Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3231, 30 May 1911, Page 4

Local and General.

The largest attendance hitherto in the Te Hapara Hall was registered last night, when the Rev. T. J. M allis gave a most interesting lecture on “I l iu and the Fijians,” illustrated) by lantern views. About seventy slides were shown, illustrative of the manners and customs of the people, and the different phases of mission life in the group. The audience 1 showed manifest approval, and passed a ihcarty vote of thanks to the lecturer. A similar compliment was paid to Mr A. W. Moodie, who manipulated the lantern. To-night at the Methodist Church the Rev. Air Wallis will repeat his lecture. Admission is to be free, but a collection will be made m aid of the mission funds. Mr Walt. P. Sanford’s fine collection of pastels, sepias and oils from the Christchurch studio will be sold by public auction this afternoon at Messrs Malcolm and Co.’s mart. Mr Sanford has instructed the auctioneers to sell every picture on its merits, without- any reserve.

Messrs W. L. Clayton and H. E. Hill, J.’sP., presided at the Police Court yesterdav morning. Robert Mills was fined £1 and costs 2s for drunkenness, in default four days’ imprisonment. Henare Ropitini was fined 10s and costs 4s 6d in default- 4S hours’ imprisonment for a similar offence. Edward Davies (Mr Burnard) was fined Is and costs 7s for driving three horses attached to a coach across Whataupoko bridge at other than a walking pace. An amusing scheme for testing whether people are observant has been devised by the ‘San Francisco Call.’ A new dollar piece was nailed to the pathway at the busiest time of the day, and a reporter with a camera waited to see who would notice it. Two hundred and eighteen people walked over it withoutseeing it at all. Indeed, all sorts -and conditions of men swept across the pavement, unseeing, treading under foot the nucleus of a possible fortune. Someone finally “spotted” it, and, finding it attached to the sidewalk, dislodged the nail with a vigorous kick with his heel and went off with the coin. Speaking to a C-hristchurcli reporter the other day Mr Massey remarked: “So far as our political campaign is concerned. I have already addressed twentv-nine meetings in different parts of the Dominion. I have been enthusiastically received in every part I have visited. I have fully another dozen meetings to address before the House meets. I am quite satisfied that more interest will be taken in the coming elections than has been the case for many years, and if it were not for the wholesale bribery that is going on—the attempt that is being made to bribe people with their own money—it would be very easy to predict the result. I am glad to he able to say that I have come across many instances where both local bodies and private individuals have refused to sell their political -principles for the prospect of public expenditure. I am no prophet, or the son of a prophet, but I will simply say that _ I am confident the Government are going, to lose a number of seats at- the coming election. I believe, speaking generally, that the electors will vote for men of sound political principles, and men who are prepared to stand by their principles rather than support those whose only policy is to retain the position they at present occupy.” The expenses incurred in connection with the recent Harbor Board election led to some discussion;at the meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday. Mr F. J. Lysnar pointed out. that the expenses in regard to the election of the Borough members was £49, and the Cook County members £56 odd. The former was in a- confined area, and the latter was a very scattered district. The chairman quoted the Act, which showed that- the Board had a right to refer the matter to the Audit Department in case of dispute. Dr. Collins said that as the two elections were run simultaneously the cost had been based on the number of votes. The same electors voted for the members of both bodies. It was decided to refer the matter to the Borough Council for further information. At the meeting of the Management Committee of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union last night it was stated that the Thursday Clubs were desirous of playing the Thursday competition matches on Monday next instead of the following Thursday. It was resolved to hold a meeting of. the Committee at 5 o’clock this afternoon to deal with the matter. Professor Reisner, of Harvard University, claims to have solved the riddle of the Sphinx. .He says that the Sphinx is the head of King Chephren added to the body of a lion. King Chephren ruled Egypt hr B.C. 2850, and built the second pyramid. The Sphinx represents the King guarding the pyramids and their sacred precincts. Professor Peisner was in charge of the recent archaeological expedition sent to Egypt by Harvard University and the Boston Museum o'f Fine Arts, and his announcemont regarding the identity of the Sphinx was made at the opening of the Boston exhibition of the objects drought back by Iris expedition. The expedition discovered a statue of Mycefinus.. the son of Chephren. Professor Reisner states that a certain kind of ied paint found on the ear of the Myeonnus statue, with the peculiar style of headwear prevailing in the twentv-mr.vh century 8.C., fixes tire identity of the Sphinx, which has the same - har.wtonstie.

Mr Focleri, the London buyer for Messrs. C. Rdsie and Co., lias secured for this firm a choice little assortment of latest styles in Ladies'-Long Coats at a very big discount, and they will be sold to-day and during the next few days at 30 per cent., or 6s in the £, discount off usual prices.*

Mails for Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, per s.s. Waiinea, close at 1 p.m. to-day. The Harbor. Board’s dredge Maui Should go into dock at Auckland shortly for her annual overhaul, but the Board has applied to the Marine Department for two months’ extension or time in order that she may complete the excavation of the channel. Ihe chairman of the Board stated that there is only a distance of about 240 it. to he done and given fine weather this would; take about a fortnight or three weeks at the longest.

A case which lasted fifty-five days ended in the Official Referee’s court-, London, recently, when Mr Edward Pollock awarded Mr H. Cruse, of the Cruse Controllable Superheater Company, Salford, £3,535 damages, with costs, against Messrs Willans and Robinson, engineers, of Rugby, for breach of contract. These damages are little more than onc-sixth of the costs of tne case, which amount to £20.000, and include the following items: —Counsel s fees, £7000; solicitors and witnesses, £11,500; shorthand -notes, £I4OO. The hearing of the case was begun at Manchester in October last, and was transferred to London after a few days. As many as sixty witnesses were called, and they were asked 26.252 questions. “I shall not compare myself to Gibbon on the shores of Lake Geneva,” said Mr Pollock, with a sigh of relief, at the end of the case, “but 1. would rather point to Dore’s illustration of the Wandering Jew, in which the wanderer, with a smile of satisfaction and relief, is taking off the hoots in which he wandered about the earth.” An account for £65 8s 4d for overhauling the Harbor Board’s launch was an item that raised some comment at yesterday’s meeting of the Board. Dr. Collins wanted to know whether the overhaul was the result of fair wear and tear or whether it was due to negligence. He thought they should have some further information on the matter. It was eventually decided to refer the matter to the Finance Committee for a report.

The Brindisi mail despatched from Wellington on April 21st arrived in London on 26th May. India’s infinite variety is reflected m some of the incidents which mark the census. One, in particular (says the “Daily Telegraph”), sheds a clear light on the character of the obstacles which face the officials in certain districts. For the first time in the history of the census a detailed enumeration was effected of all the inhabitants of the Xicobars. except the Shorn Pen, a wild tribe in the interior of the Great Nicobar Island. These people are irreclaimable savages, and it was quite out of the question to attempt to visit their settlements. By a fortunate coincidence, however, the Shorn Pen themselves supplied the materials on which it was possible to base a fairly reliable estimate of their numbers. Just before the census party readied the island they had sent to the friendly Xicobarese dwelling near the coast a message announcing their intention of attacking them. The message was accompanied by two tally sticks on which notches were cut to indicate the number of fighting men in each of their settlements, the different settlements being marked off by lateral notches. The enumerators took prompt advantage of this remarkable instance of politeness in war. The Harbor Board yesterday decided to write to the Borough Council asking for the provision of a proper footpath across the road at the wharf. The chairman said that the Tuatea would soon be berthed higher up the river and another crossing would be required there. Mr Wachsmann said that the' present state of Read’s Quay was disgraceful. It was the busiest portion of the town and should be attended to.

Following upon the tragic death of the late Air Samuel Taylor, whose body was discovered on the floor of Air. Harold Kane’s chemist’s shop on Sunday evening,., a post-mortem examination was conducted yesterday afternoon. No information as to the result of the examination was available last evening, but full particulars will, no doubt, be given in evidence at the inquest, which is to take place at the Courthouse at 11 a.m. to-day, before Air. H. E. Hill, J.P. It is now understood that deceased leaves a widow and two children, who reside near Birmingham, England, and who were to have ;rin< d hru in New Zealand before long. At the letting of a piece of land by auction at Bourne, Lincolnshire, two boys, according to a quaint old custom, ran from the auctioneer to a given point and back, and the land! was let to the person whose bid was unchallenged when the boys returned. The Gladstone Road Wood and Coal Company notify generally that all orders not paid for on delivery after this notification will be charged at- the rate of 6d extra per bag. We supply from a bag to a thousand cords. Price" 2s per bag cash. No credit.* ■ Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen as by little advantages that occur every day. Thus, if you teach a man to shave with a Safacto razor, which we guarantee and keep in order, you may contribute more to the happiness of his life, than by giving him a hundred guineas. The sum may be soon spent, the regret only remaining of having foolishly consumed it. hut in the other case he escapes the frequent vexation of a dull razor scraping the skin’s surface, and being late for work, etc. This razor permits a sliding, gliding, diagonal motion, which gives an absolutely clean shave, leaving tire face soft and smooth without the slightest irritation or soreness, which makes shaving a pleasure. Obtainable at Morse’s, Tobacconist. Masonic and Central shops, Gladstone Road, Gisborne. Telephone. 641.*

ABSTRACT OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Picture sale —Malcolm and Co. Trespass notice. Notice —Overseas Club. Nursegirl wanted. Impounded, draught gelding. Sheep impounded. Notice —Te lvaraka Sports Club. Notice—Gisborne Sheepfarmers' F.M. Co. Business notice —D. IT. Buchanan. Meetings, Salvation Army. Unfurnished rooms to let. Additional licenses —E.C. Acclimatisation Society. Tenders', building brick cistern. Meeting, settlors, Patutalii Hall. Apprentices wanted. Notice —Evans, Nield, and Co. Business notice —Simson and Hill. Good general wanted. Bil li ard-mnrker wanted. General wanted. Caretaker wanted. Grooms wanted. Handy man wanted for station. Meeting of General Laborers’ Union, to-morrow. Blue-colored macintosh lost. -j * Reward offered for return of lost Collie dog. Trespass notice—Matawai properties. J. B. Leydon has second-hand springcarts and gigs for sale.