Untitled

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 709, 3 January 1903, Page 4

Christchurch Truth treats the Lyttelton Harbor Board in this saicastic style : “ Lyttelton Larbor is saved ! The Harbor Board has appointed an engineer. In any case, whether Mr Cyrus J. B. Williams, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., saves Lyttelton harbor from becoming a mud bank or not, the fact that the Lyttelton Harbor Board has appointed him is, in itself, something to think about. What a change liascomo over the spirit of its dream in the last year or two. It is not so long ago since the old-fashioned, autedeluvian institution made the most soiotnn and absolute affirmation that an engineer was 8 waste of money, and an unnecessary luxury and a useless ornament, and several other kinds of impediment to progress as understood by itself. Has the Lyttelton Harbor Board been converted ? Has Evangelist Pitcaitbly succeeded in making it see the evil of its ways ? We doubt it. The truth is t-hafe the public and the Press have scared the Harbor Board into doing what it doesn’t want to do with as much reluctance and bad grace as a schoolboy made to turn out bis pockots before the

class. Still, we have hopes. The engineer is an accomplished fact, and if any reactionary person occupying a seat on the Lyttelton Harbor Board attempts to tie his hands, the public will want to know the reason why. That is a fact for the Harbor Board "to chew over and rc-fleet upon, and keep on chewing over and reflecting upon.” A Palmerston North man named Cummings, who was spending a few days health-recruiting on the Waikanae (near Otaki) beach, espied what at fist sight cppeared to bo a large tree on the beach. Upon closer inspection the object proved to be a stranded whale. Cuumiing at once cawed his initials in its flesh, and proceeded witli haste to register it as his property. The specimen is about 57ft long by about 12ftt- to 14ft in breadth, and about 6ft or 7ft- thick, nnd it is estimated the lucky finder will profit to the extent of ;£BOO by his discovery.

The excavations which the Greek Government have been carrying out at

Megalopolis for paheontological remains have been crowned with brilliant success. Bones have been found of the hippopotamus, mastodon, rhinoceros, prehistoric horse, boar, various kinds of deer, oxen, and buffaloes, and the most valuable find of all—the complete skeleton of an elephant with an enormous pair of magnificent tusks. Exceedingly valuable finds of fossils were discovered last year at Pikermi, proving that the fauna of primeval Greece was absolutely identical with that of Africa.

The Daily Mail alleges that Anthony S. Rowe, a partner of the firm of Belwick and Morlign, civil and

mining engineers-, has disappeared. It was reported on the Stock Exchange that he had obtained advances on forged share certificates of the Great Fingall Consolidated Company. It is supposed that he speculated contrary to the partnership agreement, a decline of West. Australian shares caus-

ing his undoing. It, is understood that the forgeries concern fifteen thousand shares, valued at ninety thousand pounds. Auditors are investigating the ease. The firm state that their financial position is not- involved. It is reported that the firm yesterday received Rowe's letter, admitting a certain offence*