LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 239, 25 December 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In order that our staff may have a holiday on Christmas Diy and Boxing Day the Standard will not be published on Thursday morning. The Wesleyan Sunday School Picnic be held on the Kaiti beach on Boxing Day Admission—Adults Is 61, children 6J ; children attending school, Free.—Ad. The Napier Telegraph falls into a most ridiculous error, in recording the departure of Mr E. K. Brown from this district. It refers to Mr Brown as “ Snyder,” a former Press writer whose memory is still fresh throughout the colony, but who has many years since joined the great majority. A Society paper calmly alleges that all New Zealanders play roughly, so much so that when the English team were playing a match at Wellington last summer, the captain of the visitors remarked to the Wellington captain, “Is this football or a free fight ? We don’t mind whether we take you at one or the other, but we should like to know what is intended.”

Commenting on the Premier’s suggestion that the Dunedin police should contribute a day’s pay towards the Exhibition, the Post says it is a most improper suggestion for a person in his place to make, for it is equivalent to a command. Those who did not adopt the suggestion would bs marked men, and it would be impossible to regard such subscriptions as being voluntary. The Exhibition should not need to levy blackmail on men who probably find their pay barely suffi cient for their own needs.

Our readers are again reminded of th® concert aud dance which takes place tomorrow evening at the Volunteer Hall, Ormond, in aid of the school band, etc. Tbe dance that takes place afterwards, it may be depended upon, will be on a par with the many successful social gatherings that have been held in Ormond. An excellent supper will be provided, and the music will be all that can be desired. The object is a worthy one, and the band has on many occasions rendered appreciable assistance at various gatherings that have been held during the past year. If sufficient inducement offers—and there certainly ought to be—a brake will make a trip from Giabome, returning after th2

The extraordinary scene which occurred in St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney, at the marriage of the popular Shakesperian actress, Miss Essie Jenyns, has led Bishop Barry and the Chapter to resolve that in future admission to marriage ceremonies may be obtained by ticket only. With regard to Mr Crawford’s reminder of the festive season, it has been duly tested and fully appreciated. It is a sample of a special Christmas brew now on tap, and does credit to the house. The beer has been manufactured out of pure malt and hops, and filtered water. It is stronger than the ordinary running ale and has been brewed sufficiently long to mellow. When beer of such quality can be locally produced, there should be no market in Gisborne for an outside article, but there should also be a good outside market for Mr Crawford’s brew. At an earjy date we hope to make an inspection of Mr Crawford’s establishment.

Mr Lloyd, a schoolmaster at Wanganui, was fined 21s, with costs 80s, for caning a boy named Rendell. Three boys had annoyed him by throwing stones on his roof to the danger of his children, and using abusive language. Mr Lloyd went out and the boys ran away, but afterwards returned and recommenced stone throwing. Mr Lloyd again went out and caught one of the youngest, and teaned him on the legs and back. The other two ran away, and were summoned by the police for annoyance and abusive language. The two boys were fined 10s each and costs. Mr Lloyd pleaded guilty, and did not attempt to exonerate himself. Public opinion thinks the fine excessive, and tending only to encourage boys to be impudent to their elders, and become larrikins.

Among the attractions set down for tomorrow is the picnic to be held in connection with the Wesleyan Sunday School, but to which the public are invited on payment of a reasonable sum—an arrangement which will assist the Sunday school and enable many to spend the holiday in a happy and inexpensive way. The Picnic Committee has been fortunate in obtaining the kind permission of Mr Butt for the use of the pretty valley round the Kaiti of the most pleasant and convenient places that could be found for a gathering of this sort. There is always a nice sea breeze at this place, there is plenty of shade, and there is the beach just at hand. The affair has been entrusted to those who know well how to arrange and carry out these things, and on that score there is every reason to expect a marked success. There will ba none of the unpleasantness which attaches to a river picnic, which as a rule causes so much trouble with the boats, etc., and those who attend may rely on enjoying themselves.

The. Melbourne people must have strange tastes in the way of “ sport,” Our Melbourne correspondent writes :—Among the novelties in the form of amusements announced for tho coming festive season is a “ Rat-killing Contest,” to take place “ under the patronage of the most popular sporting gentlemen in Australia.” The conflict is to have its locale in a plate glass cage, 10ft. x 10ft. x 3ft. to be erected on a vacant piece of land near the Public Library in Swanstonstreet. It is to be hopsd i hat the usual supineness of the police will not prevent their intervening on this occasion and stopping the brutal pastime which is projected. The community has already been sufficiently demoralised by the numerous prize-fights which have been permitted to come off. So debased a form of amusement tan int fail to be subversive of public mbrality. We Eng-lish-speaking races pride ourselves on our superiority over such nations as the Spaniards and South Americans, who take a fiendish dePghi iu witnessing the baiting of an unfortunate bull in the arena. Surely, however, this ii no more degrading than the proposed rat-kill ng. We have receive! quite a host of Chris m u greetings from fi lends in the district; and beyond it, amongst which we notice with pleasure a nice card from our old M-jnd Mr C. Wilson, representing the etuff of the journal of which he has for some tiffie past been editor, the Napier News. To all we must simply return thp good wishes. The Pose and Telegraph Department inelule in their card an interesting statement} showing statistics of the Post Office and Telegraph Department, for the year 1887 Employes (exclusive of mail contractors), 2,0-15 ; number of letters posted, 18,711,329; number of letters delivered, 20,666,445; number of letters registered, 142,252; number of newspapers posted, 7,250,148 ; number of newspapers delivered, 8,131,175; number of books posted, 2,254,213; number of post cards posted, 849.637; number of telegrams transmitted, 1,835,394 ; number of miles of telegraph line, 4,616 ; number of miles of wire, 11,375 ; number of telephone exchanges, 13; number of telephone subscribers, 2,166 ; miles travelled by mail conveyances, 3,796,171; amount of money orders issued, £555,744 13s sd; amount of postal notes issued, £45,950 17s 7d; amount of money orders paid, £482 437 17s 4d ; amount of Savings Bank deposits, £1,312,151 Is sd; amount standing to credit of depositors, £1,813,084 18s 81; revenue, £311,608 19s; expenditure, £270,635 10s lOd. A startling advance in surgical science has been made by Dr Maximilian Klein, a German military surgeon. The particulars are given by the professional journal * Memorablien’ A man accidentally cut off his left great toe in the middle of the first joint. The severed piece remained hanging to the foot; but the connecting skin was scarcely thicker than a thread. Dr Klein sewed on the fragment, dressed it with iodoform, and in twenty-two days he found the wound healed and the toe perfectly sound and flexible. Encouraged by the unexpected result in this case, Dr Klein was induced to try the same treatment again. A recruit in order to disable himself and escape from military service, deliberately cut off his forefinger with an axe at the second joint. The finger eud was lost and could not be found until half an hour had elapsed. It was then cold and blue. Nevertheless Dr Klein sewed on the severed end aud bound it up in iodoform gauze. As early as tho second day it wad evident that circulation had been partially re-established throughout the finger, aud in six weeks the man not only left the hospital, but was doing the very rifle drill which he had hoped to shirk. The finger was, in fact, as serviceable as it had ever been. These stories read almost like extracts from the exploits of Baron Munchausen. That they are chronicled in ‘ Memorabilien ’ is, however, evidence of their truth. English surgeons will not be so unwilling to credit them a s they would have been in the days before the marvellous discovery of the properties of iodoform. A tradesman has called upon us in connection with the article which appeared on Saturday under the heading “How it’s Done: Getting a Yankee start.” No names were mentioned, but the tradesman has no doubt it is intended to refer to him, and gives the other side of the story. He and the other person had been living together, and the latter being better known iu the place it was arranged that goods should be got in his name. Since thou there have been disagreements, aud a complete dispensation of harmonious relations, but for convenience the tradesman did not alter his system until there had been a settlement of accounts, the local firm being still good for a certain amount on the books of the outside firm. The accounts produced for our inspection prove this to be the case. Some correspondence had been carried on between the local firm and the outside firm with regard to overcharges, and thus matters were allowed to go on as usual for a time, though in his last communication the local tradesman states he distinctly requested that in future all business should be done in the name of the firm and the second party’s name was no longer to be used. During the correspondence the debit note for £lO 10s was delivered to the second party (though the account had been settled in the meantime), and that placed matters in a false light. One remarkable thing, however, is that tho second party denies ever having given any authority for his name to be used, buc with the explanation before us, we can hardly, taking no note of other reasons, believe that anyone would be so foolish as to thus lay themselves open to a charge of fraud, especially when the credit of the firm was not to be questioned. Wo have purposely refrained from mentioning names and, fearing that a good deal is the result of severed friendship, have no wish to enter upon the matter further than to see that justice is done so tar as the public is concerned* The truth hppearsjto be that it is family rUptUld.

“ Willqw ” adheres to the tips as published on Saturday morning. The betting market up to the latest goes to show that his choice is most in favor.

An announcement to the music-loving portion of the community is made this morning, Mr Ilarvy expressing his intention of forming a sight singing class. Mr Harvy’s abilities are so well known that no farther recommendation is required. Reports from the Minerva works state that the 4} inch pipe was inserted on Saturday. The strata started caving on Friday, which necessitated the immediate insertion of the pipe, 840 feet of which was put in jn about six hours, without any hitch occurring. The following is a correct list of winners of scholarships in this district: —Two years : Adolph Scotter, Lily Witty, Johnston Me Ara, E. Thompson, Etta Baker, David Watt, and Minnie King. One year: Ada Cannon, W. Reeves, Mabel Tucker, Eva DeLautour, and Kate Drummond.

The Wanganui Harbor Board have resolved to ask the Marine Department to suggest the name of a competent man, acquainted with fascine work, with a view of the Board consulting the same before allowing the proposed works at the head of the breakwater to be proceeded with. An old man, who lately has been shearing at different sheds iu the district, was set upon and brutally ill-treated by three swaggers at Hororata. The cowardly ruffians then overhauled the shearer’s swag, and appropriated the sum of £4 10s, which it contained. One of the men should be easily recognisable, as he was deficient of the fingers of one hand. The man made his way to Coalgate, and reported the matter.—Christchurch Press.

An individual known as “The Whiffler ” was brought up at Wellington on a charge of wearing female attire. The constable stated the the defendant was dressed partly like a woman and partly like a clown. There was great laughter iu Court when the garments were produced. The accused pleaded that he was the travelling representative of a firm of fancy masquerade tailors. He was discharged.

A Waipawa correspondent writes: —“ The Exhibition has been a financial failure. What else could be expected ? But the worst of it is that those of the inhabitants who could best afford to launch out will not be responsible for deficiencies. Somebody must lose ; time will show who. The Waipawa Mail, in a scathing article, blames the Government with their illiberal railway arrangements, which always strangle everything of an intellectual nature, whilst a horse race would be aided by every concession in their power.” The immodesty of women could hardly go to a greater length than that exhibited by four females on Sunday morning.. It is a well known fact, that between six o’clock and eight o’clock, large numbers of those disposed to be cleanly, indulge in a morning bath on the beach at the end of Lowe street, but this did not deter the four from enjoying the sea breeze and at,, the same time studying the physique of nude male bathers. Unfortunately the feminine spectators were not supplied with lorgnettes, but on future occasions this slight disadvantage may be overcome, an enterprising member of the swimming fraternity purposing to secure a large number, which he will, for a consideration, lease out at so much per hour.

New Books—Xmas Prsents and Prizes, Annuals, Periodicals, etc,, at Mrs A. M. Browne’s, next Standard Office.—Advt.