The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAY 7, 1903.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 884, 7 May 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAY 7, 1903.

PROSPERITY AND IMMIGRATION Under the above heading the New •Zealand Herald has an interesting article, the returns of Canadian immigration for last month being taken as the text. 11, is pointed out that, into the North-western territories of the Dominion no less than twenty thousand settlers have poured during - the first month of its .Spring, constituting an army of wealth-producers “ far exceeding that which we. recruit to New Zealand during the whole of our mild and attractive year.” It may he said (the Auckland journal continues) that the comparative, neatness of the Canadian North West to the United Kingdom, with the enormous acreage of good agricultural land still available there, gives to it an advantage against which we cannot hope to compete. This argument is combatted by the assertion that we attempt no competition. “ If we

VV U deLtllljl u llvj LUUIJM,II Hull. 11 iV L have not hundreds of thousands of square miles unsettled we have hundreds of thousands of acres. if the cost of migration is greater, it thecrcLically results in a more genial climate and in more profitable opportunities. The drawback is Unit while for years the Canadian Government has been working very haul to attract agricultural immigration, sparing ueither trouble uor expense m acquainting the people of the United Kingdom with its country or in pro vicing bona-lide settlers with prompt and immediate openings upon its idle lands, we have been pursuing the opposite course. We have been advertising ofir produce, not our opportunities. We have been officially stating that (here is little inducement here I,:i land-seekers. We have been making il so didicult and slow a process to get land that would-be settlers iioif.. .... .i t-i-tt-iwi It.- t m rl in

lIIVc* ofU’ii arrived only i<> ilcpnri m disgust, and our own local demand lias been very far from satisfied. The latter sentence touches a crucial point. The fact that there is not sufficient land available to meet the needs of. the people of the colony wlio desire to purchase through the channel of the .State. There are enormous areas lying waste, such as the native lands on Ibis Coast. It is a scandal to the colony that for so long these lands should be allowed to remain in such a slate. The Government boasted much about the establishment of Maori Councils that were to do so much. The experience of this district has been that the European members of the Board have been called together once, and so far there has been no indication oi any further meeting. It does not seem a fair thing to ask gentlemen to act or. such a body, and then not even to call them together to tell them that there is nothing to do.

The annual meeting of the Acclimatise' tion Society' will be held on Saturday. The Sonoma arrived at 'Frisco on May 4th.

The City Band will give an open-air concert this evening if the weather is favorable.

Captain Edwin wired yesterday afternoon : — ,l Moderate easterly winds ; glass rise ; poor tides ; very cold night." East Cape advised yesterday : “ Southwest light breeze ; barometer, 30.46 ; thermometer, 08 ; moderate sea." Mr T. G. Lawless ha 3 to let or for lease a fine brick villa of nine rooms at the Point, Whataupoko.

The Harbor Board are calling for applications for the position of dreagemaster, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Fisher.

The annual trials of the Poverty Bay Shec-p Dog Trial Club commence at Haiti tins morning at 9 o'clock, and will be continued to-morrow. The gathering promises to be a great success.

Mr P. R. Dix wired last night to alter the date of the Gaiety Company’s Gi • borne season. The company will play Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and leave for Auckland on Saturday morning. Mr David C. Ingrain, representative of the Auckland firm of Austin Walsh and Co., tobacco, cigar and cigarette manufacturers and merchants, is at present visiting Gisborne. He returns to Auckland on Saturday morning. Mr A. Zachariah notifies tho arrival a large and well-selected stock of tweeds’ etc., for the winter season. The goods are of first-class quality, and customers can rely on being supplied with clothing of the latest fashion.

Mr C. F. Lewis, who is giving up the line, has a special advertisement notifying a groat slaughtering sale. Everything is to bo cleared regardless of cost. Mr Lewis has a varied stock, and this special opportunity to obtain bargains should be availed of by the public. A meeting of tho Gisborne Tent, No. 54’

1.0. R., S. U., was held in the Tent room last evening, Bro. G. Goldsworthy, Chief Ruler, presiding. Amongst the business transacted was the election of Bro. Graham as Deputy Ruler, Bro. Clayden us Levite, and Bro. Goldsworthy as a delegate to tho Friendly Societies' Conference. The first of the district bowling matches for tho shield presented by Mr J. A. Harding will bo played this afternoon, when City meet Haiti and West End play Whataupoko. Players are requested to bo in attendance at the green at a-quartor to two, as play will commence at 2 o’clock sharp. The funeral of the late Mrs W. F. Crawford took place at Makaraka yesterday aftoruoon, ihe Rev. Chattertou officiating. There was a large attendance and a great many floral emblems wore sent by friends. Much sympathy is felt throughout the district for Mr Crawford and tho members of his family in their sad bereavement.

From an excellent source, the Wellington correspondent of the Auckland Star hears that the last hasnot been heard of the John Kink inquiry, and the matter will be vigorously discussed on the floor of the House. A Southern member, with strong prohibitionist tendencies, will (it is said) lead a strong attack on the Commissioners, whose findings are, pi his opinion, not warranted by the evidence.

At Tuparoa, on May Kith, a variety entertainment and dance will be given in the woolshed. The programme consists of songs, dances, choruses, gags, etc., by the “ Darktown Minstrel Troupe,” and also songs by well-known local amateurs. The entertainment will conclude with a side-splitting, farcical absurdity, entitled “A Ghost’s Luck,” making the proognunnie right through a very attractive one. The secretarial duties are in the hands of Mr R. Wharton.

At the meeting of the Ballance Juvenile Tent last evening, a presentation was made to Bro. 0. Wallace of the prizo won by him which had been donated by Bro. W. J. Macdcrmott, of Auckland, for the mornber who introduced tho largest number of candidates for the quarter ending December, 1902. In making the presentation—a handsomely bound copy of the Boys’ Own Annual—Bro. G. Goldsworthy, Chief ltulor of the Gisborne Tent, referred to the energy displayed by Bro. Wallace in the work of the Tent. Bro. Wallace suitably replied. In connection with the Poverty Bay

Sheep Dog Trial Club’s Meeting, which commences at Kaiti to-day, we mignt mention that no charge is made for admission to the grounds. The Committee will be pleased to see a large gathering of spectators so long as the competitors are not interfered with when working their dogs. Mr W. G. Bremner will act as judge, and Mr F. Stackwood as timekeeper. A word of praise is due to Mr C. Hellier Evans for the completeness of the arrangements in connection with the gathering.

The Ancient Order of Foresters, “ Court William Gladstone, 6080,” held their usual meeting in the Court room, Masonic Hall. Bro. C. F. Lewis (Chief Danger) presiding, Visiting Brother Lowndes, pf Napier, was welcomed by tho C.Tt. on behalf of the Court. After tho business, tho members spent a vei ( y pleasant hour or so in harmony, songs, etc., being excellently rendered by Bros. File, Lewis, Armstrong, Coleman, Robinson, Morrow, Owen, Lowndes, Todd, Hepburn, Clark, and Master Reedy, while Bro. C. A. Neiid favored tho meeting with choice selections on the gramaphone. Mr Clark proved a capablo accompanist on the piano. The junior footballers do not take kiudly to the idea of playing for nothing, so they have met and decided to raise funds to provide a bauner and fifteen caps for the several clubs to compete for. A largely attended meeting was held last evening, at which Mr H. Webb presided, Messrs J. Eaton and Bright, representing the seniors, were also in attendance. It was decided to form a committee, consisting of two members from each club, and collect the necessary amount of funds. The committee appointed consisted of the following .- Messrs Somervell, Witty, Osborne, Webb, A. Poole, and Shaw. The juniors in past years have always shown great enthusiasm in football, and they intend to make things merry during the coming season, which promises to be the most interesting ever held. On Tuesday afternoon a very old resident of the district passed away in tho person of Mr Alexander McLean, of

“ Gowerville,” Wsimata. Mr McLean, who had attained his 7Sth year, had been in ill-health for the past year, and his death was due to a general break-up of the constitution. Twenty years ago he came to New Zealand to manage his brother's Waikohu station, and subsequently bought the property above the Hole-in-the Wall, where he resided uutil his death. The deceased’s two brothers in New Zealand weue the late Mr Allan McLean, Tukituki, Hawke’s Bay. and Mr Donald McLean, Ashburton. He leaves a widow, five sons and one daughter .to mourn their loss. Two of his sons are in Sydney, one in Melbourne, and the others, Messrs W. C. McLean (of Common, Shelton and Co.), and Allan McLean (manager, Lome station) are resident in this district. The funeral will leave bis son's residence, Palmerston road, at 3 p.m. to-day.

The Ballance Tent (juvenile) of the Independent Order of Bechabites met last evening, when there was a large attendance, the meeting being presided over by Bro. 0. Wallace, Deputy Euler. Two new members were initiated, and another proposed. This Tent continues to make rapid progress both in membership and funds, and in order to keep up a healthy spirit of emulation amongst the members, a prize has been offered to the member who introduces the largest number of candidates during the present quarter. The officers of the Tent, besides encouraging the members in this respect, attend to the educational improvement of the lads by lectures and addresses. Recently Bro. A. J. Cooper gave the ooys his experiences of the Boer war, while last evening the Superintendent, Bro. Kretschmer, brought to a close a series of most instructive lectures on his experiences in Victoria. Next ' meeting Bro. G. Goldsworthy is to address i the boys on the subject of Victoria, also 1 dealing with the Kelly gang, i