The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1909.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2695, 28 December 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1909.

Among the Christmas gifts received at the Old Men’s Home was a box of cigars, sent by an anonymous donor. A solitary “drunk” occupied the police cells last evening, giving evidence cf the orderliness that has prevailed in Gisborne during this season. During the progress of a bush fire, and while it was raging fiercely on a farm at Molong, New South Wales, last week, a sheepdog displayed wonderful sagacity by taking charge of 200 sheep almost from the thick of the flames, and landing and keeping them outside the scope of fire. He remained with them until the flames on his master’s property were subdued. The Frimley canning factory shelled in one day recently with their machinery six tons of peas, which were all canned and put through the various processes and made ready for the market. Another three tons were dealt with similarly the next day. At present fifty pickers are employed, and this number is expected short!}- to be increased to one hundred.

The Pathe Picture Company will introduce illustrated songs into their usual pictorial programmes. The management announce having secured the services of Miss Eva Brady for the occasion, so the addition of these picture melodies will be highly appreciated. Miss Brady, who possesses a highly cultured voice, will make her first appearance on New Year’s Night, when a special holiday > programme will be presented. At last meeting of the Christchurch Drainage Board the chairman commented upon the fact that at a recent poll in St Albans for the extension of the sewerage area over a district occupied by -about ten residents, there were nine votes cast for the proposal and none against, while at a. similar poll at Sydenham, affecting about a thousand ratepayers, only thirty-two voted for, and- twenty-six against the proposal. The apathy in the latter case, he said, was very disheartening to those engaged in the service of the public.

A boy named John Beadle, aged six years, clied recently in the Auckland Hospital from a bad leg, the injury to which, it is suggested, may have a "curious origin. The child was bathing on one of the Ponsonby beaches, and afterwards his leg swelled up, although there was no mark on the skin. At certain seasons the jelly/ fish i s suspected of causing a form of bloodpoisoning, and it is thought possible that the boy got bis leg into contact with the tendrils of a large jelly fish. The hospital authorities do not unreservedly accept this theory. According to the “Engineer,” the new Cunard liner to be built by Messrs Swan, Hunter and Wigliam Richardson is to be G22ft over all, 600 ft b.p., 70ft breadth moulded, and 52ft 3in depth moulded, having a displacement of about 24,500 tons, and a deadweight capacity of about 10,000 tons on a draft of about 29ft 6in. The propelling machinery, which will be fitted bv the Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Company, will consist of twin-screw quadruple-expansion engines balanced on the Yarrow, Schlick and Tweedy system, and indicate about 12,500 li.p. She is intended for the Livcr-pool-Boston service, and provision is to be made for 250 first, 500 second, and 1400 third-class passengers, besides 900 immigrants.

History is silent (says the Melbourne “Age”) as to the authorship of the waggish story told concerning Geelong Gaol, according to which a grumbling prisoner is alleged to have declared that he “would not remain longer in it unless the walls were mended sufficiently to keep the cows out.” But no less an authority than the In-spector-General of Prisons (Mr. Connor) relates an incident scarcely less amusing. Some months ago the sentence of one of the prisoners, who was engaged on some bride work, expired at 9 a.m., but he refused to 16ave until he had finished his job, and remained in rhe gaol until noon. Even then he was loth to go, but it was pointed out to him that the State could not undertake to keep him longer, and that if he did not at once depart an ejection order would be obtained against him. During his stay in Canada, Mr T. Hyde, as one who has taken great interest in land settlement, studied the working of the land laws there. “The Canadian conditions for settlement purposes,’Lhe said ,to a “New Zealand Times’ ” reporter, “are better than ours. There a tenant, before he can deal in land, must prove to the satisfaction of. the Lands Department that he has carried out his residential conditions, quite independently of the report of the ranger, and with substantiation by two neighbors. This is an improvement badly wanted in New Zealand, because there is too much shuffling here, and the residential conditions are often not complied with. The onus of proof of compliance with conditions should rest with the occupier, as in Canada, and not upon a ranger’s report. Of course, a man may be on a property at the time of the ranger’s visit, but never there afterwards. I certainly recommend the adoption of the Canadian system in New Zealand, or some modified form of it.”

The following pronouncement has been made by the Croquet Committee of the United Club at Christchurch on the vexed question of “pegging-out.” Pegging-out of a rover-hall by a rover opponent, being in accordance with the laws of the game, and being invariably adopted in every match or tournament of importance throughout the world, and it being, in the opinion of the highest experts, productive of some of the most beautiful and interesting strategy which occurs at croquet, it will hereafter be the rule of the United Club in all matches arid tournaments. The idea that there is anything mean in the practice is, in the view of the Croquet Committee,; due to a. failure; to appreciate the strategy which it involves. ’ In deference, however, to the fact that this idea lias long locally prvailed, and because local usage and sentiment have, hitherto been against ‘‘pegging-out,” the Croquet Committee has’"decided that, in the United tournaments, it may be specially'excepted,’ by-agreement between the players made prior to the commencement of the game; and in matches between the United and other clubs, it mav be excepted by like agreement, if the consent of the two captains has been previously, .obtained. In the absence of such agreement, the rules as they appear in the laws of croquet must prevail, both in matches and tournaments.

It is notified that tho. Banks will bo closed on Saturday, January Ist, and on- Monday, January 3rd. Mr T. Hyde, for many years a member of the Bay Land Board, returned to Napier last week after a visit to England.

Boxing Day was observed yesterday as a close holiday in Gisborne, and the town presented a deserted appearance. A good many people took advantage of the fine day to enjoy a drive into the country, and. numbers of them attended the Waerenga-a-hika .sports and Whatatutu races.

A very successful dance was held at Waerenga-a-hika last evening, there being about 80 couples present.. A first-class supper was’ provided by the Gisborne Co-operative Bakery Co. Ltd., while excellent music was furnished by Mr. Wootton. Messrs Thompson and Ecu ton gave every satisfaction as M.C.s. . Tho arrangements were in the hands cf the secretary, Mr. A. H. Jones, and were very complete. During his sermon at Phillipstown early afternoon. till ten o’clock at night, and they had. not had any effect on him. He was, he' said, quite sober, drinking “professional” drinks from Church on Sunday night (says the Christchurch “Press”) the Rev. H. E. Ensor mentioned that he had recently received a letter from some religious enthusiast, who declared that the holding of parish garden parties and children’s plays went hand in hand with the world, the flesh, and the devil.

A new drink has been added to the long list by a witness in the Police Court at Wellington. He said that he had been having “professional” drinks. Counsel ascertained from the witness, who had been connected with “the trade,” that “professional” drinks were of such a nature that quite a number could be taken without their having any effect. The drink was made up of'“just a thimbleful cf liquor” and a large quantity of water. These drinks were generally taken by publicans when drinking with friends. The witness then stated that he had been There was a hint of coalition in the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening. A jeer from the Government benches regarding the strength of the Opposition provoked Mr Herries to retort that the leaseholders could not have wrecked the Land Bill had there not been a solid Opposition of twentyseven members. “The Government was afraid that the leaseholders would join with the solid Opposition,” he said. “They would not join with you,” remarked a Minister. “Some day we : will-join with one side or the other and oust the honorable gentleman,” replied Mr Herries.

Speaking at the distribution of prizes at the Rangiora High School, Mr. T. R. Cresswell, principal of the school, referred to the agitation to raise the standard of the matriculation examination. He said that the opinion had been expressed that the examination had been made easier dur_ ing late years. He, however, did not think that was the case. In his opinion the standard of teaching had improved, and the children being better prepared to-day than they were a few years ago, the examination work was easier to them. “The examination was not too easy at a “leaving” one for the average pupil who had attended a high school for four years, but for children of exceptional ability, who were going forward + o the University, it was not hard enough. All honor to Mr. Carneross (remarks the “Southland Daily Aews”) for bringing forward the case of the bank clerks wiio are apt to have their savings confiscated by ruthless management. It was in vain to point out that most banks do return the capital subscribed plus interest on the voluntary severance of the connection. But the fact was only brought out in stronger relief that, some institutions hold on to every sixpence. 'Hie Council, therefore, was quite right to pass the resolution. It affirms tfie principle that what q man lias paid by arrangement with his employer that he is entitled to receive, when he leaves his employer's service. There is more here than meets the •eye. It- should be compulsory in all cases except of mal‘Tersa+ion to return the funds subscribed.

“I dread the advent of the military spirit in New Zealand,” declared Mr. T. E. Taylor. “We are beginning it now playing at soldiers. I detest the advent of a power above the civil power here.” “But you have been advocating it yourself recently,” remarked Sir Joseph Ward. “When?” asked Mr. Taylor. “Military training,” was Sir Joseph Ward’s reply. “Yes, military training,’’ admitted Mr. Taylor, “but its a very different thing to having a small army of popinjays in uniform, parasites on the industrial world. They have proved themselves an unmitigated curse in whatever country thev are established.” Sir Joseph Ward replied that Mr. Taylor was evidently leaping before he looked. The regulation certainly gave the Government wide powers, and' were to have the force of law when gazetted. The Government could not say when they would cOme into force. There was, he said, nothing in the Bill that interfered with the Civil law.

The following report from the “Daily Telegraph” casts a rather lurid light on the anti-Britisli feeling in parts of Ireland:—At a meeting of the Tobercurry (00. Mayo) Rural Council, a long discussion took nlace on a report furnished' by a ren£-collector' that one of the Council’s tenants, a man named Lelieny, having given lodging accommodation to a “sapper” who is engaged in making a survey of the district. It is stated that a number of the Royal Engineers who were engaged in this work have been refused lodgings in the district. Mr. Anderson, one of the members of the Council, said that he woiild prefer that Irishmen, and not English soldiers, should occupy the Council’s cottages. The Cleric: I think the District Council are under no obligation to provide cottages for sappers. Mr. Anderson: They are built for Irishmen, and it Irishmen who should live in them. Mr. McManus observed that plenty of Irishmen were sappers, and a member retorted that there was always an Irishman who was a traitor. Several members suggested proceedings against the.tenant. The rent-collector mentioned that when he wrote to the tenant to “have the soldier cleared out before the next meeting of the Council,” Leheny replied, “The poor man is looking for house and can get none, and I thought it iio harm to let him in for t few weeks.” Mr. Henry: Make an m;dor to have him cleared out,’ and if lie has hot left before this day week we :will -prosecute Leheny. ,An .order/to this ■ effect was made. . Self-reliance is a good! thing, but when it induces hn inventor to venture alone into the mazes of the patent laws, it is apt to come expensive: Take v-our ideas to_ a keen, straight agent, Messrs Baldwin and Ray ward. Auckland. Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, know all about the law. of m+«uts, and have agents everywhere. Skilfully (guarded and adroitly placed, fto.ro m’arht easily be a fortune in a simple idea.-

Tenders for the Otoko viaduct on. the Glsborne-Rotorua railway, will be received at the Public M orks Office, Wellington, until noon on Monday, January 31st.

Owing to the inclemency of the weather the firing in the Gisborne Rules for the Company Handicap Cup with attached prizes, had to be postponed from yesterday till New Year s Day.

Hie inmates at the hospital spent a very enjoyable Christmas, all things considered, and wish to acknowledge their thanks to the following friends who contributed gifts for their Christmas dinner: Messrs Holden and H. B. Williams, turkeys; Mrs. Jackman and Mr. Clare cakes; Mrs. Jones, eggs; and Mr. Bell, soft drinks. Mr. Richard Tingey, of Wellington, was fortunate enough ,to be in New York during the centenary celebration of steam-powered boats n the Hudson River. He states that one great feature of the celebrations was a monster procession through the streets of New York of tableaux representing the discovery and history of America down to the coming of the first steamer, Glermont a vessel about the size of a small ferry-boat, driven by ismall prjddlewheels, an exact replica of which was built for the celebrations on the water. The procession took three hours to pass the point where Mr. Tingey stood, and, as tlie great lorries passed along one could read the history of the birth and progress of what is now a great nation. The Dutch Government provided a replica of the old-fashioned galleon, Half-Moon, which collided with the Clermont on her first voyage up the Hudson, and' all the great Powers were represented by battleships and cruisers. While at Vanvouver, on liis way to New Zealand, says the Dannevirke “Evening News,” the Rev. J. Moore Ritchie wished to cross the CanadianUnited States frontier, to visit friends at Seattle. It was a more formidable task than he expected. He intended to stay only forty-eight hours in Seattle* but as an alien lie had to pay a poll tax of four dollars, to which he did not object, and to undergo an inquisitorial examination, in whipli some of the questions were most offensive. He said as much, and was informed that there were others which might be considered more offensive still, but they were withheld. He stated that- he was an American by birth (British-American), and strongly resented the idea that the people of that comparatively small part of America, which claimed to be America, to the exclusions of the other nations of the Continent, had any Divine or other right to assume that all outside their nationality were suspected persons. A batch of inebriates were brought before Mr J. Townley, J.P. at the Police Station yesterday . morning, and dealt with. A first offender, a young man, was fined os, costs 2s, an/, cautioned by the Justice. A Native, cn bail, who did' not appear, was fined 18s, costs 2s. James Geoffrey Barlow, found drunk in Victoria Township in possession of a loaded revolver, was fined the amount of his bail £2. He did not appear in Court. Geo. Rice, previously convicted within the past six months, was fined 18s, costs 2s; Chas. Ellis Davis, in view of his promising to keep sober in the future, was fined os, costs 2s, and Herbert Gush, previously convicted within the past six months, was fined £l, costs 2s, in default 4 days' imprisonment.. Davis and Gush were also charged with procuring liqucr within the currency of a prohibition order and, were i-emanded till January 4th, bail in the former case being allowed in £o and in the latter in £lO. Gush being a second offender, within a short period. As the Magistrate will not return to Gisborne till January 14th., these cases will be again remanded on January 4th. The London “Guardian” says:—“No disparagement of tlie holy state of matrimony, but rather the reverse, is implied in certain recent utterances of the President of the United States, which have been widely commented upon in this country. Mr. Taft, in declaring that he desired ‘to see every woman so situated that she need not marry if she did not want to,’ was only expressing the desire felt by those who for the last fifty years or more, have sought to promite the economic independence of women. Some change in public opinion, at least,has taken place. It is amusing, possibly, to read the summing-up bv Miss Austen of the' motives which induced Charlotte Lucas, who had been brought up to regard marriage as ‘the pleasantest preservation from want,’ to accept the egregious Mr. Collins, who was ‘neither sensible nor agreeable, and whose socre. ty was irksome;’ but it does not increase our respect for the way in which marriage was regarded in those days. Nor can we hold up for admiration the dispassionate manner in which her own prospects were discussed by that neice of Horace Walpole, who, on receiving a proposal of marriage from a wealthy suitor, said, ‘very sensibly’ (writes her uncle), to her sister, Ladv Waldegrave: ‘lf I was but 19 I would refuse pointblank. I do not like to be married in' a week to a. man I never saw. But lam two and twenty. Some people say lam handsome; some sav I am not. I believe the truth is that I am likely to be large, and to go off soon. It is den go ro\is to refuse so great a match.’ Tlie point cf view put forward bv Mr. Taft, that a woman should be free to marry or not, as she chooses, unfettered by the, necessity of getting a husband simply for the sake of board and lodgings,’ is more likely to raise than to lower the estimation in which marriage is held in any civilised country.”

Are you aware that your personal appearance is vastly improved by a visit to our Hairdressing Saloon. Our Operators are Artists in their profession, and make a careful study of the gentlemeh who come under their care and treatment. Don’t forget! We have the finest equipned saloon in the city. Try our Ice Shampoo and note that we always give our customers an Ice Wash after a shave. We are the sole agents for the far-famed “Parasene” hair-restorer. “Parasenp” is no local concoction and is entirely free of acetic acid or any ingredient that will injure the hair or head. C. Morse’s Central Hairdressing Saloon, Gladstone Road.*