CAPE TO CAIRO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2543, 2 July 1909, Page 4

CAPE TO CAIRO.

X cablegram to hand from London the other day stated that tlio Cape to Cairo railway is advancing ten miles weekly 'and has reached a. point fortyseven miles south of Khartoum. 1 liepronouncement is a most important one, for it spells the speedy terming tion of one of the greatest of many big enterprises which stand to the credit of British colonisation. As the crow flies the distance between Cairo and Cape Town is about 5700 miles, so that the lino will bo easily the longest in the world, and as it will bring the interior of Africa into direct and convenient communication with the outside world, its importance can scarcely be overestimated. It was only the other day that Mr F. W. Ward, editor 0 f the Sydney ‘‘Daily Telegraph,” exclaimed in London that what had most impressed the delegates at the Press Conference during their visit was ‘the evidences they had seen of England’s wonderful vitality. He could not understand the pessimism of Englishmen concerning their own .country. But it is in such projects as the Cape to Cairo railway that we still' find tlio most striking and most gratifying evidence of the Englishman’s vitality. It is now many years since this stupendous undertaking was first conceived, and like the marvellous Assouan dam, the conception seemed too bold and the task too stupendous for realisation within any reasonably brief period. Yet alieady the vast engineering feat of conserving the . Nile waters has been carried to a successful conclusion, and very shortly the dream of that groat Englishman, Cecil Rhodes, will have been brought to fruition by the linking up of Capetown and Cairo. Egypt and t-lie Soudan will be connected by a line- via the Congo with Rhodesia, the' Transvaal and Cape Colony, and the stimulation of trade in consequence will be enormous. Side, by side with this signal proof of the Britisher’s virility comes the crowning triumph of his statesmanship in the unification of the South African States. • Any adverse criticism that could be levelled at England- in connection with the. outbreak of vat in the Transvaal must be effectually silenced by the magnificent manner in which she has redeemed any errors that may have been made. Her subsequent treatment of the conquered Boers has been not merely just but generous, arid the result has been to add to the powerful British Empire a Unified South Africa composed of thoroughly loyal subjects. Truly tlio Briton’s destiny in Africa must inevitably be a groat one.,

'Thirty men, tlio first instalment of 100 men proposed to be out on the railway works, commenced work yesterday.

•The annual mooting of the Turan.ganui Bowling Club will be. held at the Royal Hotel at 7.30 p.m, on Wednesday next, July 7th.

The annual general meeting of the Poverty Bay Turf Club will be held in the Club’s room.. Masonic Hotel, at 2.30 p.m .to-day, to receive the annual report and balance-sheet, elect officers, and transact general business.

A big snow plough has been sent up to Qhakane from the Petone workshops. It is designed after an American mode’, and is similar in appearance to a huge cow-catcher. The Railway Department decided to build such a plough in view of the probability of the Main Trunk line being blocked by snow in tlio high central section during the winter.

A pigeon shooting match under the auspices of the Ormond Gun Club was held' yesterday for 'a saddle presented by Mr. Wilson. There were fourteen competitors, and Mr. L. Newman won with the score of three Kills out of five shots. Messrs Louglier, Parsons, McKenzie, and Morris tied for second place. Mr. L. Newman was also successful in winning a sweepstakes competition with three straight kills, in which Messrs Ellis. Cook, and N. Newman tied for second place.

The complimentary concert tendered to Miss Eri Thomson (the Stewart Island young lady whom Madame Melba has adopted as her protegee) in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Balclutha, proved an immense success, notwithstanding that the town has been almost deluged with attractions of late- (says the “Free Press”). There was a full house, and the takings amounted to £23 Is 6d. Expenses were small, and the following morning the local committee were able to hand to Miss Thomson the sum' of £24..

The flock of 518 sheep which were drowned in the sea at Tauranga on Wednesday afternoon were consigned by the local office of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., on behalf of Mr. George Witters, of Makauri. Mr. Witters knows nothing about the accident beyond wliat was contained in the Press Association messages, but presumes that as the sheep were landed to the consignee without loss of any kind, that he will not be the loser by the accident. However., as the particulars of the occurrence have not yet reached Mr. Witters, he is unable to say how ho stands in the matter. Some residents of Devonport have lately been indulging in a new sport, full of excitement. lvingfish (yellowtail) have been plentiful among the forshore, following large shoals of sprats. The North Shore fishermen, with true sporting instinct, have been angling for these with rod and light lines. Recently one was booked and it- immediately set out for the open sea, 180 yards of line running off the reel before he turned. An extraordinary amount of nlavinu was required before it was “drowned.” When landed, tlie fish weighed 301 b. Another fish which scaled 421 b, was caught off North Head, on an ordinary snapper line, with a float. An interesting point in connection with accident insurance has just been made clear in Timaru, namely, that an employee who meets with an accident a yard off the- property on -which he is cannot claim the compensation supposed to ho insured for. A m3n working on certain premises in maru left his work momentarily to perform a little service for a person on the road: in doing so he met with an accident, which necessitated his removal to the hospital, where he received notice, three days later, that he would not receive any insurance money, as be was on the road when the accident nappened, and his policy only covered lum while on the premises where he was employed. The returns of the number of cases heard at the Magistrate’s Court, Gisborne, during the quarter which ended on June 30tli. show that there were 350 males and 11 females taken into custody within the period; 20l males and nine females were convicted, I/O males and two females were imprisoned, 15 males were sent to gaol without the option of a fine, six males and one female were bound over to keep the neaco • one male and'threc females were released as first offenders, and orders were made against 35 males and one female. The sum of £lB 10s was recovered for the Borough Council, £i for the Harbor Board, and £1 for the Cook County Council.. The principal offences wore: Drunkenness, 99 convictions, theft four, convictions, by-law ! cases 17 convctions. In minor criminal matters., including the 69 cases arising out of the boxing entertainment,"! 10 cases were heard and 41, convictions recorded. There has been displayed in the Dominion Museum, 'in We.lington a collection of New Zealand butterflies and moths made during the last two seasons mainly by the director (Mr. A. Hamilton) and by Messrs. H. Hamilton and F. Oliver, wlio were employed for some time collecting in the Wakatipu district. The collection has been .considerably inefeased by the' acquisition of one which was formed in Otago and Southland by Mr. G. Howes, while other naturalists in various parts ot the Dominion have also sent contributions. It is regarded as advantageous to have specimens from various localities and different altitudes, 'and special attention has been paid during the past two seasons to collecting at elevations between 2000 and 4000 feet in the Wakatipu region. Very interesting exhibits have been obtained. Hitherto only two of tlio main groups hare been specie, ly sought for, but later on, if opportunity offers, the collection will be made more inclusive. 1 A very pretty wedding was solemnised yesterday, afternoon, when Miss Mabel File; fifth daughter of Mr, AV, L. File, was married to Mr. Alexander Fraser, oldest son .of Mr. B. Fraser, of Auckland. ‘ The ceremony was conducted at the residence -of the bride’s parents, in R politick Road, by tlio Rev. J. A. Lochoro. The Gride was given away by her father, and looked charming in h. cream serge costume, with velvet buttons and. cord, with a beautiful cream satin hat to match the costume, and she carried a beautiful bouquet. The bridesmaids were Misses Ellen and Hilda File, 1 sisters of tlio. bride, and tlieyf were attired in light green tweed costumes with black and green hats. Both bridesmaids /carried handsome shower bouquets. The bridegroom was attended bv Mr. J. Scott as best'man, and' Mr. E. Fraser, brother of the bridegroom, acted as groomsman. 'Hie •bridegroom’s present to tlie bridesmaids w-"-e °handsome sets of silver-backed hair brushes and combs.

The telegraph- lines were interrupted for about two hours yesterday afternoon. It is understood that a breaic oecurred between Gisborne and Wairoa.

Miss Madeline Knight the wellknown soprano, has joined Ipllaru s Opera Company, and will take prominent parts in the performances to be given by the company in Gisborne next week. The Hawera County Council has carried the folowing resolution : In at this Council strongly protests against the proposal to sever a part of the Mornahaki State farm and utilise it a 3 a prison farm, and that the Government be asked that the whole area be retained and converted into, a practical farm college.” Two very brilliant “Lux” kerosene arc lights have been installed to light the windows of Messrs Adair premises. The lamps were alight last night, and far outshone the ordinary coal gas light. Messrs Parker. Bros, and Sheridan and Co. are the Gisborne agents, and they already have many orders from local tradespeople for similar installations. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that under the Government’s retrenchment schemes the “Mines Record”, and the “Labor Journal,” as published in their present form, will disappear. The whole of the Government publications are to be amalgamated. and one journal, to be edited by Mr. J. Cowan, .will be made to answer the purposes now served by the various publications. This arrangement, however, -will. not affeot the “School Journal.” Advice has been received by Captain Hellicr Evans, of the East Coast Mounted Rides, from the Officer Commanding the Regiment (Major Russell), that all the non-commissioned officers who sat for their examinations during the annual training camp in May last were successful, and have been awarded proficiency certificates, and that their annointments are confirmed as from 19th June, lbou. Their names are: Sergeant H. Y. Hughes (torop sergeant Te Karaka troop), Sergt. William McCullough (troop sergeant Makauri troop), Corporal W. IS. Walker and Lance-Corporal J. D. Cameron (Makauri troop). The certificates will be presented at the next squadron parade. A man cheerfully told the trustees of the Benevolent Institution, Wellington, that he had obtained a job. The trustees were glad to hear it. Then the man sprung his surprise on the trustees by asking them to pay his tramfare to Brooklyn every morning and night. After refusal of this unique remiest.- a slight discussion ensued as to the feats of citizens .previous to the institution of modern vehicular services. It was shown that Xew Zealand children, even nowadays, frequently take a hand at milking, walk anything up to five miles to school, walk home, after school, and milk cows again without any serious impairment of health. The applicant was a large, strong person 'in the iprime of life. He left the Board obviously discontented at the failure of his mission. Last week the Chinese business men of Svdney entertained the Consul-Gene-ral (Lian Hsun) for their country at a banquet. The menu comprised a dozen courses, and was served in orthodox Oriental style. The dinner began with preserved pickled -cliicken* find some half dozen other comestibles (which served as appetisers), together with- a liberal supply of “sam-su” (a pungent fluid distilled from rice). Steamed chicken preceded beohe-de-mer; then came shark’s fins, bird's nest soup’ (the concomitants of which cost 30s an ounce), transparent fish, chicken and ham, roast duck, essence of sweetened almonds, jam cakes, and a variety of strange dishes. The banquet was on the lines or that (riven to the Duke of Connaught when he was entertained by the Chinese residents of Hongkong.

An incident that illustrates the hard life of those who live in the hackblocks is recorded in the “Lake. County Press,’ ’ published in Arrowtown, Otago. The incident relates to a family that resides at the head of Lake Wanaka. The father was from home, and the mother was alone with her little chiklren. One accidentally got a bottle^ containing poison, and drank some or the liquidr The mother hurriedly put the other children to bed. Thinking that she might lose her little one, she started on root with the child in licr arms for Pembroke, a distance of some thirty miles through rough and rugged country. She. had to traverse dangcious o-ullics. bush and fern and to cress a. river several times. The night- was dark, and after going sixteen miles slis fortunately reached the. house of a settler, who drove her to Pembroke. Medical aid was summoned, but the child had by that time almost recovered.

Showing the superstition of the Maori, the following is told by a corrcsixmdeiiu of the “Wairarapa News. He* save: “I -was riding along with a Maori'the other day and ho had occasion to remove his hat from Ins head. I noticed him look reverently into the hat and very carefuly replace it on his head. I asked him what lie was taking such care over, and he took off lus hat and passed it to me, telling me to look inside. I did so and nearly dropped oil the horse with the jump 1 gave. There, in the hat, was an enormous black spider with large hairy legs, just the kind to haunt you after taking a dose of bad beer. I quickly passed the hat back, and asked the Maori what on earth he had that thoie foi. ‘You see the snider?' he said. I said 1 did. ‘Well, that is good luck. If 1 keep him there I have good luck. 11‘ 1 kik him—py korr.w I dunno/ On questioning him further I learned that the spider had taken up its residence there some weeks before, and had been treated with the greatest care by it/S landlord. A block cf greenstone, 601bs in weight,' has boon presented- to the Auckland Museum by Mr. John Webster. of. Hokianga. It formerly belong('■l to f ive chief Kauparaha, who sacked the pall at lvaiapoi before settlers arrived in that province. He presented the • greenstone to Moetara, a leading .chief at Hokianga. Shortly afterwards a disturbance arose among the Hokianga Maoris, and an attack on Moetara’s pah was threatened. To preserve the greenstone from falling into the hands of the enemy it was secretly buried. Probably the man who concealed ii was killed; for after the trouble had passed away at. attempts to find the block were' un/ucccssful. Nearly fifty years later a Maori, while digging'for kauri gum in the vicinity of the old pah, struck the block with his gum spear. It was unearthed, and recognised by the old Maoris of the tribe as liaiiparaha’s ‘inamu.” • Shortly 'afterwards the M \ u is. ..{is a. favor to the oldest European resident in the district.' 'consulted iu sell the block to Mr. Webster. _ „„. S

% secretary of the. GMmtoo toSlcVopfrtmJrtlbat wiS. the approvcut in the western groyne, provided that only one out is put in, the result thereof to bo awaited before any further work is done. The editor of the “New Zealand Trade Review” gathers from returns of principal New Zealand exports that “our anticipations of ai heavy scale 0 exports for the June quarter are in a verv fair way of being amply verified. We are assured of a very substantial increase in the total value of exports for the quarter, and as there is every reason to believe that the imports aie still coming in on a reduced sea e, and aro likely to continue to do so, it is practically certain that the quarter will exhibit a heavy excess of exports over imports probably to the extent of *omo two millions instead of an excess of only oonie £300.000, as was shown in the June quarter of 1908. Sidelights on military service in the strenuous Maori war times .were thrown by Maior Macintosh at a smoke concert In Wellington last (week, says the “New Zealand Herald.” He became tired of routine, and he (poured his p’aint into the sympathetic ear ci an ffid soldier. He was recommenced to swallow tobacco, in order to get a change, it only a transrer to the hospital. Be made himself very ill indeed, and the surgeon said he was suffering from heart disease. A pleasant time was spent in hospital. Lux it reeame rather monotonous, and tbe patents, to relieve the tedium, engaged in pillow-fights and racing along the Ward. While enjoying themselves someone shouted “Doctor!' The .medical officer arrived, to find a.. patients.m bed and quite still. Coming to Major Macintosh, lie felt the patients pu.se, looked at his tongue, and diagnosed the case as one of scarlet fever.