LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 670, 7 April 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Museum of Art and Science, including an exhibition of curiosities, the lime light, a prismatic fountain, a real Punch and Judy of historic fame, with other sights and entertainments, intellectual and amusing, will be held this evening in the Masonic Hall. It will afford a treat to childien and something to arouse the curiosity of their parents. For the former the admission is sixpence ; for the latter one shilling.

We are fnformed that the Native Lands Court Sitting, at Tologa Bay, is not likely to close for a fortnight. The business has been very protracted, and the opposition shown by certain natives is very troublesome.

A meeting of the New Zealand Volunteer Artillery Segimnet, J. Battery, will be held to-morrow evening, at Makaraka for gun drill.

Messrs. Bourke and Fryer advertise that they will sell on Wednesday and Thursday next, under distress warrant at the suit of the Trustees of Read's Estate v. Thelwall and Co., horses, cows, calves, pigs, drays, carts, saddlery, &c. ; also the stock in trade of the butcher's shop in the Gladstone Road.

An Ormond farmer tells us the country round about could not look finer than it does at the present time, and that business could not be duller, or money scarcer, Notwithstanding the two last drawbacks, people in the township and roundabout are very hopeful of the future. It was, the man said, of his cow, that if she hadn't much food she was where she could take a beautiful view of the country j and we wonder what land that man hailed from who uttered this witticism.

The Timaru Herald does not believe in Mr. Luckie, late of the Post, and now enaconsed in the well-padded chair of the Annuities department. It says: — "He will probably be sent about his business when Parliament meets, and in the meantime may be worth his salary as a frightful example to all the loafing fraternity.

Says the Wairarapa Daily :—" One of Messrs Gardner & Co's gas machines (Mullers patent) has been exhibited at Mr. Corbett's Empire Hotel. These machines are very perfect, only making as much gas as is being consumed, and merely requiring to be kept supplied with gasoline and water to keep them in working order. The light is quite equal to coal gas, burns just as steadily, and costs only the same amount for its production." We hear that Mr. Page, of the Masonic, has ordered one of these machines, and that the Masonic Hotel will be shortly lighted throughout the extent of the building with gas.

The Ballarat Miner of March 7 says : 11 We have received a circular from Mr. J. Pitman, architect, Mount Gambier, who is agent for the 'Atomic Steam Coal Gas,' the process of making which was discovered and patented by Mr. James Crutchett, C.E. of Philadelphia. The peculiarity of the process is that the coal is used in a state of powder, and not in lumps. The circular states that splendid gas can be made by this process for 6d. per 1,000 feet, and that it is extensively used in the United States. If this be correct a revolution in the price of gas and its application is threatened."

During the Maori war in 1860, writes a correspondent, on the day after the battle of Wairaiki, a volunteer stationed in the Omato Stockade observed a Maori near the Wairaiki Pah, the distance being about two miles, The man used tin to make a sufficient elevation for his rifle, and tried the experiment to see if the rifle would carry so far, and having taken a careful sight, fired An officer standing by, with a field, glass, observed the Maori spring into the air and fall down, after which they proceeded to 'the pah, and found him dead, shot through the heart.

The Thames Advertiser states that Mr. R. Hall, of Tairoa, has in his possession a curiosity in the shape of a piece of clear kauri gum, with a leaf of beautiful-looking gold in the centre. The lump was found amongst some bags of cum which that gentleman] had purchased, and how the gold came to be imbedded in it is a complete mystery.

There is no bookbinder in Gisborne ; but there are many people in possession of books which greatly need the binder. Such a want has been supplied in the following manner : — Mr. John Boon is at present in our midst. This gentleman represents the eminent firm of Mr. R. Burrett, bookbinder, of Wellington. He is holding out at the Masonic Hotel until to-morrow. Mr. Boon will receive orders for binding, which will be taken to Wellington and when executed will be returned. The charges for all kinds of work are stated to be extremely moderate.