The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1909. THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2455, 20 March 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1909. THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

The number and representative character of the gathering held in Townley's Hall last evening was evidence of two things, firstly, the very pronounced desire on the part of the public that there shall be, a change in the occupancy of the and, secondly, the greatpersonal popularity of Air. 4V. Miller. Soon after the proceedings commenced, it was apparent that those present were exceedingly determined to bring about a change, and likewise that- the gentleman just named wa-s uppermost " in everyone’® mind. The first mention of his name was the signal for an outburst of applause, and the compliments that were paid him by various speakers- were obviously the sincere expressions of their authors’ feelings. AVhother Air. Aliller wins or loses the important contest in which he is now engaged, lie should at least be able to look back upon the spontaneous tribute of last night’s meeting as something to be remembered with the utmost satisfaction. The nomination for the Mayoralty by a requisition that would seem to guarantee success has come to Mr. Aliller quite unsought; indeed, it is probable that if such .a- matter had been suggested to .him a few montlis ago he would have pooh-poohed the idea that ho should be an aspirant for so high an honor. Yet, offer all, there is nothing surprising in -a situation which has quite naturally evolved. Air Aliller has spent the best part of his life in Gisborne, and to use a colloquialism, has “grown up with the place.” It is an old saying that a prophet is without honor in his own country, and there will still he some who, because they went to school with Air. Aliller, cannot appreciate the advance which he has made a? a citizen. One of the most popular sportsmen in the whole of the Bay, “Billy Miller/' as he is .familiarly called, is idolised by. the younger portion of the community, who have every reason" to remember with, gratitude the splendid work he has accomplished over a long term of years for all forms of manly sport and pastime in the district. But Air. Aliller has long since ceased to be merely a leader in athletic circles anu a “good fellow.” He lias taken his place in the commerce of the town, and shown himself to be a man of shrewd business instincts, with ample confidence in his own abilities, yet possessing withal the necessary amount of caution ’-.at is one of the most important factors in mercantile success. Air. deLautour made a good point when he mention last night that the man who made a success of his own business could as a rule be safely entrusted with the financial control of a public body. in the larger spheres of life Air Aliller has exhibited the same qualities which made him such a favorite with his companions of earlier years, and with similar results. He is not a brilliant man with sensational ideas ever ready to spring upon the unwary. He is just a shrewd individual who .knows a good thing when he sees it, either in the sporting, business or public world, and has sufficient energy arid determination to work for what- he has set liis mind on. Alore important still, lie possesses, besides the invaluable virtue of commonscnse, any amount of tact, by which lie obtains his ends along the line of least resistance. When" we add to this the fact that he is a man who never loses his temper and is generous in the extreme, there is little difficulty in understanding the secret of the esteem in which lie is generally held.; . AYe do not look upon Air. Miller as a heaven-born - Mayor, but we do consider that lie' is possessed of most of the essential qualifications . which should he expected .'in the chief representative of the citizens. We look upon him, moreover, as a young man who constantly rises with his own opportunities, and prepares fresh snriprises for his friends. One thing is certain, that whatever Council may be chosen', Mr. Aliller will most certainly work iii harmony with his. colleagues, and. thus prevent the very undesirable state of affairs which has existed during" the past twelve months: ; H.i® recent tour Abroad has obviously had a marked i effect upon him, and there, is no question that Air. Miller would now, •as. the result of that tour, make a muchbetter Mayor than lie would have done if elected twelve months ago. His charactor is' unimpeachable, and,,, if elected, the citizens will have ~as Alayor a gentleman who,'by training and instincts, is entirely worthy of the high office ho now seeks. There-seems' every reason to anticipate a very heavy polling on his behalf, - and wo shall be greatly mislakon if U»«Uo» on** Hint’s meet, ing is not just ns emphatically endoiscu sssysy::- 7 •"

To-day is the'last discount day in connection with tho Gisborne Gas Company.

At the Police Court yesterday morning, Frederick IT. AY. Traill was fined 10s with costs 7s for riding a bicycle on the footpath.

The telegraph office advises that .there was no communication with East Cape yesterday, the wire being interrupted between Kaliakura and the East Cape.

To,-m-orrow morning, at the Baptist Tabernacle, the Rev. AA 7 . Lamb will preach on “The Holy-Spirit and the Believer/’ and in the evening an “In Memoriam Service” will be held, to attend which a hearty welcome is given to all.

The folowing passengers arrived by Alessrs Redstone and Son’s coaches yesterday . afternoon :—From AA’aipiro : Alessrs Overton, Alorgan, Maude, J. AlcLeod, Cruickshank, Kling and boy; from Tokomaru: Alessrs AVilliams, Keefer, and Brodrick.

The adjourned quarterly meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Land Board, which was to have been held in Gisborne on Saturday,, April 10th, has been postponed for a week. The meeting to have been held in Napier, on April Bth has bec-n postponed until April 16th.

At St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church to-morrow, the -Rev. AY. ' Grant will preach in the morning on “The Supreme Quality in a AYorkiiian,” and in the evening, on “Fathers and Sons.” Parents and their children are specially invited to the morning service, at which Air. Grant always gives a short address to the young people.

At the annual meeting of the Christchurch Beautifying Association Air S. Hurst Seager wrote suggesting that the Government ■ should be asked “to forego the paltry sums which they now receive from the advertisements on the railway stations, with a view to converting.the stations, especially the country ones, into beauty spots.”

The Government, says the Alinister of Labor, is placing men on works in every possible direction, and so far the unemployed problem has not been acute. Any very pressing cases have been relieved. Those men who arc not particular as to the class of work they engage in are usually sent on to raiiwav or road works in the country. The Labor Department is doing its best to meet every case of pressing necessity.

The Rev. E. S. Buchanan, a former student at Canterbury College, who is visiting Christchurch after many years’ absence in England, recently deciphered -at Paris and A T erona two Latin .manuscripts of the- Gospels, of the fourth and fifth centuries. The University of Oxford ha-s decided to publish the manuscripts at its own expense. Air Buchanan intends to continue his researches among the manuscripts when he returns to his work in the Old Country.

Air John Pearson, a resident of Pyrmout, was drowned the other day while endeavoring to recover his hat. One night he was crossing Pyrmont bridge, when the wind carried his hat into the harbour. He went down to the railway wharf, and, removing his coat, dived into the water and swam towards the hat. He had just reached and caught hold of the missing headgear when he threw up his hands and disappeared.

Some months ago, Alajor Hobday, of Christchurch, wrote to the Alinister of Defence suggesting the formation of an Imperial Legion. Alajor Hobday’s suggestion, briefly, that a portion of the defence forces of the Dominion be reorganised for service with the Imperial Army when required. The Alinister replied on February 12 stating •.hat the suggestion did not coincide with the policy- of the Government with regard to -defence. It is now understood that a member of the Council of Defence is in communication with a member of the Imperial Staff on the subject of a force on somewhat similar lines.

Information was given to Sergeant Hutton at about 8.30 yesterday morning that a married woman residing in AYilliams Street had been found in a state of collapse, apparently caused by poison. Constables Scott and Dwyer were sent to make inquiries, and on arriving at the house found the woman asleep in bed, apparently from an overdose of chlorodyne. Near tho bed were a bottle and a dip, smelling strongly of the drug. Dr. Alorrison was called in, and the woman was removed to the hospital, M'here, under treatment, she recovered. She was subsequently taken into custody, and will be brought before the Alagistrate’s Court this morning on a charge ok having attempted to commitsuicide. ' •

A young man. named Edward Long, a resident of Millers’ Point, had a marvellous escape from death at Matsons Bay one night recently. He-was standing on the cliffs at the Gap, looking over at the water, which was splashing up on the rocks, 70ft below, when he became dizzy and over-balanced. Luckilv- he fell clear of the rocks, and was only partially stunned. His position was extremely perilous. He nas, fortunately, washed on to the ledge of a rock by an advancing wave, and be managed to cling there, shouting loudly for help. His cries were heard by some people on the cliffs, and they sought the aid of a constable, who descended. by a rope and brought Long safely to' the top of the elm. Longs only injury was a sprained> ankle. •A gentle-faced, eilken-coatcd collie appeared in the Melbourne Court yesterday (says the “Argus” of a recentdate). The canine .aristocrat, in unaccustomed suroundings, bore in appearance anything but the character rrivon him in the plaint—that he was a dog of fierce and mischievous_ nature. Neither did he give the impression that ho was accustomed to rush out and attack persons “lawfully” riding bicycles, as was alleged. However, there was one thing quite obvious, and that was that lie was anything hut overweighed by the enormity of the cliaigo against him that he had caused, the plaintiff, Mr John. J. Frost, to be thrown from his wheel, and had been the prime factor ill the loss of a tooth and tho acquisition of sundry bruises and damage to man and bicycle to the assessed extent of £SO. He made . his how to the .Bench as his owner, Mr. M. J. Maher, on his behalf, pleaded not o-uilty, - and then retired while the evidence was heard. When the case was concluded the dog loft the court decorated with a blue ribbon of victory, for the Court decided that the cyclist must have been riding at so high a rate of •meed that, instead of his having a. case against the dog,: the dog appeared to have a very . good .caso against the .cyclist.- In short; that, instead of the dog running'.at the bicycle, the bicycle ran at tHi dog and over him. . ' k: .- J —'

A first offender, who pleaded gudtj to a charge of drunkenness at the Police Court yesterday- morning, was fined 5s with costs 2s, m deiault 24 hours’ imprisonment.

The public are reminded that the St. Patrick’s sports have been postponed till Thursday next, March 20, when they will take place in Victoria Domain. An excellent programme is to be gone through, and it is to be hoped that the gathering will be liberally patronised.

At Wesley Church to-morrow, Mr. Grubb will preach in the morning. The Rev. C. Griffin’s subject m the evening is “Personal Christian Tiork. . J-he choir will reuder .au anthem and ;qnartette. The Young People’s Bible Class meets in the afternoon. Mr. Grifim will conduct his farewell service at \\ aimata in the morning.

The atmosphere was exceedingly oppressive yesterday, and although there was no hot sun, many people veie sorely inconvenienced by the temperature. The thermometer accurately recorded tile position, tor although the dry bulb was not particularly high, only registering 76 degrees, the wet bulb was as* 3 high as; 71. This is considered particularly high for March, and accounts for the semi-prostration of many persons yesterday.

The monthlv meeting of the Mangapapa School Committee was held last night. Present: Messrs M. McLeod (in in chair), T. Ellery, Brown, A. Goad, and E. Grundy. An apology was received from Mr. Smith. The headmaster reported that -04 scholars wei e on the roll, with an average attendance of IS7. A letter was received from the Education Board accepting the chairman’s certificate -on the drainage work being completed: Accounts amounting to £22 10s 9d were passed for payment.

Owing to the- heavy weather prevailing on the coast, it is feared that bus Excellencv the Governor will no v be able to land at Tuparoa on Monday. The uncertainty, as to His Excellency s visit is creating considerable anxiety in the locality. The Maoris are especially anxious over the matter. They are making most extensive preparations tor the reception of Lord Plunket at Y aiomatatini: It is understood that they have subscribed no less a sum than ~ouu towards the fund of defraying the entertainment expenses. It is stated that the Hon. A. T. Ngata has contributeo £l5O towards the cost of entertaining the visitors'.

Mr. Griffin’s sections at Ivirktown Extended, which are being offered for auction at Has Majesty's Theatre today, are exciting more than passing attention, and the auctioneers, Messrs Williams and Kettle, LtcL, and the solicitors, Messrs' Rees Bros, and Bright, have had very many applications for plans and particulars. The prominence that this sale is ssuming has induced several other owners cr properties to wish to take the advantage of tins opportunity. As there will be in all <o lots of Mr. Griffin’s to offer, lie will not consent to any other properties being put up on the same day. A further sale will be held later on, for which the auctioneers are prepared to receive offers shortly.

After the usual parade of the Gisborne Rides last evening, a meeting was held to discuss what the company were going to do in regard to the Easter camp. The Minister of' Defence had previously written stating that the Department did not see their way clear to assist the Gisborne volunteers to proceed to the general camp, to be held at Oliiringa, near Woodvilie, on accountof the expense, but thought a camp might be held at Gisborne for local volunteers. The feeling of members present last night- was for the Gisborne Rifles and Cadets to combine and go to the general camp, little favor being expressed at tlie thought of a local camp. Captain Beerc will obtain the feeling or all members who were not present, and will send a report to the Minister stating the wishes of the men.

Strong comment was made at the Wanganui Education Board last meeting on the action of some teachers having., without authority, closed their schools and acted as returning officers on the occasion of the recent licensing poll. “I have never heard ot such a thing as a teacher who is getting a good salary closing his school and accepting a guinea to act as returning officer.” The practice of teachers performing outside duties for pecuniary benefit during school hours was characterises as something that was becoming a scandal. “If. you were a grocer you would, not allow an assistant to leave your shop and do outside work and claim his wages from you, espceailly if he had not asked vour permission. These teachers are ‘doing that, only they are dealing with a public body, which seems to he regarded as “fair game.” This was the summing up of the chairman, with whom a member disagreed, saying that, in connection with the licensing election the teachers had acted in ignorance. This remark produced the retort that teachers always made mistakes on the right side; there was no fear of them doing work and forgetting or declining to accept-payment.

An instance of how Gladstone .Road is extending westwards is provided by the fine two-storeyed brick building which Messrs Wade and Gray, plumbers, have just had erected opposite the Royal Hotel. The street, entrance leads into a fine largo show-room, 20ft by loft, which is well stocked with accessories to the plumbing trade, including lavatory and gas fittings, while a splendid show is made of enamel baths. Next tho show-room are the public and private offices. The rest of the ground floor is taken up by a store-room, 17ft by 20ft. The whole of the top storey is occupied bv a large and commodious workshop, 50ft by 20ft, in which Messrs Wade and Gray 'intend to outer more v into the ; manufacturing business, i W-itn-c of the now building arc the signs, which- have been manufactured by the firm, and show up very boldly and prominently. Being manufactured of galvanised sheet iron, they arc much more durable than wood, and not nearly so expensive. These signs are used extensively' in larger cities, and are sure to become popular in Gisborne. Messrs Black Bros, wove the builders, while the decorating and painting were entrusted to Mr. ,Tas. Morrison.