The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2056, 29 April 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1907.

Could one but adequately roalise the sum total of human suffering upon this earth, or appreciate tlie pangs of agony that' thrill the hearts of thoscT who suffer pain or privation from ono cause or another, it is' sale to say that there would bo awakened fooliligs of compassion for the sufferer and ail increased dosire to render aid. It is because those who escape pain and privation, and whose circumstances happily enable them to avoid those harrowing experiences and because for that reason tlioii personal comfort is not threatened, that a vast number of people who are not otherwise devoid of compassion, pay little attention to tho necessities of others or tho agonies which those necessities compel them to eiiduro. It is not because human nature is inherently adanfant or callous towards the sufferings of tlioso who have to suffer that necessitous cases are so often overlooked and a freer measure of assistance rendered by those who are in a position to rendor help in times of need. It is, as wo have said, mainly because tho necessities are not adequately appreciated, and the experiences are not there to unlock the floodgates of compassion and spur tlio natural promptings of generous hearts. AVliether people suffer pain and discomfort either from accident or hunger there are fow who are not ready to lend their aid. There are those, of course, who suffer from the corroding influences of selfishness whom nothing could move in the direction of anything but self interest; but they fortunately are in a hopeless minority, and wo need not here consider them; suffice it to say that the vast majority of our race who have tasted the advantages of civilisation,are responsive to the calls of humanity when they become aware of tho sterling necessities and are convinced ol their genuineness, more esiiccially when those calls are made on behalf of a kindred people. The fact, however, that calls are sometimes made on behalf of an alien race does not altogether seal up the channels of charity or stop the flow of help whore it is needed, and wo therefore gladly accede to the request of the Rev. Mr. Grant in another column to place our readers in possession of facts which must appeal to their better nature and result in the saving of at least a fow human lives when those facts are widely known. To think of tho appalling fact that in China at the present time a dire famine is sweeping five thousand human beings daily into Eternity, and that the pangs of hunger, as a recent cable informed us, are tempting the starved populace to resort to cannibalism, is to think of a condition of things that makes one shudder. Nothing more need be said to bring borne to one’s senses the awful misery of the situation in China or to arouse the compassion of every member of the civilised race. Ordinarily, we have no love for the Chinaman, and we are not certain that the wor’d would not be the better for his nonexistence. Socially he occupies a low position in the scale of humanity, morally lie is degraded, commercially he is> a menace to the British race, and nationally ho is a cource of trouble and danger to the stability of our Empire; but he is nevertheless a human being and has the same right to live as we have ourselves; therefore we should not stand inert and let him die the dreadful death which famine imposes, for to do so would be, in the strict ethics of righteous ness, a sin. It may be that the famine is now doing only what a future war may be found necessary to do, that is, to thin his ranks ar.d reduce his numerical potency in order that' civilisation may progress; but that is no adequate excuse for inertia or the withholding of succour to peaceable human beings even though they are aliens and possible lutare enemies. If we-desire »to obey tlie command “Love your enemies” tlie present affords an excellent' opportunity of showing liow we can do it

A reward is offered by an advertiser to the finder of 1\ silver medal

A pleasing feature of the Municipal Thanksgiving Service at Holy . Trin. ity Church yesterday was the number of non-church-goers' present. This is in no-wise, meant as a reflection on our city fathers. Tenders are invited in this issue by Mr. F. J. Wilson for additions to a residence.

The Acclimatisation Society adver. tises that a reward of Lit) will be paid to any person through whose information convictions are obtained for shooting game without a licci/se or out of season.

The manager of Repougnere lias a notice to tresspassers in this issue. It is not necessary, for a man to bo able to speak or understand English, to be a good footballer. The Takitimu Club, which is fonr-fiftlisMaoris had to requisiton. the services of ail interpreter at its annual meetng for the benefit of the remaining fifth. A housemaid for tile country and a smart boy for office work are advertised for.

At the meeting of the Gisborne branch of the Farmers’ Union held on Saturday, it was decided to acquaint the Government with the fact that ragwort and Californian thistle is spreading here. At the meeting of the local branch of the Farmer’s Union on Saturday afternoon the opinion was expressed that the Government made quite enough revenue out of the telephone exchange without charging. 3d a message for bureau communications. Those beyond the 25 mile radius had to pay 6d. The Taranaki Law Society has passed a resolution in favor of repeal of a clause of the Law Practitioner s Act 189 S giving solicitors power to practise as barristers after five years. Mr. Boucher, Government pomologist, interviewed, says there is no need for alarm re the fruit fly, and the Department hope to have the pest absolutely exterminated before the next fruit season. It is now definitely settled that Blanche Arral will give two recitals in Gisborne on 'Wednesday and IndayT May Bth and 10th.. Full particulars will be published in W ednesday's issue. The box jilans will be opened at Miller’s on Friday morning at 10 o’clock. An exchange says “The sensation Blanche Arral has caused throughout Australia, and New Zealand has no parallel m the | musical annals of the Southern Hemisphere.” After a long, exhausting . illwhen health is slow about returning, Stearns’ Wine is always found Of great, value. By gently stimulating the appetite it aids nutrition and re- I stores strength.—Advt.

Tho Hawko’s Bay Education Board invites in this issue applioßtions »oi i largo mimbtr of vacant positions.

Only last week three men were required for a job in the AA airaiupa, and tho applicants wore taken in rotation ns they applied. ‘1*',.,,. 1 answered to the name or '' ! l ly nn ! Green, the second was \Y illuim vi ood mid tho third was Vi illnini Greenwood. Tho three men wore tho onl.v men employed on the job, winch was ono of cloaning and renovating. The names of at least three prominent stoek dealers in the southern part of this island (says, the \> ymlluun Farmer) are being mentioned, as having made enviable profits during the recent drought searo. Olio gentleman in particular is said to have cleared well on to five figures in value by lucky, and .possibly shrewd trim-, suctions in sheep. Tho question of telephone exchange hours camo up for discussion at tlie Farmor’s Union meeting on Saturday and it was decided to ask the local authorities to request the Department to allow tho local exchange to bo open all day Sunday, instead of ono hour in the morning and one in tho afternoon. A very largo number of country subscribers, it was said, tlosired to make more use of the telephone on Sundays. Tlie total number of subscribers was stated to lie over 150.

Mr. AV. A. O’Meara advertises largo direct shipments of general merchandise. Mr. O’Meara is now importing all goods direct from London.

At a sitting of the Assessment Court for South Invercargill, uu objector took exception to the constitution of the Court, stating that Mr. A. Bain, appointed by the Borough, had boon a bitter, opponent of his for manv years. The Chairman, the Magistrate, Mr. McCarthy, said lie had known Mr. Bain for many years a member of tho Licensing Commit toe, and that, while a hard hitter, ho never did anything unfair. Hi could not see his way to entertain tho suggestion of tho objector. Tin Court then proceeded to business. A new rogistr.v office for servants has been opened by Mr. P. Galloway, Grey street.

Speaking of the flax industry al To Puke the Hon. B. McNab said if would take a most important part i: the future of this colony. Is*ml thirl had been bought at 10s an acre waj being sold again two or three years Inter for flax purposes at prices a: high as £2O per acre. He referred to the flax experiments at Levin, Run,kurn, and other places, and said that flax would in future he regarded as one of the best crops, for under cultivation it would be found to produce 50, 60, and 70 per cent., more than under wild conditions

In referring to tho dairy industry Mr. McNab at Auckland spoke of tin low class of cows used by many settlers. People milking these animal:, or-, the share system could -not, lie said, make, a living, and the result was that they sweated child labor to such an extent that it seemed as though the State would have to step in and prevent it. He attributed three-fourths of this child sweating to the unprofitable condition of some i f the dairy herds, and said that if the State could carry out experiment i! work and raise the standard of stock, it would be doing good in many directions.

The Lyttelton Times referring editorially to the closing of the Exhibition says: “It is the old story of men that labored and others that entered into their labors. The prominent figures of the past half-year were not the men who devoted their leisure day after day to the consideration of means and methods. It is a little pathetic to reflect how completely tho real workers dropped out ol sight with tho opening of the portals, ami how completely the lime light lias been monopolised by men who came on the scone when the hardest toil was at an end.”

The waterworks are now finished as far as Mr. Sisterson’s homestead, and the pipes aro on the ground as far as the Arai bridge. The mains are comploto so far as the old borough is concerned. The AYhataupoko lot. are half finished, and completion is expected in ten days or a fortnight. The Kaiti section has not been commenced yet, and it is thought about six weeks will see it through. . Iho reservoir, brick pressure tank, and the pipes will be completed in a couple of months and it- is anticipated that the water will be turned on early in July. When finished there will be 23 miles of reticulation pipes and 22 miles of 15-inch mains laid.