Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1887.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4773, 26 January 1887, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISH ED EVERY EVENING GIS BORNE, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1887.

A report of last night's Borough Council meeting, an article headed " A Stupendous Swindle," &c, are on the fourth page. Both theTaruheru and Turanganui bridges are very dirty with accumulated horsedroppings. The extesion of the railways is said to be most seriously lessening the Union Co.'s passenger traffic, — their largest source of revenue. It is still stated in Auckland that au exMinister is about to sue a County Chairman for L2OOO for libel. Several years ago the interpreters and publicans had a very amusing cricket match and it has been suggested that in in these dull times another such match would be acceptable. The Borough Council last night unanimously re-appointed Mr D. Johnston a High School Governor. It will be seen by the telegrams that some West Coast farmers have contracted for the freezing and export of 40,000 sheep a year. This mode of proceeding suggests whether the example might not be followed here if no other and better means are available. The Auckland Working Men's Club, who had boycotted Hancock's beer because one of the makers is part owner of a paper which had written the truth unpleasantly plain for them, have rescinded the boycotting resolution. It appears to be really a fact (as stated by a correspondent two days ago) that a considerable number of Maoris along the Coast are contemplating migrating to Utah. Of course the more that go of the sort that it is possible for the Mormons to attract, the better. The only fear is that they will come back. Some of their relatives will be very glad to be quit of them probably.

At a meeting of the Domain Board last night the tender of Mr W. Bailey for the lease of the reserve at Makaraka (lately held by Corcoran) was accepted. At Dunedin they have been drawing for thfi teams that shall pair in some of the firo brigade contests. It is not known, though/ who the Gisborne team is paired with. In a year W, H. Grace h.ia acquired for the Government over 170,000 acres of land in the Taupo country, about one-third of which is said to be suitable for settlement purposes, the balance being good grazing land, parts being covered with good totara and other timber. At the Invercargill R.M. Court two contractors have sned the County Council for money due on road work, the claim being r°6ister\ by the Council on the pround that the work was not done according to the specifications. After evidence had been taken the defendants' solicitor denied that the work had been done for the Council, they being only agents for the Government in the expenditure of a Parliamentary vote. The County Engineer was called and deposed that he authorised the work, but the Council did not authorise him to do it. The plaintiffs took a nonsuit, and it is probable that the Engineer will be sued personall y. Referring to Stubb3 ] Almanac, the Auckland Star says it " is an excellently compiled book, containing, in addition to the usual almanac items, a vast amount of useful information. The statistical returns are of value, while the directory portion of the work is very complete. There is a resume given of the land laws, along with descriptive articles forming a complete travellers' guide to the East Coast Districts and to the Hot Lake Wonderland. For all purposes of business or pleasure it is indeed an indis pensable biok for all interested in the Poverty Bay district." At the wreck of the Koilawarra the horse Fidelity, a 2-year old, had a great struggle for life. Long after the Kcilawarra had disappeared the filly could be seen swimming about the wreck. The poor animal mado several attempts to get into the lifeboat, and would have been successful and scut a large number of souls into eternity had not a sailor struck her over the head with an irou j bucket, which stunned the poor biute for a few momenta. She then made another attempt for life by swimming over to the ' Helen Nicholl, and catching a rope in her mouth hung on fruitlessly for some time until thoroughly exhausted. \ The Auckland Star says :— " A happy idea and one which is as much to be commended for its originality as its fitness to give expression to the aspirations of the people of Auckland, has emanated from the Colonial Treasurer, and been very firmly taken up by tho council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. The idea is that of holding a marine exhibition at Auckland. So thoroughly are our commercial representative men enamoured with this idea, that they have asked Sir Julius Vogcl to visit Auckland before he returns to Wellington and give a public address on the subject." It is understood that a review on a colossal scale will be held at Aldershot early in June to celebrate Her Majesty's jubilee. All sections of the Imperial forces will bo represented, and the proposal is to make a display of the largest and most representative gathering of all the British army ever witnessed. The review will absorb a large number of the auxiliary forces in addition to the regular troops, and there are rumors that the colonial possessions of the empire will add interest to the occasion by sending representatives. Some days ago one of the London journals published an extract from a leading financial journal in Australia which hinted at the possibility of difficulty arising in the payment of interest on some of the Oamaru corporation loans. The prominence given to this damaging statement had a momentai/ effect on the Stock Exchange, but its influence was not sufficient to do any material harm. Any timid holders of this stock have since been reassured by the prompt payment of the interest due on the Oamaru corporation gasworks loan. — London correspondent. The comet was visible again last night, but not very clearly. Many people look out for it now. It does not appear larger than a star of the third magnitude. This comet is one of those that enters the solar system at Cruin 70 to 80 degrees inclination to the place of the ecliptic, and is now leaving the sun. It is i visible during the whole night, tho nucleus reaching the southern horizon about midnight. The correspondent " Country" will require to wipe his spectacles when he next views a comet in the southern skies. A Wellington telegram to-day says : — "The comet was visible at Karon (three miles from here) last night." The Hon. Mr Williamson, Chairman of the N.Z. Insurance Co., at the half-yearly meeting, said the directors continue to adhere to the determinacion which bad guided them throughout their career, to maintain the quality of their business, preferring a small and select one to showing a large amount of premium income. The unfavorable nature of trade during the last two or three years shows this to be the wisest course to pursue. Fires during the paat year have boon very numerous. The general depression had slightly affected their premium iucome m Now Zealand as well as in other countries with which they were doing business. They had no serious marine casuality to swell their loss list. The heaviest individual marine loss had been L 3003 by the Lyttelton at Timaru, and the heaviest fire loss LIOOO. He hoped, ere long trade will revive, and with returning prosperity the revival of insurance profits. Their invested funds still yielded a fair amount of interest. Supreme Court in Auckland crowded with ladies to hear the horrible details of the trial of Caffrey and Perm for murder. — Ladies eh? For shame ! Such scenes ought tc be forbiddeu. How decent women can be so shameless and so heartless beats me. But are they decent women ? — They call 'em all "ladies"! Meaning |femaleß, but goodness knows who they are ! — Unfortunately women who ought to set a good example do juafc the opposite ! — Did you ever hear the story of a French judge on a similar occasion? — No! what's that? — There was gome murder case of exceptional filthiness and atrocity about to be tried, and every nook and corner was crammed with well-dressed women. "This case," aaid the Judge, " is not fit for respectable women to hear. All respectable women will leave the Court. The others may remain." Not a soul moved. After waiting a minute, the Judge said, " All respectable women having now left the Court, tho case may proceed. — Ha-ha ! very good ! Judge Ward should try that in Auckland. I wonder how it would succeed !— He might try it. But a better way would be to order all women out of the Court, and have done with it ! Why should so degrading and shocking a scene as a murder trial be made a demoraliaing public show? Women who eagerly rush to hear it are not likely to be demoralised much !— Puff. At the R.M. Court to-day John Baldwin preferred an information agaiast Mr T. Chrisp and Mr A. R. Muir for criminally libelling him in publishing in the Herald a statement that he had been drunk and had drawn a revolver in a public house. W. L. Raes for complainant urged that the Magiatrate had no option to committing if publication W£S proved, irrespective of the truth or otherwise of the libel. T. Smith and J. Baldwin gave formal evidence. Mr DoLautour,* for defendants, contended |'.hat if there was any libel plaintiff had a remedy in a civil suit, and that it would be unjust to commit on a criminal suit at the instance of a man who could bring it with impunity. An action that would be dismissed in tne higher Court should not bo sent to it. If every paragraph in a paper was to be mado the cause of an action the Cuiirts would have nothing else to do. The plaintiff himself was continually publishing the grossest libela, but owing to his position could do no wuh impunity. After further argument His Worship said he was inclined to think ho had no option to commit without going into the merits of the case. On the application of Mr DeL:mtour the case was adjourned to Saturday to adduce fresh evidence for the defence. Band of Hope in Oishorne Congregational Church to-morrmv (Thursday) evening at 7 30 An attractive programme. All are invited. — (Advt.) Preibyterian Church.— The Annual Business m «Hi«g will bo hold in the Church on tomo!ivw (Thursday) evening at 7. 3o.— (Advt.)