THE HARBOR LITIGATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4896, 23 June 1887, Page 2

THE HARBOR LITIGATION.

Tit err has been another development of the "shot" litigation about the harbor works. As will bo remembered some months ago an action was begun against the members of the Board for alleged exceeding of their legal powers and doing a number of things stated to be illegal. Tha nominal plaintiff was one John Baldwin, but at this time of day everyone is conversant with that fiction, and the knowledge of who were the real movers i 3 an open secret. The Board collectively was afterwards made a party to the suit, and an injunction to atop the works was refused by tho Chief Justice, who made certain statements regarding the nominal plaintiff that need not now be repeated. Tho mam action was to have been heard in the Supreme Court here next week, bwfc as it was known that there was no chance of recovering the costs in any case, the Board's solicitor (Mr DeLautour) applied that security for costs should be given by the other side before the case came on for hearing. Last Friday, at Wellington, Prendergast, C.J., and Richmond, J., ordered that Baldwin should within seven days give security for all costs, or proceedings to be stopped. Justice Richmond held that the plaintiff was a quasi-relator, while the Chief Justice went more on an opinion that Baldwin was a nominee. Mr Greenwood, the Rotfiatrar here, fixed the amount of security to-day afc£Boo, bein<j £100 on account of 'he Board and £100 us to (ach member individually. R'^'s and Ward appeared for Baldwin and Mr DeLautour for the Board, and the mutter was heard ] in Chambers. Mr DeLautour objected to the amount beinjj fixed so low. Up to j latosf advices bonds for the £800 had n't hoen yiven, and an the order ia impenuive if security is not given to-morrow the case will break down. Of course bonds from

" men of straw" will not bo taken, and others will bo more chary in giving bail than they have been in making noise and bluster. It probably will be found h:\rd to find security even for the £100 on account of the Board. Even if the case is discontinued now the ratepayers will lose soveral hundreds of pounds of coata already entailed. —^—^—^ A shippiug telegram reourua me arrival of the San Francisco mail boat at Aucklaud, bringing London mails to May 19. Ihe Giaborne letters will reach here on Saturday afternoon per Mararoa. Telegraphic communicetion with Europe is interrupted owing to the Australian land live being down. A private message from Tologa states that the bar is now in good workable condition "with a straight channel. The East Coast Hussars will meet to-mor-jow night, when some important business will be transacted. At the R.M. Court this morning J. F. Gibson was further remanded to Thursday, tho 30th inst., owing to the absence of Mr J. Tutchen, an important witness, who cannot be suprenaed. The competitors for the best Jubilee ode and conundrums are requested to forward their effusions to Mr G. i*. Da via not later than next Tuesday morning. The first general meeting of the women of Gisborne and Cook County to consider the establishment of a Queen's fund for women in distress will be held on July 7th, when a full attendance of ladies is requested. The following cases having reference to this district are included in the cause list for hearing at Wellington :— ln Banco : Muir v. Baldwin, case on appeal ; VV. Brassey, a solicitor, re Law Probationers Act, motion. In Chambers : Baldwin v. Graham and others. At the bankruptcy sitting yesterday, it appeared on affidavit that a bill of costs in a case where the bankrupt had paid his creditors 20 j in the £, the bill of a oats of the solicitor for the Assignee amounted to £914 16s.— Lyttelton paper. As illustrating the ravages of the Torede, a piece of kauri about a foot long, which has been cut from one of the walling pieces of the Taruhcru bridge, is so completely destroyed that it will scarcely hold together, although it has only been in use between five and six years. There was a good attendance at the sale of Mr D. Malone's stock yesterday, but the bidding was not at all what might have been expected considering the large quantify of valuable stock and implements offered. Twelve bullocks sold at £4 15a a head, 51 wethers at 7s each, and a horse and dray at £20. The remainder was passed in. Mr Wln'nray has a large stock of glassware, crockery and furniture that he wants to dispose of for cash. As he is desirous of reducing his stock with a view of letting in more daylight upon his present site. No rea-sonable peraou that calls upoa him will have occasion to go away unsatisfied as there is a large stock to select from. Messrs H. Bull and Son call the attention of intending planters to their large stock of fruit and ornamental tres, and point out that their nursery stock being acclimatised there is no danger in transplanting them. This is very important, and should be carful'y taken into consideration by those who are about to plant. Messrs Bull will supply catalogues oa application. The Union Company has granted a parsage for Mrs Jamea and her children from Tologa Bay to Gisborne, and the Suva will call in for them. Those willing to subscribe to the fund beinj; raised are again reminded that a subscription list lies at thia office, and the cate is one in which help is sorely needed. We have pleasure in acktowledging the receipt this morning of two subscriptions to the list — Mr C. Gray £1, and Captain Andrew 10a. A meeting of the creditors of Jimea Comisky was held this afternoon before the Official Assignee. The debtor on oath said : — " lam a contractor and filed from pressure of creditors. The only asset I have is £2 19a of book debts ; my liabilities are £69 lls. I have been earning £2 2? per week for the last 19 weeks ; have kept no books. It has cost me about 9* per week for food. DuriDg the last 19 weeks I have paid away various sums to various persons for debts contracted during the time. I have no offer to make." The meeting then closed. With reference to the scandal mentioned recent'y of teleg 'ams beinx allowed to lie about on the reclaimed land, among the debris of the General Post Office, Dr Lemon has published a notice particularly requesting that all persons having telegrams or postal documents in their possession, which have drifted from the lately burned Post Office buildings, will return them at once to the nearest Post Office, as the retention of them is illegal. To those who have subscribed to " The Art Album of New Zealand Flora," by Mr and Mrs Featon, will be gratified to learn that the first division of the work will be published, and ready for distribution, next month. The somewhat extended time for publication has bren oocasioned by the determination of the authors to add considerably to the interest and value of the work by valuable contributions, both in the letter press and pictorial portions. Having inspected some of the latest proofs, we feel assured that no pains have been spared to produce such excellent result-, and can unhesitatingly say that the work when published will be one of very great excellence, and a valuable contribution to tho scientific literature of the world. The Canterbury Pre<j<j tells the following story of a young colonial in England who impressed an admiring audience with his knowledge of the Maori language. A retiring young lady summoned up courage to ask him "Do you cpeak Maori, Mr Blank." Blank, who had been talking of his adventures among the savage natives in the Rakaia Gorge, and boasting of his influence over the chief Teremak-ui, and his love passages with a young chieftainness, was obliged to say " Yes " "Oh do please speak the language then," lisped the fair one. So Blank blushed, and blanked under his breath ; but his colonlallyacquired smartness was not to be overcome by trifles, so he rolled out in his deepest voice, " Waimakariri ; Kowai, Kaiapoi Tenakoe Te Awamutu, Kaihoi Manawatu Ohinemutu Akaroa." and then stopped and told the young lady it meant, "English lady, you are very fair; I will give you as much land as your eve can see for a smile," This was smart of Blank ; the audience believed him ; and he also got the smile. An offer of very great importance to the port of Greymnuth will be made to the local H.irbor Board by a wealthy English syndi, cate who propose to take over the salt water lagoon on the south e(de of the river, and construct a large dock with wharves on each side The proposals are that certain dock eh trees shall be made by the company, that will It te«at pay five per cent on the outlay. If the Boa*d will grant the concessions, the company are prepared to send out men and appliances at once, and it is believed the dock can be completed and ready for traffic in about twelve months' time. The bottom of the lagoon is aimply shiDgle and sand, and by moans of the Ball or other similar dredges can be rapidly removed. The dock will be larpfi enough to accommodate from aix to eight vessels, each from 200 to 800 feet in length. At present vessels over 200 feet long cannot swine in the river, but in the do* a vessel over 300 feet could swing easily. Since the extension of the harbor works the bar has improved considerably, there being now from nineteen to twenty feet at high water m or dinary tides. WeMeyan Church, Sunday next— Te Karaka 10 (weather permitting), Giaborne 11 and 7 as usual.— Advt Look out for the Grand Jubilee Fair, to be held in Parnell'a Hall on the 28th and 29th Juno Prizes are to be presented for the brat Jubilee Ode, aud the best Conundrum- -Advt Ginb->rnn Hiorfil S^e^y's practice this evenin* Porter's Hall, 7.30 sharp ; band to | a t eiuC— G. South, Hon Sec— Advt Presbyterian Church country services next Sunday :— Ormond 2, Waerenga-a-hika 3.30, I Rev. J. McAra ; Matawhero 2.30, Mr R. H. Scott.— (Advt) County Services Church of England, Sunday next— Makauri 1.30, Patutahi 3.40 ; Mr Deau at Ormond 7 p.m.— Advt.