LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 930, 21 October 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dr. Jackson, has called upon us to say that he is not the writer of two letters which have appeared m our columns, signed " Mercy." We can vouch for the truth of the .Doctor's statement. The letters were written, accompanied with the name of the writer enclosed. He may have been mistaken m his statements, for it is quite probable he had been misinformed, and had not taken sufficient pains to assure himself of the facts. Here is our difficulty _a difficulty which other newspaper men share with Us. If we refuse to insert a letter we are at once charged with being partial. If we insert it then we are accused of lending ourselves to propogating something that is false and malicious. So we are m the position of the old man and the boy and the don -. No, we will not give the name of the animal, lest some unkind contemporary should facetiously draw an odious comparison at our expense. The policy of the Herald has been to insert all letters addressed to its columns, providing always that they are free from offensive personalities. We have generally received great credit for this, excepting perhaps from those whose toes are trod on. We do not identify ourselves with the opinions expressed by outside writers ; and we always prefer that their real names should appear under their communications ; but many writers have an objection to this. If we were to insist upon the rule being adopted — which no newspaper does — we should lose many valuable letters. Dr. Jackson emphatically informs us that the ladies forming the Committee of the Benevolent Asylum, are most iudefatigable m their attentions upon the distressed, needing assistance ; and further that while economising as much as possible the funds entrusted to them, they never refuse acase which calls for assistance. This we are very glad to learn, and we have learned as much from other sources. We therefore conclude that "Mercy" has been very badly informed. The combination entertainment of the amateurs and Hudson Surprise Company, will take place this evening m McFarlane's Hall. We need scarcely say that it is one at which there will be a very large attenance. The programme is of the best and fullest, and besides which it is the last of the season. For lovers of classical music there is a treat m store. The Misses de Gay, of the Surprise troupe, and our local violist, Mr. H. Humphries, will play a trio during the evening. They have been assidously rehearsing, and high-class music akin to perfection will undoubtedly be the result. Everything to make the evening's concert a success has now transpired, each and every of our local amateurs being well up m their respective parts. In fact, the whole of the machinery necessary to put the play on properly is m good working, and none of those painful, alike to spectators and players, though often mirth-provoking contretemps, are likely to occur as they generally do with amateurs. The tout ensemble is, as stated m the advertisement, the best of that description of entertainment the Gisborne public have had since Gißborne's existence to a theatrical world.|

Tenders are required for alterations and additions to a dwelling house, particulars of which may be obtained at the office of this journal. Mr. Caleb Whitefoord, the newly-ap-pointed R.M.; telegraphed to Mr. Greenwood this morning that he would reach Gisborhe by the steamer to-morrow, ready to commence his duties forthwith. Mr. Adair's building is now so far completed as to enable him to commence placing his stock on the shelves by Monday next, and allowing him to open for business early m the following week. The Bank of New Zealand will open m its new premises inside of a month from the present date. The staid and sleepy Council of the Borough of Grey mouth, has lately had some new blood infused into its constitution and one or two Councillors and the Town Clerk have been cutting up high jinks, and indulging m decidedly unparliamentary language. At a meeting called by candidates to give expression to their ideas prior to the borough elections, after the said candidates had stated their views, an old councillor— not a candidate — came on the platform, when the following scene ensued : Councillor Iplgour : I wish to make a personal explanation regarding the Town Clerk, who tried all he could to burk this meeting. The Town Clerk (rushing oufc of a side room) : It is a lie. You are a liar. Councillor Kilgour. : Sir, are another. I speak the truth. At this interesting stage disorder reigned supreme, and the Borough Council having declined to interfere, the sequel will be concluded n the Magistrate's Court this week. A system of insurance has existed for several generations among.the Danish nobility of Copenhagen. A nobleman, upon the birth of a daughter, enrolls her name with the insurance society, paying at the ' time a fee, and. subsequently an annual sum, until she reaches 21. She then becomes entitled to a fixed income from the society, aud to apartments m the large building of the association, which is surrounded by gardens and a park. Should her father die m her childhood, she may immediately occupy the apartments if she so desiies. Should she die or marry, the income and right to a home both lapse. The plan is very advantageous to women leading a single life. The Lyttdton Times, commenting on the I " Haste to get rich," and the love of luxury which mark the later generation of settlers as compared with those who were the early pioneers of the colony, says : " The fact is that large numbers of us have not been content to go plodding on as the early coionists did, suffering, hardships, aud subduing rugged nature by severe toil, m the hope of a moderate competence at the close of our lives j we have indulged m dreams of rapidly acquired wealth, of making a fortune by lucky speculations, of gaining here by the labour of other what m old countries men only expect to acquire by a life of diligent attention to business, careful thrift, and steady, persevering industry. Men look with horror on a life m the bush, such as the early settlers had ; but expect to be solaced by comforts and luxury they never hoped for. We shall find out some day. that a country like New Zealand, rough and mountainous, with a tine climate, but by no means an extraordinarily fertile soil, can ouly be made rich and prosperous by the practice of those old fashioned virtues which are but little regarded by some amongst us." > Crime m Melbourne is fearfully rife, says a contemporary, and the Police Court records wear a sickening .aspect. Xiarrikinisni i 3 on the increase, and no one is exempli from its attacks. Gangs of systematic plunderers infest the city. Suicide is on the increase, and shocking cases crop up now and then m connection with the Chinese quarter of the town. One of the latest cases of lamkinism was a band of roughs taking forcible possession of an hotel, helping themselves liberally, destroying the property, and then nearly killing the landlady by striking her with a bottle. A shameful case of woman-assault-ing is also on record. The poor creature was on her way to the hospital when a brute met her and beat her with his fists, and was only prevented from killing her with a knife by the timely appearance of a constable. Every week brings its tale of infanticide, and of young women decoyed away and ruined for lite. The Chinese quarter is a blot upon Melbourne. Fully 500 merchants, brokers, and clerks, attended the second meeting of the Business Men's Society for the Encouragement of Moderation, which was held m the dining-hall of Earle's Hotel, New York, on a recent date. The members "pledge their sacred honouf not to drink as a beverage any intoxicating liquors stronger than wine or beer, and those only m moderation." The secretary stated that since the organization of this society m April last the pledge had been signed m good faith by 11,000 business men. In Central Africa a large number of Jewish Negroes have been discovered. Nearly every family possesses the law of Moses on parchment. They trace their origin to the first captivity,- when some of the Hebrews fled to the desert, and intermarried with the natives.