LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 605, 9 May 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

1 It waa reported at Opotiki the other day that Te Kooti was dead, but rumor was as much a fibber ae ever. James M. Forsyth, a commercial traveller in the hardware Hue, died suddenly in Wellington on Monday, from diabetes. The Secretary of the Garrison Band has received an acknowledgement frour London, on account of the fund raised by the Baud on behalf of the Balaclava survivors. The Trust Commissioner has granted certificates to the following deeds :—Transfer of Whatatima No. 1, from T. W. Porter and Nikora Kiripaura to John Clark, and of Kaiti section 282, from Kirini Kabo and others to S. R. Cooper. r-JThe Bev. H. T. Robjohns, the able agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, will address a united meeting of the Sunday schools, at 3 to-morrow afternoon, in Holy Trinity Church, The annual meeting of the Gisborne branch of the Society will be held in the City Bink on Monday evening, Mr Sargo, the representative of Messrs Porter and Co., of Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin, is now in Gisborne, «pd in. tends making a personal canvass to receive orders for fmit and ornamental treas, etc. Ths firm undertake to deliver all goods carriage free, and take the responsibility that all orders will be properly fulfilled, each parcel being guaranteed to be in good order when delivered. Jn case of any damage in transit they will replace tba damaged articles with sound ones. In the assortment of fruit trees only those that the firm led they oan recommend have been placed on the cats-, logue. There was a fair attendance at the Union Literary Society on Thursday night. Mr W. K. Akroyd was allotted to preside, and the subject chosen for the debate, an impromptu one, was “ Life in the Colonies is better than life at Home.” The meeting was divided into parties, irrespective of individual opinions, the Right taking the affirmative, while the Left championed the Old Country. The Bev. Gardiner led oft for the 1 Bight, and was promptly followed by Mrs 1 Akroyd, who combatted bis arguments I seriatim. These were backed up rcspec- I tively by Messrs Crawford, Jones, and I Morgan, and Messrs Greenwood and Mann, ’ and Rev. J. E. Fox. The debate was < carried out with spirit, and on a vote being I taken, the Chairman declared for the Bight, i Rftd the Colonies won by a minute majority, I

The annual May ball under the auspices of the East Coast Hussars is being anticipated with much enthusiasm. It is to be held in the City Rink, on the night of the 25th. Sir John Morphett, who was present at ex-Governor Grey’s reception in Adelaide, Is the only surviving member of the first S.A. Legislative Council, which was constituted by Sir George. There were as many as thirty people at the private letter-boxes at one time on Thursday evening, when the overcarrried Southern mail was being sorted, as well as the Auckland and district mails. A good deal of interest was taken in the

election of a School Committee at Opotiki. Messrs Murray, Lilewall, Addis, Parkinson, Bates, Hay, and Heard were elected. Mr Bates was chosen as Chairman. A German, who died iu new York, left a document, asking that his ashes might be fluug to the four winds. His body was accordingly cremated, and his ashes were scattered from the top of the Statue of Liberty. There is trouble brewing over the Totara school election. Seven of the candidates have withdrawn their nominations on the ground of undue interference iu the elections by tbe teacher, and intend to appeal to the Education Board.

For some time past the Tauranga people have been exercised over a disease in the sheep, which seems to be a local one. A public meeting was held the other day and a committee appointed to try and get some satisfactory investigation of the disease. Retribution followed quickly on the heels of defaulter A. W. Croft—such an infliction as those who are bitterest against him would have willingly seen him spared. Information from Sydney states that he has been discovered there in a paralysed condition which will make him almost helpless for life. Mary McCarthy, 106 years of age, and born 30 years before Waterloo, died in Adelaide District Asylum last week. She was the only centenarian who didn't claim to have fought at Balaklava.—Bulletin. We have been shown a splendid sample of potatoes grown on Mr James Finlay’s land on the Kaiti. The potatoes are of two varieties, "Irish cups” and "Lapstone kidney.” They are (though not specially selected) monsters in size, and are capital eating potatoes, being an excellent proof of the rich nature of the soil in which they were grown. A lady made a good bit at the Literary Society’s meeting on Thursday night. The r.ev. Mr Gardiner was commenting on the freedom from restraint in the colonies, and pointed out that if he worked in his own garden in the Old Country he would be immediately taken for a gardener. The lady thought they would be wrong if they took him for anything else but a Qardiner. The steamer Rotomahana made a splendid run down from Auckland in 22} hours, arriving in the bay at 11.30 a.m. yesterday, but being low water the Snark did not leave the wharf till 1 o’clock, and before she had gons any distance down the river she stuck on a sand bank and remained there till nearly 2, She floated off, and tendered the big steamer for her mails and passengers, which were landed an hour later. There was a painful scene between husband and wife at the wharf last evening. The husband objected to his wife’s departure by the steamer, and before all the crowd on the wharf she went for him in a very determined manner, and he will probably be sore from the effects for many days. The interest was intensified by his subsequently spiriting the woman’s box away, but she got it all right eventually.

A native female witness caused some amusement in the R.M. Court on Thursday, She gave a graphic description how the cattle had broken down a certain fence, and by poking her own frowsy head about in a fierce fashion, she confidently indicated how the cattle had worked the fence loose. When the counsel for the other side declined to cross-question her, there was much laughter, mingled with disappointment at the loss of an expected treat.

There was a great reception awaiting StaffCaptain Holdaway (Salvation Army) and his comrades who arrived by the steamer yesterday. The Captain looks as jolly as ever, and many old friends who made his acquaintance when he was establishing the Gisborne branch of the Army gladly hailed the pleasure of renewing the acquaintance. There was a great crowd at the meeting last night, and a tone of religious enthusiasm pervaded all that was done. The official reception is to be held this evening, and the Theatre Royal has been engaged for tomorrow afternoon and evening.

At the last meeting of the Gisborne Phonographic Society the resignation of Mr O. Buscke, one of the founders of the Society, was received, as he leaves for Sydney on Monday next to seek the advantages offered by a wider field of operations. The members were unanimous in expressing regret at Mr Buscke’e departure, but cordially hoped that the new path be had chosen would be a happy and prosperous one. The President remarked that every member of the Society who had travelled had met with encouraging success, and he felt confident from what he knew of Mr Buscke that the latter would maintain the satisfactory record. Only one of the original members of the Society now remains in it. " Ratepayer ” writes:—To the Editor Standabd ; Sir—After carefully reading the recent reports and comments in both papers, I think the ratepayers should take summary action and call upon Or McLernon to resign as a Borough Councillor, and petition the Government to require Mr Arthur to resign as a Government nominee on the Harbor Board. It is a scandalous thing that anyone could have suggested secrecy about the matters under notice, and the public resentment of such conduct should be at once made. Other appointments will shortly have to be made to fill the vacancies in connection with the Council and Board. It would be well if in the meantime the gentlemen mentioned took the hint. The cate of Wells v. Chambers, heard on Thursday, is of some interest to farmers. The claim was one for repairs done to a fence. It appears that Messrs Wells and Chambers agreed ,that each should erect and keep iu repair certain portions of a dividing feuoe. Mr Chambers' half was erected in such a position that Mr Wells’ cattle, crowded out from tfle middle of the paddock by sheep, and going towards the fence for better feed, forced their way through the fence, breaking it down, Mr Chambers had slrsady repaired the fence

several times, but objected to be continually doing so, and this case was brought to test bis liability. In the end Mr Booth gave judgment for half the amount claimed. This appeared to satisfy neither party, and both asked for leave to appeal. The application was granted.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday the civil oases disposed of were A. R. Muir v H. E. Kenny, claim £l2 7s 7d; no appearance, cue struck out. J, East v C. M. Hirtzell, claim £3 12s 7d j judgment by default, costs -81 3s. Same F O. Lynch, claim £8 8s 6d) judgment by consent, costs 6a. £. Arundel vF. Hall, claim 410 3s for wages; Mr Day for plaintiff and Mr Nolan for defendant; judgment for sB6 8s 6d, coats 10s, Sandkut Bros, v W1 Pete, claim £1 12s 6d ; Mr B. N. Jones for plaintiff; judgment by default, costs 15s. Common, Shelton and Co, v L. Steelo, claim £7 18a 0d; judgment by default, costs 10s. Finn and Ohrisp v Fetera Honotapu, claim £44 ISs 10d; judgment by consent, costs £1 10a. E. W. Wells v W. K. Chambers, claim £6 12s for repairing a dividing fence; Mr Chrisp for plaintiff and Mr Sievwright for defendant; judgment for £3 6s, costs £7 12s : leave of appeal was granted to both parties. A. Bond's trustees and Bond v A. Faraons, claim £6, for less and damage through the defendant cutting dqwn a portion of a crop of maize; this case was adjourned till next Thursday; Mr Chrisp for plaintiff and Mr Finn for defendant. In the judgment summons case U.A.O. Druids v J. Trimmer, claim £3 12a, the defendant was ordered to pay the amount forthwith, in default four days' imprisonment; execution was stayed for a fortnight.

Messrs Hanis, Barker, and Beid were on Thursday elected members of the Waimata Road Board.l Tenders are invited by Mr M. Sullivan for the erection ot a tour-roomed cottage at Waerenga-a-hika. Up to yesterday the ascertained deficiency in the Harbor Board’s accounts had been increased by over £l5O. The persecution of the Jews in Russia is said to be rapidly sending the Jews back to Palestine, in accordance with the Biblical prophecy, The Parliamentary library is worth £30,000, but is deposited in a mere wooden shell. It is proposed to take steps to ensure the safety of the valuable collection. Talking of the incidence of taxation Mr Seddon said that there was no intention of making land bear more than a fair share of public burdens—iu all probability country settlers would have to pay less than at present. When the Czirewitch and suite were seated at a banquet given them in Madras lately, a bottle of sodawater on the verandah burst with a loud report; whereupon the Heir-Apparent of the Russian Empire started to his feet and drew his sword half out of the scabbard, prepared for the worst. A boy named Deverell, at Devenport, hurriedly placed a toy cannon under his coat to prevent the schoolmaster seeing it. A smouldering spark on the touchbole caused the charge to explode, and it lodged in his stomach, causing internal hemorrhage. His condition was very serious. The fine Tyser steamer Celtic King arrives in Gisborne on Tuesday next, for tbe loading of frozen mutton. She has good passenger accommodation and there will be an excellent opportunity tor anyone desiring a trip Home. Messrs Williams and Kettle are Gisborne agents.

A spirited contest is expected on the football ground thia afternoon, when the Gisborne Club try conclusions with a strong team from Waerenga-a-hika, mainly natives. Both teams have been making as much as they could ot the time allowed for practice, and there is bound to be a big struggle. In the Empire City they have some Justices of the Peace whose experience has not been gained in acertainplaoein the North Island, called Gisborne. They sentenced a

man to twelve months’ imprisonment for being found illegally on premises. However, if we indulged in betting, we would give long odds that the man ia a poor one, Tbe Auckland Star gives an amusing account of the proceedings of the bootmakers on strike, as they marked their non-approval of the conduct of the ex-President of tbs Society, who had forsaken them and taken a billet. Tbe men got a portion of aa old hearse, fixed it on to an express, and engaged the services of a band. They had a great march with tbe “ corpse,” which they intended to cremate, but the police were on the watch. To the writer of a letter to the Ei alter, signed ” The Whole Truth”:—lf you will undertake to supply us with sufficient proof of the allegations you make we will undertake to go a good deal further than publish your letter. Without such proof we must decline to publish even the letter, mild though it ia. In matters of the kind a journalist who placed reliance on what somebody had heard of what some one had told somebody else would be a fool. Letters addressed as under are lying unclaimed at the postoffice :—Mrs J. Clark, J. H. Greaves, H. Smith, and Mr Leader.

The following articles have been received without address : Mullen's Monthly Circular, Australasian Pastoralist's Review, New Zealand Graphic, and The Norfolk Chronicle. Papers addressed to Mr. Taylor, Christchurch, and J. Crabtree, Hobart, are detained, being short-stamped. A couple of weeks ago a weather-beaten old scamp worked some vexatious little frauds on people in Gisborne. He visited a great many houses, and by plausible tales got a substantial amount in the way of stamps, which he would then convert into cash by going to other houses and telling some tale which at once secured him sympathy. In one case he “ cadged" a few stamps from an office in town, and then went [to the private residence of the person who gave them to him, and there cleverly suoceded in getting them exchanged for cash. Another old rascal who subsequently went in the direction of Opotiki succeeded in duping several people who took pity on his condition, and were weak enough to believe some ot the shocking lies he told to deceive them.

The Police Court yesterday morning was occupied till noon iu hearing the charges of assault preferred against Frederick Martin, Donald Rose, and Donald McKenzie. There not being sufficient evidence adduced against the latter prisoner, he was discharged. Mr Day appeared for the accused, and Messrs Matlhewson and Lucas were the presiding Justices. From the evidence it appearec that a young woman named L. Solomon was passing ty the Royal Hotel between 10 and 11 on Saturday evening, when about five or six larrikins rushed at her, the two accused catching hold of her round the waist and neck. Her brother-in-law and sister had just left her, and hearing the commotion they hurried up and remonstrated with the lads. Martin said he “ would sit on Weaver,” but eventually they let tbe girl go. Several witnesses were called, and the accused gave a different version of the story, but the Bench fined them £2 each and 15s costs.