The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3156, 28 February 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1911.

It is satisfactory to note that the Harbor Board now appears to be thoroughly aroused to the necessity for making some improvements which will greatly minimise., if not remove, all possible danger in connection with the entrance to the river. How essential it is that something should be dozie in this regal'd as soon as possible has, we know, long been recognised generally. Of course, it really has, in an important sense, nothing to do with the question as to which work should be undertaken —the establishment of an outer harbor / or the development of the inner harbor. The position, 1 we-think, is clear. The work is of such an urgent nature that it cannot wait until the harbor policy ‘is definitely settled. If successful means are taken to improve the entrance it would be hard to understand how anyone could regard as wasteful any reasonable expenditure: on the project. Towards the development of an inner harbor such' a work is undoubtedly essential, whilst even. the. most ardent supporters of the outer harbor proposal will surely’ acknowledge it will be necessary in the interests of the town and district to have a safe inner harbor until, if not for all time, the huge undertaking is completed. So much, then, with regard to the necessity for the proposed improvements.

Harbor Improvement.

As to.the best means to be adopted there continues to be a sharp conflict of opinion, both on the Board and .outside. Whether the desired results would be best obtained by extending the breakwater or by slewing the groyne, or by any means, is a. matter clearly for experts. There are, however, one or two points about which there appears to be no doubt. One is that no guarantee can be forthcoming that if either of the proposals alluded to be ultimately adopted it will in itself prove sufficient. Take, for instance, Mr. Marchant’s recommendation that the breakwater should be extended. “Such an extension,” he says, “will cause a sand shoal to form under its lee. A shoal will to some extent be formed, and must be kept down by dredging, as has to be done in other places. There is, however, but a small quantity of littoral drift here, and the expense of removing; the shoal should be very little.” Concerning the suggestion that the groyne should be slewed, the probable results less definite. Another point upon which there would also be a consensus of opinion, we think, is that either project would prove expensive. That, however, is not a matter wit-li which we propose to deal ( on this occasion.

It will be/seen that the Board has by a majority of one affirmed the desirable-

ness of M project to be based on lines similaijrto those recommended by Mr. Marcljfnt, viz., an extension of the brealjf'ater, and also, strange to say, by i\Hsingle vote—that of a supporter of tffe resolution—carried an “amendmcif” which had for its object that tliejf Overseer should report as to the adpsableness of slewing the groyne! It Jnow remains to be seen what the mind will do at the special meeting

uMich is to be held to discuss the matter next Monday. There can, we think, be little doubt from his statements yesterday that the Overseer will report adversely in regard to the proposal to slew the groyne. Of course, it may be said that the Board should leave the matter over for the consideration of the new Board,, which is shortly to be appointed. In the circumstances, however, we feel that it would be better now if the Board pvould at once take such steps as may be necessary to confirm the decision which it arrived at yesterday, so as to leave no room for anyone to hold that it is desired to still further shelve the matter.

"Whilst the fate of the House of Lords

is, as it were, hanging The Constitu- in the balance, it is tional Crisis. interesting to point put what would be the practical effects of the Rosebery resolutions (which have already been adopted by the House Of Lords) were they carried into practice. It has been suggested that the .Lords’ scheme would produce a Second Chamber packed with Unionists, but Lord" Midleton, in a lengthy letter to the-London “Times,” declares that such could not possibly be the case. He* says that the House of Lords under tlie Rosebery system would be reduced from over six hundred to, say, four hundred members, half chosen in various ways from the existing hereditary peerage and half by election from outside. Of this scheme Sir Edward Grey went so far as to assume that out of the 200 hereditary Peers the Government would only command 20, which would leave a standing majority of 160 Unionists to outvote those chosen from outside. What, asks Lord Midleton, are the true figures? The Rosebery Committee proposed to establish three classes of Peers : —(1) Those qualified by special public service to sit; (2) those selected by tlie whole body of the Peers; (3) members of the Government selected by the Prime Minister. The “qualified” Peers included Cabinet Ministers, ex-Cabinet Ministers, Viceroys, Ambassadors, high officers in the Judiciary, the Army and Navy, and the Civil Service, and Peers who had had ten years’ service in the House of Commons. “If,” says Lord Midleton, “this scheme is applied to the present House of Lords, 88 Unionists,* 48 Liberals, and 14 non-party Peers fulfil the conditions of distinguished public-service. There are thus left 50 Peers for the other two categories. Of these, 10 would probably be claimed by the Prime Minister for members of -his Government. This would leave 40 Peers to be elected by a proportional vote from among the existing Peers. The Government Mould, then, command 6 of these 40 vacancies. Of the 200 hereditary Peers, the Liberal strength would thus be 64, the Unionist 122. and non-party 14 i.e., Peers like Lord Rosebery, Lord Roberts, Lord Wolseley, Lord Kitchener, Lord Fisher, Lord Macnagliten, Lord Gorell, Lord Lindley, etc. This gives a Unionist majority on the hereditary side of 58.” Of the 200 members of the Second Chamber to be elected from outside, Lord Midleton calculates that, assuming the elections of 1906 and 1910 to be fair indications of the popular will, 132 would be- Radicals and some 68 Unionists., Adding these figures to those of the hereditary Peers, the new House would, he calculates, contain 196 Radicals to 190 Unionists. If instead the system of nomination were adopted, 20 persons being selected annually by the Prime Minister of the day to serve for ten years, the new House would in 1911 contain in all 204 Radicals to 182 Unionists. “If Lord Midleton’ s figures ard correct,” comments the “.Spectator,” and we see no reason to " think that lie is in any way mistaken,- we can hardly avoid his conclusion that if the design of the - Government Were to reflect the opinion. of the Upper House rather than to tree themselyes from;, the 'shackles of a Second Chamber, tliey might have avoided the Constitutional crisis - which they have gratuitous! v forced upon the country.’ ” ‘

The secretary of tlie Harbour Board lias been advised that tlie.&rvey of the proposed road through the Tamvhareparae block will probably l bet completed at the end of this week.

A private wire received in Gisborne yesterday announced that the members of the team to represent the Gisborne Fire Brigade at the demonstration at Hokitika had arrived in Greymouth, and were all well after the journey. Over 30 applications were received by the Harbour Board for the position of assistant 'harbourmaster, and yesterday afternoon Mr C. F. Harper, at present chief officer on thei s.s. Victoria, was appointed. Mr Harris entered a vigorous protest on the ground that the extra expenditure was totally unnecessary, there being at this port, in his opinion, no more work than one man could attend to.

Playgoers are reminded that the box plan for Miss Rosemary Rees’ production of “The Prude’s Progress” opens this morning at Miller’s. As the hocking promises to l*e exceptionally heavy, those wishing to see Jerome’s clever comedy would -do well to secure tlieir seats as soon as possible. Some interesting statements on the position of English teachers in South Africa are contained in a letter published in the “New (Zealand Herald” from a New Zealand teacher now teaching in the Transvaal, who writes: “Scandalous and unjust things have happened in our neighbouring State (Orange River). There are not two dozen British teachers left there. Hertzog is a most awful man. He has openly said that he hates the English, and his Education Act was especially directed against them. Several of the male principals in out-country schools have been transferred, without knowing why, into other schools as assistants. Lady assistants, without notification, have had their posts degraded —in some cases meaning £SO per annum less. Twenty-five of us holding A posts (the premier), have been asked to sit for an examination —all Dutch—and we have refused. Smuts declared a few years ago that in 12 years, time he would have no oversea teachers here, or Civil Servants, etc., other than Dutch. Many of the Civil Servants who voted for Sir Percy Fitzpatrick in Pretoria three months ago, have lost their positions.” The case or the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd. (Mr Stock) v. Chas. Parker (Mr Barnard), a claim for £l2 for two dairy heifers, was again called on at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.& The case had been adjourned last week to enable plaintiffs to get the evidence of the yardman. Mr Stock said he would can no further evidence, as he had ascertained that one of the yardmen had signed an order on behalf of defendant. The Magistrate pointed out that defendant had not. said he had not authorised anyone to sign on liis behalf. Mr Stock said he would accept a non-suit and the plaintiffs were consequently non-suited, with costs £1 Is.

Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Two first offenders for drunkenness were .each fined 8s and costs 2s; in default, 48 hours’ imprisonment. John Kilmart-in and Chas. Wilson, second offenders, were each fined 20s and costs 2s; in default, four days' imprisonment. Alexander Smith was remanded to appear at Auckland on March 6th on a charge of wife desertion. Bail was allowed accused in £SO and one (Surety of £SO.

According to advice received by the Acting-Chief Postmaster (Mr C. M. Price) the fishing boat Shamrock, several days out from this port, is sheltering at Tologa Bay. An interesting collection of portraits and busts of men prominently connected with New Zealand history is, says the ''New Zealand Times” gradually being brought together a.t the Parliament Library. The librarv already contains marble busts of the late Sir Harry Atkinson Sir John Mackenzie and Mr. Seddon, and bronzed plaster busts of Sir John Hall and Sir George Grey, in addition to several oil paintings including these of Sir Julius Vogel, Sir George Grey, Mr. Ballance and Mr. Seddon, and oor trait shields representing past Parliaments dating back to the commencement of responsible government. A valuable and interesting addition to the collection has recently been made in the shane of three beautifully executed miniature portraits which were purchased on behalf of the Government by the High Commissioner and presented to the Library through the Minister of Internal Affairs: These are a portrait, in his military uniform, cf Lieut.Colonel Grev (Sir George Grey’s father), of Sir Gorge’s mother, and cf Sir George himself when a young, man cf twenty-two . The miniatures are to he reframed in a uniform stylo and hung in a conspicuous place on the walls of the main reading room. The regulations which are to govern the registration of barmaids have not yet emerged from the hands of. the Government printer, though their issue is now daily anticipated. Officials of the Labour Department mentioned that a mistaken impression had gained currency that any barmaid employed in that capacity for three months prior to the final date of application for registration, in June next, would be entitled to be registered. This is not the aotua. position. Only those barmaids' will be eligible for registration who have been employed for a period of not less than three months during the 12 months preceding November 21, 1910. To-night the Pathe Picture Company will show their “Twelfth Night” (Shakespeare) programme for the last time. To-morrow an entire change will be given. The shooting season for all game opens on May Ist. Previously the season for ducks and native game opened on April Ist.

The advantages- possessed hv the ambidexterous over the merely dexterous man in music, surgery, and sport have often been brought before our notice. says the “Westminster Gazette.” But we never suspected that his superiority in these or in other spheres was anything more than manual. Frpm Berlin, however, comes the assurance that to be ambidexterous is also to be better balanced mentally; for. whereas righthanded people have' the organ of speech on one side of the brain, and vice versa, “people who are ambidexterous have two language centres, one in each lobe (of the brain.” This claim may or may not be based on a physiological fact. But before.we endow it with any educational or scientific value, wc should like to know how far its proposed application* toy German .national schools is Promoted by genuine' scientists, and how far that is only -a-sum" that, the “Bilingualistts” are again at work. If the latter Supposition is correct, it is to be feared that cultivators of ambidexterity as an intellectual asset may have to'look for their fruition to other countries than* Germany, which lias too often been a dumping-ground for unclaimed scientific causes in the post.

According to. Press Association telegrams the slight earthquake shocks le here early on Sunday morning were also experienced at Wairoa, Napier, 1 ahmtua, Masterton, Palmerston j l’., • lington, Blenheim, Nelson and Christchurch.

A conference of freezing companies is to he held in Wellington next week. Mi John Clark and probably some other gentlemen from Gisborne "ill go dovn to attend the conference.

“The dredge is nearly paid for, gentlemen ; one more instalment of £oiXJO, and she is ours.”—The chairman at yesterday’s meeting of the Harbour Board.

The tender of Mr J. Guthrie, at £B9l 7s lid has been accepted by the Cook County Council for Whataupoko sidewalks ithe first section of the work to ho undertaken out of the new loan. Mr C. .Wade’s tender -of 7s 4d per yard has also been accepted for metalling Paremata road.

There was a fair attendance at the executive meeting of the No-License League last night and a similar attendance at the League meeting held a little later. A deal of routine business was attended to. The President, the Rev. F. W. Chatterton, gave an addrfess on the proposals of the New Zealand Alliance as regards the propaganda in view of the election. Pleasure was expressed at the decision of the Government to teach hygiene and temperance m the public schools. A special report (No. B)*has been issued by the Education Department dealing with these subjects, and it contains much valuable teaching in simple* form on these subjects. It deals with fresh air, sunshine, posture, games, sleep, eating and drinking. Provision is being made for the displaying of hygienic and temperance wall cards in all the schools of the Dominion. A sitting of the Old Age Pension Court was held at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Twelve renewals at £26 were granted and one at £22. Three new pensions were approved at £26, two at £2O and one at £l4.

Apparently the keenness shown earlier in the season by the members of the Motor Launch Club is on the wane. Only three of them attended last night in response Ho a summons to a special meeting, and no business could be transacted.

At a meeting of the committee of the Poverty Bay Sheep Dog Trial Club the programme for the trials to .be held at Ormondville on April sth, 6th, and 7th was arranged as follows: —Class . 1. — Head, bring back, and hold until judge is satisfied; about 700 yards; time. 10 minutes. Class II. —Huntaway, between three lots of flags, zigzag course; about 400 yards; time. 12 minutes. Class 111. —Huntaway to a flag, bring back and yard; about 350 yards; time, 15 minutes. ABSTRACT OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Man to milk wanted. Ewes for sale. Berge coat lost. Villa residence to let. Assembly, P.B. Rowing Club. New bar, Turanganui Hotel. Social. Makaraka Hall, to-night. Tenders, Waikohu County Council. Shares for sale. Notice re prizes Freezing Works Sports. Notice. Turanganui Hotel. Meeting. Co-operative Building Society. Tenders. H. J. Brownlee. Notice. Cook County Council. Building site for sale. Poverty Bay Sheep Dog Trials. 1167 acres for sale —Petcliell and CoBusiness notice. —E. Hall and Sons. Money to lend —F. C. Fiddy. Business notice —Melbourne Cash. Lost. Collie slut. Mare, buggy, and harness for sale.