LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 61, 1 November 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

TheGisborre Rowing Club season opens t >-day. The Poverty Bay Club will join the procession, and owners of private boats are invited to co-operate to make the affair a success. The Snark will leave the wharf at half past four,

The Borough Council meets to-night. The Financial Statement will be delivered in the House tc-n'ght. The remainder of the eoetOmes on hand at Messrs Berry, Daniel, anl Co.’s are offered for private sale at upset cost prices. MesSrs King and Wallace, for the Gisborne Riding, and Mr Coleman, for Walmata, have been returned unopposed as members of the County Council. The Cadets hold a meeting to-night. It is proposed to go out to the paddocks in which the Hussars hold their exercises on the Prince ot Wales' Birthday,

.."Captain" Holdaway and " Cadet I? De Blois, oi the local Salvation Army corps, Shortly leave Gisborne to take part in the Army’s work els:where.

Any person who can give informal™ 11 touching the whereabout* of one John Hall George Dewe, now or lately a busbfaller in this district, will please send such information to the office ot this paper, The great prize fight between Jem Smith the English champion, and Jake Kilrain, of Baltimore, has advanced another stage, as £4OO a tide is now down. The fight is to be for £l,OOO a side, and it is said that it will take place near Gibraltar, and without fear of interference.

The East Coast Hussars, under Captain Winter, proceeded out to Ormond on Saturday afternoon, where they met the country contingent, under Lieutenant Wethered. In all there were 35 present. The men had a most satisfactory drill, and returned to town at about 9.30. o’clock, Mr Goff, the father of the diver who was lately tn Gisborne, arrived by the Wairafapa on Sunday. Mr Goff is to bo employed on the harbour works, and he states that he is willing to dive for the pieces of machinery lost from the Blair Dummond, the conditions being no result no pay.

An essay, entitled “ Sevan years in Russia,’ was read by Mr J. B. Wal»h at the Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Society's meeting last night. The essayist had written from personal experience and detailed many intereeting things about the Russians and their mode of living. The larrikins are still giving the Salvation Army “ pepper.” On Sunday night bricks, stones, and a variety of other missiles were vigorously hurled on the roof of the barracks. We may yet have to fulfil our threat, and publish the names of some of those taking part in these disgraceful proceedings.

While on her voyage from the Kaipara to Melbourne, the brigantine Peerless was hoveto during a fierce gale. During this time a tremendous sea broke over her, and washed two of the hands overboard. A rope was thrown to them, which, most fortunately, they managed to secure, and they were hauled in again. Emin Pasha has written a letter in which he says he hopes that out of a bloody seed some good may spring, and if the countries are re-occupied “ we shall be able to substitute for the rotten and foul system of government which ruined the Soudan a stricter and sounder structure built up for the welfare and peace of this poor people.”

The Native Minister has received a reply from Mr Wilkinson, Native Agent, to the effect that so far as he can ascertain there exist no grounds for the Poverty Bay settlers' indignation at a prospective visit from Te Kooti. So far as he is aware, that distinguished chief has not given any cause for the report that he intends leaving his present quarters on a visit to any locality. Our Wellington Correspondent Writes ;—Mr Liddy, the well-known theatrical agent, is hare at present acting as avant courier for the Majeronis, who are to open here next week. He informs me that the company created a perfect furore down South. Gisborne people may rely upon having a great dramatic treat in store. On their last visit here the refinement of their acting and the exquisite manner in which the pieces were performed won them many friends and they are sure to be welcomed by crowded bouses when they return.

In its review of Mr Shands’* book, the Australasian makes the following extracts, and observations :—“ Even common decency was impossible when a man and his wife and their grown up sons and daughters had but one sleeping chamber iu which to hovel at night, while the poor 1 iws -actually promoted licentiousness. It was no uncommon occurenoe for a pauper to marry the mother of illegitimate children, in order that he might pnt in a claim for a larger out-of-door allowance from the parish.” ,

During Sir Henry Parkes' speech in Parliament relative to his financial position, Mr Tonkin, one of the Government supporters, moved to the Opposition side of the House. Mr Melville objected to this, saying " the Government had better keep their toadies on their own side.” Mr Tonkin replied, “ You miserable, dirty wretch, shut up.” Mr Melville retorted that if Mr Tonkin used such terms he would have to answer for them later. Mr Tonkin replied by asking Mr Melville to " come outside," which challenge Mr Melville refused-. When the Mahratta, an Indian boat, was wrecked, she went over and for some time lay on her side, the people clustering on the ship’s side and rigging like bees. Some native boats were near, but the boatmen were afraid to come close owing to the eddies. Eventually the ship’s officers swam to a large boat and compelled the boatmen to approach. Only about six lives were lost. Tha Uriya residents of Calcutta regard the loss of the vessel as a partial of a prophecy by the “ god ” Juggeruauth.

The ship Hospodar, which arrived at Hobson’s Bay on October 12th, 93 days from Liverpool, had an eventful voyage. The upper main topsail yard came down with a run, bringing with it the lower maintopsail yard. All the ironwork attached to both yards was utterly destroyed, and much more damage was done, A few days’ later the wheel was smashed to atoms. Four men were injured, and Frederick Volz, a promising young man 20 years of age, was washed overboard.

Our Wellington correspondent writes Despite the fact that business is said to be very dull here, landed property in the city and suburbs continues to be ‘in fair demand and to command a good figure. One well-known firm of auctioneers alone saled property to the value of £9OOO last week, whilst the greater portion of an acre in Newton, Wellington's largest suburb, though inconveniently situated, has just change! hands at a cash price equal to £lOOO for the full acre. There were no buildings worth mentioning on the property. We would draw the attention of the Borough Council to the disgraceful state of the recreation ground. Some time ago the Council ordered that the gates be locked so as to put a stop to the practice of allowing horses to be driven in at night time and taken out the first thing in the morning. This objectionable practice is still being continued and at the present time the ground is in a very bad state. In some places the fence is down, and the whole appearance of the property is such as should demand the attention of the Council.

There is an absence of literary “ atmosghere ” in Australis, says the St James’s ■azette. The colonies depend upon the Mother Country for their supply of metal babulum. Their literary taste is receptive and passive, not creative and active ; so that, while there is a good deal of reading, there is but little writing in a country where, though education is common, educated leisure is rare. The printing press is, with a few exceptions, confined in Australia to the issue of newspapers. The era of book writing must come later.

A son of Mr Reid was one day last week fishing from off the s.s. Rosina when he felt the hook caught in something. He tugged, and when he got the hook above water he found a piece of coral hanging to it. The coral was brought ashore, but somebody thinking they had a claim on it quietly appropriated it when nobody was about, so that it cannot be said for certain whether the coral was alive, but the men on the Rosina who examined it are of opinion that it was. If it is true that the coral was alive it will be a great pity as it will mean the surveying of the Bay every few years, for eoral pinnacles will come up all over the place. It was near the red buoy where the torsi was found.