LOCAL AND GENERAL.
This evening's issue concludes the last of the Petroleum articles, furnished by Mr. J. H. Stubbs. The matter contained in them has been' well digested, and admirably put togerher. It will be seen that Mr. Stubbs has not exaggerated anything, nor has he in any way attempted to bolster up our own springs. He has placed a large amount of very valuable information before his readers, and allows them to draw their own unprejudiced conclusions. This is as it should be, and what was to be desired. There can be no doubt but what we are living on an extensive belt of petroleum, and we have every hope that it will not be long after the workings have commenced before oil is struck in large and payable quantities. The people of Poverty Bay must not allow themselves to forget that the present company has been brought into existence solely by the efforts of Mr. A. Y. Rose. He was in poor circumstances, and unable of himself to bear expenses. By the help of a few friends he raised barely sufficient to carry him to Sydney and back. While there, and living a frugal life, living, indeed, very humbly, he was by his tact and by a sincerity, the outcome of his convictions, enabled to engage the attention of capitalists. A better man — that is a man of large means and higher social standing — could not have done more and might have been less successful ; might not, in fact, have been successful at all. Whatever may have been the result of his well-timed efforts, be it good or bad, Mr. Ross is entitled to the thanks of the people of the Bay ; and, as we think, he is entitled even to something more substantial than mere words of praise and compliment. Of this district being a vast oil field belt no sensible man can doubt, and as far as we have seen of the men who have formed a company recently for the purpose of developing it, they appear to appreciate its value, and to be determined to have it. Should success crown their efforts, the future prospects of the district will be secured and the country generally benefitted by another item of export. It has been demonstrated by practical men that with a moderate flow or oil, it can be produced ready tinned for market in Gisborne at 9d per gallon ; should the quantity obtainable be large the cost will be proportionately less.
In order to correct a printer's error, we reprint the first paragraph of the article on Petroleum which appeared in our issue of last evening : " I will premise by stating that surface indications of Petroleum are i seldom met with, nine per cent, of the present producing wells having been sunk purely on speculation." The words " nine per cent" should have been "ninety per cent." Our sporting readers must bear in mind that the nomination for the Hurdles -and Handicap to be run at Wairenga-a-hika on the Queen's Birthday must be sent in to the Masonic Hotel by 8 p.m. on Monday next May 10th. The Handicaps will be posted on Wednesday May 12th ; acceptance 17th. Our Ormond readers will notice that Rev. J. McAra will conduct Divine Service on Sabbath next, at 11 a. in. If it is all true that we hear concerning the Civil Service Commission in the Middl 6 Island their expenses will not be a very heavy item on the debit side of the colony's account. It is said that the most rigorous economy has been practised. There was not the slightest approach to junketting, no invitations to dinner to the numerous subjects operated upon, but simply interrogation, carefully taking of evidence, a polite "good day," and then after labor frugal refreshment. A guinea a day each is, we hear, to cover all the expenses of the members of the Commission, and if that is the limit, the members certainly cannot be accused of extravagance, whilst the colony will be justified in expecting a fair guinea's worth for money expected. — The West Coast Times says : — There is no doubt whatever now, that a contagious disease, which two of our local medical men pronounce to be diptheria, is rapidly spreading through the town. There are at present about thrity cases, including several adults, and three deaths have occurred, one, the last yesterday morning of a girl 13 years old, after 36 hours illness. This was a most malignant case, and it is to be regretted that another child in the same family is seriously ill. The Sunday schools were not opened on Sunday, and all gatherings of children especially are to be avoided, as much as possible.
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Bibliographic details
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1088, 7 May 1880, Page 2
Word Count
787LOCAL AND GENERAL. Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1088, 7 May 1880, Page 2
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