The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, JULY 1,1909. THE MAYOR’S POLICY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2542, 1 July 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, JULY 1,1909. THE MAYOR’S POLICY.

It is by no means certain that those Councillors who displayed such anxiety to secure a policy announcement from the Mayor are entirely satisfied (with the outcome pf their request, for His Worship has been .able, to turn the incident to account in a manner that was never anticipated. Having produced his policy, ho submitted it to the Council at a meeting held in committee on Tuesday night, and at last night’s ordinary meeting had it adopted by a majority of the Councillors. To what extent the programme now adopted was the emanation of His Worship’s brains or * how much was contributed by other Councillors we are unable say, for ohr representative was promptly called upon to withdraw when ho attended' with a view to reporting Tuesday night’s meeting. Therefore, we are dependent upon Cr. Collins’ speech in open Council for an account of what took place. From this it appears that two Councillors refused to participate in the -proceedings as the press liad been excluded, and left early. Cr. Collins explains that it was considered unfair to ask the Mayor to bring down a policy and have it discussed in its “rougli form” before the ■“• collective wisdom of the Councillors had been brought to hear upon it, so that they could share in tho responsibility of the production.” But why in its rough form? His Worship having promised his policy, had a week’s time in which to prepare it, and so far as he was concerned one. might reasonably have believed that the document pro"ducedi far from being in “rough form,” was as complete and as valuable as he could make it. Of course if the idea • the first place was to get the Mayor to prepare a rough sketch upon which the Council might build up a policy the method followed could readily be understood. However, to return to tho secret meeting. We hare Councillor Collins’ authority for the statement that His Worship displayed constructive ability and administrative capacity of quite exceptional degree. “The way in which he handled- that policy and brought it through the. committee,” exclaimed this enthusiastic and latest' convert to Lysnarism, “was a credit to him.” Even His Worship blushed with modest pride as this ardent supporter .went on to dilate upon the many virtues of “a leader like yourself.” Having engineered his .policy,, more or less amended, through committee," His Worship brought- it up in open Council last night, and although Crs. Clayton and Pettie protested, he sueceded in having it adopted. Cr. Kirk pointed out! the futility of the whole proceeding when he stated that all the pronouncements in the world would not prevent Councillors discussing each feature referred to in the policy on Its merits when the time came to give effect to it, but His Worship made a bold endeavor to checkmate liny action of this kind. He ruled that if the policy was adopted, the main principles could not subsequently be departed from unless by resolution, of which notice had first been given. We do not wish at this stage to criticise tho policy in detail, but it is sufficient to point out that many matters of most vital import, covering'tlie'whole ground of municipal .activity, have all been summarily disposed of without any discussion in open Council. The statement is, on the whole, one that can fairly be accepted as a basis of action) but there are inevitably many items oi an exceedingly debatable nature, and the only effect of making the Mayor s Statement the Council s accepted policy will be to hamper progress, for whenever a point ci'ops up which calls for consideration, argument, and possible amendment, .proceedings must be stayed until notice of motion can be given. When it is remembered that two Councillors were absent from last night’s meeting, and that of those .present two strongly opposed ..the adoption <$ tho policy as a whole, it will be recognised that there are troublous times ahead for the document, whether it be called “policy,” “statement,” or “programme.” The two who formed the minority at last night’s meeting wcio quite prepared to thank the Mayor foi his policy and keep it on record as a basis for future action, but they very properly objected to swallow in toto •the municipal morsel that had been prepared for their consumption. Tlio original idea of asking the Mayor to . pledge himself in advance to a fixed lino of action on diverse subjects was '•bad' enough, but to endeavor to hind the whole Counci' willynilly, simply at the whim of those who happen on a particular night to be in the majority, is utterly' ridiculous, and can achieve no good end.

Thero was a clean sheet at the Police Court yesterday morning. Tho result of the drawing in connection with Miss Burgess’ art union of pictures is advortised in this issue. A telegram was read at the Borough Council last evening, stating that a further suply of Napier shingle would arrive shortly. At dast night’s meeting of the Borough Council it was decided to call for tenders locally for additional trailers for tho Sfcraker waggon. At the Borough Council meeting last night the tender of Messrs Dwyer Bros, at £49 10s was accepted for the erection of a two-roomed cottage at the Kaitaratalii gravel pit. The Waikohu County Council will receive tenders up to noon on Monday next, July sth, for the formation of footpaths and water-tables in To Karalca township. Tenders for the right to take charge of horses at the Gisborne Racing Club’s steeplechase, meeting, on July Bth and 9th, will be received at the office of the secretary, Mr. H. E. Dodd, up till noon rm Saturday, July 3rd. Mr. M. Denneliy has received a sympathetic telegram from the Hon. Jas. Carroll in reference to the death of his father, whom the Acting-Premier designated as- a sterling settler and one of his oldest friends. The Gisborne. Haiti, and Mangapapa School Committees forwarded the nominaion of Mr. M. McLeod to the vacant scat on the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, by yesterday’s mail. Several country school committees also intend nominating Mr. McLeod. Prior to the commencement of the business of tho Borough Council last night, it w r as unanimously decided that' a letter be sent to Cr. Darton expressing the sympathy of the Council with him in his recent bereavement by the death of his father. “Prior to the last licensing election we heard a great deal about improvements to hotel premises, but Mr. J. H. Martin is the . only gentleman out of the many who lias redeemed bis promise.” said Cr. Collins at the Borough Council last night. At the meeting of the Borough Council last night, Messrs Parker Bros, and Sheridan were granted permission to affix a patent “Lux” light to the lamp at tho Siovwright Memorial for a period of 21 days for the purpose of demonstrating the qualities of the light. Before the curtain rose at His Majesty’s Theatre last night, the manager, Mr. George Duller, apologised to the audience for the absence of programmes, which, owing to the rough weather, had been landed with other luggage into lighters and had not yet been put ashore. Programmes will he available this evening. Three sweepstake practice matches in connection with the Ormond . Gun Club were fired in ~Mr. C. Neenan’s paddock yesterday. The entries for the matches numbered nine, ten, and eeven respectively, and the winners wore Messrs W. Parsons, E. Jones, and J. H. Cooke, who each shot two out of three birds. To-day a match will be fired for a saddle presented by Mr. Wilson. Shooting is to begin at 1.30 p.m. The ladies composng the Cook County Women’s Guild request the presence of the public at the “Kitchen and Nursery Afternoon,” on the occasion of the opening of the Children’s Home, Grey Street, at 3 p.m. to-day. The opening ceremony will bo conducted by the Mayoress (Mrs. W. D. Lysnar). Mr Wootton’s String Band will be in attendance, afternoon tea will be provided, and everyone is desired to bring something for the Home. Articles useful in the kitchen or nursery axe speeiallv desired, but, in case any of the visitors should prefer to make their contribution in the form of coin, a contribution box will be • provided. One of tho last strongholds of masculine privilege to be invaded by the fair sex is that of lav/. It is also the most reluctant to At a recent meeting of the Law Students’ Society in Melbourne- the question of permitting ladies to become members of the Association was brought, forward, and after considerable discussion a proposal to admit them was negatived. Members generally were of opinion, however, that the half-dozen ladies concerned might be invited to attend the meetings of the Society when an interesting debate was on tho syllabus or a topic in which they were specially interested was under discussion. Not every Chancellor of the Exchequer has been “quick at figures,” says the “Westminster Gazette.” A Treasury clerk once put some figures before Lord Randolph Churchill. “I wish you would put these figures plainly, so that I can understand them,” said J his lordship. The clerk said lie had done his best, and had, lie pointed out, reduced them to decimals. “Oh!” said the Chancellor, “I never could understand what these d ——d dots meant. Charles Fox is credited with having said that he could never understand what Consols were—he only knew that they were things that weirt up and down in the city; 'and he was. always pleased when they went down, because it so-annoyed. Pitt., . The High School girls, who attend the cookerv classes under the direction of Miss Higgins, gave an afternoon lea party in, the art room at the High School yesterday. There wore about' 50 ladies and gentlemen present, and it was apparent that'the girls had set out to entertain their guests in a most creditable manner. ' The large room, was tastefully decorated with red and navy blue streamers (the school colors) and evergreens, while upon the tables was a profuse supply of dainty sandwiches, scones, cakes, cream puffs, fancy cakes, and other appetisers, even to Turkish delight, which were all made in tho school kitchen by the members of the classes. Miss Mabel Powell acted principal hostess, and with her associates made all present feel at home. The visitors were delighted with tho quality of the edibles, which wont to show what excellent results are to be obtained from the classes in domestic economy. In a neat speech Miss Powell extended a warm welcome to. all, and offered.to givo tho recipes of tho confectionery to any lady who desired them. Mr. C. A. deLautour thanked Miss Powell and the school girls for their welcome reception, and three •cheers were given for Miss Higgins.; Tho part taken ■by. the schoolboys; so tho reporters wore informed, was to help with the decorating and to do the washing up. i v y, l •. ‘ \ . ...... •••jy y- ■. . ...

The meeting of the Borough Council last night concluded a quarter of an hour before midnight. At the meeting, of the Borough Council last nigiit, it was decided totdo tarring work oir'the footpath''in Peel Street leading to the railway station. Four tenders were received yesterday by Mr. Armstrong, Engineer for Public Works for additions to the Courthouse in GisDorne. No tender has yet been accepted. During the month of Juno 33 births, i five deaths, and 13 marriages were re- [ gistered in Gisborne. For the quarter ending yesterday the returns- were 10 births, 24 deaths, and 44 marriages, and for the half-year 229 births, 66 deaths, and 81 marriages. Mr. F. W. Duval, well known for many years in connection with Mr. T. Pollard’s opera companies, arrived from the south yesterday in advance of M’r Pollard’s present company, which is to open a season of four nights in His Majesty’s Theatre on Wednesday next, July 7. On arrival in the bay yeserday morning, the captain of the U.S.S. Co.’s Tarawera reported that the Tuahine light was plain'y visible fully fourteen miles away. The light is to be maintained by the Government for one month before being taken over by the Harbor Board. The principal exports from the port of Gisborne during the month of Juno were: Beef, 12,302 cwt, valued at £12,919; mutton, 32,331 carcases, weighing 16,059 cwt, valued at £15,883; lamb, 11,282 carcases, weighing 3264 cwt. valued at £4888; 1322 hides valued at. £1567 ; 69,679 skins, valued at £6773; 329 tons of tallow, valued at £6595; and 917,687!bs of wool, valued at £26,704. When the summer school was held at Westport last year (says the Greymouth “Evening Star”), it was proposed that teachers in the Nelson and Grey Education Districts should charter a boat during the forthcoming summer vacation for a trip to the West Coast Sounds. The Westport teachers have kept the proposal steadily in view, and Nelson and Grey teachers are understood to be much in favor of it, so that there is every reason to believe that vxo trip will eventuate. i “Pathe Freres,” the famous French firm of kinematographers, have decided to set up a branch of their business in Melbourne, which will operate in Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the South Sea Islands. M. Sutto, who visited Wellington last year, will be manager in Melbourne, and M. H. Heralt will be in charge of the operating department. In future, kinematograph companies wishing to purchase Pathe pictures will . have to do so through the Melbourne office. The Customs revenue collected at Gisborne during the month of June was: Spirits £1391 14s 9d, cigarettes £7B 15s, tobacco £443 5s 6d, wines £l7O 13s lOd, beer duty £221 16s. goods by "weight £ll2 9s 9d, goods ad valorem £4OO 7s, other duty £ls 15s 6d; total. £3035 9e 3d. For the quarter which ended yesterday the Customs returns at Gisborne were: Spirits £4437 18s. cigarettes £520 l2s 6d, tobacco £1633 17s 9d, wines £246 3s, beer duty £405 19s, goods by weight £262 7s 6d, by ad valorem £1259 os 6d, other duties £1453 16s; total, £9073 18s 6d.. As showing the stringency in trade, the number of bankruptcies recorded in a given period is an almost certain barometer, and the number of insolvencies in Gisborne for the six months just past totals seven, a record for ten years. The /liabilities involved in the seven bankruptcies amounted to £5697 6 6s, and the assets to £5724 is 10d, which shows a nern'inal surplus of £26 15s lOd. 'The bankruptcies for the corresponding period last year numbered 5, involving liabi'ities ' amounting to £2560 2s 6d, and assets valued at £IBB4 Is. A contract lias been let by tlie Gisborne Sheep farmers’ Frozen Meat Company for* the construction of a new lighter, which is to be built at Gisborne by Mr. F. 0. Overton, recently from Eng.and. under the supervision of the officers of the company. The lighter, which is to measure 97ft in length by 22ft beam and 10ft/ depth of hold, will be much larger than any other vessel of its class at present in port. She will be of the Titi type, being constructed of kauri, diagonally hurt. Provision has also been made for engine space so as to allow of an oil engine being placed in when required. A Wairoa resident was critically discussing the methods adopted by the Government in cutting bush tracks, witlr a ‘‘Times” reporter last evening, and as an instance pointed out the way the Mangapoike road is being formed. “It shows want of thought,” said the visitor, “to only cut away about six feet of the hush to form the track when, if two ‘'chains of bush were cut away, the sun and wind could get through to keep the track dry and rot the stumps, so that when a wider road was being formed the contract would be taken at half the cost than when the bush was only cut for a width of six feet.” A correspondent who lives in one of the upper districts of the Ashburton County writes to.- the “Guardian” stating..that the residents in his locality complain bitterly in regard to the practice of young mep shooting- over their properties on Sundays. This practice has been carried on for some time past, but of late some of the upper districts are said to be overrun with shooters Sunday after Sunday. The offenders.are negligent with regard to closing gates, aud often think nothing of the fact that their dogs run" among sheep, to the. inconvenience and loss of the farmers* At a farewell service in London to hid farewell to Rev. H. -S. Woollcombe, lately head'of the Oxford House, Bethnal Green, on his leaving England for a three years’ tour through the colonies on behalf Of the Church of Rngland Men’s Society, the Bishop of London said that in connection with the mission on which Mr Woollcombe (whom lie had always regarded as his own son in the faith)’ was about tee leave, there was nothing more touching than the longing which the people in the colonies had for some living link and living touch with the old Mother country, and especially with the. Mother Church. Ho ayas , absolutely astonished at the given to him oil through Canada. They could not " realise until they visited those places the yearning in the hearts of their brothers for those at Horn V’ and the desire for a human link, # voice that would speak to show thdjjf were not forgotten out there m theife often lonely and mo.-1 difficult-struggle. Air Woollcombe reached Fre mantle two weeks ago..| I

The secretary of the Women’s Guild uas bebn advised by the Acting-Pre-mier that the full subsidy asked for (£600) has been granted for the Maternity Home. . The on'y passengers who had booked tast evening to leave Gisborne by Messrs Redstone and Sons’ coaches thismorning were Mesdames Fitzgerald and Merritt, both for Tbloga Bay. The To Arai Domain Board invite tenders, to be received up to o p.m. on Wednesday next, July 7th, for wire fencing, and also for taking one white crop off the domain. The revised valuation roll for the borough of Gisborne is now open for inspection ot the Harbor Board office. Objections to valuations must be lodged not later than July 19. Several applications were received for the position of fourth teacher in the-' Gsiborne High School, and that of Mr. W. E. G. Pen ington. of Titoki. Wliangarci. has been accepted. Mr Penlington will take up his duties early in August. At last night’s meeting or the Borough Council, a petition, signed by 223 residents of Gisborne interested in British Association and Australian football. was presented by Cr. Kirk, asking that the borough reserve in Childers road should be put into order for football purposes." The matter was, after discussion, left in the hands of the Reserves Conservation Committee. It is expected that the report on the scientific expedition to the Campbell and Auckland Islands will be issued from the Government Printing Officein a few months, probab"y_ before the beginning of the next session of Parliament. Dr. Chilton,- the editor, has had a good deal of work to do. but most of the manuscript has been passed through his hands to the printer. Mr. R. M'Nab’s introduction, dealing with the early history of the islands has not been received yet. It is expected (says the- "New Zealand Times") that the publication will comprise about five hundred pagis. A sermon in the dark was preached the Rev. I.- Sarginson on a recent Sunday evening at the Linwood Congregational Church, says the "'Lyttelton Times”. During the earlier portion of the service the gas suddenly went out and did so again and again after having been relit. Mr Sarginson asked that the gas should be turned off at the meter and preached fn the darkness, his discourse lacking nothing of its usual force and eloquence. At its conclusion another attempt was made to light the gas, but before the collection had been completed darkness again fell on the congregation, which had to grope its way literally from the inner darkness to outer light.