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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2396, 11 January 1909, Page 4

Applications for Letters Patent have been made by Mr. Walter Maddison, of Gisborne, for sleeping accommodation for railway carriages; and by Mr. A. I. Carr, of Te Karaka, for an improved fencing batten. h

At the Police Court on Saturday morning, before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M., William Roland pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a motor car along the footpath in Gladstone-road. A fine of 10s, and 7s costs, was imposed.

Mr. Saunders, of Ridgelands. Feilding. has offered his farm of 2000 acres ix> the Government for closer settlement. The farm is seven miles from Feilding. and a petition will he presented to the Government shortly, asking that the land be acquired.

An official - communication from the Prime Minister to the Hon. A. W. Hogg states that the Ministry has under consideration the advisableness of introducing legislation requiring consent to be obtained from the local bodies before private telephone lines arc erected, and authorising the local authorities to prescribe the conditions for the construction of those lines in the interests of public safety.

The custodian of Quail Island told a reporter the other day that the two leper patients now on the island seemed to be making very good progress. The European might recover and be fit for discharge next summer. Mr. Thomas stated that he had received a letter from the Maori patient who was discharged recently, stating that he was quite well, and that he had been earning money.

The matter of securing a room in Gisborne for the purposes of a Trades Hall was raised at a meeting of the Trades' and Labor Council on Saturday niglit. It was pointed out that such a room would be a great convenience to the unions and would provide them with one central place of meeting. The idea was approved of, and a committee of the whole Council was appointed to go into the matter and report at the next meeting.

On Monday last, states the Manawata “Standard,” when the mail train was passing the Palmerston Post Office, one of the mail bags got blown underneath the wheels, with the result that a number of the letters were scattered about Main-street and some considerably damaged. The staff, however., succeeded in collecting them all, and repairing the damaged ones, which arrived at their destination in a very patclied-up condition. Judging bv this experience it would be advisable to discontinue the practice of throwing the mail bags from the train in Main-street.

For many years past the 'Wellington Acclimatisation Society have sent men out catching young deer in tne Wairarapa during the breeding season. The last expedition has now ended with a better return than any previously. The total number secured was 21, and of that number 16 are at present doing well. They are at Mungaroa in charge of Ranger Dowing, who was included in the party, and secured 12 out of the total. In addition to those got by the society, Mr. W. Sutherland has nine that he is rearing for them. The districts to which they will be sent have not yet been decided.

The traffic on the "Waikaka railway is of such extent as to warrant the belief that the line will turn out to be one of the best-paying branches in the Dominion (says the Mataura “Ensign”). The total amount of goods carried to and from the stations is most satisfactory, but so far the returns for the terminus at Waikaka township a’nd from Maitland are the best. The number of passengers travelling by the railway is also considerably above what was anticipated. This (adds the “Ensign”) supplies a complete refutation of the statements of some newspapers that the line would' not pay for axle grease.

A rather interesting discussion was caused at the New Zealand Educational Institute in 'Dunedin by a motion that rifle shooting should be placed on the syllabus as an optional subject. Some speakers deprecated the idea of “games” becoming part of the compulsory curriculum. One or two prophesied a time when cricket would be included, and drew a dismal picture of teachers going to teaell it on Saturday afternoons. Others objected to rifle shooting being called a “game.” It was a most serious matter, they said, especially w;lien boys did not know which end of the rifle to put to tlio shoulder. Nothing was said of the fear of invasion in tho future, but it seemed significant, says the “Otago Daily Times,” that the motion was lost.

Nearly nine months have gone past since the pipe-line lat Te Arai was damaged by floods, and the completion of repairs seems to bo as far off as ever. On Saturday, Mr. Bignell, representing the Spiral (Steel Pipe Company, the contractors, arrived from Wanganui, and with the Mayor (Mr. W. D. Lysnar), Crs. Whinray, Somervell, Darton, Sheridan, and the Town Clerk (Mr. Robinson) drove out to the Te Arai creek to have a look at the repair work. Mr. R. Hay, engineer to the Council for the work, was unable to come to Gisborne to confer with the Council and Mr.~Bignell, who contends that tlio. pipe-lino should be shifted. After the inspection of the work on Saturday tho question of moving the pipe-line so as to traverse the bank of the creek was discussed, and the matter will probably come up for.consideration at the meeting of the Council to be held to-morrow evening. *

A man and woman who figured rather prominently during the hearing of an assault ease recently rvill appear at the Police Court this morning on a charge,of vagrancy.

\ special meeting of the Gisborne Harbor Board will be held this afternoon to consider Mr. W. D. Lysnar s motion that Mr. Marchant’s scheme for an outer harbor* be placed before the ratepayers. \

There was a moderate-sized audience in Townley’s Hall last evening, when Mrs. Sorensen, of Wellington, gave an address on Spiritualism, with a number, of trance readings and spiritualistic messages.

A brea'k in tlie water main in Clifford Street, near the intersection of Fox Street, was noticeable yesterday. The water was oozing up through the ground and making its way into the side channel.

The Hawke’s Bay Land Board will held a meeting, adjourned from Napier to Gisborne, this morning. Mr. T. Hyde," who has been a member or tlie Board lor some years, is to leave New Zealand next month on a visit to Australia. America, and Jim gland, and will bid farewell to the Board meetings for a time.

Messrs Malcolm and Co. sell in their new rooms, on account of a Gisboine resident, a very large entry oi superior furniture and effects, at z p.m. to-morrow, without reserve, also, at the same place, the balance of the boot stock unsold from last Saturday s sale, when about 100 f> a i rs will be offered without reserve.

The East Coast Trades and Labor Council on Saturday evening decided to re-affirm its previous to support the proposed Federation of Labor throughout New Zealand. Tt is understood that the project is meeting with warm s*upport in tlie Dominion, and that tlie Federation will be an accomplished fact during the coming year.

To-morrow evening the Borough Council decides on the half-holiday to be observed by the shopkeepers in Gisborne during the coming year. Thursday has been observed for several years past, but it is understood that a petition in favor of a Saturday half-holiday is likely to be presented at the special meeting of the Council held to determine the day.

Some time ago a large number of Post Ofifcc Savings Bank deposit boxes were issued by the Postal Department for use in the homes of the people. They were distributed in the large centres, but Gisborne was left out of the scheme, to the disappointment of many. This matter was raised at the Trades and Labor Council on Saturday evening, a member complaining of Gisborne being neglected in the distribution The complaint found support, aud it was unanimously resolved that a letter be sent to the Postmaster-General asking him to forward a supply of tlie bank deposit boxes to Gisborne.

Colonel Hume, Inspector of Prisons, arrived in Gisborne from ‘Wellington on Saturday on official business. Colonel Hume visited Gisborne some months ago, and reported upon three sites for a new gaol. As a result of his visit a. site was selected on the Wai-o-lii-harore block, near tlie harbor leading lights. Last session a vote of £ISOO was placed upon the estimates for the purchase of the laud, and Colonel Hume stated on Saturday that plans are now being prepared for tlie gaol building, and tenders for its erection will probably be called for in a few weeks. On Saturday Colonel Hume inspected the local gaol_ and expressed himself satisfied with tlie existing arrangements, at the same time deploring the inevitable overcrowding. Colonel Hume returned to .Wellington by the s.s. Waikare yesterday morning.

“The stability of Masterton” formed the theme of a short, address delivered by Mr. Hogg, M.P., before tlie Presbyterian summer school. “Masterton,” he went on to say, “does not grow* with phenomenal rapidity. It has its waves of depression as well as prosperity, but it makes steady progress all the while. Its great characteristic is its stability. What gives it this stability ? The possession of a backbone. About forty years ago a small band of pilgrims from tlie Hutt, after they laid out th© town, conferred a few acres in the centre as an endowment. This has proved a capital backbone. It is growing steadily in strength and value. This backbone has given the people one of the finest public halls in the Dominion; it has given them a free reading-room and a library that is virtually free ; it has maintained a technical school that lias developed into an edifice of which any centre might be proud; it lias helped the equipment and efficiency of our schools, and it has given us one of the prettiest parts and pleasure grounds in the North Island.”

Notwithstanding the extreme vigilance of the police—it cannot reasonably bo expected that they will catch, every offender—a good deal of liquor is being from time to time smuggled into Oaniaru (says tho “Mail”). The ingenious methods of bringing in the grog are worthy of a better cause. One adopted a few days ago will take somo beating. An evident “sly-grog-ger” who was bringing his cargo in by train got word that he was suspected. This put him on his guard, necessitating the aid of a friend to carry out an elaborate plan. On arrival at tho station, the individual in question alighted and was immediately shadowed by two officers of tbo law. The offender immediately proceeded to the guard’s van, under the pre 7 tence of getting his luggage, and was followed by a, policeman. In the meantime the accomplice jumped on the train with the weighty portmanteau and wended his way unnoticed to a cab in waiting, which at once drove off with the boot} 7 .. Tlic suspect. finding out the success of his hoax, then moved on, leaving the policeman still waiting. The accomplice’s share of the proceeds, it is understood, amounted to a new suit.

The most reasonable solution of tire daylight saving problem as propounded by Sir Josepli Ward, in tho event of the official time being put.back in the summer,. so for as we can ascertain, is not to. fail to get an enamel candlestick for fivopenco this week at Parnell’s Popular Saturday Sales, 16th iust. only. • -