Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3603, 16 August 1912, Page 4

Local and General.

Although comparatively littlo advertising has yet been done in connection with, the approaching Auckland exhibition, the news that it is to take place has travelled far (says an Auckland I*.A. telegram). Inquiries have been received for information by the secretary from .the North or Scotland, Germany,- West Australia, and from Russia, besides England and America.

-V Smith, who failed to appear at Te* ivuiti yesterday in answer to a charge of keeping liquor for sale, was lined £SO and costs.—P.A. wireThe launch tender at Tdkomaru Bay is on the slip for her annual overhaul, •inti the Victoria! will not make a stop off the bay to-morrow.

A portion of the asphalt footway in front of the Post Office door n.,s collapsed into the dram which has been in course of construction in that locality for some clays. George Henry Hayward, charged with bigamy, as indicated in yester,iissue, appeared before Messrs J Townley and H. E. Hill, J’s P„ yesterday and was remanded to appear at Napier on August 23. The Auckland Tramways .Union decided yesterefay to continue its 2s levy towards the Waibi and Reef ton strike fund, for 13 more weeks. only. After th a t voluntary subscription fists will be placed at the depots.—P.A. At a meeting of the Dunedin 1 rades and Labor Council last night a motion was carried opposing any alteration in the constitution of the Arbitration Court which will abolish permanent representatives of the workers and employers. A committee was appointed to consider further amendments of the Act. —P.A. The Wanganui branch of the A.S.R.S. has passed a resolution (says a P.A. telegram) protesting against the proposal to import a general manager of railways on the retirement of "Mr Ronayne. T’he meeting urged the promotion .of one of the New Zealand officers who was well_ qualified as well as conversant with New Zealand requirements. A Timaru P.A. wire says:—Air

Wm. Martin, for the last 20 years or so the respected manager of Messrs.. G. and T. Young’s jewellery business here, dropped dead from heart failure while engaged in conversation in the street. He leaves a son. who is studying medicine at Otago University, and a daughter, who assisted in the business.

The executive of the Political Reform League has decided to take the opportunity of the Prime Minister’s intended visit to Auckland next month to present him witli an illuminated address and to hold - a big Reform

Party rally in the Town Hall. It is anticipated that Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes and Hon. A. L. Herdman (Attor-ney-General) will accompany Mr Massey to Auckland. The Political Reform Club, it is expected, will be opened early next month.—P.A. The members of the Druids’ Lodge held a most enjoyable social and dance at the Poverty Bay- Rowing Club’s Hall last evening. About 60 couples attended, a large number coming from Paint alii, despite the unpleasant weather. The secretary, Mr. J. A. Eaton, had the arrangements in capital order, and a very pleasant evening was spent. He was ablv assisted by a committee consisting of Messrs. T. GLawless, Geo. Miller, W. Towns, T. Donovan, E. Scarfe, and J. Sealey. The music was sunplied by Mr. Crpley, and extras were played by Misses An gland and Gedge. Songs were contributed by Messrs. Heron and Smith. The catering was in the hands of Air. S. Wcotton, who. as usual, left no-

thing to be desiredThe Committees appointed by the Methodist Church and the Primitive Methodist Church to consider Union affairs met at Wellington on Wednesday. It was decided that the first united conference should meet at Wellington on February 6. In regard to membership of the first stationary committee it was decided tliat for the first conference each church would appoint its own stationary committee in the usual manner, there to unite

to make the appointments for 1913. Tt was decided that ministers of the Primitive Alethcdist Church uniting with the Alethcdist Church should be required to purchase from the Supernumerary fund of the United Church benefits equal to not less than the prospective benefits to which they may be respectively entitled from the funds of the Primitive Alethcdist Church at the time of union. In regard to the 1913 conference it was derided that representation as provided for in the bus’s of union be adhered to. —P.A.

One of the most enjoyable dan-es yet organised in Gisborne was that held at the Garrison Hall last evening in aid of the Graham Benefit Fund. It was arranged by the Hotel Employees’ Union, and despite the fact that the weather was unfavorable, about 150 couples graced the floor, which was in perfect order. The music was supplied In- Alessrs. A"ita Bros., and extras were played bv Alessrs. Watson and J. Dodds. The Al.C.’s were Alessrs. J.

Batchelor. F. Casey, and G. AlcLachlan, and they carried out their duties well- The first-named gentlemen were the joint secretaries for the dance, and the had all the general arrangements in first-class order, and it was due in i large measure to their efforts that the function proved such a success. The sum-ver was -wovided In- Alessrs. Fiddv and Goo rue, and the manner in which the catering was done reflected great credit on this firm A dance will i i future, probably lie held annually by the union.

An uncomfortable rumor is disturbing the minds of the residents of ■One Tree Hill, Auckland. It was reported a few days ago that it had been discovered that Alount Maungakieldo, round which so many residences are clustered, was still the scat of dangerous volcanic action. The rumor became more interesting "as it circulated, and is now fairly bristling with startling details. It was stated that lava, was bubbling from a rent in the crust of the crater, and owners of property in the vicinity were beginning to feel that their tenancy was anything hut secure. Heavy-gun firing a few nights since sent people hurrying to their verandahs to peer fearfully into the darkness towards the mountain, hut all appeared as usual, and it. was decided that the time.of eruption was not yet. The solution of the myth appears to he that two golfers on the links on a very cold day recently noticed, in hunting for an elusive ball in one of the rocky fissures, that there was a sort of murky warmth in the air. They mentioned.the fact casually to a number of their friends, and the story has been growing ever since.

That Minimax patent tire extinguishers are prudent tilings to keep handy was proved by the effective and speedy manner in which the use of a couple of them helped to suppress the are '■‘the shed at the rear of the PostOffice on Wednesday night. The extinguishers were yesterday taken over to the Gisborne Slieepfarliters’ Office if agents) to be re-charged.* . Rackblock settlers will read with interest the frequent references made by the new Ministry as to improvement in their roads. Knowing something of the disadvantages caused bv bud roads, Melbourne Cash take the opportunity of informing their coun--1 clients that they pat carrumo on all purchases of £1 ami uo wards. I attorns and prices on application *

The New Zealand Institute of Architects is now affiliated with the British Association,

Judgment for plaintiff by default was given at Court yesterday in the claim of Dr. Porter (Mr Burnard) v. William Bruce, for £3 3s and costs (10s).

In the last issue of the “Spectator,” a weekly paper published m Christchurch by Mr G. W. Russell, M.P., appears a paragraph which states “that Sir Joseph Ward looks like being leader of his Majesty’s Opposition.”

A deputation from the local branch of the United Labor Party waited on the Gisborne Temperance Association last evening. Messrs Turner and Bartlett spoke, demonstrating the aims and ideals of the party. After supper, questions were answered and an interesting evening was brought to a close by a concert, the following contributing: Bros. Rae, Lang, Muncey, Kearney, Hannah, Hastie and Spencer. According to a local agent the. demand for Southland stock, especially sheep, by northern buyers, is unprecedented. Every day large sales are reported. It was the opinion of the agent referred to that should the demand continue much longer local butchers will find themselves in a very inconvenient position when they require to purchase in quantities. On Wednesday a local firm sold 3000 ewes, wethers, and hoggets to a North Otago buyer, and several other purchasers are operating in a smaller way.

Writing on June 28, the London correspondent of the “Lyttelton Times’-’ says:—A smart piece of advertising was in evidence last night all along the West End as far as the Albert Hall, where the giant protest of domestic servants against the Insurance Bill took place. From five till eight o'clock twenty sandwich-men bearing four placards apiece extolling the virtues of New Zealand for a servant lassie, and giving particulars as to passage-money, paraded the street. The idea, it is understood, emanated from Air.. T. E. Donne, Trade and Immigration Commissioner for New Zealand.

The strike fever seems to be contagious. An amusing incident comes to hand from one of the outlying districts not many miles from Greymouth. A nurn!>er of men working at a sawmill clubbed together and decided to strike for higher pay. They took the bull by the horns, as the saying goes, and while the mill was in full swintr put on their coats, thinking the mill must stop. However (states the “Grev River Argus”), the strikers were sadly disappointed, for within three hours they were replaced by other workmen. The aspirants for Red Federation fame left the scene of their exploit sadder but wiser men. In a private letter, Malcolm Champion. of Auckland, who represented Now Zealand in the swimming events at the Olympic games, states that he is returning by the Athenic. which left London on 20th Juiv. and is due in Wellington on •"•*h September He says, further, that he has been instructed by the New Zealand Swimming Association to swim in the English championships; “but,” he continues, “I could not do that until they sent me the money.” He complains bitterly of the treatment he has received in the matter of his expenses, and talks a great deal about mismanagement.

An interesting case was before the Court yesterday, when William O’Leary. a. laborer, claimed from E. P. Williams, builder (Air Burnard), £2 18s for time lost in proceeding to and returning from a job of defendant’s on which plaintiff was working at Alatawai. Plaintiff claimed Ins expenses on the ground that be was engaged in Gisborne, and was therefore entitled to a travelling allowance. Mr Burnard held that no such expenses were paid unless by definite contract- or nn employed custom. In this case no custom had !>ecn proved, and the contract went no further than to provide for payment for work done. The Bench (Messrs J. Townley and H. E. Hill, J’s.P.) nonsuited plaintiff, without costs.

Speaking of the unfortunate “scene” in the House last week the “Post.” says:—Here is a sad plight indeed for the once powerful Liberal Party. Instead of being a respectable Opposition to the Government, it is an Opposition to itself, and its chaotic condition is a misfortune for the whole country. Even the Government itself must recognise that an orderly watchful Oppostion is a public benefit. This claim was repeatedly made, with reason, by Air Alassey when he was besieging the Treasury Benches, and the need of keen, fair opposition is just as urgent now as it ever was in the past. Cannot some sort of peace or truce (in public at least.) be established, for the country’s sake., between men who have personal differences? Oppositionists who allow their tongues unbridled license, “after hours,” are er.emie-s of their constituencies and enemies of the general public. New Zealand wants the energy of Oppositionists conscientiously exliemled in a careful study of the Alinistry’s proposals, and not wasted on undignified personal taunts and retorts.

“ Y'ou wouldn’t think an insect could make its way into that hard stuff,” said an ex-Australian to a Auckland “Star” reporter on the wharf the other morning, showing him a piece of Australian hardwood. "Well, they do; they simply honeycomb it; that is, the white anf. I saw a carpenter repairing a house that was built of hardwood some twenty years before. Not a nail canid be driven into it, and it was like sawing granite; but where the white ants had been at work they had bored right into it, simply honeycombed it. The only way to preserve buildings from . the' white. ant is. to place them on. high piles, with a piece fit' bent-over iron on the ton of each pile. And then you mustn't nail the wall plate. to the pile, or the ant in time would make its way along the nail holes and so iret into the building. It is said they can even devour iron. I wouldn’t put it past them. They arc terrors, but they won’t work in the dark. They like the full blazo of the sunlight.”

“Nothing succeeds like success” is an axiom the trutli of which, is universally acknowledged. The reason that the People’s Emporium, the new shop next the Kimpton Cycle Co., Gladstone Road," has made such a signal success of their business is because they "iye honest value at a fair price, nnd believe in small profits and quick returns.*

Upstairs <fn Dunlop’s Buildings, Lowe Street, is to bo found the Poverty Bay Billiard Parlor, the largest, best appointed, and most popular billiard room in Gisborne. Throe fastrunning, perfectly time tables are kept constantly going. Everyone ■Brelcome.*

The Gisborne branch of Messvc Turnbull and Jones, Ltd. were th* successful tenderers to the WairrT Borough Council for the wirum of .?h citizens’ houses in the Boronit Vi firm also secured the contract for the supply of all the meters required in connection with the electrical scheme

In the House yesterday afternoon, on the motion of Mr Gamnbell the House agreed to a return being ] a id on the table showing the amounts expended upon Government builrlimU and Government House. A return was also ordered, on the motion of Mr Witty, showing the number of rases taken for breaches-of the Defence Act and the results of actions Him in st persons charged.—P.A. "