LOCAL AND GENERAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1333, 30 May 1881, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Collector of Customs is in receipt of a circular from the Customs department, notifying that the minimum quantity of tobacco which may be entered for delivery from the bond is in future to be reduced to 401bs, and of cigars and snuff 201bs. This will be found to be a step in the right direction. We are pleased to hear that Messrs T. W. Carr & Scfns have arranged with Mr, A- Graham for an interest in their business, which we feel sure will tend to their mutuaj advantage. The Zealandia, with the English mails via 'Frisco, arrived in Auckland yesterday. The Gtsborne portion may bo expected by the Te Anau on Friday, June 3rd. Mr. T."' Adams, by advertisement in another column, announces the arrival by steamer from Melbourne of a large consignment of new stationery, fancy goods, music .{jbhe^newekt out), and every variety of tobacco, pipes, cigars. Besides these, he has received a number of Robertson's cheap publicatious of the latest English works of science, fiction, aud art. The s.s. Kiwi is expected to arrive at 4aylight to-morrow. Mails by this boat for Napjer and Wellington will close tomorrow (Tuesday) afternon at 3 o'clock. The last boat leaves $c wharf at 4 p.m. Among the latest addtions io tyir, Align McDonald's stud farm at Waerenga-a'-niia is the famous stallion Parthnopceus, by Tjraducer, dam Atlanta, by Towton, her daw Crpsent by Sir Hercules Moth by Comet. Parthnopoßus will stand this coming seasou in this district,

| The lighthouse being erected at Cape Egmont is expected to be completed in the month of August. The following is a description of the light. The lighthouse is situated on a knoll about 240 yards from high water mark on Cape Egmont on the west Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The light will be a fixed white light of the second order dioptric, visible all around seaward as far the land will allow. It will he elevated about 1)7 feet above high-water mark, and will be risible about fifteen and a-half uatuical miles in clear weather, allowing fifteen feet for the height of the observer's eye. Scarlet fever which is very prevalent in Auckland, has broken out at the Thames. The disease is chiefly propagated through the public schools ; and it is suggested that parents having cases in their houses should keep the other children away. It is singular that the three vessels wrecked belonging to the Union Company during the last three years were known by names commencing with " T, " namely — "Taranaki," "Taupo, 1 ' and "Tararua ;'" and it is not only singular, but lamentable and discouraging, that just as a new steamer is about being|added to this splendid fleet, an old one is wrecked. This was so when the Taupo stranded. The Rotomahana was then on her way out. The Tararua has gone down just as the plan of the proposed new steamer — the Manipori — has been approved. '

Mr. George Vesey Stewart who is a probable candidate for the East Coast Electorate at the forthcoming election is schooling the opinion of the Tauranga electors and says : — What we require, in my humble opinion, is a strong Government, but I fear one or two of its members are too much} afraid of the opinions of persons having selfish narrow-minded views on the general settlement of the country. I should be rejoiced to see the dash and go-a-head policy of James Macandrew, tempejed by the financial abilities of Major Atkinson, the keen foresight and legal acumen of Frederick Whitaker, and sterling honesty of John Hall. The cry of a Liberal or a Conservative Government in a new country like New Zealand is all bunkum and clap-trap, being merely used by political agitntors to throw dust into the eyes of the working classes who possess, in our district at all events, such favourable opportunities for obtaining by purchase freeehold estates in small lots, and therefore their true iuterests are bound, up with the owners of property.

" An interesting nutter has been created in Wesleyan-Methodist circles," says the Auckland Star, "by a young minister at Parnell. Among the statutes of the church i.-s one which virtually prohibits marriage till after four years' probation. This enactment ha 3 been boldly set aside by the Rev. L. M. Isitt. Mr. Isitt had only passed his second year and entered his third. ; yet during the past week the Key. gentleman sailed for New Plymouth, and by Monday's steamer brought buck a happy bride. The lady is well connected at Taranaki, and is the only daughter of M>. Caverhill. It is expected that the matter will be brought before the District Meeting and Conference, but it is whispered that if so, the grave ceusors will be reminded that other laws are broken and brethren held guiltless."

Private advices received in Australia state that two daughters, Catherine and Eliza, and James, the son of Mr. Kennedy, the Scotch vocalist (who will be wellremembered in New Zealand), were burned to deatli in the theatre at Nice. The bodies were afterwards distinctly recognised by their brother, Robert, who waa at Milan at the time. They were studying under Signor Lamperti.