LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 961, 27 November 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We are told by those who should know, that this season, barring accidents of weather, that Poverty Bay will have a finer grass seed harvest than has been known to any previous year. The grass, m most of the districts, is really splendid, aud m some parts reaches beyond the height of a man's knees. This season there will be no difficulty experienced m obtaining abundant labor at reasonable rates. At an average of 4s. 6d. per bushel, the crop is likely to realise quite £9000, if indeed it does not exceed this.

The Cricket Mateh — Married v. Single — which was to have been played last Saturday is announced for Saturday, the 29th instant. It is to be hoped that all who take an interest m this noble sport will put man appearance on the ground, and that the players will be encouraged by the presence of the fair sex. Gisborne to-day was visited by one of the most severe dust-storms of the season. There was no place the dust did nob penetrate. Shop windows enclosed m glassframes did not prevent the lodgment of layer upon layer of impalpable dust. Shelves with goods of every description were smothered. A thousand watering carts would have been unavailing had each cart contained as many gallons. People ate dust m their food, and swallowed it m their drink. Everything, everywhere was sand. It penetrated m, through, and upon all things. We have heard of the desert of Arabia, but cannot imagine that it will bear comparison with the sandy desert of Gisborne. Could the sand m any way be utilised it would pay off the National indebtedness of Europe, and leave a large surplus, enabling New Zealand to raise the five million loan without the slightest difficulty. Mr. Finneran, m our issue of this afternoon, calls for tenders for an extensive Horse Bazaar, to be called the "Albion Club Stables." Tenders to be sent m by the sth proxmo. Messrs. Bourke and Smith will sell by auction to-morrow (Friday), at 11 a.m., 13 acres of well-saved hay. A buss, to convey intending purchasers, will leave the Argyll Hotel at 10.30. The London correspondent of the Morning Herald has the following rather ominous paragraph : — Strange reports COuie from Ireland. They must, however, only be regarded as reports. Many pieces of old artillery have recently been arriving m Cork and Dublin, and it is said they are to be distributed among the principal military stations. Quantities of ammunition suitable for these antiquated guns have also been arriving m Ireland, and it is further asserted that the constabulary have been warned that they may expect heavy work during the winter, from all this is inferred that the Government are becoming apprehensive about the condition of Ireland, and are preparing themselves i for the worst. As I have said, however, the rumours are vague, and require confirmation. The *' Australiasian Shipping News" understands that it is the intention of the Union Steamship Co., of ,New Zealand, to run some of their steamers between Launceston and Melbourne, m opposition' to the Tasmanian S.N. Company. The present Volunteer Force m NewZealand is as follows : — Cavalry — North Island 622 ; South Island, 100 ; total, 722. Artillery— North Island, 288 ; South Island 622 j total, 910. Engineers— North Island. 315 j South Island, 65 ; total, 380. Rifles —North Island, 3,373 j South Island 1,672 ; total, 5,345. Naval— North Island 443 South Island, 232 ; total, 675. The total of the North Island is 5,041, for the South Island 2,091, or 8,032 for the whole of New Zealand, exclusive of cadets, who numbered 2,308. The increase during the year has-been 2,207 adults and 64 cadets m the South Island. The Wellington papers state that the Jury who aat on the inquest of the late victims of the Miller tragedy, had a very unpleasant task m viewing the bodies, which were m exactly the same position as they were discovered. No reason whatever is assigned to this disgusting exhibibition, which could certainly serve no good purpose. One newspaper seems to think that New Zealand law forbade the removal of the bodies until they had been viewed by the Coroner's jury, but tluß is altogether a mistake, and the late proceeding at Wellington was neither required by law nor sanctioned by practice. A Telegraph Station is now open at Devanchelles Bay, County of Akaroa. The Auckland Star's correspondent under the heading of "Those Telegams" says : " Among the telegrams laid on the table by Mr. Hall is one to Sir George Grey from an electioneering agent, stating : • I caunot work the election unless you give me free use of the wires.' In another, one Minister telegraphs to another : ' If the telegram is embarrassing, throw the whole responsibility on me. Do not hesitate to sacrifice me. Put me out of the Cabinet if necessary to save yourselves.' " The framing of the estimates for nine months only, so that the transactions of present financial year may be closed Oil 31st March next, and new year commence on the first of April, will cause Parliament to meet m May, and at once consider the financial position. A rather amusing incident (says the Bang'dikei Advocate) occurred m Turakina a few days ago. A bullock was being driven to the slaughter-yard by the local butcher, when a lad on the roadside, who was not sufficiently active m getting out of the way, waa lifted by the animal, its horns catching the seat of his trousers. The butcher rushed up to see if the boy was injured, and on making enquiry the tearful reply was given, "Oh, no, I'm not hurt, but there is a pound-note m my pocket." The pockets were at this time on the horns of the bullock, which was making futile efforts to shake off the encumbrance. Hearing what was the matter, the butcher ran alongside the bullock, and tried to switch off the pockets from its horns with his whip, the scantily-clad boy following on foot. Finally, the pockets and other fragments of the garment were got rid of, but unfortunately some keys and the pound note had been shaken out before and could not be found, though the track taken by the beast was traced back. The scene of the boy's lament for his pound, with the greater portion of his nether garments on the bullock's horns, will not soon be forgotten by those who were present. The once famous mine on the Thames Goldfield, the "Caledonian," was closed on the 3rd instant, and all hands were discharged. Ihe shares m the mine stood once at .£2lO, and the tailings from the battery, during the period of the richest crushings, used to bring from £5 to £6 per ton at auction ; one parcel of several hundred tons reached to somewhere about £7. The fabulous amount of gold which came from this mine m its most flourishing days could never be correctly ascertained | on account of the wholesale plunder which was carried on almost indiscriminately by the workmen. News from Melbourne says that the shipping business is very dull. Over 800 sailors are out of employment. Many ships are laid up and offered for sale at absurdly low prices. Captains can engage all hands at one shilling for the ruu, the men being willing to work a passage out of Melbourne. Colliers are now running from Newcastle to Melbourne with coal at 6s to 7s per ton. The brigautine Roderick Dhu waited three weeks uuable to obtain a ton of freight, and left for Newcastle awaiting orders. A lame boy may not be able to climb a greased pole as well as an athletic schoolboy, but if you wish an errand done quickly, you'd better send the boy that has to walk with crutches.