The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1907

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1986, 23 January 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1907

The incident that occurred on Monday between Admiral Davies and Sir J. A. Swettcnliam at Kingston, Jamaica, shows what an injudicious official can do when entrusted with authority and has to act. upon ids own responsibility. Our sensitiveness, in times of disaster is as inexcusable, as anything can well be, and as far, as can be gathered ' from the cabled reports, which we published yesterday, the real cause of the misunderstanding between tbe British and American representatives was due to the former’s so pet-sensitiveness. The facts are shortly these: that the American Rear-Admiral arrived on the scene of the disaster when help was needed, when many fellow-beiilgs had succumbed to the terrible effects of the earthquake: that he at once landed his bluejackets and ambulance corps to render assistance in every way in their power; but he apparently did not wait before doing that to exchange formalities and to ask permission of the British official to do so. That appears to be the whole sum and substance of his offending, and in such circumstances it can hardly be said that bis offence was a serious one, or one that need have caused any perturbation to those on shore. On the contrary, the act was one of extreme friendliness, and the motives of the very best that could be desired; but tbe formalities were wanting, and red tape, as is too often the case, usurped the place of com-mon-sense. Tiie incident would have J,eeu a ludicrous one were it not so pathetic In its details, for it shows the immense difference that exists between British and American methods. The American sees that a thing luis to be done, and lie waits not to ask questions, but straightway sots aboutdoing it, whereas the British invariably first attends to the formula, and allows that to govern his judgment in all official relationships. This characteristic has been satirised in the old rylimo depicting two shipwrecked gentlemen on an island, one on the north end and the other on the south, and flip one on the north had ail abundance of oysters which lie detested, while lie longed for lobster

which the other had an abundance of but disliked them, while ho longed for oysters. But they had not boon introduced, so they continued to sub sist on distasteful things, and reside on their own territory rather than intrude upon each other’s domain, ami satisfy their desires simply on account of the formalities which only a mutual acquaintance could assist thorn to overcome, and there was no mutual acquaintance available. So it appears to have boon with, the British representative at Kingston, who objected to the assistance tendered so generously, if perhaps a little informally, by the American Rear-Admiral, and it is a very great pity that so, unwarrantable an objection was taken at a timo when the assistance of the American was at least of some value. Strictly speaking a mikl insult was offered to tTio American (lag; but under the circumstances it will hardly he taken seriously, for the friendship between the two nations can stand a much greater strain than the circumstances of this ease has-afforded. Nevertheless, it is one that will not tend to elevate the prestige of British officialdom in the eyes of tho Americans, or enhance their respect for the country under whose flag such a thing has occurred. Another possible explanation is suggested in the idea that Sir J. A. Swettonham’s mentality has suffered under the strain of surrounding disaster, and there is at least, some degreo of feasibility in that version; but that view is discounted by the information that the local doctors who were attending to the wounded objected to the American doctors from tho warships interfering with tlio wounded, and that I hoy were “opposed to the American hospitals.’’; Couunonscnso suggests that in times of suffering, such as that described to have existed When jblie America!’, warships arrived, any assistance would have been welcomed, even without formalities, fim help was, or ought to have been, tho first, desideratum, and it is almost impossible to believe that professional jealousy was "allowed to creep in if help were really and urgently needed. Tho whole story is still somewhat inexplicable, and we shall not know the true inwardness of the position until tho other side of tho story has been told. Meantime one can only regret that the incident has occurred at all, and that , tho friendship of even a fractional part of tho two nations that have so long maintained tho closest amity and goodwill for one another should thus have been rudely, though perhaps but temporarily, disturbed. ■ ■ r

Tho Harbor Board election has been fixed for February 11, and nominations will be received up to noon on February, 4. At 2 this afternoon Messrs. Miller and Craig will hold a sale of furniture at the residence of Mr. Moss, Herbert street. R. Hannah and Co. have a list of prices in to-day's issue that should attract the attention of all who desire to purchase first-class boots at low prices." At the Wanganui sports yesterday, the Gisborne runner, A. Morris, won tbe 220 yards handicap, was second in the 440 yards and third in the 380 yards., A telegram from Christchurch last night-states that Mr. W. K. Broughton, of-Gisborne, has passed the matriculation and solicitors’ general knowledge examination. On our fourth page to-day there is an interesting article by a lady formerly resident in Gisborne, and on tho back, page appears a report of tlie meeting of the Hospital Trustees yesterday. The thirtieth anniversary of Court William Gladstone, A.0.F., will be celebrated with a banquet in Dustin’s Rooms on Thursday. January 31. Tickets may bo obtained from the lion, secretary, Mr. C. F. Lewis or members of.the committee.

Miss Beatrice Holloway’s interpretation of Dick, in “Two Little Vagabonds,” is described as a triumph of acting. She enters into the boyish ideals, the manliness, the virility, the eternal struggle after something great in face of opposition at all points, with all a boy’s enthusiasm.

The inquiries made by local people from their friends on the spot about tile New Alpine Gold Mining Company have induced many investors in Gisborne to take shares. As will have been noticed by Press Association telegrams tin's mine seems to have attracted more than a common amount of attention in other parts of the colony, and seems to he a most promising venture. The first two heats of the Poverty Bay Rowing Club’s fours, for Mr. B. S. Cox’s photos, will be rowed tomorrow evening on the AA r aiinata course. 11l the first- heat J. Young (stroke), P. Willoughby,. AY. Robertson, and A. M. Orpwood meet A Kirk (stroke), A. Burnett, AV. Dixon, and S. Ledger. In the second heat the crews are: T. Sheen (stroke). E. Thaxter, T. Parker, and T. McConnell versus J. Stuart (stroke), F. Seymour, H Stevens, and AA’. Murphy. Last night the Borough Council Committee opened the tenders for the supply of Patutahi stone:—Messrs. Rogers and Manson, 8s 5d per cubic yard; Mr. T. AY. Hapgood, 8s; Mr. E, ilapgood, 7s 6d; Mr. Fitzpatrick, 7s Cd. The Council resolved to give the contract to the two lowest in the list to supply 600 yards each at 7s fid per yard. If either objected then the whole contract • for the supply of 1200 yards would be given to the one. The tendency to accept a motion that has been assented to without a formal declaration was emphasised at the Hospital Board meeting yesterday.' A proposal to adjourn had. been made and assented to, and the chairman was passing on to other business. Mr Bright asked that the motion bo put to the meeting. “AVe were all agreed,” said the chairman, “and it was passed.” “It could not he,” rejoined Mr Bright; “it lias not been put'.to the meeting yet,” The chairniaif then submitted the motion, which was adopted. -At -the Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr. Barton, S.M., Thomas Hales was charged with having been drunk in Gladstone Road on Monday night. Defendant pleaded guilty. Fined os and 2s costs, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment.—A prohibition order was implied for against Joseph AA’all, settler, Makaraka. by bis sister. Alary Jane AA’all. of AA’aipiro. Mr. AA’all, for whom Mr. Stock appeared, resisted the application. Aiiss AA’all stated that her brother was so addicted to drink that he was injiiriijg his health. Another sister stated .that during the last six mouths she had seen lier .brother drunk six or; seven times. She considered that lia; was injuring his health. The witnesses were cross-examined by Air. Stock, and at the end his AYorship stated that there was not sufficient evidence to warrant an order. —Air. Aslnvood Friar, of Gisborne, applied for a prohibition order against AA’m. Benson, farmer, of Ormond, Benson, who was present, said lie wished the order to be granted. His AAJorship said he was very glad to see him applying for the order. The order was granted. Air. John D. Rockefeller, the richest man in the world, is constructing a four-acre lake on his estate at Lakewood, New Jersey, as a Christinas present for himself (says the New York correspondent of the Daily Express.) Air. Rockefeller, who is said to.be bored by bis simple life in New Jersey, surrounded by detectives and armed guards, recently recalled the fact that he was an expert skater in his youth, and he decided at once to construct -a lake in order to again indulge in this amusement. The millionaire is reported to have boasted that lie could “cut S’s all' day long without stopping to rest.” 11l addition to this accomplishment, lie is now said to be quite expert in cutting dollar marks in the ice. Tlic lake, which will be completed before Christmas, will bn screened by a forest of pines arid a hedge of nettles. A watch-tower is being built on .the shore, whence detectives with liiglipower field-glasses will, scan tho surrounding country while the lonely millionaire is skating, in order to warn hiiy of the approach of intruders,

Farmers want a reliable drench—one that will not fail when trouble arises. No drench lias had such unqualified success as Sykes’s. Over a thousand farmers have written expiessing their gratitude for tho remarkable cures which it has effected. One of these is Mr.. James Tomath, the well-known dairyman of Shannon, Alanawatu. He writes: “I am in the habit- of drenching my cows with Sykes’s Drench immediately after calving, and at all times on the appearance of inflammation of any kind. I have seldom known it to fail, and have always recommended it..”

“Two Little Vagabonds” at His Majesty’s to-night A simple unassuming stranger some days before Christmas marched into a. mining camp, in t'lio vicinity of Roofton. Ho was a vory simple gentleman and did not know anything about tlio gamo called “two-up.” “How do you play it?” lie asked, and when ho camo to tlio pitch he asked where tlio “two” was. He was very simple, and tho minors chuckled as they initiated him in the mysteries of the “kip.” He lost’a little at first and then had, us ho said, tho “luck of a now chum.” Ho scooped up £l2O of Christmas money, and went to lied promising to give tho minors a chance next day. In tho morning lie hud gone, having silently folded his blankets and stolen away, hut tho minors to their wrath and astonishment found a double-headed penny in tho hunk occupied by that siniplo and guiloless stranger. They sent out men to search for him, but he had slipped down tho river and got away. Unassuming strangers are now looked on with suspicion at that mine, says tlio Inangahua Times. Tho following letter lias been received by His Excellency tlio Governor l'rom Vice-Admiral Fawkes, in command of tho Australian squadion: —“With reference to my predecessor’s letter of March 17, 1904, addressed to His Excellency tho Earl of Ranfurly, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency tliat-tho Lords of tlio Admiralty acquaint mo that they have approved of the present arrangements, whereby a commission as a medical officer in the Royal navy is granted every alternate year to a Now Zealand candidate, being continued for a further period of three years. This means that a commission is open for the year 1908 (commissions having been offered for tho years 1904 and 1900), and I should therefore be glad if Your Excellency would cause tlio same to be made generally known, and arrange for. the names of applicants to be submitted to you.” Applicants must bo between tlie ages of 21 and 28 years on acceptance, and must be medical practitioners holding certificates under the Australian or Now Zealand universities.

Tho Christchurch Charitable Aid Board is at present without any lady members, and opinions seem to differ us to tho advantage or disadvantage of their absence, A retiring male member, in notifying his resignation, intimated that ho wished to leave a vacancy which a lady would be able to fill. Tho Board must recognise, ho thought, .the value of having two level-headed ladies in its membership. Mr. Dunlop rose to endorse this opinion, and stated that tho Board should lie grateful for tho work its lady members had done. Somewhat ungallantly, Mr. H. J. Horrell took exception to these tributes. As far as he could see, ho remarked, tho Board was ' getting along very well now that it had no lady members, and ho did not know what special thanks were owing to that portion of its past membership. There were now two vacancies on tho Board, and he would like to see them filled by level-headed men. Another member expressed regret that Mr. Horrell should have introduced these matters of dissension, but Mr. Horrell threw the blame for that on Mr. Dunlop, The chairman pointed out that the retiring member’s recommendation did not bind the Board to anything, and the question of women’s merits in Charitable Aid affairs was allowed to drop.

The Observer tells tho following story, which, however, has another side beside tho humorous one:—The Agnews, man and wife, were the terror of Ministers of tlie Crown in "Wellington, and persons of interest to the rest of the colony, some fourteen or fifteen years ago, owing to their persistence in airing a more or less shadowy land grievance which they annually brought with them from Otago. For several sessions they haunted the Parliament Building's, till the Atkinson Ministry took the extreme measure of posting sentries at the gates to keep tlie pertinacious pair out of the grounds. The cost of their pilgrimages to the capital year after year must have represented over and over again tlie value of the land they claimed to have been deprived of. Their case, however, became one of monomania. Eventually, their importunity prevailed, and they obtained some satisfaction and became quiet. Now the Agnews are heard of again, as a pathetit old man and woman living m a tent among the hack-blocks of Otago. A few weeks ago a Minister of the Crown happened to pass that way. The Agnews had heard of him, and, being experienced interviewers, waylaid his coach. But the Minister also knew of the Agnew tradition, and was not looking for trouble. A mile or two before the coach reached their camp, he dismounted, made a short cut across country, and resumed his seat' when the driver overtook him. Meanwhile the Agnews were introduced to the lion, gentleman’s dignified looking private secretary, whom his fellow-passengers passed off as the Minister. Eloquently they told their tide of woe, delighted with the evident sympathy with which the “Minister” regarded them, and with tho copious notes he. took of the story. When ho promised their case consideration and the party drove on, an Agnew duet of benediction followed him.

The N.Z. Herald, in urgog the opening of Northern lands, staffs: Our Auckland provincial members cannot be congratulated upon the amount of Auckland laud whin is being taken by the Governor ‘.at lor close settlement, although there are moro millions of acres of natr/e lands locked up in this province than in any other. In the generally wellsettled South Island small and high-ly-improved estates of a few tho i.. i id acres are being taken over in all directions ; and in other parts of the North Island some little is belt,; done in the jntrchase of both private and native lands. But Auckland is being sadly neglected, as it would hai'diy be if its Parliamentary delegation was alive to its interests, observant of its necessities, and active in an vancing its legitimate claims. Among a long list of properties being dealt with by the Land Purchase Board wo find blocks in every land district, but only scanty consideration to Auckland. There are two small private blocks on the Rotourua line to be opened and of native lands little more. As may bo gathered from the following:—“Native lands have lately been the subject of negotiation by the Government in tho Wellington, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, and Auckland districts, comprising 63,000 acres in Wellington and Taranaki (junctipning on the borders of tho two provinces), 44,000 acres in Taranaki district proper, 13,000 acres in Hawke’s Bay, and 12,000 in Auckland.” We do not object to, but rejoice in, any opening tip of native lands elsewhere. Yet we may fairly ask our members if they think they are doing their duty when they sit looking on at the energetic resumption of cultivated lands in- tho South and at the indifference displayed by the Government in dealing with tlm millions of acres of uncultivated native land in Auckland province.

Although no great activity in the matter of prospecting for petroleum has been exhibited during the last few weeks (says the Taranaki Herald) there are indications that with the holidays over a forward step will be made and work be carried on in several directions with greater vigor than has yet been exhibited. The death of Mr. Fair lias naturally caused the directors of the Taranaki Petroleum Company to proceed with their operations very cautiously until the arrival of an export manager, while other companies and syndicates have from one cause and another been delayed in getting to active boring work. There are now, however, on the water both experts and boring plants, and on their arrival no time is likely to be lost in breaking ground in localities hitherto untried. The existence of petroleum in quantity at Moturoa is amply proved, and"there is no reason to doubt that it will be found also in the immediate neighbourhood.- Whether the field is an extensive one, and in what 1 direction it spreads, are, however, questions which have to be solved. Indications have been found many miles away, but these do not necessarily prove the existence of oil immediately beneath; only the boring rods can settlo that question. The discovery of an actual outcrop of oil on the surface at Kent Road, is of importance, since, if it proves genuine, it establishes beyond reasonable doubt that oil lies under that country, and probably under the whole of the Upper Mangorei ValLey. The find has not yet been .inspected by an expert, but it needs no expert to see that this is not an escape of the colour of petroleum brought to the surface by gas. Thick oil, such as is exuding from the Birthday Well, at Moturoa, is found on the surface in such quantity as to warrant the belief that the oilfield is immediately beneath it It is.. the most promising “show” wo have seen away from Moturoa, and if a prospecting well discloses the existence of payable oil there it will give an immense inmetus to prospecting in other directions. There is no reason to doubt that the whole country where indications exist will in course of time be testecj, but. it all takes time, and patience must be exercised t

CORRESPONDENCE. THE HOSPITAL. To tho Editor of tlio Gisborne Times. Sir,—So far I liave refrained from talcing any part whatever in the newspaper controversy upon the management of the Gisborne Hospital, but I cannot allow such misleading statements as those made in this morning’s issue by “A Member” and Air. S. 'l'. Stanton to go uncontradiotoil. “A Member” states that the friendly societies of Gisborne represent between 5500 and 0000 of the population of this district. In reality the number of members belonging to friendly societies in this district numbers between 1000 and .1200, more than half of which are single" men. Mr. Stanton states that the annual meeting was packed in order to keep things in status qiio. AVell, if such wore the case Mr. Stanton and the friendly societies’ conference must take their share of the blame; As Air. Harding (the sitting member) was the nominee of the friendly societies, and as fully 75 per cent, of those present at the meeting were members of some friendly society, it is quite evident that the friendly society members are quite satisfied with Mr. Harding’s representation.

1 claim, Mr. Editor, that as a constant visitor of the Hospital for the last 12 years, and as a prominent member of a friendly society, I can speak with some authority regarding tlio opinions of patients passing through the Hospital. Through this long experience I have never re.ceivetl a single serious complaint regarding the hospital management; but, on tlio other hand, scores, aye, hundreds have expressed their gratitude at the treatment received. Aly experience with members of friendly societies is that they are quite satisfied with the treatment received at the Hospital. Their only request has been for a reduction of fees, and, the right of a member to call in bis own lodge doctor to attend to him. Yours, etc., ROBERT JOHNSTON. Jan. 22. 1907.

[Negative evidence of the above description does not help matters very milch. Wo know for a fact that other Trustees have heard complaints, and serious ones; but they took no notice of them. AA’ill Mr. Johnston say that no complaints have been made? If be cannot say that his evidence may as well have been left unwritten. Six months ago we could have truthfully said' that we had never heard a complaint, whereas today we could not say that we had not heard a great many—some of them very serious ones.— Ed. G.T.]