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Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 836, 10 March 1903, Page 4

I The Wairarapa Times Wellington correspondent writes : —The South Pacific Islands, what with Bible-burning, annexation, and Parliamentary picnics, are attracting a great deal of attention just now. The Governor and his son, Lord Northland, will leave soon on a cruise in one of the vessels of the Australian Squadron, probably the Mildura, and the members of Parliament aro to voyage northward in the Tutanekai in April next. The Tutanekai promises tQ b e ver^./ as she can only fifty at a pinch, it will not be all joy flaking a tropic cruise in her. Probably the v7 Q Y’ ernment may decide eventually to charter | a bigger boat for the trip, so that the comfort of our legislators may be assured. A good supply of ice and sodawater—with their etceteras —is sure to be taken, for, in these latitudes, even a prohibitionist must drink, and it would never do to push local option as far north as tho Tutanokai will go. Of the islands to be visited Penrhyn, Barotonga, Tahiti, and the Fijis will prove interesting. The only thing to be dreaded will be the flood of talk upon Island subjects in Parliament when our legislators come back. j Advice has been received at Hokitika by the War Memorial Committee (says a West Coast paper) that the clock tower is practically finished, and will be shipped for Hokitika this week. The work of erection will occupy six woeks.