LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 861, 12 August 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

« We are informed that Mr. Allan McDonald is now on his way down here. He ia at present at Kati Kati having been invited thither. He will take Maketn, Opotiki, Tauranga, and other places on his way. We bear that he is promised very large support at these places. He will probably be here on Thursday next. It is notified m our advertising columns, tliat the aunual general meeting -of the Building Society, will be held at 8 o'clock on Monday evening next. Sir George Grey has forsaken his Thames constituency. He has agreed to stand for Christchurch. However lie will be proposed for the Thames m case Christchurch should throw him over. Complimentary to the Thames constituency on the part of Sir George — very. What if our Premier, trying to work two constituencies, gets ousted from both 1 The electors are reminded that Captain Porter will address them this evening m the Masonic Hall at 7.30. The last heavy down-pour has caused the road between Orinond and Gisborne to be worse than ever — if that be a possibility. Colonel Fraser sat for the last time yes terday at the Thames R.M. Court. Here we have a fine, brave, clever man ; one with a large heart and of generous impulses, blasted for the remaider of his days through Club life. If one twentieth of the iniquites were allowed m a licensed, hotel that arc I permitted In some of the Clubs of the Colony, the landlord would not be allowed to hold his license for an hour. Many of these Colonial Clubs are no better than gambling hells, and have been the ruin of scores of .men otherwise good and true m all their relations of life. Sir George Grey has taken one of the wisest steps he possibly could have done. He lias refused to make promises, having, as he*said, been accused by hia enemies of breaking so many of them. Sir George ! might have added that he has been accused by his friends quite as much as by his | enemies of breaking his word. The refusal to promise was made to a deputation ; of working men, who waited on him yesI terday, asking to stop free immigration. The occasion was one for a fine stumping speech, and Sir George Grey dirt not miss his opportunity of making one ! Down with the lauded aristocracy. Down with the lauded estate holders and up with Sir George Grey ! In speaking m the House recently, Mr. Barton said that "taxation on the shoulders of the poor, and the land divided amongst the rich, was the policy of those who now composed the Opposition, and this was notoriously the case m that sink of political iniquity, New Plymouth." This is rough on our Taranaki neighbours. The expenditure for native purposes for the year ending June 30 amounted to £9484. Of this sum £3806 was spent m pensions, £2171 m food and clothing, £699 on medical attendance and medicine, and £1440, on gratuities and contributions. Mr Sheehan draws bis salary as Minister of Justice, £1250, though most of his. time is occupied m native affaire. The establishment of the General Government cost £9632; the Judges; including the Chief Justice, received £7618 ; and the Several Governors who have occupied the position during the year received altogether £4819. The total Civil list, including about £1000 of liabilities of 1877-78, amounted to £31,554.

&3T Bead the new Price List m Garrett Bros.' Advertisement, of Neio Goods just arrived direct from Home, per late arrivals via Auckland, and just landed per Pretty Jane and Hawea. The following is a paragraph from the New Zealand letter of the Insurance and Banking Record for July : — On the Soundest authority, lam m a position to say that very lar^e sums are on the "way to the loau companies, and are, of course, anxiously looked for. One company gets £80,000 by the July mail, and another £70,000. Most of this is engaged "to arrive," and all the ingenuity, of borrowers is exerted to make sure of money still on the way, and to arrive m August. The truth is that the banks were far too liberal m their fashion of leading last year, and, are now as extreme m their desire to get their money m. It is impossible to conceal that the commercial position is one of peril, and though I think I am justified m saying that things have already got a little better, and are likely still to improve, the next two months will by trying ones for all. Any courageous individual on your side, who would bring some money for investment with him, might easily get 10 per cent, on first-rate freehold security, for the next seven years. A Wellington detective named Warren was subjected to a severe cross-examination m a ' recent arson case. During the progress, as to what conversations he had had with various people named, concerning rewards m the case of a conviction. To all of these questions the detective's reply was that he had "no recollection " of having said or done what was implied. Counsel concluded his examination by asking the witness, if he remembered having kissed a certain female witness at the conclusion of the inquiry at the Resident Maaistrate's Court. The witness did not reply for some moments, but on being prfessed the inevitable ' ' no recollection " came from the lips of the unhappy officer, amidst roars of laughter from all m the Court, during which a lawyer took occasion to remark that the witness could not be expected to " kiss and tell." .The report of the British Parliamentary Committee that the electric light may be used economically for public but not for domestic purposes, is ( says the New York Tribune) sufficiently favourable to encourage futher experiments with the view of adapting it to general uses. The opinion of this committee will doubtless have great weight, since it is based on the evidence of the first scientists of England. At Manchester an inquest was held on the body of a female named Annie Spencer, and evidence was given showing that death was m a great measure due to her having used a hair-dye for the purpose of turning her black hair into a golden hue. Typhoid fever appears to be rather prevalent m and around Bulls, nor (adds the Rangitikei Advocate) can it be wondered at. A leading medical gentleman expressed an opinion that one case at least was caused by the deathly miasma arising from the street sewers m the township, The existence of this festering sore is a positive disgrace to any place. The people do not realise the danger they are daily exposed to, or some movement would, be made to rectify matters. . English is the Court language of Germany The Cincinnati Commercial says it is a proud moment when a Briton or an American, visiting the palace, is saluted with, "Dot vas a pooty schplentit morning, ain't it?"