LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 516, 9 October 1890, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Last week the Napier Municipal Council passed vouchers amountihg to nearly £lOOO. A large assortment ot spring and summer goods is being opened up at Mr W, Adair’s fine drapery establishment.

Mr R. N. Jones, solicitor, commences business on his own account next week, in the practice cf his profession. A soiree is to be held shortly in connection with the St. Andrew’s Church, to welcome the new pastor, Rev. M. Ryeburn.

At the Police Court on Tuesday morning John B. Lane was charged with arson. On the application ot Sergeant Oarlyon the prisoner was remanded till Monday next.

Mr Arthur’s supporters are working with great energy to secure his return. Astrong committee has been formed in town, and sub-committees are being formed all over the country.

At the St. Andrew’s Literary Society on Tuesday evening, Mr Armstrong gave an interesting sketch on "American Poets.” The Society closes its session in about three weeks’ time.

The unanimous opinion at the political meeting on Tuesday night was that Mr Stephenson made the best speech ot the evening, and did more for his party than all tbe other talk could do.

Just after noon on Tuesday the movable platform of the Taruheru footbridge was knocked clean oyer into the water by the cutter Venus, which was being towed through by the launch. Tuna. It has been decided to take no steps about the repairing of the bridge until the Borough Council meets next Tuesday.

Mr Morgan and bis staff of teachers are hard at work preparing the children for their yearly examination, which takes place on the 22nd of this month. During the last six months the attendance has been very irregular, chiefly owing to la grippe, and the large amount ot wet weather we have had.

The Rev. Canon Fox, who has for some time past been in a weak state of health, will shortly leave this district for three months on a visit to Tauranga, and it is sincerely hoped that the rest will prove beneficial to his health. During ths greater part o! the time of the rev. gentleman’s absence his work will be attended to by the Bishop of Waiapu. The News warmly takes Mr Hill to task for examining the Napier school children on a Saturday, a day sacred to Seventh Day Adventists, and also for having a portion of the examinations during a week that is interrupted by race holidays. The News asks why the Inspector could not have taken the Gisborne examination, there being no holidays at that town at present. At the meeting on Tuesday night the Mayor was lamenting that no money had been spent in ths district on public works, and in a lachrymal style referred to the fact that there was not a mile of railway in the district, when a sweet small voice shot in with “ Kaiti.” Fortunately the Chairman did not collapse, but seized the joke as an argument in support of what he had been saying.

Events of the session,” was how Mr Arthur’s address was advertised for Tuesday night. Among the “ events ” dealt with in the narrative there was a description of the disgraceful political larrikinistn that occurred in the House on one occasion, and which the speaker had tha self-complacency to refer to in a strain that was intended to bi humorous. There were also some gray-haired jokes about Mr Fisher’s hair standing on end on bis bald head, and other little incidents that might go •■own at a “ muffia-worry,” but should hardly be palmed ofi as events, to an audience that, to say the least, was not much below Mr Arthur in intelligence. In discussing the quality of some coal that was landed at the wharf the. other day, Mr H E Johnston and the captain of the ketch Reliance made a wager as to whether the Collingwood or Pit Heath coal was the best. It was decided to leave the matter to Captain Thompson, Harbor Master, to enquire into- That gentleman telegraphed to Mr Jinkell (an engineer who was appointed manager of the Nelson gas works, from about fifty applicants), asking him which he considered the best gas coal, Collingwood or Pit Heath, and he replied that “ Collingwood is the best quality for gas, but the other gives greater quantity,” Mr Johnston therefore wins the waaer. He is interested in the Collingwood mine, and is prepared to back the coal as the best all round coal produced in the Australasian colonies, and hand the amount of wagers over to the Hospital funds.

The Auckland Herald of September 29 gives the following obituary notice:— “Visitors to Longwood, Arapohue, the residence of Mr amuel Bradley, will for many a day miss the genial face and familiar figure of Mrs Alexander Bradley, who passed away, as though in sleep, on the 22nd inst, at the great age of 90j years. Her many estimable qualities had endeared her to a large circ'e of friends and acquaintances, as was proved by the number who attended at the grave to pay their last token of respect and esteem to her memory. . . . The deceased’s husband, to whom she had been united for 66 years, died fifteen months ago. They leave seven sons and two daughters (Mrs Spriggs, of Gisborne, and Mrs Richard Masefield), with between 30 and 40 grandchildren to mourn their loss.” The Star says :—“ An o'd and highly respected resident of Arapohue has passed away from amongst us, in the person of Mrs Bradley, relict of the late Mr Alex. Bradley, in the 91st year of her age, having survived her aged life partner one year and three months. The deceased lady, with her late husband and a large portion of her numerous family, oame to live in Arapohue 25 years ago, where she and they have continuously resided in the occupation of their land ever since. She was deservedly held in high esteem by all who enjoyed the pleasure of her acquaintance, for her genial hospitality and many other social virtues Highly intelligent and observant, and having an excellent memory, she was excaeding'y interesting in conversation. At the time of her late husband’s death she had been 68 years married, during which long period they had never been separa'ed for more than a few days at a time. She bore a family of 14 children, 11 of whom lived to become men and women, and all of whom, with the exception of one son, who is a Surgeon-Major in the Royal Navy, oame to New Zealand in 1863, arriving in Auckland the d<y after the melancholy loss of H.M.s. Orpheus. . . . She has left behind her 7 sous and 2 daughters, 43 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Her memory will long be cherished by all who knew her.” Mr Bradley, of Gisborne, is a son of the deceased.