THE Poverty Bay Independent. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning Saturday, September 12, 1885.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 48, 12 September 1885, Page 2

THE Poverty Bay Independent. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning Saturday, September 12, 1885.

The formal opening of the Turanganui Bridge will take place at noon on Monday by His Worship the Mayor (C. A. DeLautour, Esq.) assisted by Miss F, Porter, who will christen the structure prior to its being declared open to the public. On Account of the late arrival of the steamer the Howard Comedy Company will not give the first of their amusing performances in Parnell and Boylan’s Hall until Monday night The entertainment will commence with the Sparkling comedy “The Professor/' to be followed by an “OHoofCasualties” and “Why don’t She Marry.” The Company has met with the most hearty reception all through the South, and will doubtless attract a good house here. We understand that the troupe will in ail probability perform nt Ovmond on Wednesday and 'Thursday.

The annual parade of stallions takes place to-day in the Waikanae paddock.

Agusta Sala passes through on board the Manapouri, en route for Wellington.

In the R.M. Court on Thursday a native named Wi Piripi Mane was brought up and remanded for a week on a charge of horse stealing.

Messrs. Townley, Tucker, Trimmer, Hail and Maynard return thanks for the generous support accorded them by the ratepayers. For the information of “A Mate” we beg to state that “ Bob Conway,” deceased, sold the horse and saddle in question at Ormond about six weeks prior to his death.

VVe are requested to state that the entire draught horse “Nugget” will not arrive until next week, having missed his passage by the boat. His pedigree will shortly appear.

A Salt Lake paper called the “ Desert News ” contains an account of a French Merino ram whose fleece when taken off weighed 6/lbs. The ram was imported from Califorina and had only been shorn once before.

The play going, public will have the opportunity of witnessing a treat in Lingara’s Royal Diorama, which shows in McFarlane’s Hali on Wednesday evening next.

Judgment was given in the R.M. Court yesterday in the case Maud v. Humphery’s for the plaintiff, damages and costs £7. The case of Tucker v. Barker was adjourned for a week.

The heavy Southerly gale which set in on Monday night has continued with little variation during the week, and a heavy sea is running in the Bay. On Thursday night the tide rose to a most unusual height completely isolating the stockyard and wharf store, and even reaching up to Mr H. E. Johnstone’s store. It is feared that unless the sea goes down great difficulty will be experienced in tendering the steamer, even if she stops here at all.

On Thursday afternoon the Borough Engineer and Town Clerk proceeded to the Turanganui Bridge, and with the assistance of an axe, cut away the barricade which had been placed across the approach by the sub-contractor, Mr McDavitt. Much amusement was occasioned by the Engineer selecting the thick end of the pole to cut through in preference to the thin end. A large crowd witnessed the operation, and some fun was indulged in.

On account of the inclement state of the weather the attendance at tue Service of Song held in McFarlane’s Hall on Thursday evening was not large. This is to be regretted as the performance was most excellent in every respect. Miss James, Mr A. Robb, and Miss N. Harris, Messrs Witty and Slack, Masters East, Searle, and Miller took part in the performance. Messrs Hughes and Cooper presided at the pianoforte and harmonium. The whole performance reflects the highest credit upon Mr East, who has been requested to give another performance shortly.

In the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Thursday, in Banco, in the case of Murchie’s trustees v. the Victoria Insurance Company, an action to recover being the amount of the policy on property insured by a former owner and transferred to Murchie, the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Richmond gave judgment in favor of the trustees, Messrs Nathan and Shera, of Auckland, holding that the assignment was perfectly legal. Judgment was given for the defendant in the suit Tucker v. Coleman, an action relative to a conveyance of native land at Poverty Bay. Mr Justice Richmond allowed the plaintiff a month in which to appeal against the verdict. The action of our member in voting against the present Government on the late no-confidence motion cannot be viewed in any other light than that of a misfortune to the district, as it cannot fail to have a serious effect upon that willingness which the present Ministry has always shown to make any concession in favor of our many wants and demands. After a long course of studied neglect they were the first to lend an attentive ear to our urgent necessities, and any request which has lain within their power to grant has always been willingly acceded to ; and yet upon the first opportunity when the very existence of our benefactors was at stake, our ungrateful member, unmindful of past favors and the best interests of this district, threw his vote in the scale against them. Had it not been for our late member, Mr McDonald, using his influence with the Maori members, the fate of the Ministry would undoubtedly have been sealed.

The Rationalist says : —“There seems to be a pretty general desire amongst a section of English Christian Freemasons throughout the world, to expel any brother suspected of athestieal tendencies. The Prince of Wales is known to be very severe on ‘ irreligion.’ That might have been expected from so religious a prince. The Grand Master of Canada has recently made an authoratative statement, to the effect that athiests and agnostics cannot be Masons. He says : “No person can be initiated who does not believe in the true God, the Great Architect of the Universe.’ This reminds us that Pilate said,‘What is truth?’ How are we to know the true God? Mahomedans can be Masons ; is their God a true one ? Then there are two true Gods. The Bhuddists can be Masons ; is their God a true one? If so, there are three true Gods ; and so on. These pious Masons evidently know no more about true Masonry (i.c., the esoteric meaning of Masonry), than a donkey knows of Greek roots. They should procure a sealed pattern of the true God, and hang it up in their lodges. Modern Masonry is the blind search for a lost secret; a groping in the dark. Here and there may be met one who is a Mason indeed. Rightly understood, nothing is more beautiful than true Freemasonry. But it is unfortunately the case, that every solemn noodle who can manage to retain the ritual in his shallow head, fancies himself a Freemason, when, in truth, he is only the man who helps the man who mixes the mortar. Why do not the Infidel Freemasons of New Zealand form a Masonic Lodge on the principle of the ‘Grand Orient 1 of France, and then carry out the true, the really beautiful principles of the order, minus the mummery, and minus the

The course of action adopted by the Borough Council, at the suggestion of his Worship the Mayor, with respect to the gravel question, cannot fail to commend itself to the general public. It was somewhat amusing to hear how several members, avoiding the firstandmost important part of the Makaraka resolution asking tne Council to “take such steps as it might deem fit to protect the public rights to the bed of the Waipoa river,” fenced with the latter part referring to the Attornery-General, and it was only owing to the public spirit shown by His Worship the Mayor that the question was prevented from falling through. Although there is little probability that the invitation to the County Council will effect the hearty co-operation of that body, yet we cannot see what possible objection can be offered to the proposed course of asking the Government to vest the river in the public. The step is wise and judicious, as by its successful accomplishment, it will at once put a stop to the present feud and serve to allay the ill feeling which has arisen through this dispute.