LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 653, 18 March 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

I This morningpeople, resident or happening ! to be m the vicinity of the lower end. of Gladstone Road were greatly alarmed at what they conceived to be a violent earthquake shock. The office of this paper was greatly shaken, and thick dust clouds rose m volumes from the floors of the building. On the hands rushing to the front' door : they were: terror struck oa observing} so 'great' had been ilte-' shock, that a large portiou of the heavy solid brick work of the Bank of New Zealand had given way and had fallen to the ground. As many men were employed on the building engaged m taking down the brick work, a rush was made to ascertain whether any fatal accident had occurred, for it was not thought possible that ' all could have escaped. The enquiry led to an explanation which at" once relieved the mind of many anxious" persons. It was speedily learned that there had been no earthquake. That the overseer who superintended the pulling down of the brick work of the Bank had passed a stout rope round a large portion of the brick wall, and putting a strain on it many thousands of bricks came down "lumpus" with a tremendous crash ; aud this crash was the supposed earthquake. The- Borough Council- will meet this" evening at 6.30, being half-an-hour before the usual time. The Mayor being unavoidably absent business that would have ■ been proceeded with will probably be p_o§tponed. The County Council will hold a special meeting on Friday evening, when business of importance will be brought m. We regret to state that several fresh cases of low fever have occurred within the last few days m Gisborne, some of these arising from a severe type, ; -.■■ -H A chaise cart was upset to-day between Bead's gate and Makaraka . owing to the driver getting the 1 near wheel into the channel, which, being covered with sand, was not observed. Neither driver nor vehicle were hurt. An application to convey 4000 sheepfrom Oainaru to Invereurgill by rail has been refused by the railway authorities, as they have not the necessary requisites to enable them to undertake the work, : A combinations of runholders m Marlborough have resolved to fight the question of the legality of taxing Crown lauds under the Laud Tax Act. Mr. McNab has been retained by the Commissioners to appeal m support of the assessment. . The South British Insurance Company have supplied their agents, Messrs Paruell. aud Boylan, with a number of strong but exceedingly light fire ladders. One or two of these are specially iutended for hooking on to the roofs of building. These ladders will be placed at convenient positions m the town, and, of course, are only to be used for the purpose intended. The ship Hudson arrived at Wellington on Saturday from London. She left on the 14th November, and experienced along passage owing to light winds round the Cape. The Hudson brines 253 immigrants, all well. There were five births on the voyage out, but no deaths. The passengers were landed 011 Monday. They were all Well dressed, and healthy looking. The business at the R. M. Court this day, before their Worships H. Keurick and Captain Gudgeon, was of an. : unimportant nature, there being '"but two cases of drunkenness (for which fines were inflicted on the culprits) and an enquiry into a case of lunacy against a woman. Dra. Currie and Pollen, who had examined her, pronounced ; her temporarily insane, and considered that she should be sent to the Asylum for treatment. The Bench committed her to the : Auckland lunatic Asylum for treatment, and made an order oh the' husband to contribute m proportion to his moans for her maintenance there.