LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 667, 8 October 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Fire Brigade had an excellent wet practice laet.night, The privileges lot the Poverty Bay Turf Club's spring meeting are to be dieposed of by auction on Saturday. There Is a great soaroity of cattle In the Bay of Plenty district, and prices arc consequently improved. Messrs Dobbie. Gough, and W. King, returned to New Zealand by the Kaikoura, which arrived in Wellington on Monday night. Mr J. T. Steele has disposed of the Crioklewood station, near Wairoa, to the Hon. J. B< White. Mr Steele is now In Gisborne having a look round. It is time the preliminary preparations were being made for the annual Hospital Sports on St Andrew's Day, if they are to be this year the success they have always been in the past. The Mobaka telegraph has been reduced to a post and telephone office, in charge of Miss M'Gath. Mr Logan, who formerly had charge of the office, has been transferred to the Napier office. “ Could the plaintiff have got out of the way before the assault?” was asked of a witness at Court on Tuesday. “ Yes," was the reply •' if he had been active and jumped the fail? (Laughter,)

The jury in the Waipawa libel action were locked up for eight hours. They managed to wile away the time, and just prior to being discharged were indulging in choral practice.

A proposed Agricultural show is being talked of in Tauranga. The Times says that it is many years since Tauranga had anything nearer approaching to euch a thing than an exhibition of vegetables at a church bazaar.

The editor of the Manawatu paper probably echoes the sentiments of some other people when he remarks: —We have received a communication from Colonel Bailey, of the Salvation Army, asking us to join in a week of self-denial. As we have already spent some years at the game, it is hardly fair to treat us as a new chum.

Mr Evinson, editor and manager of the Catholic Times, is reversing the usual order of things by serving a writ for alleged libel. The alleged libel is contained in a letter from the President and Secretary of the Wellington Typographical Society to Archbishop Redwood. The claim is for £6OO damages. The Times wrote very strongly against the action of the unionists at the time of the big strike. Mr Ellison, the editor of the Waipawa Mail, is called “ The Smiler ” by jocular friends. It was alleged daring the libel action against the paper, that Mr Ellison had smiled sardonically at Dr Mirbaoh after the article complained of appeared. Mr Ellison said he had no idea of having smiled sardonically—possibly he had at the time heard such good news as that a dilatory subscriber had paid up.

In the Waipawa libel action it was alleged that the reference was to frauds generally, and not to Dr Mirbaeh. The Anglican clergyman, Mr Eccles, considered the article a proper one, and was thankful to see it in the paper. He remembered a good many frauds visiting Waipawa, and among others mentioned the notorious Dr Gilbert, who was bowled out by Baldwin. Dr Mirbaeh was an active worker in Wi Pore’s interest during the Maori election campaign. The new office of the Harbor Board, at the wharf, is a comfortable little place. The gas meter has been fixed in just the posititon to tempt the wayward larrikin, and that interesting individual happened to be about on Tuesday evening. In his anxiety to keep down the gas bill he turned off the meter, and the informal meeting was rendered less dignified than it had been when conducted in the light of gas. If the meter is not covered in there is likely to be frequent interruptions of the kind mentioned. A little thing like that amuses the practical joker. Two highly-respected young men who have long resided in Gisborne—Messrs F. Oatridge and O. Veale, jun.—leave at an early date for Perth, Western Australia. This new field is attracting a great many people. Men of the class of Messrs Oatridge and Veale ought to succeed in any country, and though it is to be regretted that New Zealand should lose so many of those whom it can ill spare, their future success will be warmly wished. By accounts received from Western Australia there is excellent scope for sober and energetic men, and that promising country is fortunate in getting peopled by so many industrious New Zealanders.

Mr Bracken, the distinguished New Zealand poet whose genius is recognised far beyond our own fair land, is now in Gisborne, and the announcement that he will deliver a lecture to-morrow evening should be received with delight. His visit to Gisborne is mainly in connection with the volume of his poems recently issued under the title of “ Musings in Maoriland,” The poems of Mr Bracken should be on the drawing-room table of every person of culture. The book is an artistic production from a typographical point of view, the engravings especially being work of great merit. The book contains a preface by Sir George Grey, and a short history of New Zealand by Sir Robert Stout. No library in the colony should be without the volume. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s splendid new steel steamer Buahine, now building on the Clyde for the New Zealand cargo and passenger trade, is expected tn be launched shortly. She will be the largest merchant vessel yet engaged in the trade between this colony and England, as she will register 6100 tons and will carry an immense cargo. She is to steam from 17 to 18 knots, and is altogether to be splendidly fitted up. It is the intention of the company to utilise the Ruahine next year in taking the place of their other steamers in the New Zealand trade from time to time, so as to enable the rest of the fleet to be laid up, one at a time, at Home, to be lengthened some 15tt each, and otherwise refitted and enlarged. The Ruahine will be mainly a cargo boat, but will have accommodation for 20 passengers, Those who remember the enjoyment afforded to Gisborne playgoers on the last visit here of the Dobson-Kennedy Dramatic and Comedy Company will be pleased to learn that Mr W. Good has received intimation that those enterprising caterers for amusement and accomplished actors will shortly again visit Gisborne. The repertoire on this occasion will include •! My Sweetheart,” " Bip Van Winkle,” and " Struck Oil ” amongst other attractions, not the least of which will be the introduction of Mr C. J. S. Palmer, the celebrated actor-vocalist of whom critics on the other side have been loud in praise. Messrs Kennedy and Dobson in tbeir forwarded announcement make use of a very suggestive phrase, s’ating that they have “ brought their knitting,” and it is to be hoped that the good people will not be thoroughly satisfied until all the sketches in the promised “knitting” will have been completed.

Trotting horses are at present all the rage and almost every animal of the equine race has now to do its utmost to heat tlje records of Maude S. and other favorites. Some cl the performances are very funny—pot alone of the horses, but of the men, and the boys, and nippers who essay to steer their respective mounts. This fun is not confined to the training track proper—for here posslbly clover touts might be on the watch—but little cetei'ioe of three or four select a secluded spot, and rising with the sun do the measured mile (in some instances On a two hundred and fifty yards track) against time, and—well they are satisfied that time is nowhere alongside their repeated favorites—An early morning stroll on Haiti will give proof cf this, as here there is a particularly favored going ground, patronised and kept strictly select by some throe or four. To detail the exact names of the owners, trainers, and horses might scarcely be correct, but the marvellous records if current rumor does not spin a crooked story go tq show that something quite up to dick may be looked for from this quavtev. A letter has been received in Gisborne from the manager of the Deep-Well-Boring and Manufacturing Company, now currying on operations in Queensland, Australia, having reference to a report furnished them by their travelling expert, Mr Stev'enkou, who sqme short time back vieftpd this district and took away with him “samples of petpolpum oil pf a very fine quality. ” In the letter (Which has been addressed to one of our leading citizens) the manager states that his company would like to take an interest in developing the field, as the members are '■ all oil operators, thoroughly acquainted with the business in all its branches, having been for many years engaged in both producing and refining, and are still largely engaged in it in Canada.:’ They are of opinion that the difficulties which have had to be contended with could he cut. mounted with their experience and knowledge of strata to be penetrated. The Company, in event of a movement being made here, would undertake to furnish all machinery, tools, camp outfit, men, labor, and supplies of every description, except casing, wood, water, and transport of plant from Gisborne to bore site ; also to sink to any required depth at a leasonable figure to be agreed upon, and —as a guarantee of good faith — an interest in the company. Should the matter be taken up here the work will bo at once taken and all possible dispatch used. The Company, it may be mentioned, has all the plant necessary now in stock, and could without delay send with it men experienced in the work, such as drillers, etc. There is a strong belief that payable oil will yet be found in this district, and those so believing should take advantage Of tllo offer,

The County Council meets at the usual hour to-morrow afternoon.

Mr Bracken’s lecture to-morrow night will be on the subject, “Irish Humor, Pathos, and Poetry.” Mr C, Dette has taken over the GisborneWairoa mail contract from Mr 8. Beswick, and intends conveying the mails to an fro in a trap. a Tenders close at noon to-day for leasing fifteen acres of land suitable for grazing purposes, at Patutahi, being the property of the Poverty Bay Agricultural Society. New York State wanted a symbolic flower, and asked the school children to decide whether it should be the rose or the golden rod. 294,816 voted for the former, and 206,402 for the latter.

Shortly after 10 o’clock on Tuesday morning a small residence occupied by Mr Joseph Cooper, at Makaraka, was destroyed by fire. Mr Cooper had no insurance on the building or other effects, and he estimates his loss at £5O. It is supposed the fire originated through the wood, which had been left alight, falling from the grate.

Mr F. Rhodes in another column announces that the well-known stallion Waitangi will stand this season in Gisborne. The stock of this sire now running in the district are highly spoken of, and this may be well understood, as the horse is well bred, strong, and vigorous. As a getter of hacks alone Waitangi has made a mark for himself in the district and his season should be a successful one.

The following little incident in New Zealand history is related bv Mr Murray, one of the candidates for the Waikato vacancy :—Of Mr Bryce personally, and as a member of the House, he had the highest opinion, and it was to him (Mr Murray) that he owed his seat in a former Cabinet as Native Minister, an office which he filled so satisfactorily. When Sir John (then Mr Hall) was in doubt as to whom to select as Native Minister for hie new Cabinet, he consulted him (Mr Murray) as to who would be most acceptable to the country. He at once named Mr Bryce, and Sir John Hall entrusted him with the negotiations to secure Mr Bryce’s services, which he did

next day. What’s in a name 1 Evidently something according to one individual or Hibernian extraction, as he took great exception when it was incidentally remarked that a gentleman now on a visit here waa Mr Bracken. “ An’ does he call himself Bracken ? Well luk at that now? Faith his name's no more Bracken thin me own. Faith and don't I know the man ? Hie name's Paddy Murphy an' I’ve seen his writin’s in the old “ 'Tlser ” down South many's the time, signed with his own signature. And so he calls himself Bracken here, dees he? Then he’s a disgrace to the ould sod and yez can all tell him that his new name's not so good as the one righfully belonging to him. Not know I Paddy Murphy indade ?” The first annual meeting of the Gisborne Swimming Club was held last night in the Foresters’ Hall, when 20 members attended. Mr McLsrnon was nominated ChairmanThe following officers were then elected : — President, the Mayor; Vice-presidents— Messrs Murphy, T. Morgan, A. F. Kennedy, 9. McLernon, W. K. Akroyd; Captain, Mr G Davies ; Vice-Captain, Mr F. Muir, Mr Param was proposed as Secretary, but declined on the score that his other duties would interfere with the proper carrying out of) the] work. Mr Colebrook was then elected. Committee: Messrs Harry Read, Edwards, Eaton, and Param. The Auckland Swimming Club’s rules were then adopted, subject to several alterations. It was decided to open the season on the 9th November.