POVERTY BAY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXII, Issue 5286, 21 September 1876, Page 2

POVERTY BAY.

Gisbobni, September 15.— Your Good Templar readers will bo sorry to hear that most, if not all, of the Roman Catholic members of the aboro Order have left th ir lodge in this district, Good TerapUry not agreeiug with the teneti of their church, as explained to them by their priest who visited Gisborno a fortnight ago. This desertion of the good cause of Templary i* much to be regretted, for the very oue« who are leaving have benefited in a marked manner from their connection with the lodge. The Ruby Lodge at Oinond is in a flourishing state The members have built a hall for themselves, and have raised £60 for the purchase of a piano ; but I expect that their Roman Catholic members will leave if they have not already done so. — A new sawmill has been started on Mr. Caulton's property, at Ormond, for the purpose of supplying the wants of the district surrounding,— Business generally on the East Coast is still very depressed, and i£ it were not for the export of some timber from King's Makauri Mill, Gisborne would be dull indeed ; as it is, the arrival and departure of a schooner now and again keeps up a slight appearance of activity. Many of our local carpeater«ar« walking about out of employment, but are looking forward to the erection of the promised Government buildings.— The schooner 4 Echo ' arrived in the Bay on the 9th inst. from Auckland, coal laden. Whilst AttemptU^ to cross thfl bar she nearly came to gritf. She, however, was towed off by the ' Pr*tty Jane, and anchored outside with loss of rudder. On Monday the s.s. ' Kosiia ' took her in tow, and, after crossing the bar safely, they both t»ok th« ground on the west fide of the river, exposed to rather a heavy- sea, and it was atossmp whether it would be a case of wreck for one or both of the strandtd vessels, as a heavy swell was setting into the bay. When the ' Echo ' was left high and dry by the tide, it was decided to lighten her. Carts <§ were broaght into requisition, and before the flood mado again she was sufficiently lightened to enable her to be hauled off the bank, which was accomplished with some little difficulty and a good deal of bumping The ' Roeina ' also got into the river safely, and steamed yesterday for Tologa Bay and theCua3t. New spars and gear arrived by the ' Pretty Jane ' on her last trip for the schooner ' Acadia,* and her masts are already in position and the rigging being aet up, so that in about another week she will be neaily ready for sea. Nautical judges in these parts art of opinion that the spars sent down for the bohoouer ar« far too heavy for her.— A little boy, son of Mr. Wright, of Matawhero. had a narrow escape from drowning Ia3t Friday. It app«ars that the little fellow was playing oa the bank of the Wsipooa River, when suddenly the bank slipped and the lad fell into th» stream. A boy in the vicinity hearing the cries of the unfortunate child, hastened to the river side and told a retriever dog, which he fortunately had with him, to fetch him out. Our four-footed friend instantly plunged into the river and brought the drowning lad safely ashore. Mr. Parsons, the late manager of the now defunct petroleum company, has taken a contact I ! oni the new proprietors of the oitfcprings to put the old workings into order for a fresh start. — After getting outside yesterday afternoon the ' Rosina ' encountered such a heavy sea that she Tan back again into the rivwr.— {Own oomspwkUatl