Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3630, 17 September 1912, Page 4

Local and General.

The English and Australian mails, per Wimmera, via South, close at 10 a.in. to-tmorrow, instead of at the usual time (6 p in.) There were two "drunks” jn the lock-up last nightDuring the past few days soundings have been taken in the vicinity of the Star of Canada. Alary MoKnight was yesterday fined £1 for her second offence of drunkenness within six months.

The stream of immigration to New Zealand, which was dammed for soinw time by the London dock strikes, is now flowing strongly again, and may be expected to make large additions to the population within the next few months. Almost before the 439 newcomers who arrived by the Athenic on Tuesday can bo distributed to their several destinations, another band of about 450 immigrants will reach Wellington on Saturday morning by the Kemuora. They in turn will be closely followed by a big company on the Corinthie, but the exact number is not yet known. The Renmera’s immigrants include seventy-seven assisted passengers, of whom fifty-one are adults and twenty-six are children. The adults are nearly all women, twentv-six being described as domestic servants, and sixteen as wives who arc travelling out to rejoin their husbands. All the children and thirtytwo of the adults were nominated by relatives here; the rest’ el the adults were approved by the High Commissioner.

It is understood that Mr. A. H. Anderson is seriously thinking of ottering his services as an Independent Laborite in connection with the municipal vacancy. * Heaw rain commenced to fall yesterday morning and continued all day (savs'ail Invercargill P.A. wire), The Oreti and Matoura rivers are swollen, and unless a change takes place there is a risk of flood.

Mr (J K. Miller, auctioneer, will ecntii'iuo' the big sale of warehouseman’s stock from Christchurch at his auction rooms (old Theatre) at- nocn to-morrow. These goods are all brand new and are of a sunerior class to that usually seen in an auction room A catalogue of the goods to be olicred appears in this mornings issue.

A meeting of the IN On-Commissioned Officers’ Club was held in the Garrison Hall last evening. Lectures were aiven bv Sergt. Hunter on musketry. Sergt. Gardner on sanitation., and Sergt. Gordon on semaphore signalling. It was decided fo hold a smoke concert at an early date. to mailt the opening of the new Territorial yeai.

Amongst the results of the Trinity Hall examination', published last r 11day. the name of one of Madame Gleave’s pupils was omitted. Her complete list is as follows: —Theory— Preparatory: H. Itice. 100 rnar ]dj (highest possible); X Gleave, dp mark-- • P Rice, 95 marks- Practical. —Preparatory —H. Rice, 87 mains (honors); X. Gleav-e, 7G marks.

Messrs AY. Baird, J. Tomlinson and A Dewing have been nominated tor the 1 •’overtv Bav River Board. It aopmirs to be the impression that the numbers' are nominated for certain districts, but this is not the case. The Board will be elected from the whole of the district, irrespective 01 the localities in which the members who are nominated reside.

Despite the term of disqualification imposed bv the X-Z. Council on Deane, the X.S.W. League footballer he took part in the Hawke s Bay and Canterbury matches. The Council telegraphed to the joint managers 01 the team --esterdav to the effect that the remaining matches would be cancelled if an assurance was not given that Deane would not be selected in future teams (says an Auckland P.A. wire).

At the present time phenomenally large quantities of timber are being brought into the Dominion from Holm -t, Cieymouth. Gatlins, AYaikawa, and Puget Sounds. Inquiries tend to show that Dunedin is being used as a "dumping ground” for a lot- of surplus tin her. It. is stated that the importatio! of Japanese timber to Sydney has restricted to some extent the demand there for the Xew Zealand article: that the building trade in Y'cbbngton and Christchurch was not too brisk at present ; and that as tlie West Coast mills had to be kept going some market had to be found f'-r t u e outputs, and a lot of the surplus timber was going to Dunedin.

The fact that the Union Steamship Company of Xew Zealand, Ltd., is spending a large amount of money in the construction of a magnificent building in Suva, such as the Grand Pacific lintel will be. is a good augury for the future of Suva as a tourist resort (says the “Fiji Times”), as iris well known that the company in question is controlled by the most astute 01 business men, who are not likely to invest money " in white elephants. Tim new hotel is being constructed on a floating foundation, which means a raft of reinforced concrete under the entire structure, and in the building of this alone there is a huge amount of work, and 100,000 yards of cement have been used. It is estimated that £13,000 has already been spent on the structure, and that when complete it will have cost £25.000. When finished the hotel will be in every way a model of luxury and comfort.

"\cu are a credit to Uio Maori race and an example for white leys to follow. ’ said the Mayor of Sapier to Tawhai Kara, at the last meeting oi the Napier Borough Council, when presenting the Royal Humane Society's certificate to the Maori boy for life-saving. On Januarv 24 last, some lads were bathing in the Tutaekun river, when Eric Jones, one of the hoys, was swept into deep water ana placed in great danger. Tawhai Kara, who was fishing close at hand, heard the alarm given by the bathers, sprang into the stream, and brought the drowning lad to the bank in an unconscious condition. Kara immediately applied, the . Schaefer method of restoring animation, with successful results. Shortly afterwards Kara had shown the same bravo spirit in stopping a horse attached to a cab. which bolted in Emerson street. Napier. The lad first attempted to catch the horse, but. being unsuccessful, he jumped on the cab, and grasping the reins, pulled the runaway up before further damage resuited.

That pest of the American r,ports ground, the “megaphone barracker". was promptly dealt- with on Saturday at- the Auekiand-Otago football match. How any sane person could imagine that such a thing would be tolerated for a moment passes comprehension, but a be-rihlxmcd individual enseomed himself in the front row of the grandstand and for the first few minutes of the match made day hideous Inbellowing more or less relevant remarks through the torture-inflicting instrument with which he had armed himself. The crowd bore with it good naturedly for a few moments but then the thing got on their nerves, and they made rude remarks. The individual still continued his ear-splitting comments on the game, and it was not xintil a prominent official of the Rugby Union had warned him that he put the objectionable megaphone under the seat-, and the game proceeded in comparative silence. The use of the megaphone is quite unwarranted. If people cannot express their sentiments without the aid of such things they should seek some form of amusement- which is not- attended Insensible people. They can then choose the largest megaphone in town and bellow to their hearts’ content. The Enion officials are to be commended far their prompt “squashing” of the practice at Alexandra Park.

M ordv warfare is evidently the order of the day in Gisborne just now. 1 he state of the roads and the great-1 v increased rates are very sore points. However m spite of all this, the Gisborne pubhb will be ihann v to see that Melbourne Cash shipments are houriimin, and to visit the lovely exhibition ol new goods in their showroom.*

Geming Carnivals!—Tim Bon Marelm bold a very large variety of fashionable washing fabrics in all the new leading shades at most moderate charges, and the public generally are invited to their latest textures now, s whilst the selection is largo.*

The “humane killer” for the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is due to arrive within a few clays. Bathers are complaining that even a slight shower leaves an impassable pool of water at the gate leading to the beach at the foot of Lowe Street.

A Christchurch P.A. telegram says: The City Council to-night, on the motion of the Mayor, agreed to the following motion: “That this Council urges upon the Government the- importance of bringing down a Town Planning Bill tins session if possible.”

Owing to the high price ruling for copper (which has advanced from £65 to £Bl per ton during the last few months) aluminium cables are to D* used in the installation of an electric plant at To Kuiti (states the “Auckland Herald”). It is said, too, that the Government is. for the same reason. seriously considering the advisability of using aluminium transmission wires in connection with the Lake Coleridge scheme. Aluminium cables were used at Rotorua when the electric plant was installed, but that was on account of the fact that the sulphurous fumes in the air quickly deteriorated the copper.

Increased reciprocal trade between Xew Zealand and Fiji is anticipated bv the Hon. J. B. Turner, Mayor of Suva, says the “Xew Zealand Herald.” ‘"We buy a good deal from New Zealand now,” he said recently, “especially butter and cheese, but there will be an increase in our purchases. The action of the .Australian Government in placing a tariff on our fruit, has not been favorably received in Fiji, and I think our people wait -retaliate by importing more merchanj'tlise from Xew Zealand and lo ss from i Australia. _ At present Fiji buys i large quantities or tinned meat, butter, flour, biscuits, and scores of other articles from Australia, and now New Zealand will get a large portion of the business.”

The Manawat-u Motor Cycle Clad has originated a proposal which should do much to encourage _ the social spirit and lessen the disadvantage, which distance places in the way or many lovers of the pastime. The idea, is to organise a grand tour in the North Island during the Christmas holidays, to be participated m _ torn otor' cyclists from all parts of Xew Zealand'. AVitli this object in view invitations have been sent to all the kindred clubs, and it is hoped to start from Palmerston on Boxing Day with, a large company of holiday-makers, to travel for ten days, and follow a -outpassing through Xapier. Taupo ano Rotorua to Auckland, returning by wav of the west coast. The affair will be an annual one. and tlbe next wu? be held in the South Island.

“When is a person drunkf” is a • question that has provoked plenty of I theories, but a satisfactory solution i is a-s far oil’ as ever, and even the I police who are experienced iiwnebnj ctv (other people’s) Hold hard viev. s ! on' the subject. A AYhangaraei re-si - j dent made a laudable attempt on hi? 1 own account 7 last Saturday night :• j settle the debatable point, as far _a!he was concerned, at any rate. Inj certain whether he had reached the i "h?.ppv and glorious” stage, and avoidI mg the police opinion (which might | I/O prejudiced) he paid a medical genI tleman five shillings for a diagnosis ! After a professedly elaborate test the j doctor gave his ruling that the mail was not drunk while he had senseenough to put- himself to such a test, and the "subject” went away happy hi the hope that he might be able to hold another one or two before closing time. j One- curious touch of superstition ! came into play when the differentI teams of hockey girls were being pho- | tographed on Saturday (says the j "Press”). All the team? went | fore the camera save the Nelson play- ; ers. They alleged, at first, that they i did not like being photographed. They : did not want their pictures in th- ; journals : and. anyhow, if their piv- ; tures were put in, they would have j the wrong names set • cneath them j The photographer tried persuasion ! and diplomacy, with no avail at ah. I save that he learnt thejruth. It ! merely superstition. Kach time they ! had their nhotogralips taken pivviousI ly thev had been defeated, anti last I year, in Wellington, they had man- : a solemn vow that they would not ■ | photographed again.

Another parcel ef.cpvi samples irom the new field at Tairua was taken o: Friday (says the "New Zealar-t Herald”). The samples included specimens of opal showing almost- every known c-olor, from bright flashing res to royal blue, and some large pieceof the gem were like miniature rainbows. Experts who have examinee the samples state that the Tairua neiu should prove cue of the most valuable finds of opal in the world, and thatthe gents are the very finest of opal. The Royal variety, ti e most valuable known to the trade, frequently occurs amongst the numerous vein' in tinmain body, and the samples are perfect. As an indication of the value or the find, it may be stated that tinfirst £l9 10s paid in wages produce--£2ll worth of fine opal. -I company is being formed locally to exploit tinfield on a large scale, and the Taira opal may soon bo heard of in the gem markets of the world.

A melancholy incident in New Zetland's maritime history is recalled by the death this week, at the age of 67, of Mr Charles George BrooktHunt, the last surviving officer of H.M.S. Orpheus, which was wrecked on the west coast in February. Is do (writes our London correspondent! The Orpheus, a steam corvette of 21guns and 1.706 tons, was making a round of the stations under Commander Burnett,-when she ran on the bar of the harbor at Manukau and became a total wreck, with the loss of her commander, 23 officers, and IG6 sailors, marines and boys. Seventy members of the crew were rescued, the majority by the men of the AYongaAVonga, a small steamer, whose captain on arrival found heavy seas breaking clear o' cr the Orpheus half-way up the rigging. All the officers ant! men had climbed on to the rigging, the commander, with his young officers. being on the mix.v.entop. As the flood tide rose the masts fell Away one bv one. Those who sought refuge in the tops were heard cheering and encouraging each other as they fell. Fragments of spars and large masses >'*’ wreck were earned ashore by tietide, with members of the crew clinging to them in the last stages of exhaustion.

Quite a stir has been caused in Gisborne by the low prices ruling at the People’s Emporium, the new shop next the Kimpton Cycle Co., Gladstone Road. People are wondering how it can be done. The explanation is simple : By dealing direct with the manufacturer, and giving customers the benefit of the “cut’’ which usually, to the middleman.*

Two jurymen .failed to nut in un appearance at the Supreme Court yesterday morning, and -wore each fined 40s and costs. Later in the day. ho-wever, both came along, anti their excuses, which was that they overlooked the 1 matter, was accepted' and the fines remitted. One of them’ who stated that lie had a number of workmen to supervise, was granted exemption from further service during the session.

After serving two. months at Xaf pier, as Sergeant Hutton neinted out, Charles Ellis, alias James Brown, arrived in town on Saturday, and was landed in the lock-up ere long. He appeared yesterday before Air. AY. A. Barton, S.M., on charges of drunkenness, urocuring liquor, and entering licensed premises. On the first charge, be was. sentenced to three months “bard,,” on the. second fined cfU and'costs 2s, or three months, and on the third was -fined £3 and costs or 7 days, the sentences to be concurrent.

The old-time proverb, ‘'lt's an illwind that blows nobody any good," is just now being exemplified at Waikino (where the AYailii strikers recently dogged the free laborers or Arbitrationists). The AYailii “Telegraph” says: “The. invasion of Eederationists into AYaikino during the past few days, and now the incursion of a small army of police, lias caused quite a transformation of affairs there. The butcher, the grocer, the baker, the draper, and the news agents are all doing extra business. 'Prado has looked up in the erstwhile labor-bereft township.”

The assistant-inspector of post offices had a very exciting experience on a recent trip from Awakino to Waitara by coach when crossing A fount Messenger (says the “Dominion”). Just after be left the top of Mount Messenger part of the road gave way under the near side leader, and the horse rolled down a precipice and ■steep bank <lO feet, bringing up in the send on a narrow ledge. After an hour’s delay the animal was got up uninjured. Had it gone over the narrow ledge it would have fallen several hundred feet. The driver's presence of mind in putting the brake on hard saved the other four horses, and the coach and passengers, from going over. It was indeed a marvellous escape.

The ATelboume “Spectator,” of August 23, says: “Prince Dikran. <m. Albanian, who was exiled for taking a leading part in a. revolt against Turkish rule a lew years ago, is at present in Victoria, lecturing on his conversion from Mohammedanism to Christianity." When touring the United States in February, he professed to be on bis way to Chicago to study medicine.. In Sew Zealand, a few weeks ago, he claimed to be a duly qualified medical graduate at Beyruth College, and asserted that be intended studying for two years at a Dunedin Fniversity. The candidates for the Egmont seat, and their supporters (says the “Fit-ham Argus”) are working energetically for the forthcoming election, and are leaving no stone unturned to “make good” their claims for support. The campaign is being conducted in good spirit, and there lias been nothing so far in the shape of unpleasantness. Necessarily each candidate finds occasion to refer to his opponent when delivering speeches, but as the references have been upon political views, and are not personalities, the comments are fair and reasonable. The friends -and .supporters of each candidate profess to he sanguine as to the final result and on nearly all hands it is agreed that the contest will be a very strenuous one.

The piper of Hamel in would he much appreciated on board the Government .steamer Hinemoa. especially when the good ship touches the .harbor of Auckland (states the Auckland correspondent of the “Post"). Vo sooner are the ropes ashore and the vessel moored than swarms of rodents crawl or jump aboard to pay an official visit to tlieir whiskered confreres in the hold below, and to meet "their uncultivated advance the skipper lias recourse to the spreading out of dozens of rat-traps, through which the visitor has to gingerly pick his way; in fact, it is customary to see tin l chief salt sitting at his desk .suwromidcd with traps in which an occasional rat can he heard squeaking for an official pardon,.which for official reason, lie never gets, there being a reward of 3d on. his head.

A rather amusing case was revealed at the monthly meting of’the Ylanawatu County Council. A well-known Saiidon farmer, who is a member of tlu> council, authorised a friend to purchase some stock for him. A few days afterwards he was very much annoyed to see a large number ol cattle grazing in one of bis padocks. He lost- no time In having the cattle impounded. and lie was pretty forceful in his langaugo a limit the cheek of some people, grazing their cattle in other people's pa docks. The joke came in when, just shortly afterwards his busy friend rode up and apprised him of the purchase and of the location of th(> stock. He then realised that lie had impounded Inn own stock, fie- was, ot course, obliged to pay impounding fees belore -he could secure the release of the cattle.

'ldle most curious objec ts in the miscellaneous collection of articles on view at the Post and Telegraph Stores in 'Wellington last week were some Wheatstone telegraph .instruments brought to Vow Zealand in the earlj days. They are of most ingenious const ruction, and are known to the telegraph officials as ‘‘A.B.C. im laments. The letters of the a’pl abet are on a,dial, and messages were v*j i bv turning round a metal baud to ibe letters required to he used. The officer at the other end ot the line was provided with a similar hi.-itc.orient, ancl wrote down the words as they were spelled out by the sender, die process was slow but sure, and in vural districts in England it was in '°~ gue until displaced by the telr.chone. It is not ascertainable 1 whether the A.B.C. system was ever employed in New Zealand. If it was it must have been more than iifty years ago. as the (Morse Code (sending and receiving by sound) has been in use'in this country .for about half a century, enabling V smart operators to transmit messages •at an average rate of about forty Avords a minute. With the o.d A hent,stone instruments it was not possible to do more than fifteen words per minute for anv length of time. Iho A.B.C. instruments in A\ eHington were withdrawn from this wook s sale■in order that they might be deposited in the Dominion Museum.

A P.A. message from Blenheim last night stated that Messrs* Dalgety and Co. report the sale of the following:— Marlborough station properties, at satisfactory, prices Meadow Park, 19,000 acres freehold and 7000 sheep on account Airs. P. Bell, t© E. F. J. Gi-icrcr (Canterbury); Gladstone Estate, 11,646 acres freehold, 9800 acres lease, and 5000 sheep, from S. M. Neville to C. Bell, (Christchurch); Tynes Field, 10,000 acres freehold, and 6000 sheep, from R F. Goukler to Grigg Bros*, Canterbury. Sheep lifting does not seem to ho a thing of the past, oven in Clutha County (says the Clutha “Leader”). The owner of a small run property atAY airuna made the discovery last week that lie was 300 short in his muster. They are not to be found on the place, the neighbors know nothing of them, and the only apparent conclusion is that they have been removed by some person or persons unknown. The police inquiries may be able to throw some light on the matter. Still another charge has been laid at the dooro f the moving picture show (says the Auckland “Star”). The picture entertainments have, according to a solicitor appearing at a meeting of creditors on Tuesday morning (Air C. E. Harden), been detracting patronage from the billiard saloons. The statement was made by way of explaining the small earnings of the bankrupt in the case, but counsel added that his personal opinion was that young men who patronised the pictures in preference to billiard saloons were the better for the change.

The* Star of Canada is now practically only a hulk. Yesterday somethin" of a triumph of engineering was accomplished in bringing ashore intact the captain’s cabin, the chart room, flying bridge, and -hurricane bridge. _ Air. A. C. Mitchell, who has been' in charge of dismantling operations, expects to bring his labors to a. close to-day- Some smart work hasbeen done on. the forward and the submerged part of the steamer. Six winches were salved forward of the bridge without an- trouble. Three winches from the after-part of the steamer have yet to bo brought ashore. One will be left at No. 4 bold, and also the derrick overhead, at the request- of the salvage authorities. It is not now intended to cut the masts off at deck level, as was recently announced. It is possible that something further will be done with the hull.

Alt amlusing story is being told at the expense of a well-known Taranaki farmer, who, with a- number of friends, was discussing another settler in tile district. After the argument had proceeded for some little while, one of the friends made some remark to the effect that- the settler whom they had been discussing was engaged to one of the farmer’s daughters. He would not hear of it, however, and went so far as to hack his opinion for £'so, a wager which was duly accepted. On arrival at his home the farmer consulted with his wife, and she confirmed the view of the matter. Hsi; daughter, she was sure, was not engaged, but presently the girl herself came in. and when she was questioned by her parents shyly admitted that she had promised her hand in marriage. It was a big .surprise to her father, whose consent had not been sought, but after a while lie took a reasonable view of thin"s. paid over the £SO, and arrangements were made for the wedding, which was in due course celebrated. To the delight- and surprise of the bride, among the list of wedding presents received was a cheque tor £SO from the friend who had made the wager with l her father.

..I • •■'"•.'■■ C ■ . ■ . - ■ —-