LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 646, 10 March 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We understand that the Borough Council have thrown the punt, which is intended to cross the Taruheru river on the contractor's hands, refusing any further payment until the punt is completed according to plan and specifications.

From all parts of the Colony, where drought has prevailed, low fever, of a more or less severe type has been quite common, many cases proving fatal, and not a few attended with long illness and slow convalescence.

Our Ormond correspondent informs us that the country round about is looking green, and the feed springing rapidly. Cattle are m good condition, sheep fattening, vegetation all that can be wished, but of money there is very little indeed. All matters are squared by contra accounts, or, failing this, they have to stand over. It has been found that distress warrants, what with one charge and another hanging on to them, do not answer. Friends buy m for those distrained at a mere song, and there is no good of the outcome.

The fine hose engine belonging to the stores of Messrs Graham and Co. was attached to their powerful force pump this morning, when a jet of water reached far above the top story of the building. The jet would not be sufficient to subdue a large blaze, but quite sufficient to stay the progress of a fire when taken early m its outbreak.

It will be seen from our Australian telegrams that the Corporation of Sydney, which has lately been reduced to such dreadful straits for money, has tabled a series of resolutions recommending the stopping of all expenditure, and discontinuance of lighting the streets. What steps it is going to take to meet its liabilities we know not. Here is a warning for some of our New Zealand municipalities. With the balances of loans exhausted, revenue from local sources hypothecated, and the Corporation banker obdurate, what a pretty pickle some of the municipalities will be m.

Those interested m Mr. W. Good's Art Union are reminded that it will take placo this evening, m the Masonic Hotel, commencing at 8 o'clock. The first prize is a gold bunting lever watch, chain, and locket valued at £30, together with 49 other prizes, many of which are valuable and the best of their kind.

At Mr. Carlaw Smith's salvage sale, ou Saturday, of goods from the Taupo, the biddings were spirited, and top prices were realised. It was Mr Smith's maiden sale, and he appears to possess all the business qualifications requisite for a good salesman.

We regret to learn that Mr. C. D. Bennett has resigned the Chairmanship of the Gisborne School Committee. Mr. Bennett resides out of town, and his occupations are so arduous and numerous, that he has been compelled to confess his inability to give regular attendance at Committee meetings. Mr. Bennett was an excellent, pains-taking, and attentive chairman. His place will not easily be filled. By his resignation there will be a vacancy m the Committee. Mr. Sigley is spoken of, and we know him to be m every way a very fit person for the responsibilities of the office.

A local youth of somewhat prepossessing appearance called at this office during a very busy hour of the day, and asked whether among our books we had got an "Enquire Within." We informed him that we had no such work of reference. Our chief business was to enquire without for information for our columns. The youth said he wanted a recipe for taking stains out of velvet. We said that perhaps we might be able to afford him the necessary information without the aid of a book. The simplest method we knew of for removing stains m velvet was to take a small sharp pair of scissors, and cut out the Boiled parts. If a small pair of scissors were not at hand, he might try the effects of a carving-knife. Thanking us for our information the youth — with a fine promise of a beard m years to come — went his way, but there was a sound as of satire m his voice as he parted from us. Not satisfied that we gave souud advice, will any of our readers forward us a recipe for publication ? What may take stains out of velvet may answer for other material.

The Dunedin Prices Current states that an arrangement has been come to between the banks m New Zealand. Maximum and minimum rates for deposits and discount respectively have been agreed upon, and came into operation on the 27th inst. For discount, the minimum rates are : Under 95 days, 8 per cent. ; under 125 days, 9 per cent. ; six months, 6 per cent. ; and for twelve months, 6£ per cent. The minimum rate for overdrafts is settled at 10 per cent. There is little doubt that the banks m Australia will follow the lead taken here, and come to an arrangement as regards maximum and minimum rates, which, however, may possibly be different to those ruling here. The banks m London raised their rates of exchange on the Colonies 1 per cent, all round on the 13th of Decemher, and an endeavour is being made to check wholesale drawing against speculative consignments, which may probably take the form of declining to negotiate drafts unless under special authority from the consignees. This system is, we understand, already being acted upon by some banks.

A most amusing incident occurred at Timaru on Monday night. Two men, strangers to the place, had a dispute m one of the public-houses, but were ordered out and told to settle it outside. They had sufficient sense not to try conclusions m the street, so went along and entered what they looked upon as a quiet back yard, out of the reach of the blue-coated guardians of the peace, little thinking that they had selected the police yard as the ground of operations. After the first round their pugilistic encounter was suddenly put a Btop to, and to their astonishment they were at once run m by the sergeant-in-charge. On the arrival of the Inspector it was discovered that they were not drunk, and they were liberated on bail, after having deposited sufficient security to ensure their appearance before the Resident Magistrate m the morning.