THE WEEK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 815, 21 June 1879, Page 2

THE WEEK.

This hits the nail clean on the head : — The Supreme Court was opened at Napier on the 11th instant. An accused man named McLennan, was to he tried for murder. His lawyer wished to have the venue removed to Wellington. This request His Honor the Chief Justice refused to comply with. He said, "To change the venue would be to cast a reflection on the whole, community." Just so. Then "why lias such a reflection been cast on the Gisborne community in the case of Robert Cooper and John Brodie, who are not to be trusted to be dealt with by twelve good men and true, picked from our local jurors. Truly, Justice has well been personified as blind.

This being the 21st June, it is told in almanacs that we have reached the shortest day of the three hundred and sixty-five and odd hours wkich comprise

the year. With those who have had to run through the town to raise money to pay wages and weekly demands, the day will have appeared quite short enough without any interference on the part of the sun.

It is a very appropriate name which has been given to those who have the dealing with our unsold lands. They are called " Waste Lands Board." And the land t!iat is allowed "to He idle and unoccupied because such an extravagant upset price has been put upon it may well be called Waste land ; for it 'is nothing short of land wasted.. This is not intended as a pun, which is vulgar and ungentlemanly.

Sir Geokgb Grey has forgotten himself by losing his temper, a thing which no statesman should allow himself to do no matter what the oooasion may be. When a deputation of Taranaki settlers asked, for a definite answer from the Premier, whether they were to bo protected against the threatened attacks of the Maories, Sir George made an answer as follows, "So that there can mt no misunderstanding on the subjeot, ■ may Btate that I will not be bulliedM Here was the autocrat unveiled. TH man of the people, the .working raanH friend, the lover of little children, t« ohampion of the down-trodden, sho\B ing the cloven foot. Take care, SH George, or your ambition to be GoverncM fo the Colony will be defeated ! ■

Says a Wellington paper, "We learn f r< reliable sources that a capitalist w has only lately arrived here from S Francisco is taking the prelimim steps for starting a tobacco and cij manufactory on a large scale. In tl undertaking he will have the support several well-known and large Californi capitalists, some of whom are likely make New Zealand their homes in 1 event of the undertaking proving, w] no doubt it will prove, an unqulif succbbs." Instead of being an unqui tied success we are afraid the to bat enterprise wiil end as tobacco genera does— in smoke. This also is not tended as a pun, which is to be clea: and veil understood. .

Bad coins are reported to be in circt tion in Dunedin. There is not much be feared from this. A bad half-cro or half-sovereign is easily detected ; 1 a bad promissory note will have all difference when not genuine, and is o discovered to be spurious when matures.

Our three bank managers, it is a ma of regret to learn, are suffering fi severe colds. This is attributable they say, to the bad drafts they ar frequently exposed to. We itali the words " bad drafts," because think the managers intend a wittip; aiiuhw- skottld-ttGt like to dep; them of their laurels.

A FLAG — the Union Jack — was hoi to-day on the roof of the new buil of the Bank of New Zealand, which just been completed. A lady pat asked a friend, whom she met, whal flag was intended to mean. " Mad; says the gentleman, "it means h The answer may not have appeared clear to a lady's comprehension, bi was quite true nevertheless.

Our impreasion of last night appean have made a great impression upon readers. For although a large num of extra copies Were machined off, t were not nearly enough to meet the upon them, "Our Home Lett* wanted for the outgoing mail, was cause. It was considered to be so v truthful.

Brother John Hyde Harris, Ri Worshipful District Grand Master the Province of Otago and Sou f hla E.G. , lias intimated to the various loc under bis jurisdiction, his desire t members should wear Masonic mov insj for a period of three months, in pect for late Brother John Lai D.G.M. for the province of Westla and formerly Denntv Gr>tnd Master the province of Wulluigton. We h< to hear that a similar order will be p mnlgated among our own lodges, finer Mason, or Mason and man, two in one, never breathed tho bre of life, as the writer of this well kno What vicissitudes that dear old d< bvother went through and how he ca out of them nnscoted, the writer of tl among man old colonists, can testify