The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1909. AN UNPLEASANT COMPARISON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2550, 10 July 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1909. AN UNPLEASANT COMPARISON.

New Zealanders have so long been accustomed to receive unstinted praise from their neighbors in Australia that it is disconcerting, to say the least, to discover how quickly the tune can be changed. Up till eighteen months ago the travelling New Zealander found himself the subject of envious attention from those who wanted to hear al[ about his glorious country. Australians willingly gave the, palm to “marvellous Maoriland” and good naturedly tolerated the boastfulness of

nr people. Now a, change comes over the scene, and we aro faced with another illustration of the old saying that “nothing succeeds like success.” So long as the prosperity of our Dominion was at full tide no eulogy could bo too lavish, hut so soon as a temporary set hack occurs our erstwhile champions, become our most caustic and most pessimistic critics. In the Commonwealth

at the .present time ungenerous and sometimes absurd statements aro being circulated, and the following extract from the Brisbane “Courier” will give an idea of the attitude of our nearest neighbors:—Mr V. B. J. Lesina, M.L.A., writes: Sir, —Your interview with Mr A. C. Thompson, who came to Queensland from Christchurch and settled on the Kaimkillenbun portion of the Jimbour Estate, offers an opportunity for once more suggesting that the Government

should open an Intelligence Bureau in the Dominion, either at Dunedin, Christchurch, or preferably Wellington, which is centrally situated and the seat of government. According to the last census, there are about 30,000 New Zealanders in Australia —men . and women .who have left the workingman's paradise, the “country without strikes.” Hundreds of others are coming over by every boat; many have capital, all practical farmers squeezed out by high land values aud high taxation. Maoriland enjoys the unenviable distinction of being the most heavilvtaxed country in Australasia. New Zealand’s taxation per head amounts to £l4 14s 7d. The cost of government is increasing; tho civil service is swollen to abnormal proportions, unemployment is widespread, the cost of living is rising, and the available area of land fit for agriculture is narrowing. The national debt is over £67,000,000; private. indebtedness is another £60,000,000. The annual interest bill is £2.400,000. These are the factors which make Queensland’s opportunity. It is the richest State in the whole of the Commonwealth. The outflow of population from the Dominion is our chance. Lot the GovernmenJ establish a bureau in Wellington, place it in charge of a practical man who knows both countries,, arm him with facts, and set him loose to visit the. agricultural centres in the South Island, and I feel sure that it will not be £120,000 only that will bo poured into the fertile Downs country, but many hundreds of thousands of pounds into all parts of Queensland. And with these will come scores of fine men and women y ho cannot find elbow room in the little Dominion, but 'will find plenty of it here. I would earnestly impress upon Mr Ividston the urgency which exists at the present juncture for establishing an Intelligence Bureau in Maoriland. It will pay for itself a dozen times over. This is turning the tables with a vengeance. A year or two ago the New Zealand Government established branches of its Tourist Department in Melbourne and Sydney with the avowed object of attracting tourists and other immigrants from Australia to New Zealand. At tho time the Australians could do nothing hut “grin and boar it.” ■ Now they are seizing upon, our temporary difficulties to get even with us. Queensland has for some t.tne been making a big bid for population, but the boldness of the comparison made in the above letter is decidedly startling. Unfortunately, the allegations made, though somewhat exaggerated, are in tho main founded on Fact. It is true that we have, an alarmingly large public debt, that our civil service has been most extravagantly managed, that our land values have been unduly inflated, and that luincli cds of men and women cannot find room in ivliat the. writer rather unkindly dubs “the little Dominion.” It is to be hoped that when Sir Josepli V\ ard graciously permits Parliament to sit in a few months’ time that body will get down to solid work and endeavor to remove tho cause of the worst of tho reproaches that are at present being hurled at us. Parliament cannot give us good seasons or high .prices, but it caifat least open, up the lands of the Dominion for general settlement, and it should he able to conduct our public affairs in an economical and businesslike manner.

The Eight Rev. Bishop Williams will hold a confirmation service at Holy Trinity Church to-morrow evening. Tho members of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church are reminded that tho quarterly communion service takes place to-morrow morning. In the evening the Rev. W. Grant will hold an evangelistic service, when Miss Bonar Miller will sing Tennyson’s “Too Late.”

Messrs Chrisp and Son have just opened up a concert grand pianoforte, which is on view in their premises. The instrument, which is of an exceptionally rich tone, was manufactured by Sciiiedmayer and Sochne, Stuggart, the case, being of rosewood, and tlio total weight i2cwt. flic service* at tho Methodist Church to-morrow will be conducted by the Rev. J. A. Lochore. The subjects are to lie: Morning, “Not left nor forsaken” ; evening, “Why be a Christian?” The latter is to be. tho monthly service for young women and young men, with bright music.

The following passengers arrived hv Messrs Redstone and Sons’ coaches yesterday:—From Waipiro: Mrs. Saunders, Miss Saunders; from Tokomaru: fr. Huddell, Mr. Piercy; from Tologa lay : Mrs. Sinclair and 2 boys, Mrs. Fitzgerald (2), Messrs Clayton, Lyons; from Stewart’s Crossing: Mr. Kelley; from Tiniroto: Mrs. White.

The To Arai Domain Board received the following tenders for cropping the Te Arai recreation ground:—Messrs Johnstone and Lynn, 30s 6d per acre; Mr. P. Muir, 27s 6d per acre. The former was accepted. The tender or Messrs Hyde and Co. accepted for removal of old fencing. No tender was accepted for new fences.

A general public and social meeting will bo held in His Majesty’s Theatre at 8 p.m. on Tuesday next to bid farewel to the Right Rev. Bishop Williams. Au address to bo presented* to ins Lordship, and musical items are to be contributed. Tea and refreshments will be provided. No charge will be made for admission, and all the Bishop’s friends and admirers, both European and Maori, are invited to attend.

Alessrs Church and Hargreaves, of the local corps of the Salvation Army, are to leave town on Monday morning to canvass the country between Gisborne and Wairoa for subscriptions in aid of the self-denial fund and the social work of the Salvation Army. Last year’s country tour resulted m a good sum 'of money being realised, and as the needs' at present are greater than ever, it is hoped that this year s appeal will meet with even more success.

A Chinese vegetable vendor at Ekctahuna, who has a penchant for rum, cannot understand why his favorite beverage is not now obtainable for the asking, says the “Express.” After disposing of some cabbages one morning to the landlady of an ex-licensed house, he expressed liis desire, in appealing tones, to expend the proceeds in “lum.” The landlady did her best to explain that a drought had set in, but John’s answer was “Me no savoy; me want him.” Needless to say he "went away disappointed. Parents, remarks a Masterful paj er, cannot impress too firmly upon their children the danger of stona-ihrny ng. Sofiio time ago a young, and promising lad in Masterton lost .vhc sight of an eye through injuries received c w.-ng io the carelessness of another, and in order to preserve the sight of th? other eye has had to wear glasses. Whilst cycling home on Saturday last he was struck in the face by a stone thrown at him by a boj', with the result that his glasses were shattered, an.l lie -e----ceived a verv severe cut mm::-Lately underneath the good eye. The escape from being rendered totally uhnd was miraculous.

If the action of the Licensing Committee in granting wholesale liquor licenses in the King Country is upheld, Mr. T. E. Taylor declares (says the “Wellington Post”) that one of first things that Parliament must do when it meets in October will be to pass legislation to put the evil down. He is not sure if the dav has arrived when the whole of the Maori electors ought to bo put on the same level as the European electors in respect to the licensing question. Until this is done, however, tho Maori must have the protection from “the trade” that Parliament Thought it was giving some years ago. -

The mission services were continued in the Baptist Tabernacle last night, but owing" to the inclement weather, many persons were kept away. The Rev. E. S. Gray took for his text Mark viii., 34: “If any man would come after me, let- him deny himself and take up liis cross and follow me.” The speaker urged upon those present the demands which Christ makes upon all men and women to honor Him. To-morrow will bo the last Sunday of the Rev. R. S. Gray’s mission in Gisborne. In the morning he will preach *.fc the Baptist Tabernacle. In the afternoon, at 2.45, 'he will address a meeting of men only in His Majesty’s Theatre. Hk subject at this gathering will be “Men’s Morals,” and as Mr. Gray has had considerable experience in the cscussion of problems peculiar to men, a very large gathering is anticipated. The evening service will again be in the Theatre. The choir and < rc'nemra will render some bright new iconics l"tm. 6.45 p.m. Mrs. Morgan (of Dunedinwill sing “He was Despised. As a largo congregation is expected at tins service, those intending to be present are advised to come in good time. The charge of Balaclava gained for England such a decisive victory iv hich left*the final result no longer in doubt. We have had a hard struggle m keenly competing for business in Gisborne, the public of which has undoubtedly had flic benefit. We have made a now start in the manufacturing business, and will have on View in our show window this evening samples of wlmt local industry is capable of turning out. Brussel's carpets and English overmanties just landed now on view, and these goods are to be cleared at a slight advance on. cost. Remember, wo arc not working.off old stock on the public. Tho London Furnishing Warehouse. — Ciias. Taylor, manager.*