LOCAL AMD GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 876, 29 August 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AMD GENERAL.

Mr. A. McDonald notifies through our columns, that in consequence of a Volunteer meeting, he will not be able to address the electors till 8 o'clock this evening in • the' Masonic Hall, instead of 7.30 as previously announced. The contractors for the building of the Albion Hotel have already commenced excavations, while the frame-work for the basement is being rapidly proceeded with. Mr. J. Warren has been appointed superintendent of the works. It will be seen by our advertising columns that Mr. A. McDonald's committee have opened a committee-room adjoining Mr. Nasmith's jeweller's shop. We are informed that Mr A. McDonald's Committee are thoroughly satisfied with their candidate's prospects, they now number nearly 100, and have pledges from a large majority of the electors. They are quite in earnest, aud determined to return their man. The Footballers intend playing to-mor-row on the Waikanae, the return match Colonials v. The World. In the last game the World got well beaten, but to-morrow will have a chance to retrieve their defeat as both teams are evenly matched, and a good game will he the result. The following are the names of the gentlemen composing the respective teams : — Colonials : Te Kani, Blooinfield, Bourke, Dunlop, Nolan, Skeet, Regan, Winter, Frier, Parau, Prain, O'Moara, Balueavis, Donaldson, Hare Rain, Adams, Mountford, Greeir, Stackwell, and Batcliffe. The World : Major, Humphries, Somerville, A. C Arthur, Carrick, Henderson, Mill, White, Image, Sunderland, Fergusson, Graham, Haig, Thompson, Seiveking, Ward, and Helpa. As the members will only have one more Saturday to practice before proceeding to Napier, we hope that all the members chosen to play will go and play to-morrow. The Secretary has received a dozen uniforms from Dunedin, aud any member requiring one has just to tender a £1 and receive it. As a matter of course the forthcoming election is tho all-engrossing topic of interest, but the political excitement must not be allowed to cause to-morrow evening's performance in aid of the Poverty Bay Hospital to be over-looked. Most of our readers are already aware that it will be a repetition, at reduced rates, of an excellent entertainment given a fortnight ago, in aid of the same object, and. we have, good reasons for predicting the second performance will be an improvement on the first. New scenery will probably make its appearance, and several startling novelties will be introduced. We would stronly advise all our readers to pay a visit to Mr. Macfarlane's Hall to-morrow evening — they may rely on obtaining abundant value for their money. We would refer our readers to an advertisement by telegram which appeared in our columns yesterday, purporting to be signed by "A. Reid, Chairman, Tauranga." Now, Mr Jordan is the Chairman of Capt.. Morris' committee at Tauranga, and Dr. Reid the Chairman of that at Opotiki. It seems, therefore, to require explanation that a wire should be sent from Tauranga sierned by one who is not Chairman. Why did not' Mr Jordan, the Chairman, sign it himself? It looks suspicious, to say the least of it. Those who interest "themselves in the presenfffelections are invited to be present this evening at the advertised hour, to meet Mr. Allan McDonald in the Masonic Hall, when they will have an opportunity of hearing an expression of his political opinions, and of putting questions to him in connection with his candidature. It will probably be the only occasion when the electors will be confronted with the candidates.

Mr. McDonald will address the Ormond electors, in the Temperance Hall, on Tuesday evening, at 7.30 The laying of our. telegraph wires underground is often advocated, but the following extract from the report of Mr. Preece, of the English telegraph department, shows that the system has not been so complete a success as is often represented : — There are in Great Britain 10,000 miles of underground lines, but the known facts which tell against the extension of underground lines are that there is an increase of three or four times iu the cost, and the capacity for carrying currents is reduced three or four times. The gutta-percha coating employed is found to be attacked not only by rats and mice, but very largely by an insect/ Tempeltonia cryslallina (Lubbock), and is also influenced by fungus. In a long ai'ticle ou the land laws, the Bay of Plenty Time* says: — "The great aim and end of all laws dealing with the native land question should be to facilitate the transfer of the bulk of the* immense territory held by the natives to European holders as rapidly as practicable. In effecting such a change, care must be taken that we do not substitute oue obstructionist • — and that perhaps of a more objectionable type — for another : that, in getting rid of the Maori, we do not hand over the land tofmonopolists and speculators who will put an effectual embargo on its acquisition by new-comers and settlers of moderate means. Of the two evils — allowing it to remain in the bauds of unimproving native occupiers, or handing it over to selfish monopolists, — the former is the less objectiouable, and, in reconciling the interests of the present occupiers and those of the colony at large is the great problem for our legislators to solve. The ultimate alienation of most of the Maori lauds to Europeans is a matter of certainty, and it depends upon the mode in which that alienation is effected whether it shall be a blessing or a curse to the colony."