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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2398, 13 January 1909, Page 4

The Borough Council last evening again fixed the weekly half-holiday for Thursday afternoon. Tho Borough Council Inst night decided to levy a charge of £1 per year upon all houses using septic tanks. The audited balance-sheets of the Borough Council and Cook County Charitable Aid Board were formally approved last evening. The acoustic properties of the Council Chamber have been much improved by stretching wros across the room a littlo below the ceiling. The anniversary of Robert Burns will be celebrated on Monday. January 25th, by a dinner in YVhinray’s Hall. Ticglicts may be obtained from the secretary, Air. R. Alacduff Birred.

The Auckland Hospital Board has made a claim of £6 against the Cook County Charitable Aid Board for treating a patient from the Gisborne district. Payment of the amount was deferred.

Three powerful searchlights from H.AI.S. Challenger in the Bay were playing on the town and suburbs up* till 9.30 p.m. last night. Tlieir rays shone with great brilliancy, and were watched by a large and 'admiring crowd. . The case of Airs. Everitt came up for discussion at the Charitable Aid Board last evening, when it was decided to inform the trustees of benefit fund that if a small cottage was bought for the family and the amount in hand paid down the Board would pay the interest on the balance of the purchase money.

The evils arising from camping parties on the Ivaiti hill and other parts of the district were referred to at the meeting of flic Borough Council last evening, and the (Sanitary Committee was appointed to report ■upon some may to enforce the picnickers to bo more cleanly in their habits, and to stop the nuisance and danger caused by -camping fires. The Alayor last evening stated that it was probable that at an early date the troopers’ names on tho Cook memorial would be covered over by a panel of granite, and a plate bearing the names placed upon the Trafalgar rotunda. Cr. Bright said it was a waste of money to hide the names. Cr. Mann arid he was glad to see the absurdity was to be corrected, and the Council granted the Patriotic Cominitteo permission to cover over the names.

Tho dust nuisance was referred to by Cr. Whim-ay at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening, when he advocated the thorough watering of Gladstone Road by the use of a hydrant each morning. Cr. YVilliams said the suggestion was a. good one. The Overseer recommended that, a rotary-spraying water cart bo obtained, but tho Alayor said the finances of the Borough were too strained to be able to meet the cost. The Overseer was thereupon instructed to report upon the cost of tho use of hydrants. v The cost of tallying the metal at tlio Patutahi quarry was discussed at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening, when the Cook County Council made a demand for 4d per yard for the work. The Alayor said the metal did hot want tallying as the Straker waggon carried a receptacle which held a given quantity, and there was no need to levy such si charge. The cost would amount to 6s per day. Cr. Sheridan said the Council had to pay the cost incurred by the County, and the question was 'referred to the Finance Committee. *

The most reasonable solution of the daylight saving problem as propounded' by Sir Joseph Ward, m the event of the official time being put back in tlio summer, so far as we can ascertain, is not to fail to get an enamel candlestick for fivepenco this week at Parnell’s Popular Saturday bates, 16th inst. only.

I Mrs. Walker will give a lecture in Townley’s HRI-1 tills evening on Mrs. Eddy— Christian science, faith cures mind cure, and iiypriotic healing, with practical illustrations. The annual meeting of subscribers, to the Turanganui Public Library will bo held at the library rooms at a o’clock this evening. A lull attendance is requested. Judging by the reports in the southern press, Gisborne theatre-goers may safely 'anticipate a treat -of a very high order on the visit or the Cherniavskis on January 2.3 rd, 25th, and 26th. 1 The new firebell for Gisborne, at present on order from Messrs J. Hiylor and Co., Loughborough, England, is expected to arrive shortly. Its weight is 3scwt-., and it is to he fitted with .a special apparatus for the rapid sounding of alarms. There has been considerable press of business at the Police .Court- since the holidays, hut yesterday morning brouglit a welcome change, ih© only eases dealt with wero those of two men charged with drunkenness, and as they were making their first appearance, each was fined the customary 5s and costa. The s.s. Fanny brought a valuable : addition to the stud sheep of the district from Napier yesterday ill the shape of 100 two-toolh Romney rams. The rams were from the well-known dock of Messrs Hutchinson and Sons, / Rissington, Hawke’s Bay, and were consigned to Mr. E. M. Hutchinson, of Wailiuka.

Mr. George Coleman, whose furniture and effects were destroyed by fire on December 31, yesterday received a cheque from iVlessrs Common, Shelton and Co., Ltd., local - agents for the Commercial Union Assurance Company, Ltd., in full satisfaction of his claim,' although the proofs of loss were only filed with the local agents on Wednesday list. i A large number of sporting enthusiasts gathered at the corner of Roebuck Road yesterday to witness the finish of a trotting match btween Mr. J. Pettie’s Sweet Patch and Mr. S. Bolton’s Makauri Lass {late Telephone). The distance of the race was three miles, and the mare led all the way until a few hundred yards from the winning post, where site broke, leaving Sweet Patch to win by a length. __ .. gj;>. . A large number of persons were present last night at the Orange .Lodge social, which was tendered as a farewell to Adjutant Dickens. A number of ladies were present, and the whole evening was a very enjoyable one. Speeches were made by the different members advocating freedom of religion and the open Bible. Songs were sung, and a very pleasant time was The catering was done by Mrs. W oottou, and was verv satisfactory.

The monthly meeting of the committee of the Turanganui Library was held on Monday. The librarian’s report showed the number of subscribers to be 517. During the month 5S volumes had been placed on the shelves, making the total number m the library 6245. The dm ft report and balance-sheet for presentation to the annual meeting this evening were adopted. The report states that satisfactory progress has been made during the vear. and tine balance-sheet shows that £468 wus expended on tho up-keep of the library.

Owing to the heavy nightly expense it was Mr. J. C. Williamson’s intention to plav his musical comedy company for two nights only in Gisborne, but in response to many requests from local theatre-goers the management has decided to extend the season to three nights, and in order to allow everyone an opportunity of witnessing the production of the greatest linisica. comedy success of late years. The Red Mill” will be played for two nights, viz., Monday and Tuesday, and on Wednesday, the last night of the season, “Tho Prince of I ilsen will he presented.

The first meeting of the year m connection with tlio Y.M.C.A. was held in St. Andrew’s Schoolroom last night. The Rev. Dawson Thomas gave an .address on “How to make the best of 1909.” There a large attendance, and Mr. F. S. Malcolm, president of the Association, was in the chair. Mr. Thomas urged his hearers to cultivate breadth of views and of sympathy and, as a practical piece of advice, he exhorted them to do their best to increase the membership of the Association. A vote of thanks was passed to him at the close of the address.

A number of names of men willing to join the proposed Ambulance Corps have already been received', and Sur-gedn-Ovptain Schumacher will _ begin the regular course of instruction as soon as a feiv more have been handed in. As the object of' the corps is attendance on the sick and wounded, the amount of military drill required is small. The members, in order to qualify for the capitation grant, have to attend only twelve pamdes a- year, including three afternoon parades, besides the annual camp of instruction. It is almost needless to point out that the instruction imparted to the members is not only useful in war tune; it will also'be of great utility in the cases of accident which arc constantly occurring in peace.

A lost cheque caused a little discussion at the meeting of the Borough Council last night, when the following letter was received from the Railwav Department:—“The cheque •for '£2'Bs 6cl which you handed to the railway cadet, and which ho lost, was cashed by some one sat the Gisborne Hotel. I h ave therefore w ithdrawn any request to the Bank of Now Zealand to stop payment, and you may wish to do the same. I may mention that the cadet was used by you at your own risk. He is not a recognised collecter for the railways, therefore, -as the cheque did not reach the office here —the proper place for payjtnent—the Department cannot recognise any liability in tlie matter of tlie loss of the cheque. ours, etc,, .W. Stringleman. P.S. —I have advised the police and asked them to try snd find out the person wlio cashed the cheque.”—Some members characterised the letter as nonsense, as the endet had given a receipt on behalf of the Department, and it was not the business of tlie Council to know what authoritv to receivo.-money the'cadet held. ' /

The annual muster nggado of tho Gisborne Rifles will bwßß'ld in the Garrison Hall at 7.30 p.in. on I riday Service -uniform is to be worn. All Government property, haversacks, leggings, and water bottles must bo produced. ‘Men failing to attend and produce property will be fined £1 in accordance with the Volunteer Regulations. Tho final competition forth© handicap cup and medal for rifle shooting will take place to-morrow afternoon. Members intending to compete must leave their names with Lieut. Mitchell' to-morrow morning. The preparations for the production of the spectacular display “The Birth. . of the Empire’“'aro well advanced. T Some two hundred -ladies, gentlemen, and children have given in their names as volunteers to assist in the spectacle. Classes have been formed under the direction of Signor Borzoni, who is to superintend the production, and training has been commenced in earnest. Various classes meet at three -hours during the day for practising their respective parts of tho display. By means of a series of tableaux, dances, and fascinating evolutions, an allegorical -representation of the rise of the British Empire is set forth in effective and highly attractive fashion. The carnival, which is to be in_aid of the fund for reducing the debt on the Garrison Hall, will take place early next month. A meeting of the Executive Committee will he held at the Garrison Hall tonight for the purpose of fixing the date and making other arrangements. Captain Beere and the officers of tho Gisborne Rifles hope to be able to do some useful work at the comjaany camp to ho held at the Native reserve, Papawhariki, on Saturday and Sunday next. The “idea” which is to be carried out is than an enemy, attempting a landing on the coast, has effected a lodgment on Tuamoto Island, and that the Gisborne rifles have been detailed to attack him with the idea of either driving him off. or holding him in check pending the arrival of reinforcements from inland. The principal instructional object of the camp will be practice in field-fir-ing, with- special reference to the important subject of fire control. It is intended to place a number of fieldtargets in the island, representing the enemy who is to be attacked by the fire of the company from the mainland. Should there' he a large muster it is intended to give prizes for the -sections making the best shooting. The company is to parade at the Garrison Hall pt 2 p.m. on Saturday next-. Tents and camp equipage will be supplied by the Defence Department, and the .work is to he carried out as far as possible under service ‘conditions. \