Local and General

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3164, 9 March 1911, Page 4

Local and General

Our Te Araroa correspondent writes that for the last three days in February no less than 12.10 inches of rain fell. Considerable damage was done m various places through washouts, the road between Te Araroa and Ivahukura particularly suffering. On the recommendation of the Borough Engineer,' the Council last nightdecided to grant employees in the sanitary department a fortnight’s holiday in each year, after they have been 12 months in the employ of the Council. In emphasising the necessity for the recommendation being agreed to, the Mayoy pointed out that these men received none of the regular holidays during the year. The East Coast Society for the- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is offering prizes to their juvenile members for essays on the work of the Society. One or two prizes will be offered to each school for children in Standards 1., 11., and 111., and a similar number of prizes [dor Standards IV., V., and VI. The subjects that have been chosen are as follows: —For junior pupils : “Is cruelty the result of want of thought/’ and for the senior scholars, “The necessity and use of the S.P.C.A.”, The proprietor of a circus entertainment, te visit Gisborne shortly, unsuccessfully applied to the Borough Council last night for a reduction of the license fee payable according to the Council’s by-laws. The fee, it nnghtbe stated, is £5 and suffices for 12 monte. The roads on the East Coast, in consequence of the recent heavy rains, are now in a very bad condition,, particularly north of Tokomarn, and some difficulty is being experienced in driving fat stock to the freezing works. South of Tokomaru the roads are not so bad. In days gone by the Borough. Council lias achieved a somewhat unenviable reputation for protracted sittings, but what is 'claimed to- be a record of another kind was established hist night. The meeting commenced at 7.30 p.m., and terminated at 10.5 p.m. The Tuatea, after tendering the passengers from the Wimmera. yesterday, grounded in the river opposite the Gisborne freezing works, but with the friendly aid of the John Townley she was Hauled off after a stoppage of about 20 minutes.

The coolness of some cyclists in riding without lights after dark is almost unsurpassed. Despite recent prosecutions, there still remain a, number who are quite prepared to take the risk involved in scorching about tho streets at nights without the merest pretence at a ligjht to indicate their whereabouts. One of these offenders received a shock last evening. The cyclist was riding up Gladstone road about 8.30 o’clock, was travelling at a fair speed. He was, however, surprised by a police constable who dashed out from the footpath and tried to intercept him. The culprit swerved to the right just in time to evade the policeman’s outstretched aim, and, finding that he had escaped, lost no time, in putting distilncc between himself and the constable. Nevertheless, he will not readily forget his narrow escape from the clutches of the law.

The s.s. Tuatea will leave for the Ariel reef at noon U) : day,an . * an?tad Splendid day, catching over 100 fash. To-morrow evening a lanfcein ec will be given in the Kaiti School the object of raising funds Li tn purpose of providing prizes. The lect of the lecture will be Hastings, South of England Health Resort. The Hawke’s Bay Education Board have lent the" Kaiti School Committee some. o 0 odd lantern slides illustrating ie and surrounding districts of Ha- L * and as they are placed on the: screen IC Humphreys toll explain the diffeient points of interest. Mr Moody has kn ly lent his lantern for the occasion. “Some vandal in the empffiy of the Telegraph epartment has hacked dm two trees in Peel street for . pose of carrying a single « £ the street,” exclaimed Or. Dai ton at the Borough Council last night. H« only a man that basil’s got a soul -hove a telephone wire that would do such a thin",” further lamented the councillor. “The Council decided to refer the matter to the Telegraph Department, and state that special value was placed on the trees in various thoroughfares. To-night a new programme of Pathe Pictures will be shown at His Majesty s Theatre, full particulars of which will be found in another column of this issue.

The progress being made with the Gentle Annie tramway was evidenced by the Borough Engineer at the Council meeting last night, when he stated that in a week’s time a supply of metal would be conveyed from the quarry to Mata where. There is still an insufficient supply of sleepers in hand to complete t-lie sandhills section of the line. Applications closed yesterday at the Gi=borne Lands Office* for sections 70 and 71, block 9, of the Opoiti survey district, which are to be ballottcd for on Fridav, under the supervision or Mr. G. H. Bullard. In all, eight applications were received,, four, for each section. The applicants will not he personally examined, but their applications will he forwarded to. Napier to be approved bv the Hawke’s Bay Laud Board The* area of the sections is 92 acres and 70 acres respectively, and they will he disposed of under the optional system.

In a country like New Zealand the horse is still 'paramount. It is true that the more modem modes of locomotion —the motor-car, the motor-cycle, and the bicycle—find favour with not a few; hut to the average New Zealander the horse is indispensable. He viil take you where motor or cycle cannot —over high and rugged, hills and through flooded creeks and rivers. _ It is not surprising, therefore, that New Zealanders are a horse-loving community, and anything appertaining to the genus eques is of universal interest. It is safe to assume, therefore, that there will be a verv large attendance at the polo ground at Bush mere this afternoon when the Hawke’s Bay and Mangaheia teams will fight out the final for the New Zealand nolo championship, carries with it'tlie much-coveted Saville Cup. The game should furnish one of the best exhibitions of polo ever seen in this district. Play commences at 2 o’clock sharp.

The plans and specifications of the sewerage system, forwarded recently by Mr F. W. Mareliant. C.E., are to be referred to the Works Committee of the Borough Council, several members of that body considering that the specifications will require consideration. As will be remembered, the Council recently decided to do the remainder of the work bv contract, and it was decided bv the ‘Council last night that tenders should be advertised in the local papers, also in 'Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Timaru.. The latest date for receiving tenders is to be May 10th.

Traffic was unusually congested at the wharf at idle time when the launch Tuatea left to connect with the southern steamer last evening. For quire a time it was difficult to reach the gangway, and there were frequent cries of “Make way. please,” and “Mind your toes” from carriers as they forced their way through with luggage. The congestion, however, did not prevent the launch getting away to time, but complaints were general that further arrangements should be made to keep the approach to gangways os clear as possible. A pipe bridge across the Vaimata river, in the vicinity of the Point, forms one of Mr Marchant s proposals in regard to the sewerage system. The subject- cropped up during the progress of the Council meeting last night mid the possibility of the proposed bridge interfering with the conduct of rowing races was discussed. Councillors, generally agreed that it would be a pity to in any way hamper sport, and it was ultimately decided to recommend that, instead of cue 40ft span in the centre two spans of a similar size be provided. Mr Brandon Haugliton has arranged to take a cinematograph picture of the swimming sports, which are to be held in the school baths on Saturday afternoon next.’ This fact should help considerably to popularise this event, and given a' nice bright day, a splendid result should be obtained. The taking of this film will in no way interfere with the usual Saturday afternoon matinee of Pathe Pictures, at which a' splendid new programme is promised. Included in the accounts placed before the Borough Council last night was one for £BS from Mr F. W. Marchant, C E., for plans, specifications, etc., m connection with the sewerage system. Some of the councillors objected to the item when the clery explained that it would be the last payment to be made to Mr Marchant, with the exception of Ins fee for altering the specifications, etc., to suit contract work instead of day labour. After some little discussion, it was decided to submit the account, for perusal, to the Finance Committee. It was also announced at the meeting that, in terms of his agreement . with, the Council the consulting engineer is to be paid £4O for any future visits to Gisborne.

The responsibility attaching to electors was the subject of a short discussion at a meeting of the Borough Council last night, and it arose out of a statement made by the Mayor to the effect that notwithstanding the extended franchise, the recently compiled roll was slightly smaller than the one in use at last election. Cr. Harris was particularly emphatic on the subject, and expressed' himself in the following terms regarding the apathy which he declared to exist:—“lf I Had my way, I would fine every person £1 who would not take the trouble to go to the Council office and sign the necessary form. 1 would fine a man £2 if lie could not show good reason why lie did not vote.” The recently compiled district electors’ roll was placed before the Borough Council last night, and the Mayor, with Cr.s. Pettie and Harris were appointed to sign it. In answer to a question from Cr. Jackson, the Town Clerk said that a supplementary roll would 1 he open from this morning and would be closed on April 12th.

Acocrdmg to a statement emanating from the Borough Engineer, there are A 175 men employed by the Borough Council. Of tins number over 90 are”engaged on the sev''erage Vg 1 ??* The wages account passed at last night s meeting of the Council amounted to £Bl6 9s Id. The Borough. Council has aecided to confer with Mr R. W Holmes, Engm-eer-in-Cliief to the Public Works Department on the subject of borough tramways; when that gentleman visits Gisborne, possibly about the IBtJi in.-rt. In the meantime it is probable that a special meeting of the whole Council will discuss the matter m detail. To tret up in the morning and be faced with the necessity of shaving before leaving home for work, is an experience which most men have. A local gentleman who had slept in rather long the other morning hastily jumped out of bed with half an hour to shave, dress have breakfast, and reach his place of business. His razor was not in the best ot order, and he regarded the operation of shaving with no favor. However, to his utter surprise and 3°?' - e ,TT’ on the previous day, had the foresight to purchase one of Morse s patent Safacto razors, which she there and then presented to him. He tried it, and reached work in time and smiling- Call and see the “Safacto” at either of Morse s shops in Gladstone Road. Twelve months guarantee given and setting free.* ABSTRACT OF NEW ADVERTISE* MENTS. Lantern lecture in Kaiti School on ITiand costumes—W. Pettie and Co., Ltd, , , ~ . Auction sale —Lucies and gent, s watches. Motu Stock Sale. Funeral of Matthew Porter to-day. Young girl to assist wanted. Youth for general work wanted. Wanted to sell, bouse. Tenders, Waikohu County Council. Notice of dividend—C. Taylor’s estate. Fishing excursion to-day. Tenders, estate W m. McMurray. Cook-general wanted. Sargisson and Co. for seeds. Common, Shelton shares wanted. Monev to lend—F. C. Fiddy. Dissolution of partnership. Furnished house wanted. Apprentices wanted. Shepherd wanted. Waitress wanted. Smart lad wanted.