LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 480, 15 July 1890, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sergeant Stagpoole, well-known in Gisborne, takes charge of the Bay of Islands station. Messrs Haywood and Martin have got the contract for building punts to convey meat from the freezing works to the vessels in the bay. We understand that another attempt will be made to upset the Kaiteratahi bridge proposal, cn grounds which is is believed will hold good. The popular Mr J. Martin yesterday took possession of the Gisborne Hotel, a large number rolling up to congYatulate him and drink bis health. The Waimata people are now almost unanimous in preferring for the erection of their public hall, the piece of land generously offered by Mr McPhail. Mrs Morse has opened a branch of her business, in the shop adjoining thsit of Messrs Hansen and Co. Hot pies and coffee can be obtained at all reasonable hours. The Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society have a cash surplus of over £300,000. The Society numbers upwards of 30,000 members, and the existing business exceeds £9,000,000. Mr Buckley, in criticising the affairs of the Bank of New Zealand, includes the East Coast Land Company as one of tbe “ white elephants ” to which Mr Hean did not refer in his report. Settlers may find it well worth their while to attend the sale of Mr Stoddart’a stock at Waerenga-a-hika. The sale begins at eleven this morning. There will be no reserve on the lots, and for the convenience of those who attend the sale luncheon will be provided. One of the truest sportmen that ever lived has passed away, the Hon. J. White having died of heart disease. He was honesty personified, and his death will be a great blow to the higher branch of the Turf.

The Farmers’ Co operative have arranged to conduct their business in the auction m irt formerly in the occupation of Berry, Daniells and Co. The place is now receiving a much needed coat of paint and? being otherwise rendered suitable for tbe new use to which it is to be put.

At the Mutual Improvement Society last night the annual election of officers took place, with the following result:—President ex officio, Rev. J. Ward ; Vice President, Mr F. J. Oatridge ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr R. N. Jones ; Committee: Misses Spence, Oatridge and Jones, Messrs Thompson and Nisbets. The Society is just about to enter on its seventh year.

Scotch mufflers can occasionally be odd. A Glasgow gentleman, in escorting some ladies from a dance, found a diamond hairpin in the bottom of the cab and handed it to one of the ladies. The owner advertised, and the young woman who had taken it from her escort received a reward of £lO. Then the young man applied for a share of the money, and, she refusing, he carried the question to court. The court allotted him £5. Mr Allan Taylor was brought into town on Saturday night • (by Messrs P. Maher and Knipe), in a state of great pain. He was waiting at Whangara for ths tide to recede, and while he was off the saddle his horse kicked him, and rendered him unconscious. He was in a very low condition when brought in. Dr Innes’ services were secured, the injuries attended to, and now it is believed Mr Taylor is making a satisfactory progi’ess towards recovery. He was badly hurt about the jaws and neck, and also had one foot bruised.

The annual meeting of the parishioners cf Holy Trinity Church will be held in the Sunday-school room, at 8 this evening. Only registered male members over the age of ‘2l are entitled to vote, but all members of tbe congregation are invited, and a good attendance of ladies will be very welcome. A great feature this year in connection with the finances of the Church is the unsparing way in which Mr G. P. Davies, the Churchwarden, has devoted himself to the task of freeing the church from debt, and he has so far been successful as to accomplish that and leave a small credit balance to the good. Mr W. L. Rees has written a letter to th® N.Z. Herald, in which he discusses the political situation. He says Parliament never presented a more pitiable spectacle than at the present time—there is no policy on the Government side nor on that of the Opposition. Vaccillation, humiliation, and intrigue (he says) wait upon every day’s proceedings. The old constituencies are practically gone and the only sensible motion yet made he conriders is that of Sir George Grey. He continues: In 1845 Sir George saved this colony; in 1862 h°! .again brought peace to its shores ; in 1878 his plans were defeated and himself overthrown by false friends and bitter enemies ; in 1890 if the people be wise they will once more ask his help to steer the ship of state into a harbor of safety.

Concerning the death of Mrs Bennett, at Wellington, before the Coroner’s jury Dr Henry Pollen stated that about 2 p.ni. on Tuesday last he was in his consulting room at Mr Fitz Gerald's chemist shop when the assistant, Mr Inglis, handed him a note from Dr Kemp, accompanied with a bottle (produced), which was empty. Had a conversation with Dr Kemp the previous evening in reference to Mrs Bennett. Before filling up the bottle Mr Fitz Gerald spoke to witness about the large dose prescribed. Witness replied it was all right, as the pa tient had acquired a morphia habit, The same evening Mrs Bennett’s husband called and arranged with him to go aud see his wife the following day. Later on witness saw Mr Fitz Gerald tasting something and from the conversation gathered that probably some mistake had been made in mixing up what had been sent awav previously. Witness thought from what Mr Fit Gerald said that strychnine had been sent instead of morphia. Witness procured the right solution of morphia, called a cab, and went away at once to see Mrs Bennett. On arrival there he was told that she was dead. Witness found her face livid, her hands half clenched, and her knees drawn up ; the body was quite warm, but the heart’s action had stopped. Witness asked to see the bottle ot medicine she had taken, and was banded the bottle produced with about a drachm, or a drachm and a half, taken out of it—supposing that the bottle had been full. Being a stranger here he communicated with Dr Kemp, and on his advice reported the matter to the police.