Untitled

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2420, 8 February 1909, Page 4

A prominent politician in a letter to a. Gisborne friend said, “I am glad to see by the ‘"‘Times” you sent me that Air. A. J. Black lias triumphed. Another illustration of the parable of the widow who succeeded by much importunity with tlio unjust judge—who was unjust all the same.”

The following passengers were booked to leave Gisborne this morning by Messrs J. Redstone and Sons’ coaches : for AVaipiro : Airs. Lysnar, Alessrs Lambert, Barnett, Blair, Douglas, and Smith. For Tologa: Airs. Taylor, Alesssrs Horner, Doornail, and Harris, Aliss Caldwell, and«Alrs. Alul■gan.

The anniversary of AVeslev Church was celebrated yesterday by a special Gilt Sunday, the collections being in aid of the cost of the recent innovations to the church. The Rev. E. AValkcr, Presbyterian minister at Ormond, preached in the morning and evening, and there were crowded congregations at each service. The choir rendered special music, Airs. Sliieriaw taking the solo parts.

Tlio threatening appearance of the weather probably prevented a very large gathering at the Recreation Ground yesterday .afternoon, but notwithstanding filler© was a fair muster of the townspeople to hear the programme of music which was given by the City Baud. The members of the band have been hard at practice lately udth a view to the .approaching Band contest, and their performance yesterday bore evidence of great improvement.

“Ob, yes, truly,” said Uriah, “if anyone else bad been in my place during tlio last few years, by this time lie would have bad Air. A Vic Infield under his thumb. Ah! great impudence, Alaster CopporfieJd. It’s a topic that I wouldn’ t touch upon to any soul but you. Even to you I can only touch upon it, and no more, for it’s nutmeg graters at twopence each at Parnell’s Popular Saturday Sales, 13tli inst. only.”

- The following revenue was received at tlic Custom House last week. Cus-toms-duty £1269 13s lid, Ijght dues £2O 9s, other receipts £3 os; total £1293 7s lid.

A Press Association telegram states that Archibald McNeill,. a prisoner who recently escaped 1 rom the xerr ace gaoU Wellington, was seen, ijx the Wanganui district on Friday last.

Owing to a typographical error, a mistake occurred in the footnote or Mr. W. F. Crawford’s letter, in Saturday’s issue, when the word ‘‘increased” should have read decreased.”

The Waerenga-a-hika Improvement Society *a further session of six months on Friday evening when officers for the session were elected as follows: President, Mr. A. J. Cameron; Vice-President, llev. E. Ward: committee: Itev. E. Jennings and Messrs. Rougher, Ellis, Richards, and J. Hyland. The first entertainment is on next Friday night and will take the form of a dance. A debate is fixed for the following week.

A bright number is the February issue of “Progress”-going over a good deal of ground in its accustomed style. One feature is Wilbur Wright s own description of his aeroplane and its' history, and another is the analysis of the position of the new poineer of aviation, Mr. Farman. 1 here, is an exhaustive article on Employer s Inability in New Zealand, and the architecture, engineering, and other departments are up "to the usual siandard of interest.

Arrangements have been made with the officials of the Garrison Hall to make the presentation to Mr. and Mrs. J. Townlcy on Tuesday evening next during an interval in Signor Borzoni’s display. Mr. de Lautour. as chairman of the Town ley Presentation committee, will make the presentation and it is asked that all subscribers should., if possible, attend. There are still several names to attach to the testimonial, and those who have not already done so are requested to call without delay at Mr. W. Miller’s office and leave their signatures.

At-the South-western Police Court (London), the magistrate decided, last month, that some of the photographs of the nude sent by Hermann Karl Erdmann, of Bedford Hill, Balharn, through the post to New Zealand and Tasmania were suggestive and inartistic, and fined him £2O with 10 guineas costs. In the early stage .of the prosecution it was stated that the prosecution was taken mainly to safeguard the morals of the post office officials. The defence raised in the case was that the photographs were in no way indecent, that they were used for artistic study, and by artists, and that no more objection could be raised to them than to illustrated medical books, which passed through the postal channels without comment.

The numerous recent references in London to Captain Cook, in relation to tho erection of a memorial there, have ibrolight out a correspondent resident in Venice, who says lie well remembers Captain Cook’s ship, the Resolution, which, some years ago was peacefully lyiug anchored in the harbor of Alexandria, and bad been there for many long lears. “Dismantled of everything save its main-mast with its shrouds, with big deck-houses fore and aft, it.looked a veritable Noah’s Ark,” says this veteran writer ; “nor was that name inaptly applied to it, for it was the ark of refuge to many a troubled, storm-tossed .man, as was suggested by the words ‘Seaman’s Home,’ which were painted upon it in big black letters. The old vessel had an easy berth of it in Alexandria Harbor, and I have little doubt that it lies there still." The Resolution was the vessel on which Captain Cook made liis last voyage.

With reference to the general position of the Gracefield Co. Ltd., tiie directors recently report as followers: —The contract for the pipe bridge is now signed and work should he commenced thereon immediately. The following is taken from the “Dominion” :“The contract for the Hutl Pipe Bridge has been signed, aml the amount of the tender is announced to be £13,506. Messrs. T). Burke and Co., Palmerston North, will commence the work without delay. The bridge is to be built of wood, but tenders were called for both wood and concrete. Messrs. Burke and Co's price for a bridge.of reinforced concrete was £19,472.” Owing to the number of parties interested the details in connection with the bridge have taken some time—much longer than anticipated—to settle. On the completion of the bridge and making of the road, a continuation of Jackson Street, Petonc, the company s property will be within easy distance ol the city of Wellington. This improvement is being carried out entirely on the scheme set forth to shareholders when they were invited to take up shares. A scheme plan for dealing with a portion of the estate has been prepared by Mr. A\ anl, stirt eyoi, and it is the intention of the Board to submit certain sections lor sale at an early opportunity.

In view of the proposed municipalisation of the fish industry in New Zealand, it is interesting to note what is being done in Sydney. Fish taken straight from the sea to the Council s market; fish sold by the Councils own servants at cost price (except for dues and a 5 per cent, commission), straight to the consumer if ho chooses to rise early ; fish—as much fish as can be taken from the sea —as much, perhaps, as the Federal trawler can trawl, the fishermau getting his price, the public their supply, unhampered by any possibility of ring or trusts as far as the markets are concerned — that- is the scheme at which the City Council was aiming in a resolution which it passed last night (says a “Sydney Morning Herald” of last week). " It was resolved, “That no further action be taken to amend the fislnnarket by-laws, in view of the report, dated December 15, 1908, that it would be far better not to amend the existing by-laws regulating the fishmarkets at all; but to simply appoint the Council’s own men as agents (whom the Council: will pay, charging the consignors of fish 5 per cent., together with all dues in connection with all dues in connection with tlio sale of fish, and notify the fishermen that the Council are prepared to receive consignments of fish on the basis proposed, no further action to be taken to amend the fishmarket bylaws.” \

Nominations for tho Tologa Jockey Club’s meeting will close this evening, at Tologa Bay, at 5 p.m., and at Hauiti at 8 p.m.

The Patutahi Cemcfc*y Board oilers a reward of £lO for information winch will lead to the conviction of the person. or persons who have been interfering with the graves and. injuring tombstones in the Patutahi cemetery.

The death occurred from typhoid fever, on Friday night, at the Gisborne Hospital, of Ala*. Alan us It-oK a gers, second soil of Air. P. RodgersW of patutahi. The deceased, who was only 22 years of age, was very pojSilar at Patutahi and his death is nuielPregretted,

A paragraph was published recently describing the cattle-driving feats of an elderly lady from Halcombe. who, with the" assistance of a dog only, drove a mob of fifty cattle to Wanganui from Halcombe. At the Police Court, at "Wanganui last week, the woman, who is & cattle-dealer, was fined 50s and costs £1 17s, for failing to provide sufficient food and water for one of the herd, which, straying from its drover, became bogged, and after being rescued, had evidently died lroih starvation. The defendant said she had taken the animal grass, and a drink, but, having to attend to the remainder of the herd, and for several days having trouble in getting them together, she h;ul_ been unable to give it proper attention.

An exciting narrative was told on the arrival of the Orient Royal Alail steamer Oroya at Plymouth on Deev ember 16. On November 26, when in the Red Sea, the vessel struck a shark of the “tiger” species, which, was impaled on the bow by the impact. For some time tho passengers watched the frantic efforts of the monster to free itself. It lashed the water savagely, but the speed at which the Orova was travelling held it fast, and it was swept onward with the vessel. Seeing that- under thc-se conditions there was no likelihood of getting rid or the giant fish, Captain Laws ordered the engines to be and as soon as the vessel began to' . move astern the shark swept clear, and then its immense size was visible. Its first act on regaining its freedom was to open ins enormous jaws, and then it seemed to meditate an attack on the ship. The engines were restarted, and the badly-wounded shark was leit behind. It was of immense size, measuring fully 4ft across the back.

One day last week Y. illian James Parker, a boy or 15, living in North Botany, Sydney, was''; accidentally shot dead whilst playing with three companions and a gun. Deceased was the son of Air. James Parker, of Bay street, Botany. He and three other young men, Conrad Faust, James Paul AlcKenna, a half-brother of Parker’s, and Claud AlcKean, went together to a house in Coward street, North Botany, in which Faust was staying. Several of the boys had seen a performance of “Robbery Under Arms” at the North Botany Hall the night before, and appaneuLly it had excited .their minds. “AYe’li have a play of our own,” one of them said. There was an old gun in the room (Faust’s bed-room), and this McKenna is said to have loaded and handed to Faust. According to the story they told they were skylarking, and almost as soon as Faust took the gun he acs, cidently pulled the trigger, and the 1 charge exploded, shooting Parker in the right shoulder. Tlie bullet passed through and came out at iiis back. Parker was- brought into Sydney to the Hospital, but he died on the way.

The reports that have come in from Canterbury as to the work of caterpillars, although from restricted areas, have been of a character that suggests that there may be real cause for anxiety. At present (says the ••Dominion”) the farming public is in the position of not knowing exactly whether the plague omens ill for the future or is merely a temporary flutter of a variety of pest- that usually remain relatively harmless. Some farmers, however, who have examined the little creature, state that it differs in appearance from ihe caterpillars that have previously attracted attention in the districts, and some anxiety is felt lost it should be a new post. It is very desirable that farmers should be furnished with exact information on the point, in order that they may be in a position to judge what steps should be taken to combat it. The protection of some of the small birds which are now outlawed may, perhaps, then be indicated.

The re-election of Mr. Henarc Ivaihau as M. P. for the Western Maori District in December is to be contested. one of the defeated candidates, Mr. Pepene Eketouc, of To Ktiiti, hav. ing lodged a petition to have the election declared void. The petitioner declares that notice of the polling places were not published in the Kaliiti and Gazette, as required; that 70 voting papers from the polling" booth at Manaia were returned without the name of the candidate voted for being in any ease written thereon; that no booths were opened in certain places as determined, and that other places were used; that voting papers were not issued as required, and that in several respects the poll was irregular. The petition is addressed to Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, and will come up for hearing in due course. There were five candidates for the seat, the successful candidate securing over 2300 votes, and the petitioner, who was second, between 1600 and 1700 votes.