LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 659, 25 March 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

If trade be dull m Gisborne, and credit much curtailed, both, as we are informed, are much worse m Napier. Everything there is described to us as being flat, stale and unprofitable. Commerce stagnant, money almost unknown, the screw put on very tight indeed, and men wondering greatly what will be the upshot, and the outcome of it all. We suppose the upshot will be that the weak will go to the wall, the strong will hold their ground ; that m time the commercial atmosphere will clear up and that things will assume their usual aspect. Our exchanges tell us that matters are much more serious m the South than m the North Island, where the aggregate of mortgages have reached to nearly four millions sterling. But then, if people have been compelled to borrow on the security of their lands and freeholds, such an enormous amount of money, there have been found those able to advance it, so that things must be on the whole pretty well equalised. Mr. G-. W. Bishop will open his new cbemist and druggist establishment m the Gladstone Road to-morrow. Mr. Bishop has secured the greater portion of his stock from' the most celebrated wholesale firms m the Home Country,, and from a twentysix years' experience as a dispensing chemist m leading establishments, his intimate knowledge of his business is undoubted. We refer readers to our advertising columns for particulars m connection with Mr. Bishop's opening establishment. On Saturday next, Messrs Ferris & Pitt will hold a series of very important sales. These will commence with the sale of the goodwill of the lease of the shop, dwelling, and cottage, now m the occupation of Messrs Leonard and Co., at a rental of £78 a year. Afterwards the auctioneers will dispose of the good- will, 18 years to run, of 3049 acres, known as the Matakoa run, together with nearly 3000 sheep, besides cattle and horses ; also, 6-roomed dwelling, woolsheds, sheep yards, boat &c. ; also good-will of lease, 11 years to run, of 1450 acres near the town of Ormond, with 1500 sheep, woolshed and yards ; also good-will of lease, eleven years to run, of 192 acres of rich flat land, at Ormond, with 800 sheep, 4-roomed cottage, sheep and stock yards ; also good- will of lease, nine years to run, of property, known as the Delta Station, at Tologa Bay, containing 4500 acres, with two dwelling houses, six and four rooms, with storehouses, sheds, and other outbuildings. The Minnie Hare, schooner, and Advance, schooner, consigned to Mr. J. R. Morgan, of Gisborne, are now due at this port. The former vessel is full laden with kauri from Mercury Bay. The Advance is from the Thames, with white pine. Both timbers are m great request, and will help to supply contractors who are anxiously awaiting the landing of both cargoes. Power, the bushranger (says the Oundagai Times), who lies just now m Pentridge, confined to his bed with consumption, expresses his regret that he his not well enough to take part m the search for the Kellys. He speaks positively of his ability to run them to earth, if they have not left his old haunts on the ranges, and he states that the capturing of Edward Kelly would be with him a work of revenge, for to his treachery he persists m attributing his own capture. Picnics are all the rage about Canterbury just now. Nearly every trade, profession, and busines has had its special gathering. The climax was reached last week m a way that is sufficiently indicated m the following clip from the Press : — The only person present at the hour appointed for the meeting advertised for Saturday night at the City Hotel, re the lawyers' clerks' picnic, were two reporters. The legal profession was unrepresented, even by the individual who advertised the meeting. The suspicion is that the advertisement was a hoax, very probably with a view to ridicule the prevailing mania." It is stated (says the Telegraph) that Henare Tomoana intends offering himself as a candidate for the seat m the House of Representatives, rendered vacant by the death of Karaitiana Takamoana. Wi Peri, of Poverty Bay, will also come forward. The East Coast Native Electoral District is a very large constituency, and most likely when the proper time arrives, others will be m the field as candidates for its representation. From the Educational statistics, published m the Gazette of Thursday last, we learn that the average attendance of children at the State schools m the Wellington District for the year is 3374. There are 36 schools, and 105 teachers. The Wellington butchers have consented to close their shops on Wednesday afternoon m future, so a* to give their employes a half -holiday.