Local and General.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 339, 8 December 1875, Page 3

Local and General.

Henr'y Ti Clarke, Esq,, is expected in Tauraoga by the next trip of the Bowona.

natives made a large haul of fish yesterday morning,, mostly solmapper and Mow-tail.

Tjje quarterly meeting-of the Tauranga and e ” a pa Licensing Court was held yestosday g Ooon * Bo business was brought before-the _Qfirt. Major Roberts, presided as Chairman 01 the Court.

It is somewhat noteworthy that notwith* standing the intense sultriness of last Monday night in town, it was blowing quite hard out-side-the Mount, so much so that the Eowena did; not proceed to Ohiwa. The Colonial Architect invites tenders for the erection of a Loek-up-at Opotiki. General conditions*, specifications,, and drawings for the same may be seen at the Public Works office,. Tauranga y and at the office of the Resident? Magistrate, Opotiki.

Mr E. 0. Goldsmith, of the survey departrnent, proceeded to Oropi yesterday to cut up into sections of from fifty to two hundred acres the block known as the “ Oropi block” on the edge of the bush on the eastern side of the road, comprising about eight hundred acres in all. We are requested by Mr Maihi Te Bangb kaheke to contradict the statement appear* ing in a late issue to the effect that unless ho is well supported by Europeans at the ensuing election it is his intention to erect a fence across the Mangarewa Gorge. A case of great importance to country settlers will be heard this morning in the E.M. Court. It is in connection with the Impounding Act, and involves very nice technicalities. We understand that some of the resident Justices have been requested to take their seats on the Bench, a request which we trust they will accede to. Wo have received the first number of a new weekly journal published at Napier, entitled The Weekly Mercury and Hawke's Bay Advertiser, being a journal devoted tocommerce, agriculture, sports, politics, and literature. It is very well got up,, the editorials are care, fully written, and doubtless the paper will receive a large support from the public of Hawke’s Bay. We are pleased to find that steps are being taken to get up a regatta and general sports on Boxing Day. It will bo remembered that last year a very enjoyable day was spent, and wo see no reason to doubt a like result this year, more especially if the matter is taken in band by the gentlemen who kindly interested themselves last year in making Boxing Day a merry one to many.

It will be seen by advertisement that Mr Maihi Te Eangikaheke invites the attendance of those electors of the East Coast residing in Tauranga at the Masonic Hotel, this evening, at seven o’clock, when he will give expression to bis views on political matters. If the interpreter is not forthcoming the meeting will be postponed till to-morrow, at the same time and place. A letter from the Secretary of the Ohinemutu Race Committee has been handed to us for perusal, from which we learn that the Ohinemutu Race Committee are anxious not to clash in the day for holding their races with any races or sports that may take place during the ensuing holidays in Tauranga. They no doubt are acting wisely in so desiring, and we recommend the gentlemen who are instituting sports in this neighbourhood to co operate with the Ohinemutu Race Committee.

Mr .John Maepherson, tho respected pro’ priefcor of the Matata Hotel, Richmond—always anxious to oblige his customers and the travelling public—-has added to the other con. veniences instituted at that place through his enterprise that of a blacksmith’s shop. Travellers will find this a great convenience, as hitherto if anything went wrong with horses’ shoes on the journey down tho coast great inconvenience and loss of time ensued. We have seen some of the resident blacksmith’s shoeing, which we can pronounce as being very good. We had yesterday the pleasure of sampling a bottle of serated w r ater from Mr Robert Graham’s celebrated springs at Waiwera. The medicinal properties of these springs are so well known that further comment is unnecessary. It is got up in a similar manner to the far-famed Schweppes soda-water, and is rendered very pleasing to the palate. We feel sure it will be quite an acquisition to our thirsty friends during, these hot summer months. It is manufactured by John Grey, of Auckland, and Mr Eirth W rig ley, of this town, is the agent. We understand the supply is at present limited.

Our local cricketers complain of the absence of any inducement in the way of matches with other clubs to cause them to enter into the game with that heartiness which the prospect of a season’s contests with other elevens inspires. We are glad to learn, however, that there is every probability of an exception shortly being made to this rule, as a first-rate club is now in existence at Opotiki, and, wo believe, it is their intention to challenge the Tauranga Club at the earliest opportunity—probably at the time when the Annual Jttegatta comes off iu Tauranga, nest St. Patrick’s Day, to attend which a large influx of visitors from Opotiki may be expected. “ Owing to the unfortunate dissensions which prevail among religious sects,” observes the Pall Mall Gazette , “ Christians naturally are becoming suspicious, and, although loving each other as brethren, display at times a wilyness in their affection that almost reduces charity to sharp practice. An illustration of this is afforded by a discussion which took place last week at a meeting of the Town Council of Montrose, when a letter was read from the Lord Mayor of London, asking a subscription to the relief fund being raised on behalf of the sufferers by the late inundations in France. It was moved by the provost that the Council should vote £5, and that the magistrates be authorised to receive private subscriptions from the citizens. Upon this, up rose Eaillie Japp, who remarked that there were a number of Protestants in one of the in undated districts, and that as the relief funds would be administered by a committee mainly composed of Catholics, there was a danger of the Protestants being overlooked ; he therefore’thought if subscriptions were to be sent from Montrose, it should be seen that they were sent through a channel which would reach the Protestants. Some of the councillors did not share Baillie Japp’s apprehensions, but the provost promised to draw the attention of the Lord Mayor to the point mentioned by the baillie. No doubt steps will be taken to separate the Montrose £5-cote from the other subscriptions, and make it clear that the money is to be applied for Protestant as well as Catholic purposes.” Now is the time to subscribe to Saturday Night. Two SEWING MACHINES to be given to Subscribers, valued at Seven and Six Guineas, for solving a riddle, or writing the best essay on the most enjoyable way of spending Christmas in the Colonies. Agents everywhere.—[ADvT.j