LOCAL AND GENERAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 872, 25 August 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Those interested m the coming elections will bear m mind that a meeting is convened for this evening, m the Masonic Hall. — Vide advertisement. The following telegram from Captain Morris has been handed to us for publication. We are not sure it should not be charged as an advertisement. "Have adhered to Returning Officer's date for sth. I do not wish to give Government more time to work for Mac. Native officials doing their.levei best. I shall beat him 3 to lin Bay of Plenty."— G. B. Morris. A writ for the return of a member for Eastern Maori Electoral District, dated 22nd August, has been issued. The nomination will take place at the Council Chamber, Napier, on the lst September, and the polling on the Bth September. The writ is returnable 17th September. Polling places Poverty Bay, Gisborne, Whakato, Ormond, Tologa Bay, Tokomaru, Akuaku, Wai--omatatini, and Kawa Kawa. Mr. F. J. Piesse, the very able secretary of the Gisborne Building Society, agent for the Norwich Union Fire Company, as also for the Australian-Mutual Life Assurance, has commenced business m Gisborne as accountant and commission agent. Mr. Piesse is admitted to be the best professional accountant m the North Island, and m the adjustment of partnership settlements and disputed claims he has scarcely an equal. Well known to all men of business m Gisborne, and throughout the districts, there is little doubt but what this gentlemau will be found a great acquisition m his particular sphere. The fortnightly concert of the Volunteer Band, at the Masonic Hall on Saturday evening was well attended. . Surely there was a full shilling's-worth if only half the programme had been carried out. The " nigger " business was "immense"; the music was good ; and from first to last it was good altogether. The " niggers" being very black m the face, and very whiteshirted m the body, and the hall being but dimly lighted at the time, their heads were invisible to those on the back seats, so that the stage appeared as if so many bodies m white shrouds without heads were sitting on chairs. To a near-sighted man the voices of the black troupe appeared to be issuing from a lot of Professor Pepper's ghosts, and the effect was striking and electrical. People went to have a Saturday night's amusement and they had it, and as the admission money goes to supplement the band fund, and the bandsmen themselves take delight m their own music, everything was as it should have been, and there was no hitch anywhere, the little I boys at the back who are generally a little i rowdy inclined being very well behaved indeed. The members of the Roman Catholic body will hold a concert m Mr. Macfarlane's Hall Qn Friday, the sth September. The congregation of this fine church is fortunate m possessing a very excellent choir, under the leadership and direction of Mr. Herbert ] Humphreys, who is probably one of the best non-professional musicians m the North Island, his playing on that most difficult of instruments, the violencello, placing him m the front rank of amateurs. To fulfil the requirements of the choir, anew harmonium of a superior make and tone had to be purchased, and it is to pay for this a concert is to be held. A number of our best amateurs, vocal and instrumental, have promised to assist on the occasion, and we have no doubt but what there will be abundant support and patronage. We are informed the supporters of Mr McDonald have been working quietly and steadily for some time past. They have got a strong committee, . and aro m real earnest. We hear that £100 to £5 has been laid m two places that Mr McDonald heads the poll. This shows an immense confidence m Mr McDonald, which it is to be hoped will Ifc justified,

A conversazione m connection with St. Andrews Presbyterian Church will be held m Macfarlane's Hall on Thursday, the 28th inst. Tea will be on the table at 6 o'clock, after which there will be an entertainment, consisting of music, readings, and recitations. At the close of the entertainment the annual reports of the treasurer and secretary will be submitted, and a committee of management appointed for the ensuing year. The varied nature of the proceedings will be a source of attraction to many who are not of the congregation, and we feel certain that all Presbyterians will be there to take part m the meeting and hear the reports, which we are assured will show a considerable improvement and favorable progression m matters appertain- ' ing to their Church. In addition to the above there will be an exhibition of pictures and fancy goods, which will be disposed of, and the proceeds from which are to be applied to the Church fund. The following story is related by ".ZEgles " m the Australasian : — ".Atarace meeting held at a township on the back blocks, the local police magistrate had a horse entered m a friends name for the chief events. On the morning of the race an accident happened to the lad who was to ride Magenta. There was great consternation at this unlooked-for disaster, as there was no substitute to be found. At length a sporting constable, who himself had some money on the event, suggested that there was a smart young fellow m the lock-up on a charge of horse-stealing who had ridden several races. After some hesitation the prisoner was informed that he would be allowed to see the races on condition of his riding the favorite m the Maiden Plate. The condition was gleefully accepted. Magenta maintained a clear lead to the back of the course,' when he suddenly bolted, and his accomplished rider was unable to pull him up until he was ten miles clear of the township. He has not yet returned, and is said to bo doing remarkably well with Magenta among the Queenslanders." An interesting operation is m course of completion by the authorities of the port of Toulon iv the attempt to raise the French war-ship L'Arrogante, which foundered of Hayeres on the 19th March. The total weight of the vessel is estimated at over 2000 tons. Divers having been sent down to close up and caulk all ports, hawseholes, and other openings, two circular holes were cut m the deck of • the vessel, into which two long tubes were inserted, the ends of which projected : above the level of high water. Several pontoons with steam pumps were lashed alongside the wreck, and the water was pumped out through one. of these tubes while the air was allowed to enter by the other. The first attempt to float the wreck resulted m failure, m consequence of the deck shewing signs of giving way, under the pressure of the superincumbent water, as the water m the hole was gradually removed. The deck of the ship lies about 13 feet below the level of the sea at low water. Divers and workmen are now engaged m supporting the deck by placing Srops beneath its weakest parts right own to the keel of the vessel, and when the work is completed, advantage will be taken of the first conjunction of the low spring tides and fine weather to commence pumping again. During a very protracted discussion on the administration of justice m our inferior Courts, Mr. DeLatour said : — There can be no doubt that, m regard to what has fallen from the honorable member as to the administration of justice m the Resident Magistrates' Courts, there is a great deal of foundation for what he has said — I mean, speaking generally. I have felt for a long time that a great deal of tyranny has been growing up m the inferior Courts. How this is to be checked is a very difficult matter for us to determine. Some say it can only be checked by the Press ; others say that it is the duty of this House to interfere. But, whatever may be the remedy, it is quite right that if we believe those evils exist they should be pointed out. Where they exist most has not, I think, been referred to to-night — that is, m regard to the dealing m the Resident Magistrates' Courts with cases of petty debt. lam quite sure that, m regard to small debtors, the powers of the lower Courts are stretched to a degree out of all proportion to the measure of justice meted out to larger debtors. If thissession was not. about to come to so sudden an end, it was my intention to bring a measure before the House providing for the total abolition of imprisonment for debt, m order to put a stop to the gross inequality pressing on those who have not the means of availing themselves of the tricks of the Bankruptcy Court. Hollo way's Pills. — Nothing preserves the health so well as an occasional alterative m changes of weather, or when the nerves are unstrung. These Pills act admirably on the stomach, liver, and kidneys, and so thoroughly purify the blood, and they are the most efficient remedy m warding off derangements of the stomach, fever, diarrhoea, dysentery, and maladies, and giving tone and energy to debilitated constitutions. All who have the natural and laudable desire of maintaining their own and their family's health, cannot do better than trust to Holloway's Pills, which cool, regulate, strengthen. These purifying Pills are suitable, for all ages, seasons, climates, and constitutions, when all other means fail, and are the female's best friend.