Untitled

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2636, 19 October 1909, Page 4

The WaikOhu County Council calls for tenders for re-grading .the. river approaches at Waikolui and Poututu. Mr. O. E, Hugo, physiognomist and phrenologist, announces that he may bo consulted at the back room of Trinity School. Work at tlio railway extension is very at present, and although ■ the rain that is falling sufficient to do any damage, it has had the effect of holding things hack for a day or two*

The Telegraph Department forwarded the following notification last evening: Calcutta advises that all Burmah lines are interrupted;.

Nine Chinese, ranging in age from 30 years to 52 years, returned to Wellington last week after revisiting their native land. The children’s ball in connection with Miss GofFe’s dancing class is to be' given in His Majesty’s Theatre to-morrow night. An exhibition of fancy dancing and, physical drill will be included in the programme. . The fishing industry at the Thames, so the chairman of the local j [arbor Board asserts, is being ruined through the dumping of quartz tailings Tito the rivers which llmv into the Haur.iki Gulf.

The gymnastic and military display given last week bv the volunteers and members of the is to be repeated in the Garrison Hall on Tuesday of next week, when in addition to the attractive programme prepared, the students of To Rau College will give a liaka. By special advertisement the "Union S.S. Co. announce the two excursions to the West Coast Sounds by the AVai'karo from Dunedin in December next. The faro to be charged is from £6, and it is fully expected that the two trips tins year will be quite as satisfactory as the excursion made last Easter by the Talune.

The reciprocal arrangement between the British ond New Zealand Post Office Savings. Banks, by which accounts may he transferred, has now been in operation for six months. In. that period 189 Now Zealand' accounts were transferred to the United Kingdom, and 195 accounts tansferrred thence to the New Zealand Savings Bank. Inquiries made by a, “Times” representative at the Labor Office yesterday elicited tlm Tact that although applications for labor are not coming in. at all briskly just at present, the position is a great deal better, and although a large number of names are still on the employment book, it is expected that more inquiries will be made after the rain has cleared off.

There will be no performance by the Bathe Picture Company to-morrow, Wednesday, but on Thursday afternoon and evening (Trafalgar Day), the management will present a splendid series of naval pictures, and a film depicting many incidents in the heroic life of Britain’s most famous sailor, including the battle of Trafalgar and Nelson’s death in the cockpit of the Victory.

According to private advices which have been received in .Auckland, the United States warship Annapolis will visit Auckland during November for the purpose of docking and a general overhaul. She was at Auckland in October last year, but it was decided to defer the visit by a month this year, in order to obtain a milder transition in the climate from Samoa, the abrupt change being too much for many of the sailors on the occasion of the last visit.

Wool is evidently going to boom this season (says the, “Napier Daily Telegraph”). As already stated the clip from , the Tangoio estate (which by the way has been purchased by the Government for closer settlement) has been sold privatelv at Is a pound, and we hear of other Haivke’s Bay clips being disposed of at a similar figure. The buyers are evincing a keen desire to get "wool, and the competition is likely to result advantageously to the grower.

“The average length of a pupil’s course in our secondary schools is not long enough to secure the greatest benefit to the community from the secon-dary-school system, and every effort should be made to extend it,” considers the Alinister for Education (Hon. G. Fowlds). “Among other things, the raising of the standard of the University Alatriculation Examination, and still more the acceptance of a certificate of four years’ satisfactory work in a secondary school as a qualification for admission to the university, would tend to increase the duration of secondary school life, and to raise the standard of work both in .the secondary schools and in the university colleges.”

IV e trust that -whatever course may be adopted with respect to the Westminster Abbey relics may be taken with due consideration for the architectural dignity of the building. That object might possibly be best served by clearing out a number of ugly and intrusive effigies, which, for all the artistic or historical interest they possess, might be relegated to the nearest dust destructor. —“Builders’ Journal.” [Tlie relics referred to are wax figures of various English sovereigns and other notable personages. It was formerly the custom to exhibit such effigies in connection with .the funeral ceremonies of persons of rank. After the obsequies the figures were stored in the Abbey, j 1 - “This,” says the “Bulletin,” “was the brightest remark made by Maoriland Premier Ward on his return from tlie Defence- Conference —‘While in England I obtained a million of money and had it sent out to Maoriland. Half of this is for the Advances to Settlers Department and half for .public works. . ' . I also laid the basis for obtaining in London all moneys required by local public bodies in Maoriland, ‘The Bulletin’ firmly believes that if Jos. Ward was sent on a mission to the innards of Africa he would float a loan at Timbuctoo and borrow money in the of the Sahara. If he went up naked and penniless in a balloon ho would come down with a loan in his hand. ‘Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook?’ says the Scripture. If leviathan had any money in his tail pocket Ward would get him even without the hook.”

In Sydney Mr. G. Fenwick, managing director of the “Otago Daily Times,” told a representative of the “Daily Telegraph” that it was impossible to speak top highly of the Extraordinary warmth of the welcome given to the. delegates of the Press Conference in' London. “There were prrobably few of the _ oversea delegates,” he said, “who imagined, when they, left their homes, that the' conference would develop into such an important meeting as it turned out to be. The majority of them, I think, wero under the impression that the principal portion of the work they were assembled to transact was in relation to a reduction in cable charges, but while it is true that that particular matter was very seriously grappled with, and that the discussions' . and negotiations with the cable people resulted ip material reductions of Press rates, it must be said that this was only a secondary matter compared- with the discussions on important affairs of Imperial concern. And not only jvas the Conference world itself of importance in tliiss respect, but I think it must be agreed that it had an effect on tlie important Defence Conference which followed it. It was no surprise to the members of tlie Imperial Press Conference when there was so speedy an agreement on mattors relating to Imperial Defence.”

To-morrow will betholast day which discount is allowed on the Las i Company's accounts for last month.. A smoke social in conncctiorT with the Alhambra Fdotbail and Cricket Clubs is to be held in the Alhambra Club rooms .at 8 p.m. to-day. According to private advice received in Auckland, the Ameucan vai-dup Annapolis will visit Auckland next month tor docking nnd 1 cpuiis. The Cook County Council invites tenders, -to dose at noon on Saturday, October 30th, for carting metal to the county depots. Messrs Hill and Smith, Inspectors under the Hawkes’ Bay ltd neat on Board, left by yesterday monings train to inspect tire ICaraka and 1 uha schools. Mr. Smith is to leave during this week for the coast. The auxiliary lighter built by Mr. Chas. Bailey, junr., for the New Zealand Shipping Company tor conveying frozen mutton, etc., from lokomaru Bay freezing ivories to the Home steamers in the roadstead, was launched on Saturday. The vessel has been named the Kiritona. A peculiar doctrine in regard to the matter of debt was voiced by an applicant for relief at the last meeting o the Wellington Benevolent Trustees. The applicant, when being questioned as to a certain debt, replied that lie did not consider that any man really owed, money when he had not the wherewithal to pay. Mr Arthur M. Myers, who is at present in London, has decided to rebuild the Strand Arcade. Auckland, m ferroconcrete. Mr Arthur P. W ikon, architect, has received cable advice to prepare plans for the structure, the design of which will be similar to that of the building destroyed by fire, with certain modifications which have been suggested by the experience of the fire. It is stated that seventy cases of Island oranges, infested with the fruit fly, were condemned and consigned to the destructor one day last week, says the Lyttelton “Times.” The price of oranges is at present almost prohibitive, running to threepence each, and even more, in ordinary retailers’ shops. Bananas, on the other hand, are comparatively cheap. Island oranges have been bringing big prices at the Wellington fruit exchange during last week, the range being from 15s to 19s per case, with plenty or°demand at those prices. New Zealand lias now a further competitor for island produce in the new direct service from Melbourne, and it is anticipated that fruit from the islands will generally be dearer than in the past. The box plans for the Hugh Ward season of musical comedy will be opened at Mr. W. Miller’s on Friday mornin" next at 10 o'clock. On Wednesday the company will play “The Bachelor’s Honeymoon;” Thursday “The Alan from Mexico,” Friday “Air. Hop’kinson,” and on Saturday, the last mglit of the season, “The Bachelor’s Honeymoon,” will be revived. The potato Fight, which was very prevalent a fortnight ago, is now less severe, says the * ‘isew Zealand Herald.” The early crops suffered, some oi them being ruined. A peculiarity of the recent . attack is that in some instances Northern Stars have been completely cut down. This variety has always withstood previous attacks. It is hoped that the. blight will disappear now that the warm weather has set in. The commencement of the season’s freezing operations in Poverty .. Bay was noticeable yesterday on the Wharekopae road, where a- splendid line of 1600 fat wethers from Air. V. 11. C. Mitford’s Tahora station were to he seen journeying townwards in charge of Messrs Bousfield Bros. The mob, which are a, fine evon lot, in tip-top condition, are due at the Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Frozen Meat Company’s works on Thursday next. Luggage may now be checked right through to any destination of the North and South Islands by passengers on the Alain Trunk Railway at 2d per box or bog. It is now possible to check luggage from Auckland to the'Bluff at the fee of 2d per parcel. For the past ten years only-130,000 luggage parcels have been checked. Lately passengers have been more disposed to seek the safeguard of free checking, but probably not more than 20,000 parcels were checked during the past twelve months. In that time about 10,500,000 passengers were' carried over all lines, and their luggage was represented by some 30,000,000 parcels. There is only one bag or other luggage receptacle checked for every 1500 transported, and the proportion of checking passengers is about 1 to 1100. The privileges of prisoners standing trial in the Criminal Court were_ discussed in Wellington recently during the hearing of an appeal case. The issue was whether, if a prisoner did not give evidence or call -witnesses in his own behalf, the judge could comment to the jury on the fact. Air Alyers (Crown Solicitor) remarked that he would take an early opportunity of deciding another point: whether a prisoner, whose 'counsel had addressed the jury, was entitled to make any statement himself. Air Justice Chapman said: “The practice in Wellington has been for years that, after counsel has spoken, the prisoner is allowed then to make a statement. It has been attempted here, it has been- done here, and it has been abused here. The question ought to be raised, for the consideration of this Court, whether it is the intention of the Legislature that the prisoner shall make a statement of fact, where he is defended by counsel, and has an opportunity of giving evidence.” Another tribute to the lavish, hospitality shown to the press delegates from Australasia was made by Air. George Fenwick, of Dunedin, last week. The visit was an education to him, he remai'kod to a “Post” reporter, and he believed it also enlightened the British hosts as to the extent and power of the Empire cress. That great good would result from the conference he felt certain. Lord Rosebery’s speech at the dinner to the delegates was, in Air. Fenwick’s opinion, alone worth going Home to hear. There was. but- little to tell, lie added, of the conference itself, .and the things the members had seen that had not already appeared in the New Zealand papers, and that fully. But lio thought the visitors’ vision had been widened as to the. great extent and enormous power of the Empire as a whole. Greatly as he loved New Zealand’s unique scenery, •ho was charmed with the peaceful beauty of the English landscape. His visits - to Oxford, Stratford-on-Avon, and Warwick had indelibly impressed themselves upon liis mind, full as they were of tilings of stirring historical interest. On his return via Canada, Air. Fenwick joined the Union Co.’s Alakura. After leaving Brisbane she ran into a hurricane, which was recorded in Sydney as blowing at 77 miles an hour. The ship was put to a most severe test, and behaved magnificently, to the comfort and delight of all on board. This fact, Air. Fenwick thought, would be interesting to those contemplating a trip Home via Canada.

The new shed of the Poverty Bay Rowing Club is now almost fimdicj and the boats have aheady been removed there. * email “freak” show arrived at WeiJi'ngton from Sydney last wbA. The zoological department included a fivelegged sheep, a three-legged dog, and a miniature pony. Sergeant Hutton has received advice that Constable F. T. Moore of Weilington, has been transferredL to Gis- I borne, to take the place of Constable H. Scott, who is to proceed to Napier. On Thursday next a banquet is to be tendered bv the directors to members of the Y.ALC.A. football, cricket and hockey clubs, and to members of the gymnasium. A good musical programme has been arranged, and the evening promises to be a great success. The Ashburton “Guardian ’ says that the domestic servant question appears to be very acute in the Ashburton county at the present time. Mhde a comparatively large number of men are anxiously awaiting work there are no fewer than thirty applicants for servant girls. In the majority of cases good average wages are being offered. ° A 'rood deal was said at a meeting of master bakers at Wellington last week about unscrupulous traders who were deliberatelv se'ling bread under weight, and reaping large prefits m spite of the possibility of lines. One baker plaintively stated that he was almost persuaded to “have a go” himself, because all the time he bad been making overweight bread and having some difficulty in competing with underweight salesmen, who were cutting the price ‘M e ought to appeal to the pub ic, he said, “to start weighing the bread. Then they would find the lightweight bakers, and it would give us a show:” Thames is rich .in inventors. One come time hack submitted to ns (says the Thames “Star”) the plan of a smokeless and noiseless gun, with which lie alleged large shells could lie discharged at the enemy without the latter being able to locate the gun. Another inventive genius had the rough plans of a usem! sort of submarine boat, with which he could search haruns witn ease, and in the case of places where the depth of water was not great, and the pressure. therefore light, the submarine could sink to the bottom, and, being fitted with wheels like a mo-tor-car, could travel the gulf at ease. The inventor offered to build a submarine on the lines indicated, large enough to hold two persons —himself and a pressman —if the searcher after knowledge would make the trip. But we were not seeking glory of this kind, and declined the kind invitation! The submarine is still unhui.t! - •