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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2668, 25 November 1909, Page 4

No eases of infectious disease were reported in the Cook County for the three months ending with last week. Dr. Poma-re has (according to the “Taranaki News”) been requested by a deputation of Taranaki natives to stand for the 'Western Maori seat at the next election, and will probably follow the example of his late colleague, Dr. Buck, in seeking Parliamentary honors on behalf of the Young Maori Party. Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald, M.P., was yesterday- appointed to represent the Waikohu; County Council at the ceremony of laying the foundation; stone, ot the Gisborne High School building on Saturday. Mr. Harry deLautour, an old High School boy, has been appointed to represent the Waiapu County Council at the function. Ihese appointments were made in response to an invitation from the High School Governors, to the Councils to appoint, representatives for the ceremony., An interesting light on the mental condition of the natives of New Guinea is afforded.by the story of a commission er. recounted in the report of the Lon-don-Missionary Society. Ihe commissioner tried two men from the mountains for throwing spears at the police; they pleaded guilty, and it was explained to them that they must never do it again. To the commissioners surprise they both asked to be hanged. When asked the reason of the request they replied that the only pleasure they had was throwing spears at the police, and as they were forbidden to do it any more they did not want to live.

Tiie Gisborne Fire Board invites tenders, to close on November 30th, twenty-live new uniforms for the Fire Brigade.

The poll m connection with the borough loan proposals will take place on December 20tl). A public meeting of the ratepayers is to be held on December 10th.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. D.Lysnar) and the members of the Borough Council have been invited to attend the ceremony of laying the .foundation stone of the now High School buildings on Saturday afternoon. Cuba (writes an American paper) since she' was banded over to her own devices, has been running on tho down grade. First she went back to her bull fights, and nmv she has opened a national lottery. So- great was the demand for tickets that the first drawing was quickly exhausted. Dr. Collins lias given notice of tho following , motion or consideration at next meeting of the Borough Council—- “ That the last motion of the Council submitting the loan proposals in one vote to the ratepayers be rescinded, and it be resolved that a separate vote be taken for each work oil the same date.”

At the Gisborne Police Court yesterday, a first offender was fined 5s and 2s costs for drunkenness, or 24 hours mi' prisonment in default. In the case of Alfred Williams, the Magistrate (Mr. Barton) imposed a fine of 10s and 2s costs, or 48 hours, for drunkenness and for a breach of a prohibition order fined accused £5 and 2s costs, or 28 days hard labor.

During bis visit to Wellington, the Mayor (Mr. W. D. Lysnar) ascertained from Mr Scales, who is connected with the Clan line of steamers, that his rate for wool for the current year was 7-lGths of a penny, plus 5 per cent., as compared with 8-Kit Us of a penny, plus 10 per cent, charged by the other companies. The Clan liner Clan Og.lvio is to call at Gisborne on December 12, and it is possible that a regular service may be arranged for. On tiie subject of universal training the “New Zealand Herald’ remarks:— “ Doubtless the Government will be open to criticism—as all .plans are open to criticism—but at tins time it is much more important that a great principle should be asserted and a great reform commenced than that incidental details should be cavilled over. In spite oi the start secured by the Commonwealth we hope New Zealand will thus be the first British State to lead the naj in actually instituting the universal training for defensive purposes oi every British man. There could be no better guarantee for the) security of the Empire and for the peace of the wor.d.”

Things are surely moving on the Main Trunk line, says the AVaitangi correspondent of the “Railway Review.' Less than twelve short months since a white woman was a rarity here, except those passing through in the tram, but a recent social event shows that lucre are now quite a number of the gentler sex resident in the district. The event was till© first social held "in AA aitangi. The efforts of the committee were rewarded by the assemblage of a company of some fifty persons, including visitors from the neighboring townships ol Turangarere, Kairoi, and Waiouru. Things went as merrily as the proverbial marriage bell with music, dance, and songs. It is hoped that though the function was the first of its 'kind m Waitangi, it will not be the last. The popular belief that individuals with big feet almost invariably find their way into the police force received a partial set-back during the hearing of a case at the Central Court, Sydney, last week. Three cabmen'were charged with playing cards “to the annoyance of passengers in St. James’ Road” at midnight. In the course of cross-exam-ination, Mr. R. D. Meagher asked the policeman who was conducting the prosecution if there had been any real obstruction of the footpath. “Supposing the men occupied half the footway, and, allowing for the reputed size of the policeman’s feet, could you have got past without any inconvenience ?' Then the officer waxed indignant, and, coloring like the red, red rose, he blurted out, “My feet are not as big as most of the cabmen .in Sydney.” While the laughter was subsiding, the solicitor told his colleague a st-ory alleged to have a bearing on the subject matter of the interlude. “Do you believe in fate?” a son of Emerald Isle was asked'. “Shure, me bhov,” was the “what wud we sthand on widout ’em? ’

Among the visitors to the Christchurch Agricultural and Pastoral Show were several officers connected with the Government Veterinary Department. In previous years, states the ‘‘Press, these gentlemen have always been willing, when approached by pressmen, to give some comments, based on the expert knowledge they possess, as to the character and quality of the stocn exhibited. Their remarks were usually interesting and instructive, and were no doubt valuable to the owners who read the reports of the interviews. Un Friday, however, the reporter who approaclietl these officers received a courteous but uncompromising intimation that they could give no copy to the press. The reason given for the change was the famous “suprcss” memo, issued recently by the head of the department. The officers were not quite certain as to the actual scope which the memo, took in, but they preferred to be on the safe side when appearance in print might involve instant dismissal. In the meantime, therefore, observes the writer, the public is, to be deprived of the benefit’ of expert criticism by officers of the department.

Trial by ordeal, which was formerly practised in England, is still, in vogue in some of the South Sea Islands. ’“lt is," says Bishop Wilson, of Melanesia, “rosorted to when >a crime cannot be proved against the man suspected. There are many forms of it. In every case the man’s favorite ghost is first invoked to give power to the instrument employed in the; ordeal. Thus, it may be •on the red-hot stones; which ho is to lift three times above his head. If his hands are not burnt he is accounted innocent. Or, chips and litter are thrown upon a hot stone; if these burn he is guilty. Or, ho eats unslacked lime; or thrusts a burning stick into his mouth; if liis lips are burnt he is guilty. Or, dry, inflammable cocoanut leaves are piled as high as a house and a tree laid on them. They are lighted and he walks on the tree through the flames. If liis logs are scorohed he is guilty. Or lie swims across a pool full of sharks and crocodiles. If these divide as on either side, and he passes through' the middle of them lie is innocent. Few of?, us would care to Sass through such ordeals as these. one could tell me if any ever succeeded in escaping. Whenever I asked the question I was merely answered that if lie did not pass .through lie was guilty. I was told little of'cannibalism, probablv because, like all cannibals, when they have given up the practice, they are much ashamed of it. But there .lias been at least two gross cases of itat HaUnunu, the home of the snake superstition, this year,-and the bodies purveyed for sale along the coast.”

Groat Britain has spent £95,000,000 in naval construction in nine years. The Gisborne Borough Council notifies that all buildings fronting public or private streets withm the J«J ougu must lie numbered within 14 days. The following passengers had booked last night by Messrs Redstone and Sons’ coaches leaving this morm Eor Waipiro ■ Mrs. Bull, Mr Bull an Mr. Lewis; for Tokoruaru, Miss Busby. Owing to the City Band having an engagement this evening, the mittee meetings and meeting o executive in connection with the J.n dustrial, Art and Curio Exhibition have been arranged for to-morrow night, at 7.30 and 8.30 respectively.

The programme of the I athe Vi - ture Company was shown last nignt an appreciative audience, lucre v. be a complete change of programme o Saturday, but owing to a land sale being held in tho theatre on Saturday afternoon, there will be no matinee tins week. • » Mr. V. Hoadloy, of the firm of Messrs C. B. Hoad ley and Co., is at present in town, in connection with the sale of tho Kowliai estate on Saturday. Mr. Hoadley reports the sale of Mr. Troutbeck’s property at Petane to MrSidney Williamson, late oi Ngatap: station.

The Mayoress (Mrs. Lysnar) notifies that she will be glad if as many ladies as can make it convenient to do so w i meet her at her residence, AVhataupoko at 3.30 .p.m. to-morrow I< riciay, for tli© purpose of arranging the atternoon tea and fancy work stall in connection with the City Band's art and industrial exhibition. »

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphed last night that the Hon. A. T Ngata yesterday presented a petition from T. R. Lees and 38 others, holders of land in the Te Arai settlement, under the renewable lease tenure, praying that they may be given the opportunity of acquiring tue freehold of their leases.

A meeting of the committee in connection with the annual Catholic picnic was held last night. A lengthy and varied programme of sports events was drawn up, and it was announced that arrangements had been made for the free carriage of children under 32 years of age on the railway. The picnic is to be held at Waikohu on December 27 th.

Two lads who were watching the rowing races on Monday’ evening from the vantage point of a small canvas canoe, in the river had their interest in the races somewnat damped when the canoe turned turtle, and precipitated one of the occupants into the river. The other could not get clear for some time, and had an unpleasant experience. Fortunately, the river bank was close, and the boys got safely to land, with their unstable craft.

In the interests of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty- to Animals, Air J. R Kirk gave an address at the Kaiti School yesterday afternoon, on similar lines to the one recently given at the Gisborne School. The interest of the school children was aroused, and it is expected that a considerable number of them will become members of the Society, which proposes to. issue tickets free of charge, admitting them to the privileges of membership.

The Rev. W. Mawson,-M.A., Missionary of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, is to give a series of lectures on Chinese life and scene-,, at Te Arai schoolroom to-morrow evening; at St. Andrew’s Church on Tuesday next, Mataivhero on Wednesday, Putatahi on Thursday, Ormond on Friday, and at Te Karaka on Tuesday, December 3rd. Collections are to be made at all tho lectures in aid of the mission funds.

According to the Mayor (Mr. AA . D. Lvsnar) the progress made in boring operations at Waitangi recently has been very slow, owing to a sticky .strata having been reached, and the question is being considered whether it would be advisable to continue the present bore deeper, or shift it a distance further away to prospect the extent ot the oil struck at a depth'of 6ooft. It has been deemed necessary to obtain expert advice on the subject, and Dr. Bell Director of the Geological Survey Department, will arrive in Gisborne on Sunday afternoon from Auckland to advise on the matter.

The dairy factories of Southland are working at full pressure, and in some oases the capacity of the plant is scarcely capable of meeting the demands made upon it (says the “Daily iSews ). Grass was never, perhaps, more Plentiful than it now is, which has resulted in larger yields of milk per cow, but this only in a measure accounts for the increased supply, graziers adding to their herds whenever suitable animals are offering. The extent to which dairying has taken the place of sheep raising and?! oat-growing).in Southland; is surprising, especially when, it is considered tbftk the industry has been mainly developed within the past few years.

An additional publication has been added to el 1 - known series of Harmsworth fortnightlies. The new magazine, of which the first copy has reached this office, is entitled “The World’s Great Books,” and it has been undertaken in the belief that the sura total of the world’s literature is now .so vast that the time is ripe for a work which will give its readers the pith and essence of the best books of the best writers. Every branch of literature is dealt with, fiction, history, poetry, travel, biography, philosophy, and religion, so that the work opens up an attractive vista to the man who desires to be well read, for as Addison said, “Were all books reduced to their quintessence, many a bulky author would make his appearance in a penny pamphlet.” The garden party and sale of work under the auspices of St. Andrew’s Ladies’ Guild, lire to be held this afternoon a net evening. The grounds of the Misses Morice, where the party is to be held, are situated at the corner of Childers and Roebuck Roads. Arrangements have been made with Mr White, of Mangapa.pa/to run his ’bus to the grounds. The first ’bus will leave Mangapapa at 1.35 p.m., reaching the Post Office at 2 p.m., thence to the grounds. A second ’bus for the .will leave the post office, at 3 p.m. The fare is 3d. Besides the stalls of useful and ornamctal articles for sale, games and competitions of various kinds are being organiser!, one that should cause a good deal of amusement .being the .hat-trimming competition for gentlemen. There will also, bo several side-shows. Messrs Vita Bros, have been engaged to play in the afternoon, and the City Band has kindly, consented to plav in the evening. The Mayoress (Mrs. W. D. Lysnar) lias kindly consented ; to open the sale or work.