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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2679, 8 December 1909, Page 4

The following passeugors arrived by Messrs Redstone and Soil’s coaches yesterday afternoon: From Waipiro, Mesdames McDonald and Maddaiso, Mr. Farmer; from Tologa, Mr. Buttler. An average of.£3 2s per day has been taken at the Napier baths since the opening ceremony, and it seems pretty evident that the venture will prove a municipal success, Owing to the theatre being otherwise engaged next Friday night, the Rathe pictures can only show their new programme for two nights, viz., tonight and to-morrow. “I shall never meet a New Zealander. Australian, or Canadian in London without feeling that I owe him a meal,” said Mr Will Crooks in Christchurch the other evening. “I only hope they won’t all come at once.” The funeral of the late Mrs. George Pratt took place yesterday afternoon to Makaraka cemetery. A short service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. Win. Grant, and a large number of friends attended the sad ceremonial. A Taranaki resident claims that a concoction made from dock roots is a certain cure for potato blight. The only rows of potatoes he saved laoC year were those sprayed with the mixture, and already this season he has proved its efficacy in young crops.

Mr. Moorhouse, of the Agricultural Department (Tourist Division) is at present on his way to Vancouver, en route to South America, for the purpose of securing and bringing to New Zealand a herd of mooso, which have been purchased by the Government for liberation in the South Island.

Boy scouts will be privileged persons on the Welmgton tramcars wnen in uniform, if a recommendation to be put forward by the Tramways Committee of the Wellington City CodScii is given effect to. The suggestion is that the jscouts should be charged half the usual faro.

“I would like to ask your Worships if you were struck what would you do?” was the question put to the presiding Justices at yesterday’s Police Court, h}’ a man charged with assault. The Bench evading so searching a query warned the man to control bis feelings in the public streets. The championship billiard tournament at the Victoria Saloon was resumed last night, when Te Kani Peru beat F. Wilkinson by 300 to 254. The former is now leading, and should be beat Austen on Friday night will win the championship. If not. another game between the pair will have to be played to decide the issue.

A Government valuer for a Hawke’s Bay district was recently retired, the reason given being that the Government was economising. The “Hawke’s Bay Herald” states that two valuers have now' been appointed for the district in question, and between them they draw 50 per cent, more salary than their predecessor did. Numbers of dogs in Roslyn have recently been the victims of cruel treatment at the hands of some person (reports the Dunedin “Star”). The method of torture has been to draw out the animals’ claws, thus causing them great agony. So prevalent haVe the cases been that the police are now look, ing into the matter. Unclaimed letters from places beyond the Dominion for the following persons arc lying at the Post Office, Gisborne: United Kingdom: H. G. Apsey, n'. Bailey. Tom Barry (5), J. Clarke, G. Huxtablo, J. Patterson, J. 1). Pcclley, W. Richardson, AY. A. Spurrell. New South Wales: F. Barnby, M. King. Tasmania: Miss C. Burnside, J. Dalgairns, Mrs. N. Ericson, Percy McKenzie. United States of America: J. Dunham (4), H. Newton.

The Rev. Dr. Cleary, editor of the “Tablet,” was at Dunedin presented with a ticket round the world, and a motor car. prior to leaving on a twelve months’ holiday for the benefit of his health. Dr. Cleary’s outlined tour touches first at Monte Video, whence he purposes travelling through Argentine into Chili, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, several of the central American Republics, Mexico, the United States, and perhaps Canada, after which lie will visit Europe.

Opinion in shipping circles appears to be divided as to whether the cuts in the groyne are responsible for the shoaling that is taking place at the river entrance. The general impression, however, seems to be that they are the cause of the trouble, and that, sooner or later, they will have to “lie filled in again. At last meeting the Harbor Board decided to proceed with another cut, but nothing lias been done as Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald, M.P., has forwarded from Wellington a notice of motion for next meeting to the effect that the resolution be rescinded.

As a sequel t-o a fistic encounter in Customhouse street on Monday evening, William Edward Townsend and James Ti/raex were brought up at the Police Coy.'l yesterday morning, before Messrs J. xownley and R. Joflnston, J.’s P., and charged with assault. Turner, who had been the most aggressive, had previously been before tiie Court and been fined for obscene language and disorderly conduct. On pleading guilty he was * fined 40s, costs 2s in default 7 days’, 14 days being allowed in which to pay the fine. Townsend was also convicted and fined £1 with 2s costs or 4 days’. Before the two accused left the box they were warned by. the Justices to leave liquor, which had been the plum ary cause of the trouble, alone. It is evident that the holding of a poll is not the only consideration in a municipal borrowing policy. It is six months now since the Napier ratepayers sanctioned their last loan and still the money is not forthcoming. Last week the Town Clerk wired to Mr J. Vigor Brown, M.P., as follows: “Finance Committee instruct me to wire you as Mayor of Napier asking, in event of Loans to Local Bodies Bill being passed can you get an assurance from the Government that the loan of £134.250 granted by ratepayers will be available, and, if so, how soon?” Mr Brown replied that the Loans to Local Bodies Amendment Bill was hung up, and until it was adjcjiced another stage he could give np answer to the query. The death occurred suddenly at Christchurch on Tuesday of last week, of Mrs. A. J. "White, who was about seventy years of age. Mrs. White arrived in Christchurch about forty-two years ago, and soon afterwards married Mr. A. J. White. She was intimately associated with his large furniture business, and on his death in 1895, she took control of the business. It was formed into a private company some oigliteen months ago, but Mrs. White retained her interest, and transacted business at the warehouse almost every day. She was there for an hour on Monday afternoon, but soon after her return home she beoame ill and died unexpectedly. She was always a very staunch supporter of the Roman Catholic Church, which, benefitted consider; ably by many valuable gifts from her.

A Southern settler has named his pair of carriage horses Cook and Peary, because, he ,says, they have the pole between them.

A meeting of Esperantists will be •held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms this evening, when all those interested in the study of the universal language will be welcomed.

For some months the expenditure in stores, wages, etc., in connection with the Taviuni while operations were under way for reflotation, probably amounted to £SOO or more a month. “We are in the happy position of being able to say that there are no empty houses in Auckland. ” Thus remarked the Deputy-Mayor af last "City Council meeting.

A cable was received from Messrs M . Simons and Co. yesterday, stating that £27,000 worth of work has been done m connection with the xuarbor Board s new dredge Maui.. The Kauaeranga bridge. Thames, was opened oil November 9. 1877. It has been “'kept in splendid repair ever since, and is at present said to be a strong and substantial structure, likely to last for many years.

“There is no doubt that there are more accidents on the Auckland tramways than all the rest of the tramways of the Dominion put together,” said the Hon. R. M’Kenzle, Minister of Public Works’recently.

An impression has gained ground to some extent that the proposed increase in railway fares is now in operation. This is not so< As usual, holiday excursion return tickets w'lll be issued from the week belore Christmas to Jan. uary 2 or 3, at single rates.

A marked improvement is observable in the public dressing sheds at the Waikanae beach, and at present it is a pleasure to make use or them. All that is now required for the comfort ol bathers is that the sheds should he kept in the same state of cleanliness. At the meeting of the Mackenzie County Council the engineer (Mr Banks! mentioned that he had received 61 shags’ heads from the Cave. The council, however, liad ceased to buy them. Mr A. S. Smith remarked that his lad had recently shot a shag, and found that it contained thirteen 6-inch trout.

The railway extension works are being pushed on fairly rapidly, and the formation work is now well on towards llakauroa. Extremely bad weather has been experienced latterly, somewhat retarding operations, and yesterday was the first really fine day for nearly three weeks. There are afc present between 300 and 400 men employed on the works.

Apropos of Chinamen using the Naper baths Cr. McGrath, at last Council meeting, read a letter received by him from the inspector of nuisances in which that officer stated that he had inspected the premises of 9 Chinamen, 4 laundries and 5 fruit shops, and had found only one bathroom, which was apparently rarely used. It was a pity that something could not be done to make barrooms compulsory.

It would appear that the Wellington grocers in raising the price of sugar a farthing a pound, on the plea_ that the wholesale price has advanced os per ton, are doing a good, stroke of business. A rise of os per ton is equivalent to 3d per cwt, a rise of id per lb equals 2s 4d per cwt. Auckland retailers have met the rise of 10s per ton wholesale, since November 20 bv raising the price of 561 b bags'lid. There is no advance on broken parcels. That curse to farmers and gardeners alike,, the potato blight, is continuing its ravages in the district, and many promising crops have been laid low. The rapidity of the progress of the disease is most marked, and is instanced by one small crop, which on Sunday appeared to be perfectly free, yet on Monday afternoon was a litter of shrivelled blackened leaves and stems. Very few crops have entirely escaped the scourge, and it is quite a common sight- in the gardens to see the plants with the tops cut off close.

lai the December issue of tl w “Y.M.C.A. Monthly,” the president (Mr. F. S. Malcolm) contributes a retrospective sketoli of the ’year’s operations. He refers to tlie fact of the local Association being, in the honored position of having the largest membership in the Dominion, in proportion to population, and urges the members on to greater things in the year to come. After mentioning the important step taken by the directors in the acquisition of the valuable site in Gladstone ltoa'd, the president concludes by wishing one and all the compliments of the festive reason.

The first meeting of the To Ami Maori branch of the ‘W.C.T.U. was held at Mrs. Halbert’s house, Te Aral, yesterday afternoon. A number of the lady members of the union went out, and there was a large gathering of Maoris from Murewai, Te Arai, Gisborne. and Waimii, who were present at the invitation of the Te Arai Maoris. The meeting was addressed by lie vs. F. W. Chatterton. -Rangi, and a number of others. The speeches dealt with the work of tlie Union, and were translated by Mr. T. Cotton. Afternoon tea was partaken of, and a pleasant and profitable afternoon was spent. His Worship the Mayor on Monday wired to the Hon. Jas. Carroll inquiring the cause for delay in the gazetting of the new Rabbit Board for East Coast. The following reply has come to hand from the Hon. -T. Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture: “Regarding your telegram to Hon. J. Carroll re Rabbit Board: The Crown law officers inform me that they hope to have the matter finished as far as they are concerned to-morrow. When it comes from them it will be expedited as much as possible. Before gazetting the matter ha s to go before the Governor in-Council. No time will be lost in doing this. You were written to the other day re appointing someone as returning officer.” Mr. Lysnar sent the following reply: “I have to thank you for your' wire re Board. So far I have not received your communication re appointment of returning officer, but would suggest. Mr. W. Ross, local rabbit inspector, be appointed.”

Men have made themselves many inventions, but a- shrewd idea- may still lead on to fortune. The simpler the idea, the better, so long as it is essentially new. The thing is to make sure of .your agent. Ogilvy and Co., land agents, have developed their profession to an art. Their illustrated monthly journal, “Progress,” is the only journal of invention published in the Southern Hemisphere.