LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 667, 3 April 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

. ♦ As we anticipated, there will be murmerings among the holders of property who w3l be called upon to contribute their quota towards the construction of footpaths on the north and south sides of the Gisborne Road. It is absolutely necessary the work should be commenced and completed before winter sets in. The expense to each owner or lessee, when fairly apportioned, will not be found to be very oppressive. The properties so benefitted will more than make up the outlay. The Corporation is not in funds, the banks are obdurate, and there is no other course to pursue. There were one or two typographical errors in our correspondent's letter in last evening's issue, referring to the Waikohu Road Board works. The name of Mr. Bousefleld, the engineer, was mis-spelt as "Banfield," and instead of "£100" it should read £800. The members of the choir of Holy Trinity Church have announced their intention to hold' a concert in the Masonic Hall, on Saturday 19th inst. Tickets may be obtained from any of the lady parishioners, members of the choir. Mr. Adair announces that he has taken the central premises lately occupied by Messrs McVay and Co,, as a saddlery establishment, to which place he has removed the whole of his stock of ironmongery which was salvaged from the late tire. The whole is to be sold at prices which will lead to the complete clearing out of the entire stock. By advertisement in our columns the Town Clerk calls for tenders for the formation and gravelling of footpaths on the north and south side of the Gladstone Road. Tenders to be sent in not later than the 16th inst. Tenders are also invited for the lease of the Turanganui Ferry for 12 months. Tenders to be sent in by the 15th inst. The Government, it is stated, amongst the measures which they intend bringing under the consideration of Parliament, will include a Colonial Licensing Bill, repealing all Provincial Acts now in force, and having general application to all Licensing Courts and districts. Stringent clauses will be inserted with reference to the granting of licenses in native districts. The disappearance of Mr. Byers is thus explained by the Thames Star. It is perfectly true that the ' ' star" was absent from the wife of his bosom for two days, but • instead of taking a constitutional along the Tapu road, he was engaged in amusing himself with a game that the heathen > Chinee did not understand, not one hundred miles from the Bowen." During the six working days of last week there was carried from the various stations on the Christchurch section 181,786 bags of grain. On Saturday last 10,000 bags were brought into Christchurch, and about 5000 into Timaru, special trains being put on to the latter station. Notwithstanding this large removal, 20,000 bags had accumulated at the various stations by 1 night time. One of the saddest and most painfully 1 interesting applications for admission to the ! Victorian Asylum for the Blind ever made ! (says "JEgles") was entertained at a late meeting of the Committee. It was by the New Zealand Government, on behalf of a little fellow now in one of the charitable institutions of that Colony. The father of this boy, being deserted by the mother, chained and shut up the child when about five years old in a room into which the only light that penetrated was through a gimlet hole. At this the poor little waif stood wistfully peering through at the sunshine which never otherwise reached him. Cold and inflamation in the eyes, caused thereby, resulted in almost total loss of vision. What blessing it may be asked, descended on that loving father ? That I connot tell. But the descent of a special nine-tailed Providence upon his bare back would seem appropriate. The following curious memoranda of a servant girl's duties was found attached to a girl's bedroom door, in a house in Auckland after a clearing out sale during the past week. Rise every morning at 6 a.m., breakfast on table at 7. Diningroom, passage, and schoolrooms swept, sweep under the mats, clean spittoon and grate, cut wood, peel potatoes, give water to the ducks, attend the dog and cats. Monday— Begin washing early. Tuesday — Do the ironing if clothes be sufficiently dry. Wednesday— Take up carpets, clean rooms, wash the water jugs, not forgetting the insides. Thursday— Clean windows, sweep drawing-room, clean grates and fireirons. Friday — Up at a quarter to 6, sweep stove, chimney, clean the silver. Saturday — Scrub kitchen, meat safe,, and shelves. Sunday — Steep dirty clothes in water, air night shirts, leave wood and coal, and fill kettles ; before going out to church. Fill water jugs with water every evening ; get in by 11 o'clock p.m., if possible, please don't stay out all night. An able-bodied man has received seven days imprisonment by the Christchurch Bench for pilfering sixpence worth of apples from an orchard. The New Zealand University gets £3000 a-year as our examining body, and the Senate has spent £589 — a sixth part of their income — this last year on examinations. Bat they could not inauago the job themselves, and so had to hire examiners in Melbourne. This has not worked satisfactorily, and now the examiners are to be those of the London University. This is the climax of absurdity. If the local institution is not qualified, then let our Ideal colleges affiliate themselves to the London University at once. A contributor of " gossip to the Bendigo Independent writes as follows : — I see that the Government have raised the reward for the capture of the Kellys to £4000, and not a moment too soon, as they have been spending the enormous sum of £2000 per week over the search for them since it began. They have now spent over £20,000 I Truly Ned Kelly has been a trouble. Some of the sharp ones have a project on foot which, through indecent, will no doubt pay well. It is to bring Ned Kelly's sister Kate to Melbourne, and to make her a barmaid ! Heaven save the wretched girl from such a fete. It will be remembered that the paramourof Bertrand, who was condemned for the murder of Mr. Kinder, was got up in New Zealand as a barmaid, and made the fortune of a Hokitika hotel. I refer to Mrs. Kinder." [We can assure a contributor of " gossip" to the Bendigo Independent that the engagement of Mrs. Kinders as barmaid to a Hokitika Hotel did not make the fortune of the hotel-keeper, The people of Hokitika were so disgusted with the thing, that the hotel was deserted and the hotel-keeper was ruined, as it was right he should be.— Ed. P.B.H.]

At Wellington the other day the coroner stated that he had been requested by the insurance agents in all cases to hold an inquiry on fires, whether the loss was under or over the insurance, and whether the circumstances were suspicious or not. It was his intention to comply with the request. The Auckland Star a few issues back says : — Yesterday a lady of 72 summers, was helped up the steps of the Registrar's Office, and was married to a gentleman of 70 winters.