Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3613, 28 August 1912, Page 4

Local and General.

The Public Works Department intends to make further investigations into the metal deposits at Rakauroa, recently announced in these columns. Replying to Sir Joseph Ward in the House yesterday, Mr Hornes said the SS of s f the • ,ropo s! general-manager of railways was atill under consideration, i- .A. The box plan for “East Lynne” is now ouen at Mr C. Morse’s, where day sales for stalls and pit can anso be obtained. .

Our Parliamentary reporter wires that petitions urging tlie completion of the Gisborne to Wairoa via Mangapoiki road were presented by Sir James Carroll yesterday afternoon. Jim> are signed by 285 persons.

A petition signed-by 139 persons at Onehunga, antagonistic to the zoo,l ogival gardens established there, has been forwarded to Parliament. . As a counter-motive, a petition is being circulated for signature amongst those in favor of the “aoo,” and so far there has been no trouble experienced in securing a long list of. names'. One resident close to the zoo complains that a nm'dibor’s cow causes far more annoyancVUan all the animals in the gardens.

Although not much' difference can be observed of the stranded Star of Canada from shore. Mr. A Mitchell and nis staff of assistant salvors have nut in a strenuous week on the vessel, with the result that the refrigerating machinery will he packed and ready tor shipment Home by the Indralema on Monday next. Diver Walters has salved 1040 bars, or od tons bullion, and this was brought ashore yesterday to await shipment Home at an early date, along with other materials. Two of the lifeboats went Home by the Star of Scotland, but the two cutters will probably be offered ioi sale locally. An offer or £4O was refused for one of the lifeboats. Cnee the refrigerating machinery is finished with a start will be made on the deck and Mr. Mitchell hopes to have the steamer stripped of all he wants from her within 14 days.

Every person who drives a motor car should have a certificate of proficiency, savs the Chiei Justice. Sir Robert Stout. The question cropped up during the hear in 2 of a case at Auckland, where a tram car ran into a motor car driven bv a man who was deaf (says a P.A. wire). The motorman rang his .gong repeatedly, and then ran up to the motor car to warn the driver to got off the tram rails. The rails were greasy, and m the subsequent impact the. motor car aas much crumpled. His Honor, m giv0f every driver of a motor ear being proficient, and he also it as his ing judgment, dwelt on the necessity opinion that if a man were hard of hearing he should have on the car some sort of mirror attachment, which would enable him to sec any vruic-.e coming up behind him.

With reference to a complaint by the local manager of the TJ.S.S. Co. that the spoil from the dredge Maui was being deposited in the roadstead,, and a denial by the Harbor authorities it is interesting to note that Air Preston has had something further to say on the point. . What Air Preston now suggests is that instructions were actual Iv given on Aionday for the spoi. to be deposited further out to sea. On the same subject Air Townley, chairman of the Board, said last night to a “Times” reporter, that Air 1 region must surely be mistaken. _ As tar us ho was aware no instructions had been issued for the spoil to be taken further out into the Bay. It had all along been discharged on foul ground and did not interfere with any of the anchorages. Neither was there any chance of it being washed back into the river. The dredger (he added) had been working satisfactory and the Engineer had not seen any reason to alter the arrangements.

Whilst passing down Grey street cent-ly an old man was chased by a bull-dog. and despite all his efforts to es'-ape he had his trousers baby (‘-ays the ’New Zealand He-di A sergeant of police visited the own, " - the dog and complained ch’t t..e animal constituted a menace to oass-ers-by- His request that it- should be destropod only aroused the auger of the owner, who absolutely refused to accede to his request. A policeman, whose duties led Iran up Grey street, proved to be the bulldog’s next victim. He was passing up the street, when the dog came out with the evident intention of attacking him. He at once drew his baton, and broke it over the head of the dog. which eventually retreated. The owner of the animal was charged before Mr. E. C. (Jut-ten, S.M.. at the Auckland Police Court, with being the possessor of a dog which endangered the limbs of passers-by. She was fined £l. with 46s 6d costs, the latter sum including the cost of the broken baton and the, damaged trousers. The dog was ordered to be destroyed.

j How seamen can be financially superior to their officers was explained by Captain Watson to a- Wellington ■•Post” reporter on Saturday. Ho was referring to the proposed atnend- ! merits t-o the Shipping and Seamen | Act. One of these provides that a Home trading sailing ship, running more than 300 miles between terminal points, mav be permitted by the Secretary of Marine to leave without a second mate if compliance with the usual requirements would unduly delay the ship. The reason for the change. Captain Watson explained, was that sailing vessels were often delayed for weeks at ports waiting to get second mates. They were hard indeed to find for sail, although the wants of steamers could generally be met. They would prefer going before the mast in steamers under present conditions to going as officers in sailers. As a matter of fact, the captain added, they would have more pay and no responsibility as seamen. As it is now, seamen in steamers in - e many cases, what with wages and overtime, make more than their officers, month in and month out.

The rapid strides which have taken place in Gisborne of late have been remarkable. On some occasions the Boarding Houses and Private Hotels have been taxed to tlicir utmost capacity. A special feature of the Melbourne Cash is special discount offered to Hotel and Boardinghouse Keepers. Single Bed Sheeting 10s 6d 12 yards, Quilts 4s 3d, Damask Is yard.*

“Nothing succeeds like success” is an axiom the truth of which is universally acknowledged. The reason that the People’s Emporium, tho new shop next the Ivimpton Cyelo Co. j—Gladstone Road, has,made such a signal success of their business is because they "rye honest value at a fair pries and believe in small profits and quiti returns.*

Messrs. F. Hall and Sons have been entrusted with the contract for installing electric light throughout the local Court-house- buildings, and will put the work in hand this week.

A committee meeting of the Gisborne Eire Board was held yesterday, when it was decided to appoint the inspector recommended by the Christchurch agent, to inspect 5 the motor tender prior to its shipment from London. The engine will probably arrive in Gisborne in about two months 7 time.

Air. Russell, an ex-Aucklander, for 30 years resident in Mexico, wafted on the Waitemata-Alanukau Canal Promotion Com pan- vesterday, and said he was confident of being able to get an American syndicate to make the canal, providing thev got sufficient inducement. The company decided to assist Air Russell to get a Bill through Parliament.

In the House yesterday the Public Service Bill was introduced by Governor’s message and read -a first time.

Ren!ving to Air. Russell. Air. Afassey said that members would he given an opportunity of digesting the report of the Civil Service Commission before the second reading of the Bid. The report would he laid before the House this week.—P.A

Tlie miners employed in the Green Lsiand collieries held a meeting last night to consider the reply from owners to the men’s demands for increased wages, etc. (says a P.A. message from Dunedin). The reply was to the effect that before the owners would consider the demand the men must understand that any agreement entered into would have to he made an award af the Arbitration Court, and the miners, whose union is now affiliated to the Federation of Labor, would have to form a fresh union and register under the Act. It is understood that the miners decided to adhere to the Federation of Labor.