LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 628, 17 February 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We have received a letter from a respected writer, Avhich, if we were to I publish, would assurredly bring about a controversy, respecting the merits of the respective teachings of the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. We could not, m all fairness, publish what one side has to say without the other, and it is not our intention to allow our columns to be used for religious controversy. We are strictly secular. A controversy of creeds never yet tended to edification, but has invariably produced much of heart-burning and bitterness of feeling. It is a matter for serious regret, that by some oversight — some one trusting to some one else, or by some shifting of responsibility — that the new portions of the Albion ' Hotel were not insured. Until the building was actually destroyed, those interested m it had no idea but what the risk had been fully covered. Mr. Adams' temporary shop, which was to have been completed at sundown on Saturday, it is stated, will be finished by the time we go to press this afternoon. We should like, if we could, to fall m with the wishes of the contractor, but we cannot keep our issue beyond its usual time for anyone or anything.

At the close of the Mission Services of an evening Father Henneberry himself plays the Benediction on the harmonium, with very pleasing effect. He is accompanied hy Mr. Robinson, whose voice is admirably attuned to sacred vocalization. The prizes offered by Mr. Black, manager of railways, for competition at the baby show at the railway picnic are — Ist prize, silver cruet-stand ; 2nd, silver cup ; 3d, silver knife, fork, and spoon. The best baby is not to exceed one year old. The man who offers prizes for a baby show is about as big a simpleton as one would meet with m a day's travel. The woman who would submit her baby to public competition against other babies is wanting iv womanly modesty and delicacy of feeling. How is a baby to be judged ? Shall it be by its fat, or length, or breadth ? How else is it to be judged ? A big baby may grow into a big lout, and a little baby become director or governor of a kingdom. There is what is called the finest baby m Gisborne, which has, at sundry times, and m divers maimers, broken the best portions of a tea-service, besides smashing a watch. It has swallowed the most indigestible of things, such as a thimble, aud glass marbles, its mother's gold keeper, and part of a silver pencil-case. It is the loudest crier m the Bay, and, taking weight for age, age, cannot be excelled. Would this be considered as a prize baby ; or, if not, what is the standard a baby is to be judged by ? Has Mr. Black nothing better to do than to make a laughing-stock of himself, and encourage foolish mothers to disgrace themselves and their husbands ? The Otago Daily Times remarks : — "The gross income now derived from the working of all the New Zealand lines is nearly £60,000 monthly, and before long will be a million annually. The economical management of such a business as this is a task that may well absorb much thought and attention on the part of the Government, who are ultimately responsible for the results." A smart stroke of financing was accomplished by a Wellington gentleman last week. He had more than a thousand pounds worth of bills, which his banker refused to discount. He had a few hundreds to his credit, and these he drew from the obdurate bank that refused to accommodate him, and, dividing into three equal parts, opened accounts m three other banks. • He then got a third of the bills discounted at each of these banks without difficulty, The Inangahua Times announces that the telegraphic information respecting Mr. Cony ers' account has cost that journal iust 30s. hard cash, and calculating at the same rate for 130 newspapers m the Colony, the net revenue to the telegraphic department from Mr. Conyers' accident would be something like £200. The Times objects. It is stated on the authority of the Melbourne Leader, that over 200 men, including the Chief Commissioner of Police, two superintendents, inspectors, and sub* inspectors innumerable are engaged m endeavouring to capture the Kellys. The Dunedin Star tells the following irreligious story : — " Ou Saturday evening m one of our suburban municipalities a concert under the auspices of a religious body was being given m a building which is used for meetings and entertainments of various descriptions ; and two small . boys of a musical turn of mind, being unable to raise sufficient money to pay for their admission, determined m enjoying the expected treat on the cheap. Knowing the facilities which the building m question offers to anyone having their laudable ob- | ject m view, they quietly approached it, and softly raising one o| the windows from the outside they were immediately m a position to hear all that was going on. Just at that moment the reverend clergyman was opening the proceedings with prayer, and, after listening for a few minutes, one boy turned to the other, and m an injured tone and with an expression of great disgust said to tho other, ' What a sell, Bill ; this ain't no concert — it's something to do with the Road Board I' They then slammed the window down and withdrew abruptly. Possibly the chairman had been referring to the ' broad road ' and the 'narrow road ' of which we read." There must still says the Oamaru Times be something good left m the gift of the Government. It is rumoured (but we will not vouch for its accuracy) that the gentleman who is at the head of an mil uen tal Christchurch paper, is about to receive a substantial indication of Government pleasure m the shape of a "billet." Whether it is a Immigration Agent or " head of a depai-tment" rumour does not say. If this be true, there will only be one more "editor" to be " provided for." and Auckland is the likeliest place to suffer or gain thereby. The Wellington Chronicle understands that the effects of James Allen Mackey " the Bank agent defaulter who was a short time since sentenced to four years' imprisonment, having been forfeited to the Crown, will on Saturday next be sold at I auction at the Upper Hutt. Inter alia there will be six valuable horses, and sundry ladies' and gentlemen's saddles." Not bad this for a man with £150 a year !