihoniho is said to be totally adverse to the Commissioners who have bean appointed to make a further investigatim as to ♦ha ownership of the Waipiro block, Judges Barton and Wilson and Assessor Tarawiti. He is understood to ba satisfiad with regard to Judge Barton, but since there appearad in the Gazette the notification that further enquiry would be made as to the ownership nf the land, Tuta has been desirous that the Judges and Assessor to be appointed should have had no previous connection with the Coast. It is stated that neither side is satisfied with the appointment of Judge Wilson.

As a rule publicans are accused of making all they can out of those who patronise them, but as there are exceptions to the rule, and as exceptions are said to prove the rule, it may he mentioned that Mr R. Finlay, of the Gisborne Hotel, has considered it a fair act on his part to dona'e the whole of his actual profits from the inner booth during’the two days’ racing at Waerenga a hika to the Hospital. This generous spirit is most commendable, and others might well follow Mr Finlay’s example. It is not of course to bo expected that very many will do so, but even this one bold outstanding instance should prove an incentive to others to go and do likewise.—Advt.

The “ ” affair which has been creating so much interest in Opotiki has apparently not finished yet, and the Rev. T.’ J. Wills is shortly to lecture in Opotiki and other places on the subject touched upon by the writer Demos. When Mr Wills first went to Opotiki there was no temperance society, and as the editor of the then only local piper, the Opotiki Herald, was also the proprietor of the brewery, temperance matters were kept strictly in the background. Shortly after Mr Wills’ arrival he started advocating total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors, which riled the ed’tor of the Herald, and Mr Wills soon became subject to very personal attacks through its columns. About nine months ago a second newspaper appeared in Opotiki, and a writer under the nom de querre of Demos, advocated total abstinence, through the columns of the Mail. The Herald now became desperate and a meeting was called through its columns (a reference to which has already been made by us) to protest against this writer, A committee was formed, of which Mr Bates, editor of the Herald, was a member, and an attempt made to burn Demos in effigy on November sth. Mr Wills’ name having been freely used in connecting him with the writer he has now decided to take the publio platform and review the whole matter from the beginning, and will gi v e his detractors an opportunity of meeting him face to face.

Al; the recent races it was quite an interesting study to watch the way in which the spielers worked their games. As they were closely eyed by the police only the ordinary games of chance were permitted. One man did a ratting trade the whole day and did not require the assistance of an u assistant, ’’ but the others were not so fortunate, and their business required a little beating up and much activity was displayed in that direction. One young fellow appeared to be a general lieutenant, and his simplicity was charming. The game which required the least appliances appeared to need the most ingenuity in working it up. It consisted of two little pegs, and on payment of a shilling a person could stand about three yards away and try to knock the pegs down with a wooden ball; if successful he would win four shillings. Strange to say it was quite a rarety for anyone to knock the two pegs down, but occasionally one of the simple individuals that were io the swim would come along and achieve success, and the Maoris standing by would be tempted to try their luck, and so the shillings would be lt is said that after the races were over a meeting of the spielers was held among the willow trees and a division of spoil took plane, there being much grumbling that there was no honor among—gentlemen 1 One chap is said to have stated he put all his winnings in one pocket and that the large amount of silver he had in his other pocket was a portion of his private resources. Another individual said he had seen sbrpa of the pool money go into the private pocket and demanded that it be fairly shared. How matters werp erentpally settled did not transpire. It was the tender of Mr J. Robb that waa was accepted "for alterations to a house in Palmerston Road,

The animal to be sold at the Whataupoko Pound on Tuesday is a dark brown mare and not a gelding, as at first announced.