LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 217, 3 November 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Thirty-one horses are loft in for the Melbourne Cup, to be run oa Tuesday next. The case Ward v Miller was further adjourned by Mr Booth yesterday till the 22ud inst for the purpose of obtaining the evidence of Messrs Cresswell and Lascelles at Napier. Special services in connection with the death of the late Mr Teat, will be conducted in the Presbyterian Church to-morrow. The Sunday school children are to be present at the evening service. The City fathers have awoke at last to a sense of their duties, if not to bipeds at least to quadrupeds. We notice that a start has been made in tha right course, in blinding the road to the wharf. No dust will be thrown on the sapient promoters of the scheme of well-doing, but the Borough water cart keeping down the dust, the astonished horses will whinny with joy when at last they see a fair going read over the most business part of the Borough.

Ail Star to-night—Mac’s hall. It is intended to form a Trotting Club in Napier. Dinner to day from 12 to 2, for one shilling (including Crawford’s best), at the Gisborne Hotel. A Southern paper suggests that Sir Julius Vogel has aspirations to the governship ot the colony. The Waihora, which left Wellington for Sydney on Saturday last, had on board 1020 tons of colonial produce. To the Auckland Free Public Library Sir George Grey is steadily continuing his gifts of rare and valuable works, A Wellington medico has joined the Salvation Army, and his testimonies are always regarded with interest. Hundreds were unable to get inside St. Sepulchere’s Church at Auckland to see the wedding of Miss Crisp and Dr. Bond. The Maoris have defeated the Northhampton footballers. It is satisfactory to hear of poor New Zealand being ahead in something. —Sydney News. Dame Rumor—that an ex-M.H.R., very popular in Gisborne, intends “ sailing for ” a widely-known commercial institution to the tune of sixty thou., for breach of agreement, etc. The Napier Telegraph says:—“We have heard of some large sales of fat wethers at from 9s 6d to 10s per head. These prices are a wonderful improvement upon those ruling lately.”

The Christchurch Press remarks of Mr Rees’ scheme that it must be made perfectly plain that Jhe project is a purely private one, for the success of which the colony is in no shape or form in the smallest degree responsible.

The funeral of the la’e Fa .herßeignier took place at Napier on Wertn -.-.ui.-y and was very largely attended. Over 800 persons marched in the procession, which also included 62 carriages and a large number of horsemen, and was over a mile in length.

The town meetings in connection with the harbor were got over with extraordinary promptness, each one lasting less than ten minutes. The motions that a poll be taken were passed unanim >usly, almost without discussion. Form d meetings were also held throughout the coum:»y. The poll is to be taken oa Wednesday, November 14th. As some Masterfon cricketers were returning from a match at Carterton last Saturday night, in a brake, wh n nearing Taratahi a large stone was th own hi their midst, striking Mr Pownall, su.icilor, full in the face, seriously damaging his umie and eyes, and stunning him. The perpetrators of the out* rage escaped in the darkness. A home correspondent writes If Mr W. L. Rees, as 1 suppose, read his paper before the British Association, 1 have been unable to find any chronicle of the fact. Clearly, therefore, his suggestions can’t have excited much attention. I fear the leading AngloNew Zealanders £do not propose to give Mr Rees much assistance iu forwarding the crofter colonisation scheme. The Resident Magistrate gave judgment in the following cases, heard on Thursday morning :—D. M. Orr v. E, Rangiwhaitui, claim £1 9s, costs 15s ; D. M. Orr v, Wi Mahuika, claim £24 12s, costs £1 17s; E. K. Brown v. H. Paraone, claim £3 2s 6d, costs 3s; P. Kane v. D. Chuter, claim £3, costs 8s ; E. K, Brown v. E. Rangiwhaitui, claim £2 6s lid, costs 15s, Judgment summons : T. Morrison v. P. Malone, claim £8 12a 10d. As there was no appearance of either party, the case was struck out.

In reply to “ Kyty ” we may say that in our article of Thursday under the heading “Purchasers Beware” we had no intention of trying to create an uneasy feeling among those who had purchased sections; what we did do was to look the facts in the face and remark on the statement which had been made by the Chief Justice that the land transfer Hie was not a proper dne. The judgment referred to was, as we stated, founded upon other grounds. However, we have the opinion of a solicitor that unless there were other grounds shown of a very convincing nature, the title would be indisputable—in other words that a land transfer title is perfect so long as there has been no misrepresentation. Mr John Dixon, a well-known resident of Omahu, near Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, died suddenly at the Karaka yesterday morning. The deceased came up country on business, but shortly after his arrival at the hotel he became ill, suffering from a succession of fits, which appeared to diminish in their violence towards morning, when those who who had been situ ig up with him thought he was in a fair way of recovery. On going to his room, however, a short time afterwards, he was found to be dead. Information of the occurrence was at once forwarded to the Police Station at Ormond, and‘pending the necessary post mortem examination and subsequent inquest, the cause of death cannot be ascertained.

A remarkable story of domestic affliction comes from Ti numu, Hanke’s Bay. A little lad name I VV stmoreland was drowned in a creek near his parent’s house, and the body having b- eu recovered, an inquest was held at the house. While this was proceeding, says the Waipawa Mail, “ Mrs Westmoreland, who was just about to give her evidence, screamed and ran away from the room. It appears she Was she sat there her second eldest sou g » into the stockyard and lay hold of a horse s tail, and the horse immediately lashed out and kicked the lad fair in the-chest. The poor mother ran to him, and, with other assistance, the lad was carried indoors. When our informant left, the lad was vomiting blood, and it is not known how the accident will terminate.”

A country contributor writes: —l do not know who the dispensers of the ratepayers’ money may he a'ong the road from Espie’s corner to Dunn’s corner and thenoe past Mr Cameron’s on the mi idle road leading to Waerenga-a?hika, but it is very near time that some of the cash was disbursed in filling up the holes on the said road, A few yards of metal judicious y spread over the uneven parts of the made road would tend very much to facilitate traffic, a>d possibly avoid a claim being ma le far damages against the occult parties havi ig ' harge of the road. At present it is bad, bn. if not soon seen to, it will be worse, arid if damage is done to wheel traffic by reason of the holes not being filled up when there is a chance of doing it properly, the parties responsible will have to suffer the consequence.

A country correspondent writes to us as follows with regard to the condition of the Motu road Sir,—You will confer a public service if you make it known to those in authority, the disgraceful state of this road, or track. On the Motu side, the track is as good as can be expected, but on this side it is in a dangerously neglected and shameful condition. Trees He across the narrow path, small bridges are broken down, fascines over the swamp places not replaced —gome parts carried away—and all this, I presume, to save a very few pounds to a rich district. The track is very much used for business, pleasure, and ordinary communications between Gisborne, Opotiki, Whakatane, and even Tauranga. No one will travel that way for pleasure in its present (and for many weeks past) state. Perhaps labor ia very scarce.

The limelight exhibition was again pro* duoed at the Theatre Royal on Thursday night and last night, and will be repeated this afternoon and to night. By request many of the views are thrown on the screen again each evening, and anyone with refined taste oould not tire ot seeing many of them, while people who are not thus inclined would have an admirable power before them to influence them in that direction. The scenes depicting Tennyson ? s Brook are among the moat attractive, and elicit many expressions of approbation from the audience. Some local views are also shown up sp endidly by the Rev. Mr Hunter’s excellent apparatus. The musical portion of the programme is not by any means the least enjoyable, and Mr Hunter’s musical abilities are much appreciated. Thia afternoon v;ews of the Egyptian war will be represented. The charge for admission will be extremely low, four of a family being allowed in for a shilling, and single individuals for sixpence. Those who have not already been should take advantage o! the opportunity.

Major Gudgeon, Oomnifasioner of Police, is now on an official visit to Gisborne. A United States man of war was sold in the Brooklyn navy yard recently for ten dollars. A Home correspondent writes stating that Major Pitt, of Gisborne, has arrived in London. At 11 this morning Messrs Graham, Pitt, and Bennett will hold an important sale in connection with McOlutchey’s estate. We are informed on good authority that the river has greatly improved of late, and that the lighters can attend to their work almost without interruption. Surmising that the Newcastle strike will speedily end, the Melbourne Metropolitan Gas Company have reduced the price of gas from 8s 4d to 7s 6d per 1000 feet. Four or five public schoulb >ys got hold of a companion at Parramatta aud hanged him to a tree, first by the neck, and then by the legs. The suspended lad complained to his parents, and now legal proceedings between the families are likely to be the outcome ot the amateur lynching. A terrible tragedy occured at Prairie Centre» Ottawa, Illinois, on the 19th August, resulting in the death of eight young men. A ball was being held in a house at Prairie Centre when at midnight two young men fought about a partner. The men present took sides. Knives were freely used, and eight persons were stabbed to death.

New Zealand is likely to be represented in the race for the Amateur Sculling Champion* ship of Australia, which is to be rowed on the Parramatta river on the 28th inst. Mr Oopcland, of Wellington, who has made his mark as an oarsman, will be spending a holiday in Sydney at that time, and if circumstances appear favorable he will enter for the event. For neglecting to provide for his children’ beating and torturing, and dragging by the hair of the head the woman with whom he cohabits, and attempting to cut her throat with a razor, a drunken Port Chalmers savage named Robert Sutherland was last week fined 30s or in default seven days. A newspaper adds that the two justices who heard the evidence and weighed the punishment are believed to be sane.

At an inquest in Melbourne on the body of a boy named Thomas Beveridge, who was decapitated on the railway, near Maryborough, the jury found that the deceased dc iberately placed himself on the line. No blame was attached to the official of the train. The buy was only 12 years of age. It is supposed that the cause* of the act Was that hia mot-.er threatened to complain to his father about his having played truant from sctiool. A most determined attempt to commit sui« cida occurred at the Port Melbourne North railway station on the evening of October 14. As the 7.45 train neared the platform a man named Jeremiah Conole jomped from the elevated footbridge on to the line right in front of the engine, which passed over him, cutting off his right arm at the elbow. Ha was at once removed to the hospital and it was found necessary to amputate his arm at the shoulder. Conole improved wonderfully after the operation and there is little fear of a fatal result.

The twenty third show of the Tirnaru A. and P. Association was held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Between £5OO and £6OO was offered in prizes. The show of sheep was good, but the competition wag limited. The show of cattle was very poor, The feature of the show was the horses, of which there were 148 entries. The champion draught was Mr Davie’s Marquis of Salisbury, and the champion thoroughbred Guy Faux. Roadsters and hunters tur ied up in large numbers. Good prizes brought a large entry list of dairy produce, but a similar inducement did not secure a good show of grain as there was practically only one exhibitor. Some few months ago several samples of black maire, puriri, and rata timber were forwarded by an Auckland firm to their London agent with a view to ascertaining if these species were at all likely to be desirable exports to the London market. A reply to their communication was received by last mail as follows:—“ The samples of wood received from you are all of a density of fibre which would preclude their being used in ordinary furniture, owing to the excessive amount of labor to work them. They would be suitable for small fancy tables, cabinets, or writing tables, and would undoubtedly take a very fine finish, equal to ebony or satin wood, and would look very handsome.” It is pleasing to karn that some ot the members of the late J Battery are endeavoring to reorganise it. About fifteen of Captain Warren’s cadets have now grown sufficiently tall and strong to be enrolled in an adult corps, and these added to the active members of the J Battery will make up the minimum strength to 43. It is proposed to secure the required number of signatures and then hold a meeting to elect officers and make a formal offer of services to the Government. We are informed that Major Porter is favorable to the reorganisation and as the transfer of arms and stores will not entail any expense upon the Government we have no doubt the services of the new corps would be accepted. A correspondent sends a contemporary the following extracts from a letter written by a practical shearer at Darling River, New South Wales, in regard to the Wolseley shearing machine? :—“ There were forty machines fitted up here, but there are only thirty-four working at present. The manager found the men were making a better average with the machines than they previously had done with the shears, and the number came down to thirty-four men, as the wool was coming off too quickly for the wash. We expect to be cut out here this week. I may say I like the machines far better than the shears. There is no doubt in a year or so, when the driving gear, etc., is improved upon, the shears will will ba a thing of the past. The highest tally here is 171 in eight hours.” A dusky lady named Ihipera Wharehinga has a decided objection to being “ thrown on the shelf,” and does not go through the ceremony of making application to a matrimonial bureau to make known her felicitous ( tendency. She was brought down from tha Coast in the Maitai, under the charge of the steward, and she would persist in a desire to ba married to every one on board, but eligible candidates were exceptionally scarce. Onl the arrival of the steamer Ihipera offered hen hand to each one who went aboard, audl finding no one willing to accept it sbe amuse<« herself by taking off her boots and throwing! them at the steward. Ihipera was broughfl up at the R.M. Court yesterday on a charge! of lunacy, and was remanded till next Mondaw for the purpose of medical examination. At* the Supreme Court, Wellington, oil Wednesday last, judgment was reserved until 30th November in the action Apiata te Parel huia v. Seymour. This was an application for an injunction to restrain the defendanl from selling under writ of sale for costs ini curred by the native in the famous Whangarfl case. In this case, it will be remembered! the Chief Justice decided in favor of thcl natives, but his decision was upset in th« Court of Appeal. From this latter judgment! the natives gave notice of appeal to the Privj! Council, but for some reason#—we believe! principally a difficulty in finding the large! security required—the case was not proceeded] with. The present application to restrain] the sheriff from selling the native intaresstl in the Whangara block, is in ide an the] ground that the block is inalienable. I The Daily News’ Odessa correspondent gives ' a terrible picture of the Russian convict i Steamer on her way to Saghalien with 460] convicts on board, 160 of whom are murderers, i The convicts are herded together in batches' in iron-barred cages twenty-five to forty feet long. The following details for the preservation of the discipline is somewhat gruesome readinglmmediately outside the cages and attached to the under part of the deck overhead ie a steam-pipe connected with the ship's boilers. Into these pipes are fitted screw nozzles at intervals of twelve feet. The object of the steam-pipe is to suppress any dangerous outbreak among the iumates of the cage. By means of short hose, specially made to resist the steam heat, quickly attached to one of the pipe nozzles, the turbulent convicts are readily quieted or parboiled. Strong waler jets have been found next to useless in in allaying these occasional tumults. The use of boiling water as a means of restoring dis« cipline ie not unknown in the English service, but it has seldom been so systematically provided for us m at NijabNovgorocL