Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3544, 7 June 1912, Page 4

Local and General.

The road from Otoko to Rakauroa is in fairly good condition just now. largely owing to the very good weather being -experienced in the district.

The two railway viaducts between Otoko and 1 Rakauroa are rapidly nearing completion, and it is anticipated that the line will be ready for traffic, in about two months’ time.

“Our Own” at Wellington advises that Air AY. Pryor, secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, has received an intimation from Air Justice Sim that he will be required to attend! the sitting of the Arbitration Court at Gisborne on June 17 as employers’ representative in place or Air AY- Scott, who is indisposed.

There was a good attendance at the United Alission- last evening, the services being conducted by Rev. AY. Grant, while Rev, J. A. Lochore gave an interesting and inspiring address, taking as his subject, “The Magnetism of the Cross.” This was the closing meeting of the mission, but it is. anticipated that further meetings will he held.

A witness in the . case heard on A tonday, in which a person was alleged to have illegally sold a bottle of whisky, is credited with having made a statement to the effect that Air Halket’s store at Rakauroa had been searched bv the iiol ice, but wo have it- oil the authority of the police that the store was not searched, nor was it under suspicion'll io East Coast Trades Council held a special meeting last night to consider the Borough Council’s reply to the resolutions forwarded from the ratepayers’ .meeting held last week. It was decided that the letter was far from satisfactory, and that- the Trades Council should call another meeting of ratepayers. The arrangements were left in the hands of the President (Air Turner) and the secretary (Air Coleman), with power to arrange for a hall upon a suitable date during next week.

It may seem incredible to many, but there is no doubt of the a ecu race of the statement, that Melbourne Cash is selling a line of plush ranking caps in all the leading shhdes at Is 3d each, verv_suitablc for young ladies from 13 to 17, There is only a limited quantity, which are well worth seeing, the usual value being 3s lid.*

It has been found impossible to get the Garrison Hal! on Saturday night for the public address to he given by Hon. Geo. Fowlds, and it has been arranged that Mr Fowlc.s will speak in Whin ray’s Hall instead. The chair will be taken at 8 o’clock, and a silver coin collection will be made to assist in defraying expenses. Tho Daily Mail reralks the fac-t that Mr. Stead, when in Constantinople last October, made the following prophecy regarding his own death:— “1 know perfectly well hew I shall die. It has been revealed to me. J shall go to prison twice more before I die, and f shall end by being kicked to death in the streets of LondonJ’liis makes my mind quite easy when I travel, and I never insure myself against ri&ks of any kind.”

Mr F. J. Daniel!, lion, secretary of the Phillips’ Benefit Fund, desires t<» acknowledge with thanks the sum of £44 17s 6d, being proceeds or the football match played in aid of the fund by the Carpenters and Bricklayers cn the King’s Birthday. 'He also wishes to publicly thank Messrs S. Pine, J. Stewart, J. Williams. L-Taft and Rodney "for the time and trouble they expended in working tire match up to such a highly successful issue. The Poverty Bay Rugby Union and G borne City Band are also deserving of thanks for the assistance they rendered in connection with the match.

A Boy Scouts’ despatch run on cycles was held yesterday afternoon from tho Gisborne Post Office to Wae-renga-a-hika/ Vicarage and hack again. A scout was posted at each mile and the despatch was handed on from scout to scout till it reached Rev. E. Ward. It was then signed and returned in the same manner. The despatch left the Post Office at 4.8 p.m. It arrived at 4.45 p.m. and was back again at the Post Office at 5.29 p-m., a distance of 171 miles in one hour 12 minutes.

Judgment for plaintiffs by default was given by Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., in the following cases at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday: Bruce and O'Brien and others (Mr Burnard) v. Walter Harris, £4 3s 6d and costs (£1 15s): Henare Taurima (Mr Dawson) v. Hana Takima. £3 15s and costs (£1 9s); Grundy and Sherman (Mr Burke) v. Hugh Paterson. £2 and costs (104: James Higgins (Mr Burnard) v. Alcana Parutene. £6 19s and costs (£1 8s 6d); Parnell Ltd. (Air Dawson) v. Thomas G. O'Sullivan. 12s 6s and costs (ss). Orders for payment forthwith were made in the following cases : Kironton Bros. (Air Burnard) v- William Hatton, £7 14s 6d (£1 2s having been paid off the account), or 8 days’ imprisonment; Wade and Gray (Air Burnard) r. James Aston, 15s Sd (balance of debt), or 24 hours.

j A case was heard in the Alagisj trute’s Court yesterday in which evi- ! dence was taken in an Auckland claim. The parties were The Dingo Aledicine Coy (Air Burnard) v. Alary j Jane Kirk, of Te Arai (Air Blair), and i the application was made by defendi ant. The claim, which was for £2 12s j sd. concerned certain goods supplied jto defendant, who believed the arj rnngement to be “sal? or return.” j Evidence was given by defendant in \ the form cf a document, sworn to and j signed by her. and Air Burnard crossj examined at some length. Air Blair j afterwards re-examining. William ! Matthew Kirk, defendant's husband, j also gave evidence. His AVer ship fixied the costs at £T (witnesses’ ex-. , ponses), 10s 6d (solicitor’s fee) and 19s j (Court costs). j The little 24-kilowatt wireless sia- ! t:on underneath the Wellington Post- | Office clock (says the Dominion), | which always has its ear cocked to the | outer world, hears places as far off as 1* ip. Alelbourne. and Hobart speaking nearly every night, and on Saturday and Sunday nights last picked up the new Commonwealth station at Penj uant Hills (Now South Wales), for tile ! first time. It was sending out press I messages to anyone who wanted them. and its clear musical note, as clear as i a bird’s, came sharp to the local epeI rater, who says there was no d’fficuity ;in taking the message at all. It was i one of the best notes yet heard here. t From information received, the station was working on 760 metre wave length at half-power, and with a small aerial. Of course, no reply could be made. The Pennant Hills station has been experimenting for some time, and it seemed as if it was getting into good working order. A Dunedin firm of engineers have received from a Continental firm a letter which contains some quaint English, such as: “We beg to sav we cct'upy ourselves with this branch already numbers of years, and manufacture only first-rate machines distinguishing themselves by great precision. reliability, solidity, modern construction, productivity', and utmostdurability. even when put in strong activity, and that owing to our exclusive using of only very best material.' without letting influence ourselves by the prices. This fact has -been recognised by the most important houses of this branch of Germany. Italy, France. Russia, and England, according to the unanimous judgment of whidi there arc nn superior to our machines particularly with regard to the careful construction, use c-f Pest material. ancD precise execution. Be goed enough as to stndify our catalogue, and considering tile result of .our machines in otV or countries, we cannot but think th.ex v. ill do the same good services in your country.”

I learnt so roe wrinkles when I was visiting Sydney.” said a business man to an Auckland Star repotrer. Talk about- keen business method;. AATiy. Auckland shopkeepers ar** i*'t in it with the Sydney folk. Stroll no- no George Street, you will find meiToutsule every retail establishment, whose special business it is to waylay the unwarv passer-by and, nolens vclens, get him inside. ’ If you stop to look: in a shop window, before vou are there a few seconds you will ’find an arm thrust- into yours, and in a few plausible words you will be told that there is a curio or something else inside that he .is most anxious to show you. A Sydneyite would not pay any attention, but the New Zealand visitor, unaccustomed to big city ways, accompanies his guide within, and if he escapes without making a purchase it is because he lias not got the cash on him. And these guides appear to know a New Zealnder the moment he appears on the scene, and mark him for their victim. You’ll find as keen business methods in Sydney as I think vou will either in London or New York. The dollar is being chased all the time.”

Burning Daylight, the hero of Jack London’s delightful book_ of the Bam© name, condemned the middleman in forcible Western language. The reason that the People’s Emporium, the* new shop next the Kimpton Cycle Co., can afford to offer such wonderful^ values is because they import direct trom the manufacturers, thus enabling their customers to get._the te cut” that usually falls to the middleman-*

A Sydney cable says that the Bishop «f Polynesia'lias.returned.from a visit to England, where he arranged for the increase of his staff of white missionaries to twelve.

The auxiliary schooner Orete, while at 'Gisborne this week, had her engine altered so as to be able to run on kerosene, _ rather than benzine, the reason being, presumably, because of the high rate ruling for the latter commodity. Hon. George Fowlcls (says a Palmerston P.A. telegram) addressed a large meeting in the Opera House last night on the United Labor Party’s propaganda. Mr. David McLaren, Mayor of Wellington, presided. The speaker was well received, and votes of thanks were carried.

Diploma Day was celebrated yesterday by the students of the Auckland University College in their usual frivolous manner, the proceedings beginning with a grotesque processionThe presentation of diplomas was made in the Town Hall by the Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout).—P.A., message.

The Prime Minister'informed a Star reporter at Dunedin yesterday that the Chairmanship of Committees will be offered to Mr Davev. As to the Legislative Council leadership no one has been appointed so far. The position has been offered to one of the Dunedin members, but that 1 member ] lias not seen liis way to accept it. Hon. A. AI. Myers (Minister for Railways) delivered a iire-sessiqnal address at Auckland last evening, reviewing the work of several Government Departments. He was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, and a motion was also passed to the effect that the Ministry possesses the confidence of a majority of the electors in the Dominion.

As long ago as 1904 the Sydney Bulletin wrote- of the English Pierrots : Three young men and one lady—if they get what they deserve they’ll have full houses and satisfy audiences. Artists far above the average. Since then the English Pierrots have developed into a full company of nine artists, and give an. entertainment quite unique in its charm of novelty, variety and cleverness. Gisborne will be visited by this talented Company next Wednesday.

There was deafening applause at the hide sales conducted at Circularquay. Sydney, last week, when a single hide realised £5. It was, of course, an especially prime hide, weighing 891 b. and the 14d per lb that it- fetched was announced as an Australian record. The hide came from North Queensland, being consigned by the meat works at Townsville, and it was the exceptional substance it contained that caused so much competition among the buyers. The task of selecting immigrants for New Zealand was a most important one, remarked the president at the Canterbury Farmers’ Union Conference a few days ago. it was verj difficult to get boys or girls of a suitable class in England at t-lie present time, and, moreover, a large number of girls in England had faults that the girls of New Zealand were free from. The big fault, which really constituted a grave evil, teas the drinking that took place among a large number of the domestics of England. An amusing incident marked a Hibernian Society’s dinner in Sydney last week. The toast of “The Popo and the King” had been given, and as is the custom at this society’s functions, they were honored silently, the company ‘solemnly rising for the occasion. The band—two young ladies whose music had been listened to with much appreciation throughout the evening—were not, however, prepared for a silent toast, so they struck up the National Anthem. But it was a failure. There was no response, and the band, evidently thinking that the air it bad chosen was inappropriate to the dual toast, covered its confusion by boldly striking up “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows.”

At a meeting of the South Island Dairy Association at Dunedin yesterday, it -was decided to ask the Government to pass legislation making it compulsory to deal with sterility, abortion, and contagious mammitis in dairy herds, and that the Dairy Department be requested to frame regulations to prevent culls from dairy herds being sold as “dairy” cows. Mr Realies said it would be a good thing for the country if more control could be exercised over the diseases referred to. It was decided that when 75 per cent, of the factories fall in with the present system the Executive shall take steps to formulate a scheme of insurance on co-operative lines controlled by the association. P.A. message.

On the arrival of the Tarawera from Gisborne this morning (wired our Napier correspondent last night) it "as reported to the police that a saloon nassenger named E. Morris, a resident of Gisborne, bound for Blenheim, had lost a tie'pin of gold with three Large diamonds valued) at £SO. After the police had made inquiries the ipm, minus two of the stones, was picked up on the floor in the pantry, and one diamond was close alongside, hut the third had not been recovered up to the time of the ha rawer a s departure foi Wellington at 2.30 this afternoon. It is stated that Mr Morris visited^ the pantrv early this morning, and it is surmised that his neck ornament was dropped by liim and afterwards tiodden on by the stewards.

The financial position of the Auckland City Council at the end of the financial year was better than ever before. A statement regarding the City's finance® was given yesterday 'by the Mayor based on figures compiled by the treasurer. Mr Parr said that when the present Council took office at the beginning of the financial year the overdraft was £34,393- By strict adherence to the estimates the overdraft had been reduced to-£17,644 at March 31. That amount included £13,314 advanced from the general account in anticipation of street- improvement and other loans. Those advances were now being repaid as loans are being floated so that the netoverdraft on the general account will stand at £4330. “The position of the citv’s o-eneral account, is therefore, first-class,” said Mr Parr.

Miss Redstone, physicuiturist and teacher of (lancing and deportment, announces bv advertisement m tins issue that she has engaged the services of a highly-qualified teacher. Classes for hoys and girls wid beheld, evevv- Saturday moraine- at 11 o clock, at Redstone’s Hall- Private classes will he arranged if desired.

“The totalisator question,” the Hon. G. AV. Russell said the other day,- “is like the fretful porcupine. It has many quills, and it is a very difficult think to take hold of.”

The British Antarctic expedition ship Terra Nova came out of dock at Lyttelton last week, and took up her old berth at the lower breastwork, Dampier’s Bay. Her rigging is now being thoroughly overhauled. Lieutenant H. L. L. Pennell, officer commanding, is at present in the north making inquiries regarding the proposed coastal survey at French Pass, which is to be commenced on Monday next.

The exports of frozen mutton from Canterbury show a falling off this season as compared with last year. At the end of April only 480,000 carcases of lamb had been exported, compared with 860,000 carcases last s'eason, and 96,000 carcases of mutton, compared with 168,000 exported the previous year-

The Trades Council at its meeting last night decided to ask the Mayor (Mr W. Pettie) to take the chair at Hon. Geo. Fowlds’ meeting on Saturday evening. It was also' decided that the President of the Trades Council (Mr J. C. E. Turner) should occupy the chair in His Majesty’s Theatre on Sunday afternoon, when Mr Fowlds will give an address upon “Moses, the Greatest of Labor Leaders.’ Tlie science of aviation is being studied by a young man named N. Jonassen, residing in Christchurch. The other day lie was introduced to the Hon. G. AV. Russell by Dr. Thacker, and the suggestion was advanced that the Government might give some assistance to him, to enable him to continue liis studies and experiments. Mr Russell replied that while he wished he could give Mr Jonassen the assistance and encouragement he sought, he was afraid he was unable to do so.

An application that dredging operations should be commenced in the Albany river in order to provide a channel to enable steamers to leave at half-tide, was received at the last meeting of the Auckland Harbor Board from the AVaitemata County Council.. This work, it was stated, was one of vital importance to the fruit-growing community, in that it would enable perishable produce to be placed on the market early, and would permit a daily service to be maintained between Auckland and Albany. The matter was referred to the Beard in committee.