LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 932, 24 October 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We are informed on good authority that if the Hall Ministry are outvoted on a no confidence motion, that a dissolution will be asked for and allowed. This will put the country deeper into the mire, which is already deep enough not to be easily extricated. The ship Lochnagar arrived in Wellington yesterday, with a full cargo for that port. When she has discharged, the vessel will come on to Gisborne to take in wool. The season's clip is estimated as likely to exceed 2000 bales of the value of £34,000, a sum which will help materially to relieve the pressure upon the wool growers. Mr. Carlaw Smith, Chairman of the Gisborne Progress Committee, it will be seen by our advertising columns, has called a meeting of the members at the County Council Chambers, for Monday afternoon next, at 3 o'clock. The object, as we understand it, is to forward a memorial, or statement, to Wellington explaining our immediate wants. (1). As respects the urgent necessity of the sitting of a Lands Court to adjust and determine disputed land claims. (2). The obtaining a grant for our port as also a subsidy for a railway to Ormond. (3). Upon matters pertaining generally to this portion of the electorate. Messrs. Bourke and Smith will sell by auction to-morrow, at 12 o'clock, the gates at the Agricultural Show ; the lease of 122 acres and homestead at Pukepapa } also household furniture and effects. ■ Messrs. Ferris and Pitt will sell by auction, at 2 p.m., a three-roomed cottage in Peel street ; also a quantity of sundries, such as tools, harness, double-barrelled gun, 20 ducks, &c, &c. A kia, a bird with which people are not generally familiar, has been shown to us (says the Southland Neiva). It is remarkable for its wonderful instinct, which prompts it to settle on the back of a sheep generally a healthy one — and remain there till the animal becomes exhausted, when it picks a hole in the back of its prey, and eats the fat on the kidneys. It is common in most hilly country, and in some places a good number of sheep have been destroyed by it. It bears a strong resemblance in size and shape to a kaka, but its beak is much larger and its colour different, the wings being of the same hue as a blue mountain duck. A reward is offered for them by some sheep-farmers.

At the annual meeting of one of the cricket clubs in Australia, the cause of one of the defeats was reported to have been sustained through the efforts of a dog, who ran away with the ball, and enabled the opposing team to score three more runs than they otherwise would have done, and thus defeated the eleven by one run. A protest was entered and the matter was referred to the Cricket Association, who, however, refused to entertain the matter, as the umpire at the match decided to allow the extra runs thus obtained through canine assistance. It is to be regretted that the Cricket Association declined to give a decision in a matter that was clearly within their jurisdiction. They were not asked to question the decision of the umpire on any matter of fact, for facts were not disputed, but they were asked to decide what was the law of cricket applicable to these facts and a decision thus obtained would have obtained a precedent, and prevented further disputes in a similar case. . '.•■■'■ .

Mr Frank Buckland has contributed an interesting letter to the Daily News, in which he mentions a peculiar accident to carrier pigeons.^ "One day last week, when the sinack "Jester (number and mark, YH 177) was trawling in the North Sea, seventy miles from Yarmouth, three carrier pigeons came on board of her during a fog. The birds were captured and consigned to Mr Watson, of the Sailors' Home, Great Yarmouth. They carry messages stamped on the inside of their wings, some of the words being in blue ink, others -in black. One of the words reads thus : XCGSchaht^es. Another pigeon: carried the following word — 81 N3a po. This bird also carries on another wing the letters W.O.S. On the longest flight feathers of one of the pigeons is printed on the outside the figure 2 ; on the left side, also outside, the figure 3. The birds are quite tame as though accustomed to be handled. The pigeons are evidently the bearers of important news to somebody. The words may possibly be iu cipher, indicating the catch of fish by the smack to her owner in some English or foreign port. These pigeons probably made for Yarmouth, as the spire of St. Nicholas Church is 166 feet high (34 feet less than the Monument), and can be seen a long way out at sea." A flourishing Parisian art threatens to take root in London. It is an old trick in Paris for extravagant young woman to take their lovers into jewellers' shops and to induce these lovers to purchase for them at an immense price articles of jewellery made of paste, the ladies and the jewellers sharing the profits between them. It is now said that a London dressmaker has iu her pay certain elegant females, who get men to order handsome dresses from her, which are never sent home. This will probably be accepted as the newest development of the co-operative system. A few days since a party of gentlemen were together. One man, a joker, stepped up to a member of the party, and holding a long hair before his eyes, said : — " See here, old fellow, this looks suspicious. Where did this long hair come from ?" "Why, that's from my wife's head !" " Are you sure of it ?" " Sure of it ? of course I am. You don't suppose you would find any other woman's hair about me, do you?" "No, probably not; but I am sorry you are so sure it is your wife's hair, for I just picked it off the coat of this gentleman," pointing to a friend near by.