LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 597, 11 January 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We have been compelled to hold over much leading and local matter of general interest m order to make room for the sales, advertised to take place, of important portions of the late Captain Read's estate, to be held shortly by Messrs Ferris and Pitt and Messrs Bourke and Fryer. Mr. Dick's new bath house may, we think, possibly prove a success. We judge of thiß from the circumstance that this morning there were as many applicants for ablution as, allowing twenty minutes to each ablutionist, could not all have been served until the afternoon of next Wednesday week. A great many went away dis*. appointed, and as dusty and unrefreshed as when they came. Tenders for the extension of the Good Templar Hall must, according to advertisement, be sent m to Mr. Good's, watchmaker, by noon on Monday next.

The unfortunate man Regan, for whom a request was forwarded during the week, from Mr. Mc Arthur's station to the police, to take charge of him as a lunatic, was brought into Gisborne yesterday. Regan had made an attempt on his own life, by cutting his throat. He is now under medical treatment, but it is not expected he will survive many hours. Iv a speech recently, m the House of Commons, Mr. Gladstone said : — " I really must say that the arguments on the other side are very cleverly summed up m an anonymous letter that has been sent to me. It consists of a parody upon the verses of Tennyson, m the well-known ode of the 'Battle of Balaklava.' The poet, whoever he is, sums up m these verses the arguments for the present proposition, and he heads it 'Tennyson to the rescue. > The verses are as follows : — • Ring out our battle cry, Vote us our war supply, This we must have or die ; Vote the Six Millions.' * Yours not to reason why, Ours not to make reply, Ours but to say You lie ! Vote the Six Millions.' (Great laughter. ) I think that gives a very fair and spirited summary of what has been said m suppofct of the vote." A farmer, dating his communication from Auckland, writes to say that the rain of last Sunday, has been quite neutralised by the subsequent scorching suns. The grass is much parched, and the danger of more bush fires is very imminent, as the Maories are so reckless, that no part of the country is safe for a moment. The Oamaru Mail has been informed of a somewhat strange incident m connection with the Waimate fire. In one of the houses destroyed was a tin of kerosene, which, though exposed to great heat, was not consumed, though everything else around it was destroyed, including some tubs containing water. The top of the tin was unsoldered by the heat of the fire, and the kerosene must actually have boiled, but not a drop of it was burned. It was afterwards tried and found to be still good, though it had been robbed of some of its gaseous properties. The strike of seamen throughout the Australian Colonies has now extended to New Zealand. On Friday, at Auckland, the crew of the s.s. Argyle, whose articles had expired, struck for £7 a month. We learn by telegram that the hands on board the Rowena and other steamers have already struck, or have threatened- to do so. The strike throughout the Colonies has been concerted by certain ring-leaders. A later telegram says — "Notwithstanding the strike of seamen on the Argyle, additional men were secured, and the vessel resumed her running to Whangarei. An inquest was held on the Bth instant, on the late fire, which resulted from sparks from a railway engine at Waipukurau Napier* From the evidence it appeared that the property destroyed was worth £4,000 and belonged to the following settlers :— Hon. H. R. Russell, Messrs G. Russell, F. H. Drowner, John Harding and J. Hayes. The taking evidence occupied six hours. The following verdict was given : " That the whole of fires that took place on the 21st, 24th, and 25th Dec. last, by which a large amount of property was destroyed both north and south of the Waipukarua station, were caused by sparks from railway engines." The following rider was added : " That the jury consider the railway authories are solely to blame through not having spark catchers and fire box guard attached to the engines ; also m not taking extra precaution for placing men along the line, after being duly warned."