The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1909.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2438, 1 March 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MARCH 1,1909.

To Rau College opens this morning after the summer vacation.

The vital statistics for February were:—Births 39, deaths 8, marriages

Acceptances''in connection with the Tologa- Bay Jockey Club’s meeting close this evening.

The annual meeting of the Poverty Bay Turf- Club called for Saturday afternoon lapsed, only three members putting in an appearance.

The Hawke’s Bay Education Board advertises in this issue a list of vacancies for which teachers, pupil teachers, and probationers are required.

Advice was received by the Cook County Council on Saturday that the. £1000" loan for the ' improvement of the Patutahi drainage is now available from the Treasury.

During the month of January a total of 52 foreign vessels, representing. 184,539 tons, were handled by the pilots in Wellington. Only one of these was a sailing-ship.

The Wairoa County Council invites tenders, to. close at 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, for road formation and widening. "Particulars are advertised elsewhere.

The collections at the services at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Ckurch yesterday in aid of the Bread Fund amounted to £4O. There may be one or two amounts still to come.

Mr. Jas. Poynter, in the advertising columns of this issue, returns thanks to the electors who supported him in the recent election of members of the Waikohu County Council.

The opening social of the Cinderella Dancing Club will take place in Ers-ki-ne’s Hall,. Peel Street, to-morrow night. Invitations have been issued only to ladies, gentlemen will be admitted on payment of tlio entrance fee. Two prizes are to be offered for a dancing competition.

An unusual theft occurred at the Wellington boat harbour on Saturday night last when a 25ft rowing boat was surreptitiously removed. Neither oars nor rowlocks were in the boat and the removal of the craft w.jttherefore effected by towing, or ©lso oars and rowlocks were brought along by the thieves.

Particulars of the Turanga Garden Fete, to be held in the Collego grounds, Wa ere nga-a-hi lea, on Thursday next, arc advertised elsewhere in this issue. These will comprise a sale of work, gymkhana, and vocal and instrumental concert in the evening by members of the Patutahi Harmonic Society. A sriecial train will leave Gisborne at 1.30 p.m.

The auxiliary three-masted scow Zingara lias loft Auckland, under the command of Captain Robertson, to attempt to salvage the wrecked steamer Aeon at Christmas Island. Sho will call at Niue, eri route, to obtain the services of twenty-dive natives. It is expected that the work of salvaging tho Aeon and her cargo will occupy about twelve months.

A torchlight proce6si»n in connection with the coming gathering or •jjhe- fire brigades-, took place last week from the Ponsonby Reservoir, Auckland, and was witnessed by a large crowd. Members of various bn. grades attended in uniform, and headed by bands, marched to the Albert Park, where a performance took place, and a collection was made in aid or the funds of the coming demonstration.

Mr Hwang Lung Liang, the Chmeso Consul for New Zealand,-is a diplonfatist of the first water. “I am always optimistic,” he said at a gathering" in Sydney, ‘‘always hopeful for a greater and happier time to. come among all the nations of the earth, and so this evening I feel very happy and so grateful because I consider that this last port I have arrived at is the best, and the time I have spent here is really; the best time. When I arrived at Fremantle I said to myself, ‘Tins' is a nice place.’ A little later I said, ‘This is better,’ and at Melbourne ‘Better still,” and how I have got here I say ‘This the best.’

~A Dunstan fruitgrower told all “Otago Daily Times” reporter recently that lie knew of no reason why tho canning industry, in connection with fruit culture should not bo a success. He pointed out that at present a great proiiortion of tho tinned fruits consumed in the Dominion was

The funeral of the late Mrs. J. C. Field took placo yesterday afternoon from the residence of her brother, Mr. W. D. Lysnar. The cortego was a very long one, and many friends of the deceased, and her relatives were present from town and country. The burial took placo in tho Makaraka cemetery, where an impressive funeral service was conducted by the Rev. F. W. Chatterton.

A somewhat unusual form of cruelty to a horse was described in the Magistrate’s Court at Timaru the other day. A man named Thomas Loach whs charged with ill-treating a horse by tying the halter of a draught horse to the tail of the. hack which he was riding. It was stated that every time the draught horse pulled back, tho other horse suffored considerable pain. Tho defendant was discharged with a caution.

The first anniversary services of tho Baptist denomination were held in the Tabernacle yesterday, tho pastor (Rev. W. Lamb) preaching at both services. 'His subject in the morning was. ‘The Christian .and the Impossible,” and in the evening lie spoke on “Tho Importance of Life’s Little Tilings.” Hymns appropriate to the occasion were used, and the choir, assisted by the orchestra, sang special music.

The Hastings Fire Brigade turned out promptly to a fire the other evening, but before the steamer was ready the horses drawing it plunged forward and, as there was no one on the box, the animals made off uncontrolled. They galloped along several streets with their cumbrous impedimenta until the trailing reins-were caught by two young men and the horses brought to a standstills As the fire was out by this time the brigade returned to the station. ..

An amusing anecdote relating to the King’s visit at Brighton is vouched for by the Rev. Cecil Maunsel, rector of Thorpe MaLsor. His* Majesty was taking a.walk along the esplanade unattended, and was thus accosted by a pert youngster:—“Guv’nor, kin you tell us the time?” “Yes,” replied his Majesty, referring to his watch, “it is a quarter to one.” “Tbenks,” said the youth, adding, “I’ve bin ’ere two bloomin’ hours awaitin’ ter see the bloomin’ King, an 1 I ain’t goin’ ter wait no longer.” “Neither shall I,” replied his Majesty, resuming his walk.

About half-past- 10 o’clock on Saturday night a small fire occurred in a stationer’s shop in Upper Gladstone Road, occupied by Mrs. Byrne. By some means unexplained a screen behind the window caught fire and set alight to some packets of stock on the counter and the shelves. No person was in the shop, but a passer-by, Mr. Peters, saw the blaze and, with a companion, broke open the door -and quickly extinguished the flames, with the assistance of Constable Pratt; who came up immediately after they broke in. The damage done was insignificant.

The annual meeting of the Makaraka Cemetery Trustees was held in the Cook County Council office on Friday. Present: Messrs. It. J. Key-

nolcls (chairman), J. W. Bright, and O. Gray. A statement of accounts, prepared by the secretary (Mr. J. Warren) for the year ending December 31,, 1908, was laid on the table. Receipts were shown to have amounted to .£193 12s 6d, and the expenditure to £202 12s. od, leaving a balance in hand of £3lB Is 3d (including last 3 r ear’s balance). The sexton (Mr. Ramage) tendered his resignation, which was accepted. There were two applicants for the position, Messrs. L. A. Smith and Grayson, and Mr Smith was appointed.

The team to represent the Gisborne Fire Brigade at the New Zealand Fire Brigade Association’s competitions at Auckland will leave on Wednesday next. It consists of secretary Lapidgc (captain), Firemen J-. McLaughlin, D. Ferguson, N. Kirk, and H. Davey. Emergency: A. Russell. Senior Foreman G. Wildish, President of the Association, leaves on the same day. The men proceed to Auckland via the Main Trunk line. This will be the first time in 23 years that Mr. Wildish lias not competed. He has been connected with the local since 1886, and' for 22 consecutive years was one of the representatives of the local brigade at the annual competitions. Considerable interest is being' taken in the competitions this year. Some SO teams, representing about 700 men, from all parts of the Dominion, have entered. On Sunday next, there will be a church parade, and on Monday and Tuesday the annual conference takes placo. The competitions commence on Wednesday, March 10, and are likely to continue for the remainder of that week..

The concert held at Waerenga-a-ihika in aid of the. school funds was very successful. The following programme was gono through:—Pianoforte overture, Mr. Langdon : song, “The Skipper,” Mr. Knibb; recitation, “The Race at Devil’s Elbow,” Rev. Walker; song, “Anchored,” Mr. Cowlrfck; song, “Youth,” Mr. Blundell; song, “Love’s Old .Sweet Song,” Mrs. Strain; song and chorus, “Bombay,” with mandolin obligato, Mr. Grieve and company; song, “Deathless Army,” Mr Lougher; song, “May Be,” Miss Hamon; song, “A Free Lance am I,” Mr. Woodward. The second part of the programme was opened by Mr. Langdon, who played a characteristic “Chinese March”; then followed: Song, “Lindy,”.. Mr. Grieve; recitation, Rev. Walker; song, “True Till Death,” Mr. Cowlrick; song, Miss Hamon; song, “The Admiral’s Broom,” Mr. Knibb; song. “Sing Me. to Sleep,” Mr. Blundell; song. “The Captain’s Ditty,” Mr. Woodward. Just before the concluding item, Mr. Lougher, chairman of the School Committee., thanked the •performers and all who had assisted to make tlio evening a success, and moved a hearty vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation! Mrs. Strain and . Messrs. Ellis ~and Langdon acted as accompanists. The dance which followed was. well attondod, and was continued until the early hours.

' Mouse Traps, 4*l, sd; Nutmeg Gratters, 2d; Gravy. Strainers, Sd; iacr. Hammers, sd; Dog Chains, _6d, Bcl, Egg Heaters, Id, 8d; Potato Mashers, Gd; Can Openers, 5d ; Saucepan Scrapers, 3d; Stove. Brushes, 2d, 7d, eel, l Jd; Food Strainers, 4d ; lure Shovels, 4d; Stove Mats, 2d, at Parnell’s Popular Stocktaking Sale. A. 1 arnell and Co., Leading Ironmongers.

Some 250 ratepayers have written to the Cook County Council demanding the taking of a poll in the I atutalii, Arai, Gisborne, Hangaroa, and W'hataupolco ridings to decide whether the Council should apply for an authorising order to construct the A atutahi and Te Arai tramway. If -accordance with the request a poll will therefore be taken within three weeks in the ridings above mentioned.

The revenue received at the Custom House last week was as follows: —Customs duties £1606 13s 6d, beer duty £3B, light dues £79 14s sd. other receipts 12s 6d; total, £1725 Os od. The amount of revenue collected tor the month of February was:—Spirits £1240 19s sd, cigars £l7 10s, cigarettes £332 10s, tobacco £768 15s 6d, wines £l3O 4s 9d, Beer £137 17s 2d, goods by weight £l3O 2s Bd,- ad valorem £1585 18s, other duties £6O /s sd; total, £4403 15s 9d. Excise duty £lO3 Is 6d. For the corresponding period last year the amount collected was £4027 15s Id.

The annual meeting of the Poverty Bay Bee Farmers’ Association was held on Saturday-afternoon in Townley’s Hall, the president (Mr. G. Stevenson) being- in A bal-ance-slieet submitted "by the secretary (Mr. J. Adams) showed receipts to be £3. and expenditure £1 9s, leaving a credit balance of £1 l : ls. Several matters of interest to beekeepers were- shortly discussed', and it was resolved to as J k the Assistant Government Apiarist (Mr. Gibbs) to revisit Gisborne as early as convenient. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—President, Mr. G. Stevenson; vice-president, Mr. E. Smith; secretary and treasurer. Mr. J. Adams; auditor, Mr. Kerr. A subcommittee was appointed to draw rules, and another meeting will lie held next month.

a Californian export, and he said there could be no objection on the part of consumers to locally-preserved fruits, particularly if those fruits were sold more cheaply than the imported article. ’He believed, however, that it was necessary - that the work should be done by the fruitgrowers themselves, in older that good quality and small prices might be assured. In the past, when independent persons or syndicates had attempted canning and had not worked hand in hand with the .growers, pecuniary loss had frequently resulted.

“I would suggest that as we are supplied with vegetables by Chinese, said a socialist leader who joined the deputation which waited on Sir Joseph Ward, regarding the unemployed, in Auckland recently, “the State should start .vegetable farms. You hare already proposed prison-labor vegetable gardens, so why not give the unemployed the same chance. The prisoners at Mount Eden are supplying municipal bodies with quarry metal and other prisoners are planting trees. The unemployed would be glad to take on the work the prisoners are doing, and it seem to be coming to this that a man will have to go to gaoi to get honest work. If Ministers of the Crown would put- their heads together,” he added, amidst laughter, “and take the advice of some solidheaded socialist, the difficulties would soon bo over.”

Considerable excitement was caused at Taihape one day recently when it became known that a mishap bad overcome the new X engine. It appears that the engine was attached to the through train, one of the chief officials being in charge, and scarcely had 300 yards been negotiated when what- appeared like a flash of fire burst into view, followed by a cloud of steam, and the train came to a stop. After a while the train backed into the station again, and the engine was sent to the shed. The only explanation of the. affair was that could be gathered was that a 4in steam pipe serving the high-pressure cylinders. had burst, and the occupants of the cab narrowly escaped being scalded by the steam. As it was they had an unpleasant experience, but suffered no injury. The engine was able to steam to the shed by means of the low-pressure service, and is now being overhauled. Enquiries next morn, ing, states the ‘‘Taihape Times,'’ failel to elicit any information on the matter, so that- it may. be inferred there is some ground for this reticence, and that the mishap was due to some cause that will be duly reported to the authorities. The train finally got away an hour late.