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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 118, 3 January 1874, Page 2

Post Office. —We learn that the Gisborne branch of the Pest Office will shortly be removed to the Messrs. Boylan’s stove in the Gladstone-read. Photogbapheb. — Mr. F. J. Piesse has commenced business in Gisborne as a Photographer, in temporary premises between the Albion Hqtel and the Standard Office. Assessment Objections.—We would remind ratepayers that any objections they may ha»e to make to the Assessment 801 l for the current year, will be heard by the Koad Board on Monday next the sth instant. Hawkes Bat Almanac.—We have to acknowledge the publishers’ compliment in sending us a specimen copy of the Hawkes Bay Almanac for 1874 issued from the Herald office. We are glad to see that Hawkes Bay maintains its reputation for supplying the public with a really useful, and, we te.ieve, trustworthy epitome of local intelligence. A cobrespondent sends us the^folfowing: Sir, —The mountain is stilb in labor. First of all the birth was fixed for “ certainly l not later than the Ist,” then it was to be y Wmorrow (Saturday) ; now we Jtarn that the hare • mofiy haprty ’RPs (vide mwt * fishes of our "ortionA

Victoria Insurance Co’s Almanac.— Messrs. Graham Co., Agents for this Company in Gisborne, ha*s-obliginglyfurnished us with copies of this Company'» pictorial Almanac for 1874. They sro artistically designed, and are in convenient form for office reference. Provincial Land Saib.— A public notification, appears in tho Bay of Plenty Times, with schedules, 4 columns in length, of certain Town Suburban and Rural lands to be submitted for sale by Auction, under the “ NewZealand Settlements Act, 1863” at the Waikato Land Office Auckland, at noon, on Tuesday, the 13th of January.

General Government Grant.—We hear that the Road Board have recently received a cheque for some £BOO being the amount of the Grant from the General Government for the year 1873-4. The Board should be in funds now to push on Public Works us much as possible during the Summer months.

Oil Springs Machinery.—The machinery for the Local Petroleum Company, is, we learn, awaiting shipment in Napier, to Poverty Bay. it will, probably, come on in the RuiJgatiru on Tuesday next. A party of gentlemen took advantage of the holiday season last week to visit the Oil Springs, and they confirm, in every particular, all that has been said and written, in verification of the hopes that are entertained of the future success of the Company. We hope the Manager will soon arrive, and get through as many of the early difficulties as possible before the weather breaks.

Shops Closing.—A good deal of inconvenience has been caused, to families especially, during the last two days, by the sudden and unexpected closing of every house of business (except the hotels) in the town. No notice was given until late in the day on Wednesday, and then only a few persons were aware of it. By all means let us observe the seasons by as much cessation from toil as we conveniently can, but, in future, we would suggest that, especially in the case of a combined movement, more nonce be given to the public. Gisborne Dramatic Club.—We understand that additional strengk has lately been added to this club, and that an entertainment of a superior kind will shortly be given under its auspices. Some of the new members are spoken of us really talented artists ; and, we believe, there is a prospect of a lady honoring the corps with her membership, of whom report speaketh in favorable terms. This will be an acquisition indeed ; it will give a tone and stability to the performances; as far as leading female characters are concerned it will remove a most unhappy necessity of men personifying women, and be the means of inducing other ladies to join also. In such case, out of compliment to them, we should like to see the noun “ club ’ changed to some other less intimately associated with masculine enjoyments not usually patronized by ladies.

New Library Books. —The Gisborne Library has had u recent valuable addition to its stock of literature. Mr. Woodbine Johnson was authorised to purchase Thirty pounds worth of books when in Auckland, and he has succeeded in obtaining a judicious and wellselected assortment, and at very reasonable prices. Vv e may state also for the information of those who, like ourselves, are precluded by the presence of other cares, from participating in the pleasures which this institution now affords, that Chess,Draughts,and Backgammon boards have been added, as well ns an extended assortment of Newspapers, Periodicals and Government Gazettes. The efforts the Committee are making in the interests of the Library, deserve to be rewarded with additional pationage.

Council Papers.—We have received sundry printed papers which were laid before the Provincial Council at its opening sitting. Amongstthemis the District Engineer's Report upon public works, or rather statement of monies expended on Roads and Bridges, in the Province of Auckland from the Ist January to the 31st October 1873, and recapitulated thus :—

Makaraka Spouts.—The following particulars of events at the Sports held at Mukai-aka on Boxing day have been furnished to us for publication. There was a monster attendance, and a keen competition for most of the prizes was manifested. On the whole* the spbrts gave great satisfaction owing principally to the arrangement of She programme by the Stewards, und the mode of carrying it into execution. The sports of 1873 may, therefore, be pronounced a decided success. Vaulting with pole, P. Pearce,first ; 200 yards handicap, Williams, first; S. Goldsmith, second; Hop Step and Jump, A. Pritchard, first; Hack Flat Race, D. Munn, first; G. Burnand, second ; Three Legg’d Race, Williams and Goldsmith, first; Green and Mills, second ; Tossing the Caber, M‘ Leod, first; 300 yards Hurdle Race. Williams, first; Wi Mackay, second; Consolation Hack Race, Burnand, first; D. Munn, second ; Hack Hurdle Race. R. Goldsmith, first; H. Downs, second; 100 yards Foot Race, Williams, first; S. Goldsmith, second; Putting the Stone, T. Goldsmith, first; Boy's Race, S. Tarr, first; M'Kay, second; Standing High Jump, M'Leod, first.

The New Yeah.—High holiday ushered in the new year, and two more days have been set apart, through the liberality of the inhabitants, for such enjoyment as taste and inclination suggest ed. Boating parties, picnics, and country excursions were among the number, and only those remained in town who could not well get out of it. The Lily launch was to have steamed up the river with a party of pleasure seekers but was detained until too late on the seaward side of the bar; the weather wasaggreably cool,and most folk enjoyed themselves. We cannot omit “any honorable mention ” of the first essay of our local amateur bandsmen, who turned out in full force on New Year’s Eve to do honor to the occasion. They took up their position on the balcony of the Court House and played a nice selection of dance music, until nearly one o’clock much to the enjoyment and gratification of a large concourse oFlisteners who had assero' in the Shout after sb*' seated aeclsmrSpne of “ three -ch< ” testified? • npreciv * ' plwnenf —

Game Act.- -The new Game Act, passel in the loot session of. the General Assembly came into force on the Ist January lust. It repeals the whole of the “Protection of Animals Acts ” of 1867,1868, and 1872, and contains so.no important alterations which will be interesting to QUr rentiers, and we subjoin asyrtopsisof some of them. The first few lines of clause 10 are so very ambiguous that we quote them entire. “No game shall be hunted shot taken or tilled in’any Province until the same shall have been proclaimed as open for that purpose by Proclamation in that behalf to be mode and published in the Gazette.” (Whether it is the ‘‘game,” or the “ Province ” that is to be “ proclaimed as open," who is to proclaim it. and which “ the Gazette ” is, we leave others to decide.) “ Tiie ‘ season ’ for killing ‘ game ’ must not exceed three months, and the Superintendent of each Province has to proclaim what period between Ist Muy and 31st July in each year is fixed for that ‘ Game ’ can only be killed between sunrise and sunset. ‘Native’ game can be killed during any four consecutive months proclaimed by the Superintendent. The Superintendent mas' ‘from time to time declare that all or any of the provisions of the Act relating to Natiae. ga ae shall not be in force.’ ” (This, we take it, means that the I Superintendent may allow the shooting of ■ Native game for either four months in the year, or not at all.) “Imported birds, not being ‘ game,* cannot be killed unless proclaimed by the Superintendent that they can be so killed, under a penalty of £lO. The Superintendent may proclaim in what part of the Province ‘ game ’ shall not be killed. No game shall be poisoned ‘ on any pretence whatever.’ Traps, nets and springes are unlawful except under authority of Superintendent. Penalty £2O for killing ‘game’ without a license. Penalty for selling game without alicenee£2o.” (The Act.inferentiaily, imposes no penalty for killing or selling “Native game” without a license.) Clause 18 says : “ Every person who shall sell, offer for sale or expose for sale, and every holder of a license to sell game who shall have in his possession or shall in any manner dispose of any dead hen pheasant, shall, on conviction, forfeit and pay for every such act a sum not exceeding £2O; and if such person hold a license to kill or sell game, such license shall, on conviction, become ipso/acio void.” (If any person who holds a license “ kills ” a hen pheasant he loses his license, and the unfortunate wight who should happen to pick up a “ dead hen pheasant ” and so have it “ in his possession,” shall pay a penafly of £20!) “ The eggs of ‘ game ’ birds may not b.destroyed, while one may play ‘ ducks and drakes’ with the eggs of ‘Native game.’” “Game” are: Pheasants, Partridges, Grouse, Black Game, Ptarmigan, Quails, Snipe, Plover, Swans, Hares, Antelope, Deer, Imported Wild Duck of any species: and “Native” game are : Wild Duck of any species, Bittern, Pied Stilt Plover, Wild Geese, Dotterell, Tui, Native Pigeon, Teal, Black Stilt Plover, Quail, Curlew.

£ 8. d. Hoads and Works South... 2,315 15 11 Great South Road (Trust) 3,147 15 9 Hoads and Works North 1,464 3 6 Great North, New North, and Mount Eden Roads (Trusts) 964 3 4 Miscellaneous Works 2,798 12 3 Expenditure under General Government Grant of £10,000 8,855 7 5 £19,545 18 2