Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3695, 3 December 1912, Page 4

Local and General.

The English mail desjuitclic-d on ■October 25 via Vancouver > arrived in London on November 27.

The number of persons arriving m New Zealand from overseas last month

was 4662, and of departures 2049. In October, 1911, there were 3169 arrivals and 2366 departures.

A peculiar accident, whereby Air

Bishop lost a valuable half-draught horse, occurred at Clareville the other morning (says the Carterton “Neus”). A hoy was trying to catch the animal, and the horse evaded him every time. At last, getting angry, he picked up a small stone and threw it at the beast. The missile struck the inside of the horse’s hock and broke the bone, with the result that the animal had to be destroyed.

A beautiful adaptation of Theodore Kremer’s world-famous musical dramatic success, ‘'The -Fatal Wedding,” was the star attraction of the programme screened by Pathe Pictures at His Majesty’s Theatre last night, and created the greatest enthusiasm. This 'heart-stirring drama, in which the inimitable ‘‘Tin-Can Band” appears, will he shown again to-night. The following donations have been made to the Tiniroto Sports Club and are gratefully acknowledged by the secretary of the Club, Mr G. J. S. Small: Licensed Victuallers’ Association of Gisborne, silver cup, valued five guineas. Mr H. Cooper, Waeogns.; Mr H. Cooper, AVaerenga-o-kuri, 3gns.; Mr 11. Grieve, special bracelet, valued 3gns.: South British Insurance Coy., valued Ign.: Mr Prime’s special valued 10s.

The wine-imbibers before Messrs it. Johnston and H. M. Pone;, J f sP yesterday numbered six, four of tl cm having fallen into policemen’s arms for the first time in their lives. Three Maoris were each fined 8s and costs (2s) or 48 hours’ imprisonment, and a first-offending pakeha was similarly dealt with. John O'Grad,, for his second offence within six months, was fined £1 and costs (2s) or 4 days' behind brick walls and Frank Heeney, who had not been up for 12 months, was ordered to pay 18s and costs (2s) or 48 hours.

Philosophy and reason apparently have no sway with many workers, or at least with those who are not fully satisfied with their conditions of employments. _ At the meeting of a Union in Gisborne the other evening an official endeavored to pose as a peacemaker and exhorted the men to cultivate a spirit of contentment, quoting the reasoning of an early and revered phlosopher. “What does ’e know,” broke in one of the discontented few, “ ’e ’aint worked in any freezing works. This arm chair philosaphv is no good to us.” “ Ear. ’ear. Bill-”

“Had a harpoon been handy I’d a been harpooned.” So says a burly bather in explaining how narrowly he averted a oeremptory call while swimming on the beach the other day. It seems that the young man essayed a swim from the Waikanae Ijeaeli to the groyne, and _ while stroking his way hack was mistaken by a man for a shark and the cry “a shark” was set up. until some workers from the waterside joined the crier. It was not for some minutes that the swimmer’s identity as a member of the human race was discorered. He resents the statement that he should he mistaken for “a shark,” for he rmintr "ut that there are so many snecies.

The “Marlborough Express” states that the geological exploration party ‘"'omprising Dr. J. Allan Thomson. Palaeontologist to the Geological Survov Department: Mr C. A. Cotton. M.Sc., Lecturer on Geology at Victoria College: and Mr L. J. Wild, science master at the Marlborough High School, which left on Friday week to explore the Awatere district, returned on Tuesday. The beds of the Gid Middlelmrst' and Wintertcin Creeks and the volcanic lavas of Mowat’s T.rok-out. wer? examined, the beds of the creaks being compared ‘o th-w? > the Clarence with regard to age. The results of the tour are bighlv !; -neficial to the members of the party, who found much of interest.

News reached Auckland bv"the San Francisco mail of the death of Ruby Westwoofl (savs the New Zealand •'Herald”). She and her brother Wilfred were the two biggest children . ever b.o-n m New Zealand, perhaps j the beerest in the world. At the age iof eight Ruby weighed 14st. She grew proportionately, and at the time of Iwr death, when slm was about 19. ‘fl’e weighed ovo-- 20si. Her brother Wilfred is several y?a--s younger, and now weighs about 39-t. These two “giants” were horn in Foxton. and resided up to the.time of the Christchurclp Exhibition in Auckland. Since that time they have been travelling at Home and in America. The cause of death was bloodpoisoning. contracted bv a thorn in the finger from piekin.fr flowers. During the last 12 months there has been a remarkable increase in the amount of coal brought to New Zealand from Newcastle and carried from tlie Westport mines by rail and sea. A former official -of the* Westport Coal Company to an Auckland “Star” representative, said it had been the fear of the various companies operating on the West Coast that the demand would not be equal to the output. No difficulty has been anticipated in supplying the demand. Now, however, difficulty was occasionally met with in getting the coal to the ship’s side quickly enough. On an average the Westport companies sent a total of 3000 tons a dav out of the port, which worked out to 1,095.000 tons per annum.-

The rapid growth and the increasing prosperity of the Western States of Canada and the United States greatly impressed sir ..James Mills (general manager oi the X nion Steamship Company), who recently visited those parts. He told a Christchurch “Press.” reporter that the development of the whole of the “Pacific slope” was very remarkable- Vancouver was growing very fast, and San Francisco was looking forward to a great boom in shipping as a result of the Panama Canal. Ihe territories in the western parts of both Canada and the United Stateswere generally looking across the Pacific with a view to the extension of their trade interests. J The tremendous excitement caused by bbe nrrM?al of the Great White h leet r[J lye# Zealand waters®some three y/ar.Llfgo is still fresh fi tlie mind An almost similar stir is being eajgsed in Giifcodfe this week Nefl’s Great VTsiJe Sale. underwar, delightfully JWnyjl jffld trimmm with lndoocrib iftflefe Mrl ijjuey, char mingly stylish, all the pretty sparkles ornmvness and style so*much admired by exacting wonmkdnd, has. - never before been soop?yjj g^Bborne.o-

It is understood that the Government intends to accept a tender for a bi-weekly mail service between Port Awainu and Te Araroa Tenders for the lease'of section'6 (the voolshed site), Tauwhareparae, consisting of 2220 acres, were opened yesterday by the Harbor Board, and that of Mr. Henri Loisel, of Is Id -per acre, was accepted. An Auckland P.A. wire states that during tne period from December IS to January 6 the express train service between Auckland and Wellington will comprise three trains daily in each direction.

Wiring last night, our Napier correspondent said: In spite of the fact tfiat 6000 people witnessed “The Greek i_lave in Napier, the main street is lined with people to-night listening to the final rehearsal of the Amateur Society before leaving for Gisborne. The ballast engine for the GisborneMotu line arrived by the Rosamond yesterday from Auckland. The .engine is not a new one, but it was thoroughly overhauled before being despatched from Auckland. It is of the W A. class, and came to hand in sections, there being in all about 20 packages. Ihe engine will he assembled at the local railway workshop, and it will be available in about a fortnight. The engine is urgently required for ballasting the line. Two young men named Frank Kelly and William Jukes, who recently set out from Tuatapere to Preservation Inlet, had a trying experience. They lost their way in the bush, and were five days without food. Judging from the story of their unenviable trip, as told in the “Grepuki Advocate,” they were extremely lucky to have reached their destination at all. At the Government oil stores they were succoured by Mr. Seymour, and at Puysegur Point Mr. Smith, telegraph linesman, rendered them all the assistance he could. Mr. Jukes afterwards returned to Orepuki, hut Mr. Kelly remained at Preservation. . The Vancouver mail- on Friday brought the full returns of the egglaying competition, which was completed on October.2o (says the ‘Press’). Believing that colonial poultry could compete with American, Mr J. B. Merrett sent five pens on behalf of Australia and New Zealand poultry breeders, and was successful in securing first and second prizes, with a total prize fnoney of about £4O. The first prize and a gold medal were won by J. Stewart. N.S.W., second prize was won by A. Hopkins, Otaki, N.Z. The returns were not high, owing to the severe winter, and blasting operations of bush country in the vicinity of the test. The winner laid D7l, second pan 916. The superiority of the white Leghorns was shown by all the loading pens being of this variety. A special class for heavy breeds was won by Rhode Island Reds, with a total of 854.-

V anganui is to very considerably benefit from the estate of the late Mrs. W. H. Matt, whose demise occurred a. few days ago. When the Avalanche was wrecked in the English Channel, Miss Margaret Watt, daughter of Mr. W. H. Watt, was among the victims. To perpetuate her memory in Wanganui, her father decided to found an institution, and in liis wiil he directed that certain land was to be set aside for that purpose. Mr. Watt died many years ago, and his widow succeeded to the estate.. On the death of the latter, the estate has passed to a son, Mr. James Watt, a solicitor, of Wanganui, who is to control it for 21 years. At the expiration of that period an institution for children is to be founded, to be known as the Margaret Watt Orphans’ Home. The property deveted to this worthy object will, at the end of 21 vears. be worth between £60,000 and £IOO.OOO. The Chief Public Service Commissioner, Mr. Robertson, will continue to hold his office as Secretary to the Post Office until December 31 of this year. Together with his AssistantCommissioners, he will take up his new duties on January 1, 1913. A great deal of organisation work will have to be done before the Public Service Act comes into full operation on April 1, 1913. Net much can be done before the beginning of January next, as Mr. Triggs is not expected to arrive in the Dominion from Australia until then or thereabouts. Mr. A D. Thomson will continue to discharge the duties of stipendiary magistrate at Palmerston North .until the end of the year. His successor in the magistracy has not yet been appointed. The promotions and changes in the Post and Telegraph Department consequent upon the promotion of Messrs. Robertson and Morris have not vet been made. > *

Playful irony characterised the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher’s remarks in an interview with a Christchurch "News” reporter upon the political situation. The Minister had just stated that during his recent visit to the South Island' he had found the people generally well satisfied with the political situation. "The era- of the slump which was predicted when the representatives of the squatters came into power has not yet arrived,” he remarked. "No soup kitchens have made their appearance yet, nor are the predicted hordes of unemployed anywhere to be found. Our political opponents were always fond of predicting that our advent to power meant retrenchment and reduction of salaries in the civil service, but under our Railway Bill of this year the railway employees got increases aggregating £125,000. Every year, of course, a large proportion of this amount was promised by our predecessors in office, but nevertheless the fact remains that the Massey Government put the Bill upon the Statute Bock, which enables the payment to be made. As regards the departmental salaries, considerable increases have been made, aggregating £27,646.”

Man wants but little here below, But that little he-must buy ; And if you ask us where to go, j To the Emporium is the cry. The People’s Emporium has now been established for twelve months in Gisborne and the satisfaction given is shown by the increasing number of customers who patronise this up-to-date establishment. Being direct importers they buy absolutely _at bedrock. and those who patronise them are buying a simple at wholesale. If you have not visited this store you should do so as soon as possible as you can save money on almost every purchase.’”

An- amendment on the Telephone Exchange is: _368, MacLaurin, W. G., n aipura. This was formerly entered as 368, Waipura Station.

“If I was an employer of labor,” said Mr. Kenrick, S.M., at the Stratford Police Court, in a Territorial case, “I would not employ any fellow who tried to get out of his drill.”

A general meeting of the Gisborne Co-operative Building Society was held last night for the purpose' of disposing of loa'ns amounting to £IOOO in No. 1 issue and £SOO in No 2 issue, the former being sold at £2O per £IOO and the latter at £32 per £IOO. An appropriation of £3OO in issue No. 1 was drawn by Mr G. B. Oman. There will he no pictures at the Opera -House this evening, owing to the Opera House being otherwise engaged. The next programme will be shown on Saturday evening next, when ‘(The Massacre” will be the star picture. Ve have received from Messrs Traill Bros, a beautifully designed almanac for 1913. Above the calendar is- a charming picture < nti+l ri “V hen We Were Boys” and it depicts a happy trio of boys who have been on a. successful fishing exoodition.

“San Francisco is'no place just now for the man with £SO or £100,” remarked Mr Foster Taylor, a passenger on R.M.S. Marama, to an Auckland “Star” reporter. “All the money at the moment,” he explained, ‘■is being made in real estate, which has grown to figures far beyond the reach of the average small capitalist. r l hose who got in early a few years ago have made tremendous profits, blit, only*' multi-millionaires have a chance now, and there is little real trade done outside of real estate. A clerk,” he continued, “can earn 60 dollars a week, but it costs hint 45 to 48 dollars out of that to live. Reckon no what is left after ho has had a little .enjoyment out of the balance, and you will see that he could do better, in many places outside Sail Francisco.”