LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 464, 7 June 1890, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ths Tologa Bay Licensing Committee met on Thursday last, Present s Messrs Booth (R.M.), btopford, Reeves, and Kiraitanu Puki (Native Assessor). The Committee granted all renewals applied for. Applications were made for licenses by B. Finlay (Tatapouii), L Steele (Mangatuna), and Milner (Tuparoa), for a wholesale license, but in each case licenses were refused. In regard to Mr Finlay’s application the Bench intimated that they were unable to grant a license to a house that was not in existence, but there was little doubt that Mr Finlay would obtain a license when the house was erected. It is understood that Mr Finlay intends to erect the house at once.

The Native Commission resumed sitting on Thursday morning, when it was decided to adjourn until June 16th. A couple of natives were culled upon to give evidence as to successors of owners now deceased. In regard to the adjournment, Mr Skeet again pointed out that it would prevent Mr Arthur attending to his Parliamentary duties, but if the Commission adjourned until the date named Mr Arthur could hardly leave with the ease arrived only at that stage. Mis Honor said the Oommision would probably want to further examine Mr Arthur when the rent book (which was sent for to Tokoraarn) was put in. Still he pointed out that if Parliament sat on the 19th, tho usual course would probably be followed of adjourning until a few days later, so that in that case Mr Arthur might in no way be inconvenienced, Mr John Somervell was in town yesterday, and he informs us that everything is now working smoothly at tho flaxmill near the Mahia. The rain has of course been a draw back lately, but everything points hopefully to the ultimate success of the undertaking, and the promoters feel well satisfied with their prospects. Everyone will naturally be pleased to bear this information, and hope that tbe industry will be further fostered by another rise in the price ot flail

Law Notes has the following paragraph ;— Some people believe that the institution of trial by jury is the palladium of British liberties. The parties to a ease lately before Mr Commissioner Kerr evidently have great faith in the efficacy of trial by jury. For, twelve intelligent men not being forthcoming, they a greed to have their difference adjusted by a jury of two! We wonder if they arranged to accept the verdict of the majority, and also how the two gentlemen settled among themselves who should be foreman.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning tbe case Birrell v. McCredic claim £34 2i for wages, was adjourned until Kill July, the amount being over the jurisdiction of the Justices ; and the case Thorbey v Cameron, claim £l4 3s, was also adjourned for a week. The following judgment summonses were disposed of J. Palmer v. D. Murray, claim £4 10s 8d; an order for immediate payment was made, in default four days’ imprisonment. In the case H. Cannon v. W. Atiamy, claim 18s, there was no appearance of plaintiff and the case was struck out. Same v. J. Smith, claim £5 17s, was also struck out owing to the non-appearance of plaintiff. D. A. McLeod V. R. Burke, claim £ll 17s; the defendant was ordered to pay the amount by monthly instalments of £2.

The following paragraph appears in a recen number of the Auckland Star:—“Remarkable success appears to be attending Dr. Wilkins in his treatment of the distressing complaint known as stricture, by the electro chemical decomposition process. The other day, we gave an extract from the Thames Advertiser of a remarkable cure of this complaint by the doctor, and amongst those who had read it was a man who had suffered from the disease for thirty years. He had undergone one operation after another, and had been chloroformed again and again, but with no success. The paragraph from the Thames paper led him to call on Dr. Wilkins of Auckland, with the result that he was completely cured in several days. The complaint is a comparatively common one, and his success with the new treatment has brought the doctor seven or eight cases similar to those referred to, and in each instance the trouble is being overcome.” It is said that wiihin a few minutes pain is almost nil and the cure permanent. Many of those who have long suffered from the complaint referred to will rejoice at the thought of Dr Wilkin’s success, for it’will give them hope of permanent relief for themselves.

The following leaderette appears in the Napier News: — Our Gisborne correspondent has something to say about Mr ‘ Adam Bede,’ tbe Sydney consultationist, sweep promoter, or whatever he likes to call himself. According to the Gisborne Standard, Mr 1 Adam Bede ’ has, in one case, been wrongfully blamed for alleged ‘ crookedness.’ We grant that in the case investigated by the Standahd, * Adam Bede’ comes out with flying colors, but at the same time, we should strongly advise our subscribers to have nothing to do with * Adam Bede.’ He, personally, may be honest, but either he, or his employees, are at times • careless ' —we put it mildly—to a most reprehensible degree. Here is a peculiar case. On the 10th February, 1890, a Hastings gentleman took out a postoffice order for £1 10s, payable at the Sydney Rost Office to *Adam Bede.’ The order was duly posted with a request that three ten shilling tickets in a certain sweep, promoted by ‘Adam Bede,’ should bo forwarded. We have in our possession the receipt of the post office for the money, duly stamped ‘N.Z. Hastings 10 Feb. 90,’ and the gentleman who sent the order is beyond suspicion. Up to the present date, however, not a single word of acknowledgment has ever been received from ‘Adam Bede,’ nor have any tickets been sent, nor has any notification of the result of the race been sent; in fact the sender’s 30s has disappeared as quietly as if it had be-n dropped into the sea. ‘Adam Bede’ has explained away an alleged transgression in the Gisborne case. We shall post him to day’s Ne ws and ask him to explain away the Hasti'-gs case. Pending his reply, we should advise intending investors in his sweeps to ‘ bide-a-wee. ’ The dear, simple, innocent Maori will take some rubbing out occasionally. At ths Native Land Commission Court on Thursday morning a native who had given evidence on the previous day was again called on. He complaisantly advanced to the front row and informed the Court that he did not know ho was giving evidence for Mr Arthur on the previous day—he thought it was for the Court. His evidence was in regard to the successors of owners now deceased. His Honor informed the witness that permission being given by the Court he had no option in the matter—perhaps the fact that he was giving evidence for Mr Arthur was the greater reason why the truth should be told. The native then said, that if he was giving evidence for Mr Arthur, he thought he ought to be paid expenses. Mr Arthur said he had no objection to pay fair remuneration as stipulated by the Court, and it was decided to make allowance under the Supreme Court scale. The witness then went on to give evidence, while nearly all the other natives trooped out of Conti, where a loud explosion of laughter was heard, Mr Taiwhanga’s melodious cackle being heard above the tumult. Another native, desirous of preserving the dignity of the Court, then rushed out in an excited state, and before he reached the door he broke out with “ Tore 1 Tore!” The interruption at once ceased. When another native witness was being examined he was asked as to the number of children one owner (deceased) had left to mourn their pater's demise. He could not give the exact number, but some of the natives in Court seemed to think this a humiliating posi’ion to take up, and they made dumb show with their fingers, to refresh his memory. Still he could not number the progeny, and advised the Court to secure the evidence of some relation who at that moment Inppened to be many miles away. The Commission having adjourned, the two witnesses had gone some distance down the street, when it suddenly struck them that by going back they might get the hard cash for their expenses, but whether or not they succeeded our reporter did not ascertain — ‘he prohabi'ities are they were left to regard Mr Arthur as a debtor to them for the time being.

Mr R Finlay invites tenders for muster ing and driving a large number of pigs.

Wesleyan Services tomorrow—Gisborne: 11. Rev, J. Ward; Evening: 7, Mr Corrie Johnstone ; Makaraka 2, Ormond 3.30, Bev. J. Ward.