LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 825, 3 July 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

« The annual meeting of the Gisborne Rifles will be held to-morrow evening m j McFarlane's Hall. We have to remind our readers that the quarterly tea meeting m the Wesleyan Church will be held to-night, bo the weather what it may. Tea is to be on the tables at 6.30, after which addresses will be delivered by the Revds. W. L. Salter and J. McAra, as well as by several gentlemen. Various readings and recitations, and musical selections under the direction of Mr. J. East will be contributed to complete the programme for the even ings entertainment.

The Brethren of the Star of Gisborne, Loyal Orange Lodge, announce for the 11th July a soiree, concert, and ball, one to follow on the other. The aoiree commences j at 6 o'clock, the concert at 7.30, and dancing at 9 o'clock. This is the order of ! .what promises to be a most pleasant and agreeable night's entertainment ; such a one as it is certain will be well patronised. Who, of the fair sex m our midst, could resist, tea, music, and a dance, and where is the gentleman so ungallant who will nofr desire to be present and take part m such an occasion. Last year, the Loyal Orangemen gave a ball, and it was among the best ever given m Gisborne. This year they have intensified the attractions. The gathering will take place on the Masonic Hall. On Tuesday next, that very popular and excellent basso, Mr. Mack. D. Alexander, will take a benefit at the Masonic Hall, tendered to him by the leading amateurs of Gisborne. The entertainment will, doubtless, 1 prove a great success, as no pains are being spared to make it so. New jokes and songs are being studied by our local talent, whilst Mr. Alexander's grand voice will heard to advantage In several new elections. The beneficiare being so well known and liked, his inauguration of a Christy Ministrel Troupe is sure to be well patronised, and we trust he will have, as he deserves, very general support. At the request of a number of patrons, 'two rows of front chairs have been reserved, and the plan is now on view at the office of Mr. W. Ratcliffe, where early application is necessary m order to secure them. The announcement as to the performance is m our advertising columns. Our advertising columns notifiy that Messrs Henton & Co., have purchased the entire stock of Mr. J. H. Stubbs, consisting of all the requisites of the trade of a chemist and druggist, bookseller, stationer, and dealer m fancy goods. The business will be conducted by the former proprietor, Mr. J. H. Stubbs, who trusts to receiving the liberal support, which has heretofore been accorded to his well-known establishment. * Telegrams from all parts of Canterbury show a deplorable state of affairs owing to the heavy rain and consequent floods. All over the province railway communication is interrupted, and still floods are expected. The weather was so warm on Tuesday that the snow on the ranges is melting, and m the Waimakariri more particularly a terrific flood is threatening. Later telegrams, however, state that the waters are rapidly subsiding m all the districts. In our telegraphic columns it will be seen that Mr. ISieil Campbell has received the appointment of Sheep Inspector for the District of Poverty Bay, m the place of Mr. J. Meldrum, who .retires through failing health. The Misses Caldwell and Miss Hett announce the termination of the mid-winter vacation m connection with their school on the 10th inst., and request their pupils to be m attendance on that date. It is generally known that a Drum and Fife Band has for some time been m existence m Gisborne. The members have been m practice for the last six months, and Have obtained considerable proficiency ; but then uomes the chronic complaint- want of adequate funds. To strengthen this deficiency, a concert of a very varied character will be given m the Masonic Hall on Saturday evening next. The programme is a very excellent, one, and is certain of proving attractive. Many of our favorite amateurs have agreed to lend ther services, and the arrangements are far perfected a3 to insure a very pleasing night's entertainment. A gentleman residing m Wellington was astonished to find on the pat of butter placed on his breakfast table one morning a neatly executed plan of some town sections. Aware of the ingenious devices adopted by laud speculators for advertising ••eligible properties," the gentleman m question at first thought this was the latest development of their advertising proclivities. A closer examination, however, revealed the fact that the butter had been wrapped up m a plan of property to be sold, and the colours m which the plan was printed not being "warranted fast," left their impression on the butter. . The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, writing of aftaira financial says : — Whether rightly or wrongly, an impression prevails that the banks have reversed the acrew a turn or two, and as a measure of self-proteotion, have lately been more .accommodating to their customers. As an instance, a good story is going the rounds regarding a late interview between a well-known merchant and his banker, the names of both being freely given. B,' the merchaut, was " cornered" by a creditor, to whom £1000 was due. He could not avoid or delay the payment, and so he wrote a cheque and went across to A, the banker, and told him ho had just drawn a cheque for £1000. A started to his feet and exclaimed, "Good heavens, B, you don't suppose I'll ,pay it?" To which B coolly replied, " Well, if you don't, I'll have to file my schedule," and the cheque on presentation was duly honored. A letter from Castle Point, m the Napier Telegraph of TuesJay, dated 25th June, describes a curious phenomenon. The writer says : — "On Saturday I was on the reef watching the sea, when I heard a sound of wind blowing oft near my feet, and on searching found two holes m the rock, through which, whenever there was a big wave, the air was expelled, making a noise like a fog-horn, and shaking the rocks around — proving, I think, that there is another cave under there. [One remarkable cave m the neighborhood is well known.] This phenomenon does not appear to have ever been noticed before, though the holes have been aeen, and taken for rabbit-burrows. On Saturday m company with a party, I again visited the spot ; and though the sea had much abated, and the reef did not tremble, the noise was still loud enough to scare some of the party." In the District Court last week, Judge Broad decided that under the Debtors and Creditors Act, it was only necessary for a deed of arrangement to be signed by the debtors. When tiled one of the creditors need sign, but they would all be bound by what was done m the meeting. If a sufficient majority m number and value choose them to pass a resolution assenting to the deed, the Court wouM, upon proper proof, declare the deed completely executed, and under the 143 rd Section all creditors would be then bound by the deed whether they approved of it or not. The natives arrested for ploughing on Mr. Courtney's land are divided into sections m gaol, and are separated from the other prisoners. The young men do not seem to mind the punishment, but the old natives are very sullenOne of the young natives, when asked what he thought of his position, laughingly replied, " We expected to be taken up the first day we ploughed." An old native said, "We are only the branches and are following Te Whiti's orders ; why do you not take the trunk of the tree V To this ramark the old man got the answer that-it was intended to tap the branches first and take the trunk afterwards.