LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 654, 1 September 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Poverty Bay has been ordered by the Executive Council to ba exempted from wool branding sheep under Section 67 of the Sheep Act, 1896. Owing to the ravages of wild dogs, settlers in the McKinlay district, New South Wales, are abandoning wool-growing and going in for agriculture solely. The New South Wales Government district national prizes, amounting to £350, will be competed for at the Junes Pastoral, Agricultural, and Industrial Association’s Show on September 16 and 17. The Trust Commissioner yesterday granted the following certificates: —Judgment of Supreme Court, W. A. Friar v. Paora Hmpa. Transfers from Petera Honotapu to Allan McLean of Okirau D, and Takopa 18. At the Police Court yesterday morning, Henry Willoughby was fined £1 for being drunk and disorderly, and 12s for damages to property. E Devery pleaded guilty to allowing sheep to wander, affected with lice, and was fined £2, and costs 13s. A writ claiming £lOOO damages has been issued against the proprietors of the Waipawa Mail newspaper by Dr Mirbacb, of Waipawa. The writ was not served on the printer and publisher, but it is reported to have been served on the proprietors. The publisher has applied to be joined as a defendant. The following is the amount of customs duties collected at thia port for the month of August Spirits in bu'k £257 si, spirits in case £75 16s. tobacco £142 12s 6d, wine (sparkling) £4 10s, wine (Australian) £7 2s. wine (other kinds) £2O 17a, ale and beer etc. £J2 tea’£3ol6s 3(1, sugar, molasses, etc £l4, goods by weight £155 15s 3>3, goods ad valorem £1 4’, goods 20 per cant. £l3 Bs. other duties not specified above £59 3s 61. beer £23 4s 9d, light dues £l3 18s 64, port charges £54 lie9d, auctioneer's license iOs

While the German steamer Elberfeld w&s on her way from Hamburg to Melbourne, a Dr Prowitzsch committed suicide by shotting himself. On searching his cabin a letter addressed to his widowed mother was found containing ths following hastily-written lines“ My Own Dear Mother,—Farewell, farewell ; I see it is no use living. I can do nothing to brighten the evening of your life, so I die. Good-bye.—Your son, Carl Prowitzsoh.” Deceased was a well-educated man, of 31 years of age, and a native of Silesia. Ha was addicted to injeo'ing morphia, which disturbed his mental balance. The remains were buried at sea, the captain reading the servics. At the meeting 0! creditors in Auckland, called by the eccentric Mr Harrow, ha read a lengthy statement commencing, “ 1 Dearly beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness.’ Now in Auckland to be in debt is not looked on as a sin, and to go through the Court and pay nothing in the £, or worse, is only to do unto others as you would they should do unto you, at least this is the conclusion I have arrived at after careful study cf tha oases that have gone through the Court, and the less a man pays in the £ the pjore he is thought of.” The statemaat then want on to say that hie forefather had fought at Hastings, and ffiat Lhe boast of his father had been that he was never in debt. He had beau taught in bis youth to “ Render nnto Cffi’ar the things which are Casar’s, and unto God ths things which are God’s.” Mr Harrow then detailed the results of his various investments, and stated that he should have been able to meet his liabilities only that bis aften|: In Natal had notified him that the Kaffirs living on his farm bad been allowed further time in which to sell their mealies, so that he was £9OO short. He asked the creditors to have mercy on him, as he had mercy on the Kaffirs. He had no mortgages on bis property, of which the Govei’nqient value was £6,000, but the taxes and insurance swallowed all the income. If allowed time he hoped epe Jong to clear off his debt, and tjaen he should have the happiness of being no longer knnwn;{as| '‘ the houesb .'pauper of the

An ordinary meeting of the Borough Council takes place this evening.

A bay gelding will sold at the Whataupoko Pound, at noon to day, unless redeemed.

The School Committee meets at the usual hour to morrow evening.

Messrs Williams and Kettle have been appointed agents for the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zea land.

At the Mutual Improvement Society last two papers were read by lady members— Descriptive sketch of travels in New South Wales, by Mrs Stevenson, and Woman’s Work, by Mrs Jones. The papers were very interesting.

Two curiosities having been obtained by the fifth Duke of Argyll, they are now to be seen by his “ trusty friends and retainers.” The one is a remarkable fish which he designates as a “ sea serpent,” whether rightly or wrongly can be best judged by those who view the lusus natura. The other is a most peculiarly shaped locally-grown lemon, having in addition to the fruit proper, a sort of triple growth, giving a decidedly strange appearance. The Argyll has for years been noted for its curios, and the chief evidently intends to maintain its reputation.