LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 821, 28 June 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Idle rumours were current through Gisborne at noon to-day, which led many to believe that the Government had given instructions to the Collector of Customs to collect all gunpowder and ammunition in Gisborne and Poverty Bay districts. The report, so far as our enquiries went lead ub to believe there is no truth in it. Mr. Greenwood, Clerk of the Licensing Court, informs us that publicans' license fees must be paid into the Collector before the Banks close on Monday, otherwise licenses will lapse, A number of valuable properties freehold and leasehold, are now in the market for almost immediate sale under the hammer. On Saturday next, Messrs. Bourke & Smith have for sale freehold sections in the rapidly progressing township of Roseland. as also in the Matawhero Road. Tho same firm will sell by the hammer a five-acre suburban section. On the 15th inst., Messrs. Ferris & Pitt will dispose of the whole of the valuable freeholds of Mr. George Saunders, who is retiring 'from his present business for other pursuits.. The friends of Mr. Root, Presbyterian Minister, will be glad to learn that he is lirospering- where he has been placed. He ectures ; is strong upon the Good Templar fuestion. He sings English, Scotch, and rish songs, and is popular in making collections for various good objects. The- following is from the Auckland Free Lance:— >" A cool customer — Wi Pere, of Gisborne, who proposed- that a comoiision, consisting of himself and his Maori friends, and such Europeans as they may select, should be appointed to enquire Into the Waimate Plains difficulty; Why not suggest at once that a Maori Parliament should rale the colony. Mr. Pere was an adherent of Te Kooti till by accident some of that worth's followers accidentally killed a relative of his, . then he seceded. As a. protege of the Government he belongs to the! repudation party, and he is no friend of the pakeha. According to the last census returns there are 4424 male Chinese in the Colony and only 9 female Chinese. ■ In consequence of the great increase in sparrows in the northern districts of Can* terbury,.the farmers have commenced to scatter poisoned wheat and oats before sowing time.

A few. days ago three bullocks were placed in a closed cattle truck, for conveyance to Amberley, but on arrival of the train at that place it was found that only two of the beasts were together, the otherone by some mysterious means having vanished. A thorough search was made along the line, but without any sign of the missing animal. As the owner held the receipt for the three bullocks from the railway authorities, and they were unable to account for the disappearance of the animal in question, they paid over the value of the beast, and the matter so far ended. .

A new paper has started into existence at Kawakawa which is called the Northern Luminary. The editor is what Ar tennis Ward would call "an amusing cus." We put in as evidence two or three extracts from the local column, and here they are—^ " It is proposed on completion of the new* school to commemorate the same by a bachelors' ball— more of these sort of things and there would be more bachelors' button: to fill the school." " School Treat.— We suggest a treat for the school children. Now, then, M —whoever you are, down with your dust." " Tl\a Bectrdies. —In consequence of there being no barber in Kawakawa, a new sect is fast growing up, i.e., " The Beardies," who let the hair grow, and grow. Will somebody start the Lather and Shave business?" "We notice several dogs still at large without the necessary collars required by law. The pig nuisance wants putting a stop to ; either a pig collar or stop at home remedy would suffice. Never shall be able to keep up our dignity while pigs are allowed to roam about the public streets." " A young gentleman, as soon as the sun sets, may be seen every evening leaning over the palings on the other side of which is a most attractive young lady. Does the young gentleman's mother know he is out ?" The good people of Kawakawa will be none the more dull for the circulation of such a paper in the town and district.

A singular surgical accident has happened at the Kew Lunatic Asylum, whilst Dr. Wilson, the house surgeon, was operating on one of the patients. The instrument he was using, was of metal, silver plated, and owing to a defect in the metal it broke off in the patient's body Ah exploratory operation failed to discover the place, and then Dr. Baker was called in, and lithotomy was performed, but to no purpose. The broken portion of the instrument still remains in the body of the patient, and the most serious results are anticipated. •