LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 380, 21 November 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An address io tga electors of the East Coast, by Mr W. L. Bees, appears in this morning’s Standard. We shall take another opportunity of jteterring io the address, but on nicist points we cordially agree with Mr Rees, especially on that in reference to the Education question. Mr Reas speaks at MoFarlane’sHell to-rporrow night, when it ia almost certain there will be a crowded house. Tha Mayor occupies the chair, and we understand that the Mayor elect $ll be one ot tbe epeakere. Gisborne people generally give a hearty support' to an Outside theatrical company with high chargee of admission, L 9 * ue sec how they will respond this evening for an excellent local performance, at popular prides. My Ungle's Will drew eremmed houses at Fatutahi.

Mr Orf fe? received a consignment of potatoes from the Sogth.

Mr E- P. Joyce notifies tl)at all accounts due to the Independent Newspaper W fo k® paid to MrG. HendenOo.

Those persons indebted to Mr R. Finlay, in connection with his late business at the Pakarae and Tologa Bay, are requested to settle the aooonpts immediately so as to save further trduWe;

Mr W. E.l Akroyd has been appointed local aaent for Meaisea Thomae Cook A d Sons, the Universal Tourist Aganta, and] he is now prepared to issue special tiekvts for the Dunedin Exhibition!

At tbe Police Court yesterday morning James Scott was sentenced to thirty days’ imprisonment for being unlawfully on tbe premises of James Hanlon on the previous night. Last evening the trial fours of the Gisborne Bowing Club were pulled off on tbe Taruheru river. The first two; heats were won by Teat and Lunn, and the race between Niabet’s and Walter's crews, of the Poverty Bay Club, was won by the former. We have been compelled to hold over the letter of “ Licensed Victualler,’’ who wants tn know whether it is the intention of tbe Hospital Sports Committee to restrict the bidding for publican’s booths to thoae who carry on the business, and he also comments upon the subject,

Tha annual meeting of tbe County Council will be held on Wednesday the 27th inst., at noon, The busine»a will be the election of Chairman for 1890. to fix aalariaa and duties of officers for 1890, receive petition re Kaiteratahi bridge, and the ordinary business, instead of meeting on Friday, the 22nd November. The next ordinary meeting will ba held on 13th December.

On Boxing Day the Salvation Army propose giving a free tea to 600 children. This is a now departure for the Gisborne corps, but has we believe been customary with the Army in the large centres. We have always acknowledged the Army's power to do good in tbe community, and as the proposed treat is a praiseworthy object, it is to be hoped such generosity will meet with the appreciation which it deserves, and that tbe public will liberally assist by their contributions. Though the announcement of Mr Arthur’s candidature was made known on the same day as the public were aware of the vacancy in the East Coast Electorate, that gentleman, though unknown as a public man, has not yet thought it necessary to publicly approach tbe electors. Has be lost himself on his sheep run, or forgotten all about the existence of the electors ? When is he going to address the electors ? Or has he concluded that silence is golden ? A alight passage at arms occurred yestcr. day morning intheß.M, Court between Mr Day and Hsrgeant Bullen. The latter remarked: “If this sort ot thing is allowed it will be quite competent for any scoundrel to got out of the dock and give evidence, making all kinds ot assertions, and then not be crossexamined on his own statements,'* Mr Day promptly replied i *' That is just like the police,) every man accused ia in police eyes a scoundrel, and guilty,’* This little acene occurred through the new Act, which allows prisoners to give evidence on their own behalf. The dramatic entertainment thia evening, in aid ot the Gisborne Public Library, should be the means ot attracting a law audience, the prices ot admission being at a popular rate. The performance ot “My Uncle's Will,” it it is only nearly as successful as when it was given at Patutahi, will be certain to be well reoeived in Gisborne, The performance was certainly as good an amateur entertainment as we have witnessed in the district, and that is saying a good deal. Mrs W, Graham’s acting in thia pieoa is well worth seeing, and the other parts are equally well sustained. The amusing farce” Box and Cox" will be acted by amateurs who have already gained a good name for their ability.

Election excitement only occurs at frequent intervals, but Mr John Thompson, late of the Royal Engineers, is always with us, and appears likely to enjoy a long and happy life. At the last meeting ot the Harbor Board a document from the irrepressible RE. was presented and laid upon the table. It was a warning note that Mr Thcmpion had not yet abandoned his claim against the Board for the alleged appropriation ot his harbor plans. Tbe members all laughed at thia reminder qt the good old times, and Mr Chambers suggested that the document should ba placed in the museum for safe keeping. No decision was, however, come to upon tbe point, and Mr Bourke ia still the trusted custodian of the document.

Can anyone suggest a subject for our contemporary to write upon—a subject that permits of plenty of sailing round, without requiring a side to be taken ? Not one of the recent bankruptcies have been referred to in the leading columns of that journal, and it was afraid to refer to the visit of the Irish delegates; but the sandpump !! Some Dunedin speculators want to buy the sand pump, and tbe Board offer the white elephant for less than it actually cost, The price may be high, but why should a local paper cut tn to prevent a fair bargain being made? The paper might do some service if it explained how it is that the Engineer has only just discovered that the sandpump is required to pump away the sandspit. It is only another little discovery, which narrowly eaoaped being a twin sister to the training wall.

A peculiar case was heard at the Police Court on Tuesday morning. Alfred Thomas was charged on the information of J. M. Arundel with having stolen a piece of firewood. The prisoner immediately said ** Guilty," and was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment. The prisoner then beckoned to Mr Day (solicitor), who, after a few moments' conversation, said that the prisoner had been under a misapprehension, believing that he only pleaded guilty to the charge of M taking ” the wood. On being allowed to re-enter the box prisoner said that was what he meant. His Worship told the prisoner he had pleaded guilty and had twice repeated the word. Sergeant Bullen strongly objected tq permission bemg given for the plea to ba withdrawn, and pointed out. that there was a previous conviction against the prisoner. His Worship, however, said he would allow the case to proceed, aud Sergeant Bullen then asked tor an adjournment, and the case was allowed to stand over until yesterday morning. At the R.M, Court on Tuesday Gibson Kirk Turton was brought up on remand tor stealing a Bible the property of Mrs Ellen Hanlon. Mr Day appeared for the defendant, and raised the point that the prosecution should have been one for malicious injury to property, and not for larceny, but the Magistrate said he could not allow the objection at that itage of the case, The Sergeant asked for permission to orosi-examiua the defendant on bis sworn statement made last court day, and this was granted, the defendant protesting, and requiring to know_iinder what authority the permission was granted. The cross examinatidtf elicited nothing fresh except as to how the defenden't had' become possessed of the law book—Philips on Evidence. Two witnesses—Mary Oonnor and F. J, Thompson —were called for the defence, but were unable to throw much light on the matter. Mr Day again raised the question of larceny or not, and pointed out some inconsistencies in the evidence' given by the prosecutrix, and her witnesses. The Magistrate said he had no doubt that the defendant had taken the Bible. This had been clearly proved, not only from the evidence for tbe prosecution, but was even borne out by tbe prisoner's own statement. He would be sentenced to 80 days’ hard labor. To the majority of those in court at the time, thb ceverit? of the sentence stare rather »e a surprise, the whole affair having been looked on as merely the result of a drunken freak, but the subsequent conduct of tha defendant would not have justified any lesser sentence.