Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3341, 6 October 1911, Page 4

Local and General.

The directors of Router’s Telegram Company, Ltd., have declared the usual interim dividend for the half-year ended June 30th, 1911, at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum. —Press Association. The Registrar of Electors (Mr. H. E. Hill) informed a “Times” reporter last night that he hopes to have the i oil ready for printing in about a week. He desires all those who have nor ,or warded claims for enrolment to rlo so at once, in order that their mines may be included in the main roll. “Is this the result of the Italian war? What has gone wrong, gentlemen?” were the queries of an auctioneer at the Matawhero stock sale yesterday. The sale had been very dragging, a nd very little was sold, which fact would no doubt account for a certain amount of exasperation among the auctioneers. “No Legislature ever contemplated the full consequences of any measure it passed. If it did it would be an ideal Legislature, and one, I am afraid, that does not exist out of Utopia. It is only practice that brings the position to light.” This remark was made by Mr. Justice Denniston during the hearing of the appeal in regard to King’s Road, Miramar. The remark was prompted by a submission by Mr. T. F. Martin that a certain reading of the Act was “not the intention of the Legislature.” At another stage of the case Mr. Justice. Denniston remarked that the Legislature’s language was distinct from the English language—very often. The newly installed officers of the Temperance Association entertained the members and visitors last evening. There was a large attendance, and a capital programme was submitted. The following contributed- items: Sisters Spencer and Kearney. Misses Lang and D (2), Mrs. Gla.nville ,and Bros. Lawless Hastie. West, Hatton, Baby, Rowell, Wilkinson, and Cade. At a meeting held in the Muriwai hotel last night it was decided to form the “Muriwai Cricket Club,” and Mr. W. J. Scholium was elected to the joint offices of captain, secretary, and treasurer. It was -decided to open the season next Thursday, and that in future Thursday afternoons should be devoted to practice. It is . intended to put down a concrete pitch, and in order to augment the funds for that purpose a social is to be held in a few weeks’ time. Our Parliamentary reporter telegraphs that the Native Affairs Committee reported yesterday that it has no recommendation to make on the petition of Toare Mete and 134 others, also of Teira Ranginui and 43 others, praying for inquiry re the ownesrhip of Waikokopu reserve.

The swimming bath at the Gisborne Sclmd is to be qpened to tine public for the season on Saturday next The school children, both boys and girls, have been bathing during the week. Mr W A. Barton, S.M.. presided at the Police Court yesterday morning, when Jifhn Allen, a second offender for drunkenness, was fined £1 a;nd costs 2s; in default four days’ imprisonment. A paragraph relating to the regi- * mental camp, which is included m the squardron orders for October and November, issued by Major C. llellier Evans, reads as follows The Regiment will go into camp for annual training at J’utira Lake (28 miles north of Napier) from Friday, 3rd May, to Saturday, 11th May, 1912. Ihis squadron will march from Gisborne on Wednesday, Ist May, 1912. A Calcutta correspondent reports “'a truly horrible incident” which befell art English lady.' Her “butler” was in the habit of calling loudly beneath her window every evening about 7. His cry suggested that he was calling eithei the cattle or the chickens home; but though she had neither, the lady for some time took no notice. Until one evening, having the curiosity to look, she was horrified to see the butler, like a dusky pied piper, surrounded by a troop of rats! There were quite fifty of them, from the big bandieotes to small muskrats, ail being fed on the remains of her soup, meat, and other bits. In a plague country this was an amusement that was speedily ended.- —“The Times” of India. 4n interesting document, disclosing the methods adopted a century ago in inducing desirable settlers with capital to make their homes in New South Wales, has just come to light, says the Sydney Morning Herald, in the § form of a fetter written to Mr M ill tain Browne in 1816. and now in the possession of his granddaughter, Mrs J. CWilaine. of Casino. Mr Browne was a passenger by the sailing ship Mary, from Calcutta, and he brought with him £20.000, which he was prepared to invest in mercantile and farming pursuits. The Governor of the day expressed himself as anxious to encourage such undertakings, and the letter,- dated from t, ; ie secretary’s office offered the following concessions:—His Excellency will i ;akc you a grant of -3000 n'-res or land, and assign you 12 cows from the Government herds on a credit of three years, to be then paid hack in kind or money at your option. You will also be allowed eight Government men, to be victualled from the. King's store, for the term of 1.8 months, to facilitate your agricultural pursuits, and they will be ordered to you as soon as the land destined for you shall he selected and surveyed. You and your family trill also be victualled for the same period for 18 months from the King's stores. The Governor will further direct an eligible town allotment to be marked out for the purpose of your erecting a dwelling-house, stores, or wharf, near to Dawes’ Point Battery, in the situation solicited by you.” An American lady at present in Melbourne is of opinion that a “Housewives’ Society” would go far to solve the domestic problem. She states that the idea works well in New York. Any householder is eligible for membership. There is a small annual subscription, and an initiation foe. Girls are placed only with members, and no fee is charged them. The secretary becomes personally acquainted with every member of the society, and endeavors to bring together mistresses and maids that will be congenial. The president appoints a committee of three to investigate any complaints against mistresses. If it is proved that a woman has treated a maid unfairly, housed her poorly, or fed her meanlv, her name is struck off the roll. If tfie maid proves a failure she is similarly treated. When a maid holds a position for two years she is awarded an emblem of merit from the society. This entitles her to special consideration. In some measure this is said to promote a spirit of - fairness, and to promote a better understanding. Schedule of hours and wages are left to individual arrangement. An extraordinary accident occurred outside His Majesty’s Theatre at Auckland recently. At the conclusion of the performance there was the usual efflux of theatregoers, and a rush for the cars. In crossing the street a young lady, when almost on the tramline, found that she was in danger of being run down by either a tram-car or a motorcar. To have attempted to cross the rails would seeminglv have meant stepping in front of the. tram as it travelled down Queen Street; to have attempted a retreat likewise apj>eared to he courting a* collision with the motor-car, which was also travelling down Queen Street, and running abreast of the tram. The lady did what might have been expected under the circumstances, says the “Star,” she moved neither way, but fell in a dead faint on the spot. Both the tram and the motor jammed on all brakes,--, and both were brought to a standstill almost directly over the prostrate figure. The lady was picked up by a policeman, and coni eyed to her home by the occupiers of the motor-car. Her escape from injury was a fortunate one. The Dean and Chapter of WinchesCathedral, Hampshire, have presorted uto Mrs W. R. Walker, a diver supplied by Messrs Siebe, Gorman and Co., of London, a silver rose-bowl as a memento of his six-years’ work becathedral. Working in about 201 c of water, Walker had to remove the peat and seal down the water in the gravel below the foundations by means of bags of concrete and concrete slabs. This work has bean carried cn in • darkness, and those responsible for the preservation scheme, have had to trust entirely to the conscientiousness and skill of the diver, as they could not inspect the work. Ihe scheme, which has cost over £IOO,OOO, is now nearlv completed. Major C. Hellier Evans, commanding A Squadron 9th (Wellington East Coast)) Mounted Rifles, has issued the following orders for parades in October nad November :—The troops will parade as under: Mounted at 2.30 p.m., Gisborne Troop, at Garrison Hall, on Saturdays, 14th October and lltli November. Te Karaka Troop, at Te Karaka, on Thursdays, 12th October and 16th November. Makauri Troop, at Mntawliero Saleyards, on Saturdays, 14th October and 11th November. Dismounted at 7.30 p.m.—Gisborne Troop, at Garrison Hall, on Wednesdays, lltli October, Ist, loth and 22nd' November. Te Ivaraka Troop, at Te Karaka, on Thursdays, 12th October, 2nd, 16th and 23rd November. Makauri Troop, at W’aorenga-a-hika. on. Tuesdays, 10th and 31st October, 14th and *2lst November. Dress.—Drill order. All who are interested in machinery will appreciate the display of oil and steam engines, boilers, Burgon sheepshearing machines. Anderson marine engines, and electric lighting sets which Anderson’s Ltd are making at their local branch, 65, Lowe Street. All interested are cordially invited to inspect the machinery under working conditions. The firm also carries a largestock of general engineers’ supplies.*