Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 62, 9 February 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

The New Wharves.—On visiting our new wharves yesterday, they presented a very busy appearance, their whole length being covered with timber and other articles of merchandise. We heard considerable “growling” about carters not being able to get their goods away on account of the roads being blocked up. But it should be borne in mind that “Rome was not built in a day.”

Wharf Lights.—Our engineer has lost no time in carrying out the resolution of the Harbor Board re wharf lamps. Two strong, substantial lamp-posts were in the course of erection on the wharf yesterday, and possibly before the week is out we shall have another evil are kept properly lightgjf^ en

A Frequent Scene.—One of those unseemly scenes which base become of far too frequent occurrence in our R.M, Court took place yesterday during the hearing of the case Adair v. Turton, when Mr. G, K, Turton, addressing a witness, told him to “ take no notice of the babblings of an imbecile.” Mr. Brassey (rising and addressing the Court):

“I don’t know whether he means me or your Worship, but it is time this sort of thing should be put a stop to.” The Court: “ I think it best to take no notice, Mr. Brassey.” The latter gentleman sat down looking very warm. Mr, Turton, across the table, to Mr. Brassey: “ You ought to be ashamed of yourself.” Mr. Brassey, very warmly: “You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” The business then proceeded,”

The Weather.—'The close, sultry weather which preceded the earthquake has been succeeded by such cold, chilly, and damp weather as to render a cheerful fire no unwelcome adjunct to home comforts.

The Triumuh.—The English underwriters have definitely refused to pay the risks held on the h.r. Triumph, amounting In the aggregate to £50,000,

William Tell.—That “ history repeats itself,” js amply demonstrated by reference to our Auckland telegrams, in which an account is given where the above patriot found imitators in the persons of Professor Payne and Mr. Pullman.

A Return.—Mrs. M. H. Smith, who has been Home for the benefit of her health, has just returned, and was a passenger per Waihora for Christchurch. Several friends went off in the Snark to welcome her back,

Value Oft’ the Bible.—At the sale of Dr. Leggatt’s effects on Thursday, Mr. Smith put up a large-sized; handsomely-bound Bible, illustrated, and having extensive notes by Dr. Scott, when many of the audience were shocked nt bearing a by-stander—a resident in Gisborne—interject a remark, D——’H the thing, what is the good of it ? I have one at home, but never look at it.”

Cricket-Match at Ormond. — A correspondent, writing on the 7th inst., says “ Last evening a meeting was held at the Chandos Hotel, for the purpose of taking steps to hold a cricket-match in Ormond, the teams to consist of Benedicts v. Bachelors. It was arranged that the match should take place in Mr. E. Bolton’s paddock, Ormond, on Saturday, 16th inst. Practice will be held every evening in Mr. Bolton’s paddock. No doubt lovers of the willow will fully appreciate this new entertainment in Ormond,

Our Bachelors at Home.—The case of Keefer v. McNeil, heard in our R.M. Court yesterday, let some light into the dark room of a bachelor’s domicile, where the inmates occasionally suffered from periodical attacks of excitement, which in this instance developed itself into a sort of feline contest in the dark. What unhappy mortals those Toms must have been 1 Great is thy civilising mission, oh woman.

Mr. S. Locke.—This gentleman and family left per the Waihora for the South, and will return again next week.

Exportation of Gold.—The total value of gold entered for exportation from New Zealand from April 1, 1857, to December 31, 1883, is estimated at £40,457,495.

Horehound Beer.—By an advertisement in another column it will be seen that Ling's celebrated horehound beer can be obtained from Mr. Kurtain, at his store, in Gladstone Road.

American Firemen.—Little boxes, sometimes attached to telegraph poles, at others placed against houses, may be seen in most populous towns. These boxes contain an apparatus for giving alarm in case of accident. When a fire breaks out, the citizen who makes the discovery obtains a key from a person who keeps it (usually a storekeeper, opens the lid of a box, and touches a spring or handle, which instantly conveys the information to the central office, The officer on duty telegraphs to the engine-houses nearest to the scene of the disaster. So far, we have no more than an ordinary application of electrical science. But perhaps the most singular and ingenious feature of the affair is that the same electric current which carries the alarm-of the fire sets in motion the means of extinguishing it. Men are always on duty at the various fire»stations, horses are always kept waiting tor action, and the fires of the engines are always ready lighted, Tne horses are trained in such a manner that they know as well what to do as the men who have charge of them. The message, then, that summonses the firemen at the same time unchains the horses and throws open the doors of their stalls, The intelligent animals, immediately they are released, walk straight to the shafts of the engine. Mean, time the firemen, whose quarters are in the rooms above, without waiting to make use of the stairs, slide down brass rods through the aperture in the floor. I was informed at a station I visited in Chicago that a fire-engine can be got out into the streets, with horses and attendants equipped, in twenty seconds after receiving the alarm I An instance of the wonderful expedition of the fire department came under my notice in New Haven. There had been a procession of veterans, firemen, and municipal officers on Decoration Day. Some time after the processionists had been dismissed on College Green, the clanging of the fire-bell startled the crowds of holiday people who still thronged the streets. Within five minutes, probably within two minutes, from the first tolling of the bell, three or four fire-engines, all with steam up, and all with hose and ladder ready for operations, were stationed in front of the burning building. It was fortunate in this case, however, that the fire was of a slight character ; but, although the services of the engines were not required, the circumstance showed how thorougly efficient is the whole system.—Owr American Cowin.

Electing School Committees. — The Taranaki Herald of the 2nd inst. reasons thus. “ During the week householders have been called upon to exercise their privileges in the matter of securing the election of ‘ good men and true’ to sit on the various School Committees throughout the district, For the most part considerable interest seems to have been taken in the elections, and this is a cheering sign, for the election of a School Committee is a matter of more importance than may at first appear. Lpon the return of intelligent and fairly intelligent men depends to a great extent the position of the teacher and the progress of the school. Often illiterate, interfering, and overbearing men are placed upon these Committees, and very soon all harmony, as between the teacher and his Committee, is destroyed and the progress of the pupils thus injured. We are not great admirers of the present system, but so long as it is continued we hope to see the intelligence of the people—and especially parents—asserting itself in School Committee elections.”

Ostrich Farm near San Franoisco. — A German traveller who has lately been in San Francisco visited an ostrich farm kept by a Scotchman. “ I found,” says Mr. Wolff, “ a perfect gentleman with distinguished manners under the garb of a simple farmer ; woollen shoes and trousers. His present farm is only four months old, he having bred ostriches before with success at the Cape, but having lost all his property on two occasions during the wars between the Kaffirs and Basutos, he determined to transport his live stock to South California. This operation cost him 1,000 dols; for each bird, of which he has twenty-one fine examples. The food they need, consisting of lucerne, potatoes, cabbages, and onions, is produced in abundant quantity on the farm. The ostriches are kept in hurdles two by two, and look well nourished. 1 had never seen any of such a large size, They have already laid 200 eggs, which are being hatched artificially in large wooden boxes. I was sorry that my visit was premature, and that I could not see what success the experiment had. The ostriches can be plucked every seven months, yielding about one pound and three-quarters of the valuable feathers, which are used by American ladies in enormous quantities.” Taking Butter and Cheese to England,-— “ The Doric experiment (says the Canterbury Timen) has shown that cheese and butter can be taken to England in good condition. It has also shown us that to make sales at good prices only one other thing is necessary. The article, whether butter or cheese, must be a good article. All our shows have not taught us to be prepared for the London market, where our first, report says, not carefully-selected shipment has come to utter grief. Cheese-makers and butter-makers must set to work with a will. They know now that if they produce good stuff it will command the largest market in the world, as well as the most critical. The carrying problem is solved ; the problem of manufacture awaits solution. There is an unlimited market open to a good article.” Too Undecided.—Moncure Oonway, writ, ing to the Glasgow Herald, from aboard the R.M.S. Australia, tells the following story of Sir Arthur Gordon " A grazier who got on our ship told me that a friend of his was asked why he did not like that governor ; he replied that Sir Arthur seemed to him too undecided. ‘ Undecided, how ?’ ‘ Why, he doesn’t seem able to decide whether God Almighty made him or he made God Almighty.’ ”