The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 5, 1903.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 710, 5 January 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 5, 1903.

Mr D. I-lepburn returned from Auckland yesterday. The Hon. J. Carroll arrived from Auckland by the Waihora yesterday, and will remain for a few days. The steamer Kumara arrived at Wellington from Gisborne at 2.4 5 p.m. yesterday, A well-known Native, named Karauiia, created a little diversion in town on Saturday night, and was given repose in the police cells. Some carrier pigeons from Christchurch arrived by the Zealandia on Saturday night, and were liberated yesterday morning. They would have a strong wind to contend with.

The rivers in this district arc now lower than they have been for many years past ; indeed, some say since the year 1886. A creek in Tolago district never’before known to be dry, is now dried up. We are asked to draw the attention of the County Council to the dangerous state of two culverts on the Morere road. They are both broken through, and there is great risk of accident under, present conditions. The mission sale held at Mrs C. P Davies’ residence recently realised the sum of £69 2s, half of which will be devoted to the Urewera mission and half to the Melanesian mission. The satisfactory result must be very gratifying to Mrs Davies and those who assisted.

The popularity of the Te Puia Hot Springs steadily increases. A large party, chiefly of ladies, lide or drive up next week. Mr Sinclair starts this morning from, Gisborne with a four-in-hand to convey excursionists to the Springs. Among the number are some from the South,

A very interesting retrospect of the past year was given by the Rev. J. G, Paterson at St. Andrew’s Church last night, dealing specially with the “rapids” in the form of had company and other evils. He strongly impressed upon his hearers to make the most of the new year for the cause of righteousness.

One of the choicest properties in the district, the Te Matai estate, owned hy Mr W. E. Richardson, has changed hands, the purchaser being Mr \V. Branson. Mr Richardson settled in the Waimata a good many years ago, and has witnessed that portion of the district developed from useless, almost inaccessible * ountry, into homesteads that would do credit to any place.. .

At Holy Trinity Church yesterday morning, , the incumbent, Rev. W. Welsh, in the course of a most impressive sermon, paid a tribute to I lie memory of the late Mr William King. I-Ie also referred feelingly to other recent deaths. The “ Dead March” was played by Miss Parkinson o' Naß ie r t wll ° l )resiciecl at tlie organ.

Mr J. Johnston, the well-known representative of Macky, Logan, Steen, and Co., of Auckland, leaves this morning for the Coast as far as T e Araroa. He proceeds to Waipiro in a four-in-hand driven by Mr Sinclair, alter which he will complete his trip on horseback. Mrs Johnston accompanies him as tar as the tourist resort, Te Ptria Hot springs. Attention is again directed to the stock sale to be held at Matawhero yards by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company and Williams and Kettle, Limited, tomorrow, commencing at 1L.30 a.m. A very large and attractive cnti\ of both sheep and cattle has lieen made. The sale promises to te one of the most important that has been held for many months'. In addition to some good lines of breeding ewes, there will be a splendid entiy ot cattle of all descriptions from young stock to beef. One line that has attracted a good deal oi attention during the past week is an excellent mob of grand cows, 113 in number, which have been grazing in the corner paddock of Toanga, opposite 1 lie hia-Ora factory (Espie’s corner). These cows are all empty, many of them nice beef, and the balance all good forward cattle. A special entry in connection with this sale will _ he about 600 sheep, to he disposed of on account of Mr W. P- Richardson, who has sold his Tc Matai property. Mr Richardson 'is also offering a seven-year-old half-draught maie, very Stavach, and good in all harness.

Training preparations are in full swing for the fort booming Waiapu race meeting, and a great success is anticipated. A large mob of pigs, in charge of Whare Hayes, were travelling down the Coast last week for the Okitu bacon factory. A good deal of Coast land is at present being sweetened by the burning of the old dry Native grass, which should be green again in March. Tha Government seismograph in Wellington recorded a number of earthquake shocks and tremors on Sunday and Monday. A correspondent desires to know whether any society has the right to charge admission to the railway grounds at Kaiteratnhi. The following addition has been made to the Telephone Exchange list: 160, John Clark, private residence, Te Arai Bridge. A big mob of sheep, in charge of Mr J. Woodford, were being given a spell at Pakarae on Saturday, preparatory to being brought down to the freezing works,

The Gisborne-Karaka railway, so far as constructed, continues to yield an excellent return on working expenses. Last month the working expenditure was £l4O and the revenue £250.

There was a large attendance at Messrs Wyllie and Mason’s horse sale on Saturday afternoon. A good many hacks were offered for sale, but bidding was rather dull. Prices ranged from £2 10s to £9.

Government veterinary surgeons con' tinuo to be dissatisfied with the small salaries they receive. Mr Edgar, of Wan-

ganui, is the latest to leave the service. He will engage in private practice. Messrs Redstone and Son’s coach leaves Gisborne on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for Whatatutu at It a.m., and on the return journey to town leaves Whntatutu at 7 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. At the auction mart on Sa'urday, po

tatoes sold at an average of per lb, b'.tter brought from lOd to Is; eggs were scarce, but only realis, d lOd per dozen. There was very little sent in the way of vegetables. During the holidays a conference of delegates of operative bootmakers’ unions of the colony was held in Wellington. The business was of a private nature, relating to the steps to be taken when the Arbitration Court’s award expires in June. All the delegates reported that trade was very slack in their various districts. At the Tolago sports on New Year’s Day, the special feature was the horsejumping, for which there were seventeen competitors, the first prize falling to Mr McNeil’s Maori Boy, which was the winner at Tokomaru in a like event on Boxing Day, and also the winner at Tolago Bay last year. At the Haiti Road Board meeting, the Overseer said a horse had been buried in

a well by a resident near the road, and a neighbor on the opposito side of the road complained that soakage would take place to his well. The Board did not see that they could take action, and considered there was not much danger of contamination through 68 feet of soil. Mr Bull said a resident had lost a foal in Herschell street, through the animal falling into a drain, and was thinking of asking for compensation. The Chairman did not think the Board could be held responsible for such accidents, otherwise County Councils a nd other local bodies would he in a bad way. While the teams engaged with the road machine where descending the cutting to the Lavenham bridge one of the shafts broke ; the front part of frame on dray comiDg across the shafter’s back, threw him sideways to the ground, and the remaining shaft broke his leg in two places. The driver, Mr Thos. O’Toole, had a nar- • row escape, having been thrown on to the shatter, and his pants getting caught in one of the hooks, and bags of chaff, etc., coming on top of him ; had not Mr Baty been handy, it is hard to say how the driver would have got away, as it took Mr Baty some time before he could get him clear. A gentleman on a visit from town kindly ended the horse’s sufferings with a friendly bullet. The machine party are on their way to Tiniroto from the inland Wuiapu road, where some splendid work has been done.

A correspondent writing to a friend in Wellington describes Johannesburg in terms which are not Battering. He says it is one of the dirtiest places he was ever in. Things are very dear there, especially living, which is very poor at two guineas a week. At a good hotel the price is £1 per day. An ordinary meal costs about os. Of course wages are high at present, but the writer is afraid they will soon come down, as people arc Hocking in. Business is not in full swing yet, as the military have the railways, and the merchants can only got a limited quantity of stuff up. The mines also aro not properly working, owing to the shortness of black labor. The recruiting agents, however, are fetching hundreds of natives from the back country every week, and make n big t \ing out of it, the piice for recauiting being £3 per head The niggers are g ttmg quiie n d p d. nt s'i c-' the B Mishave taken charge, ns they Imve a g.ea* deal more freedom now.

The monthly meeting of the Arai Board took place on Saturday. Present : Messrs Jex-Blake (in the chair), H. Smith, and C. White. The Clerk said tenders for the Arai bridge would be opened at the County Council office next Saturday. The question of the Government grants of £l5O and £2OO for Arai road was discussed. Mr Smith proposed that the £l5O grant be spent on widening the Tokanui road, for the last three months the subject had been discussed, but nothing done ; according to Mr Carroll they could not use the grants for metalling. Mr White said from the definition shown him by the clerk he did not see why the money could not be used for metalling. The conditions of the grant were that the money was to be used for permanent improvements. Mr Smith was in favor of having the road widened, and said the settlers all supported this. On the motion of Mr Smith, seconded by Mr White, it was decided that £l5O should be expended in widening the Tokanui road, the engineer to get the work laid off and prepare plans for it. It was resolved that specifications bo prepared for metalling part of the Arai road at the Peach Grove, with alternate tenders for Waipaoa and Matawkero metal, the plans to be submitted to the Chief Surveyor for approval. It was stated, in regard to stray stock, that it was absurd to expect one man to range from Karaka to the Karawa bridge. It was decided to ask the County Council to act with the Board to remedying the present state of affairs.

At the monthly meeting of the Kaiti Road Board, Messrs Harding (chairman), F. Bull, F. Harris, Bridges, and Keefer berng present, a good deal of general business was transacted. Regarding Major

McCredie’s application as attorney for Coloue' j? nr * er a. transfer for that portion of the old road by the Waimata riveradjoining sec. 268 ; Mr Harris proposed that the Board go into committee to consider the vital question. The Chairman said the Board found they could not convey the land. The Clerk stated the claim had not been resuscitated since 1894 ; the road had been closed ever since. Mr Bridges seconded Mr Harris’s motion ; he said °that if the proposed stock crossing was made at this spot 'the Board could open the road ; it would be an easy matter to arrange compensation. It was decided to consider the question in committee. The financial statement showed the present dr. balance to be £232 Us Id, and accounts for payment amounting to £23 1.3 s 6d. The Overseer (Mr Colbert) xeported that various w-orks authorised had been completed. It was decided to do work in Butene and Darwin roads recommended by him, and he was instructed to have the drain in Harris street, cleaned out. On the motion of the Chairman, it was resolved that all rates outstanding on January 23 be sued for without further notice. Mr Mooney waited on the Board regarding a proposed drain from Mr Craig’s across Wheatstone road, from which the water would go into a drain into bis ptace. He would give his consent to the drain, provided the Board erected two culverts. After discussion the subject was allowed to drop, there being no application before the Board. The Overseer was em- j powered to impound all stock running on : he roads, and to lay inforuiition against ( ownerß. t

Influenza is rife in Gisborne just now, especially among children. Mr Sam Phillips, of Patutalii, offers a really good, staunch draught mare for sale on easy terms. Mrs E. Chrisp, of the tYhataupoko, has sufficiently recovered her health as to permit of being removed to her home. Killing at the Taruheru Freezing Works is now proceeding with all possible celerity, there being such a large supply of stock to deal with. The s.s. Zealandia made her run lrom Wellington to Napier in the splendid time of 1!| hours, and from Napier to Gisborne in 61 hours. Among the visitors at the opening of the Te Avoha bowling green on New Year's Day was Mr J. Coleman, of Gisborne. The ITbn. J. Carroll’s visit to Gisborne is understood to be in connection with a forthcoming social event. The happy man will be the popular Dr Pomare. Captain Kretchmar, of Gisborne, was among the winners of £1 in the Coronation Match at the Auckland Rifle Association meeting. He scored 45, the top score being 47. The condition of things in the west of New South Wales must be like a furnace. At Goodooga the glass registered 123, while as far north as tho Clarence the heat is withering up the maize.

At the cycling carnival in Sydney on Saturday there were 25,000 people present. Don Walker gave the world’s champion, “ Major ” Taylor, a big go for the quarter-mile international championship. Messrs C. Rosie and Co. announco special value in gentlemen’s tweed trousers and in gentlemen’s saddle-tweed trousers. Boys’ knicker suits are being offered at 15 to 20 per eont. below U3uai prices.

On Friday last a good deal of fencing and a few sheep were destroyed by Chung of wind causing a clearing off fii. at the uacli of Mr J Parker’s Emerul" Hills piopmt-y to veer to the opposite direction lioui which it was started. A dairy farmer of Kelvin Grove, Mana watu, Mr Doggett, has had somewhat phenomenal returns. From a herd of 21 cows he received in October the magnificent return of j£l 12s per cow, while in November he milked 26 cows, and bis returns, we understand, were even better.

Mr G. Pitcher, who holds the winning ticket for a substantial prize in Tattersail’s sweop, is a well-known employee at the Taruheru freezing works. There were four shares in the speculation, but one

sold his chance for a small sum to Mr Pitcher, the other two holders being Messrs G. Smart and Pitcher, jun, There was a sad tinge of melancholy in

the proceedings at the wharf last evening. Mr and Mrs Cook were returning home to Napier, and on board were tho remains of their only child who was suddenly cut off when he had reached the age of 18. Mr and Mrs Holdon were on their way to Hastings, and on board wore the remains of the child who died so suddenly last week. On Christmas Eve the Featherston telegraph station was struck by lightning. The lightning guard in the operating room was blown to pieces, and the marble foundation on which it rested was smashed, whilst the terminal wires were fused, and the adjoining wall of the office scorched. None of the officials were hurt. The flash of lightning which caused tho damage was followed by a terrific peal of thunder and an explosion, the room being filled with sparks of fire. At Dannevirko on December 24, Mr J. A. Robertson, surveyor, was engaged with his son surveying his proporty near Mr Hartgill’s residence, when a flash of lightning struck the chain they were using. Mr Robertson was hurdled against his house, which is in course of erection, with considerable force, but beyond a severe shock ho escaped unhurt. His sou was holding a boot lace attached to the chain at tho time, and it is thought the lace acted as a non-conductor, as the lad was not in any way affected by the lightning. Early on New Year’s morning, a

large crowd in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, became noisy, and a strong body of police were kept busily employed in maintaining order.

At one time, a fight occurred, and, after separating the combatants, several constables were subjected to a hostile demonstration. The police avoided making arrests, but the names of a number of those who were said to have created the disturbances were taken, aad prosecutions will follow. Some time ago, the Governmentadopted a scheme of Maori industrial villages, and decided to make the first experiment on the Wanganui river, at a place known as Pamoana. A survey of the land which the natives have agreed to give for the purpose of tfiis village has now been completed, workship plans for which have been prepared by the Public Works Department. This will be the first building to be erected, and the whole scheme will be pushed on early in the year. The Daily Mail is as ignorant as a mule about New Zealand. When tho first news of the wreck of tho Elingamite reached the London journalist he forthwith jumped to the conclusion that as the •ves'sel was, as he supposed, a coastal steamer, the majority of her passengers were probably “ coolies 1” Now, in commenting on the raft story, he says that it only lacks one clement not wanting in the case of many a noble vessel wrecked in the same quarter of the world, namely, the capture and massacre of the survivors by blood-thirsty natives. It is disgraceful that a London'papor should publish such misleading rubbish. The following is an extract from a lotter received the other day by an Auckland resident from a resident in Adelaide. It has reference to tho districts in the neighborhood of the Tarcoola goldfields, and conveys a vivid impression of Australian dry and wet weather: —“We have had magnificent rains all over the State. The Warden of the goldfields, who has just returned from the North, says that in some

places they had had do rain for 12 years. Now, they have had inches, and the children have been beside themselves with delight, never having seen rain before. The Burra Creek was running a banker, and there was a washaway between Quorn and Ororoo.” Mr A. D. Riley, director of the Technical School in Wellington, has just returned from a trip to Australia. He says he was greatly impressed with the value of the instruction given in woodwork by the Victorian Education Department. Speaking of the cookery lessons, Mr Riley says he likes the Victorian system. Ho certainly appreciates the yalue of the instruction given in the preparation and serving of luncheons and the household duties attendant upon such a programme of work, and he thinks it would be a good thing if a similar system were adopted in Wellington, “ With regard to technical instruction proper at any rate in the industrial art section,” he adds, “ I do not think we have anything to fear in comparison with Victoria. We are domg work fully equivalent to and in many respects better than that done in two important institutions in New South Wales and Victoria. In engineering and kindred sections, however, yye are lamentably be hind, owing to our deficiency in laboratory work.”

An action was heard before Mr Justice Pring and a jury in Sydney, in which Mary Jeffries sought to recover £SOO as compensation from H. G. Kilby for injuries inflicted on her bv a bulldog, the property of the defendant. The case for the plaintiff was that she and her husband were vendors of poultry, and while plying tier occupation she called at the defendant’s place at Hunter’s Hill. While walking down the pathway' she saw a brindle bulldog rushing across the lawn at her. It seized her by the leg, and had to lie nulled off by her husband and the gardener on the premises. Her clothing saved her partialjv, but her leg was lacerated. She suffered greatly front shock,which brought on a serious illness. The defence'' was that the bulldog did not bite the plaintiff. After hearing evidence, the jury returned a verdict for th? plaiatlfi ic£ £l5O damages*