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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2612, 21 September 1909, Page 4

A post office was opened yesterday at Tamarau (Mr. Dixon’s store, Mildura, Haiti). A Press Association telegram from Dunedin states that Mr. Arthur Oakley, of Wellington, has been appointed bv the Mornington Borough Council as Town Clerk and manager of the tramways. A new residence having been erected for the headmaster at Te A.rai School, tenders are invited in this issue for the purchase of the material of the old residence, which has been dismantled, and will be sold in lots to- suit purchasers. The champion sculler of the world, It. Arnst/ has decided to visit Gisborne during the last week of this month, and he will show in 'His Majesty’s Theatre for two evenings the cinematograph film of the Arnst-Webb boat race on the Wanganui river for the championship of the world, and will’ also give a lecture on physical culture and scientific training There is at least one person in M ellinwton who believes that lawyers frequent the Court for some purpose other than in the interests of justice, securing the truth, the -whole truth, and nothing hut the truth (says an exchange). The said person was plaintiff in a case at the Magistrate’s Court, and opposed an adjournment asked for by the defendant, who wished to engage counsel. <C I will ojran't the adjournment,” said His. Worship* :uit vou must have your witnesses and lawyer down here on the date.” “I <on t want anv lawyer,” interjected plaintiff, “I’m here to get the truth.” “An instance of liow New Zealand is suffering from the ignorance which prevails in the Commonwealth with regard to the conditions of trade, employment, and the supposed dearth of money, came under my notice while in Hobart the other daw” says Mr Robert Bell, of Ashburton. “The passengers by the Arawa included a grocer and his wife from Glasgow. The man was in the possession of a fair amount of means, and had intended starting in business on his own account, after residing in the dominion long enough to enable him to get a knowledge of how trading was conducted there. But, landing at Hobart, during the stay of the vessel in that port, he heard of che dreadful state of trade in the Dominion, and in consequence decided not to come to the countrv which was in such a bad wav. He therefore left the steamer at Hobart, and determined to make his home in Tasmania. Thus another family was lost to the Dominion.”

I Sealed tenders -will be received until j midday to-morrow by the secretary of tiie Gisborne Co-operative Building So- ! ciety for til© purchase in one or more ■j lots of a ballot loan of £3OO. I Dr. J. Clive Collins notifies that he lias changed his address to c, o Mrs. Neiison, Stout Street, telephone 410. Mrs. and Miss Coding left by_ the r.s. Wimmeru lor Sydney on aaturdaj morning en route for England. Messsr Malcolm and Co hold a clearing sale of furniture and effects on account of Mr W. Richardson (who is leaving: Gisborne) on Thursday next, at 1.30 p.m., in the afternoon. The whole is to be sold without reserve.

A private telegram received in Gisborne late last night stated that in the football match between Marlborough and Buller. played yesterday, the former won by 6 points to 3. O’Brien kicked two penalty goals for the winners.

The inadequacy of the accommodation at the Gisborne Court was a matter of comment by the Grand Jury at the Supreme Court session yesterday. The foreman, Mr. J. IT. Bright, asked that His Honor would call the attention of the Government to the matter. “I have had similar presentments from four different quarters,” replied Mr. Justice Cooper. His Honor added that he understood alterations were contemr plated, but would, in the meantime, forward the Grand Jury’s resolution on the matter to the Minister of Justice. A correspondent in Washington, IJ. S. A., writing to the editor of “The Press,’ says: —“We have all been quite excited for the past month over the tests of the Wright flying machine, which have been going on at FortMyer. The machine is a wonderful sight. It is as graceful in flight as a great bird, but the enormous power of its small machine is most astounding and awe-inspiring. I have seen nearly every flight both this year and last, but missed the straight-away run across country, which I was told was the most beautiful of all its performances. However, it will only be a few years before aeroplanes will be park attractions all over the world, and we shall see cross-country flights until we are tired of them.”

The fasting cure for bodily ailments was practised in Wanganui two years ago, and although the newspapers have contained little about it the movement (says the “New Zealand Times) is still flourishing. Although its headquarters are at Wanganui, several people have taken it up to Blenheim and also at small towns along the Main Trunk line. It has got beyond the ridicule stage, according to a statement made to a “New Zealand Times” reporter by a person who periodically undertakes a _ long fast to reduce his exceptional weight. As a faster lie keeps himself in touch with the headquarters of the cult, and the latest instances of successful fasting in the Wanganui district quoted by him are those of a lady who professes to be cured of cancer of the breast'after a fortv days’ fast, and a butcher who suffered badly from diabetes, but who claims that he has been completely cured as a result of a fifty-two days' fast.

A strong appeal for the cultivation of the mind was made at Sydney recently by Mr G. H. Reid, in an address under the auspices of the Parents and Teachers’ Union. The human mind, ho characterised as the grandest factor iu creation, and even the will was subservient to it. Yet it was one of our most neglected powers. If we did nob get enough to eat for the animal part of us, we becamo intensely earnest in securing it. If anyone perished of hunger or thirst, a feeling of horror and sympathy passed over Australia. But whoever heard of people being moved at the human mind being starved. Yet nearly every mind in Australia was starved —so* far as good intellectual food was concerned. If the mind could cry out when it was not nourished, as the body did, people would, think more of it than they did. There was no sense of proportion in regard to the mind. People gloried in the trivial, and strived for the contemptible, said Mr Reid, in rapping home his point, and shrank from associating with the glorious intellects of the past and other sources of enriching their minds.

There was a large attendance at the quarterly meeting of the 1.0.0. F., M.U., last evening, Grand Master Bro. Chisholm presiding. _ The committee appointed at a previous meeting to consider ways and means of appropriating the surplus, which now stands at £llOO, presented their report, which was adopted, and will be submitted to the District Officers for approval. The report recommended the placing of a portion of the funds to the management fund to provide a sum to form the nucleus of a relief fund, and to appropriate the remainder to the credit of the ISO odd members on the share basis, for tho purpose of reducing contributions. The value of tho shares is to be 2os, and they will be divided amongst members according to length of membership. The greatest number of shares to be given to any one member is five. It was decided to celebrate the 35tli anniversary of the Lodge by a banquet, to take place on a date to bo arranged. r Lhe attention of married members was called to the rule requiring registration of their wives, and it was pointed out that unless this were done members would not be entitled to any benefit from the funeral fund in the event of tho death of the wife.

There are many harbingers of spring, but- —excepting, perhaps, a young man’s fancy—the most certain is the advent of the übiquitous youngster with his “Any cigarette cards. Mister?” (says the “Sydney Daily Telegraph” of a recent date). The games of children come in with a marvellous exactitude upon which the almanac might be based, and within the next few weeks groups of youngsters will be seen in the street alleys intent on the game of “heading ’em.” It they were adult the watchful eye of the ever-present policeman would be more alert than usual, and a prosecution would follow. lew people know that the cigarette cards are begged with the express purpose of utilising them as stakes in a game of chance. The common belief is that the collection of a certain number ensures a prize on the coupon system, and educationalists gull themselves with the idea that the cards are of geographical import when the picture is scenic, or patriotic when they bear the photographs ot cricketers. As a matter of fact, they' are implements within the meaning ot the Gaming Act, although there is an element of skill that might enab.e a clever lawyer to secure a non-suit. The gamesters start off by seeing how far they can fleck a cigarette card, and the winner secures the "kip.' Then tlie game begins. Each stakes a card, and if they come clown pictures up the thrower wins. “One and one” is no throw, but if the advertisement is upside tlm backer wins and appropriates the cards. A good deal has been written about the gambling habits ot the Australian, and it is quite worth considering whether his school games do not form an important factor in tnc forming of the habit.

In- his charge to the Grand Jury at the opening of the Supreme Court session yesterday, Mr. Justice Cooper congratulated the district on the small number of criminal cases that were set down for trial.

The Gisborne Orchestral Society will tender a complimentary concert to its professional players iu His Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday evening next. Popular prices and a first-class programme are expected to command a bumper house.

A Press Association message from Palmerston North announces the death of Mr. Alfred William 8011, a wellknown land agent, aged 37 years, who yesterday succumbed to an attack of pneumonia supervening on a cold which he contracted a week ago. The Grand Jury at the Supreme Court yesterday handed a resolution to the Judge deploring the prevalence in New Zealand of offences against women and children, and trusting that the Court would take such measures as would stamn out this kind of crime. His Honor remarked that this rested with the juries as much as with the Judges, though he would not say that the former had not been doing their part. Jn fact the severe sentences inflicted recently in such cases had resulted in a diminution of the class of offence referred to.

In the police force it would appear that tall men had an advantage over small men. A witness about 6ft 3in in height stated before the Commission at Wellington that he was not the smallest man'in the force, nor yet the strongest. At. the same time, while ho was doing duty on the wharf at Wellington. lie encountered less trouh.o than had smaller but stronger men who succeeded him. “\es,” Mr Bishop, (Commissioner) philosophically added, “I would rather be a big man in a row. Size does count for something alter all.” One witness suggested that the height standard for admission to the force should he reduced from sft 9in to sft Sin.

The Hinemoa, on her recent trip to the southern islands, sighted Rabbit Island, in Ross Harbor, Auckland Islands, but no one went ashore. From one point of view (savs the Bluff- correspondent of the “Otago Daily Times”), this is to he regretted. In the “60’s” two craft hailing from Victoria were wrecked on the island. The castaway survivors of both, after enduring many months’ privation, were rescued. Both rescues arose out of mere chance circumstances. Thereupon a special expedition was sent from Victoria to explore the island, lest them might be other castaways in a similar predicament. By way of giving the march a bormvMont touch a brace of silver-grnv rabbits was taken down and liberated. It would be inter■•sring to know what effect 40 or 50 "ears’ isolation has had on the lineal dsicendants of these silver-grays.

Commenting on Mr Geo. Hutchison’s voluntary withdrawal from the Rangitikei contest, the Wanganui “Chronicle” says:—“This, ftom the party point of view, is playing the game as it ought to bo played. Self-renunciation is the most convincing testimony which a strong man can give in proof of his allegiance to the principles represented 'by the party to which lie belongs. The supporters of the Reform Party iu the Rangitikei have now an easy itasjrg before them. They have the opportunity of capturing a Ministerial stronghold and of sending a strong man to represent them in the House of Representatives. It is for them to unite their forces and consolidate tlie'r fighting power in order to ensure the ejection of Mr Hookly. If they do this—and we feel sure they will—Mr Hutchison’s self-sacrifice will not have been in vain.”

Lady Poore, after presenting prizes at Abbotsleigii, near Sydney, began an address,in this way :—“Ladies and gentlemen, —I must begin properly, but 1 do not really mean ‘ladies and gentlemen.’ What 1 mean is, my dear Ab-bot-sleigh girls—for it is to you I want to sneak to-dav—that it seems to mo there is less gulf separating girls from older women boro than thero is in England. I don’t know whether it is that the girls sooner catch up w")h their mothers. I don’t know how it is —it may have something to do with tho climate. However it is hard to say which is the best system—whether to keep the girls from participating in the enjoyments and responsibilities of their elders until they are fully grown-up, or to initiate them earlier. If I may be permitted to say so, I think perhaps more equal distribution would meet tho case, because our girls bore have too much amusement before you put your hair up, and girls at Home get too little responsibility.” “The protection of kangaroos for three years has mot with great disfavor among the landowners and hunters of this "district” (writes the Louth 'correspondent of tho “Sydney Morning Herald”). “The red kangaroos are so numerous in some paddocks that they not only eat a great quantity of pasture, but damage fences. As many as 300 in a mob may he seen a few miles out of Louth, and a great number of these are killed by poisoned water set for the extermination of ‘bunny’; consequently several pounds’ worth of skins are going to waste. Instead of the protection given them the landowners aro endeavoring to have them declared a noxious pest, jn order to check their great numbers. Several shooters and trappers have been making good money out of the red kangaroo, and as one has only to go out a few miles to observe tlieix great numbers and depredation, the wisdom of protecting them in these districts is very questionable.” It is probable that, if a vote was taken in New Zealand to decide the prettiest, most engaging, most charming and most fascinating bird in the land, the award would be given by a great majority to the fantaii. Amongst tho correspondents who sing the praises of this little bird is Mr. Harold Blow, of Brookby, Auckland, who very happily describes the fantaii as “an ideal example of guileless innocence. It seems to have absolutely no comprehension of danger or any instinctive dread of man. When passing through the bush I have had one porch on my extended hand or rest on the barrel of a gun. During the last few days I have been much interested in several fantails which have made regular visits into the house, evidently in search of food. After catching a number of flies, they quietly take their departure through the door in the most unconcerned manner imaginable. You seem to think that the fantaii has no song, hut I have on several occasions heard specimens pouring forth a delightful little tune of a dozen or more notes. It- is certainlv not the regular thing for the fantaii to sing, but there- is no doubt that it ‘tunes up’ sometimes.”