Local and General

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3696, 4 December 1912, Page 4

Local and General

Mails for Napier. Auckland and southern offices will !>- despatched per Takapuna at 7.30 p.m. to-day. Mails for Australia and the United Kingdom will go per the same vessel.

ilr T. R. Gordon’s bracelet, valued 3gns.. was omitted from the list of donations to the finiroto Sports Club yesterday morning. Several charges against local businessmen of committing breaches of the Shops and Offices Act will come up for hearing on Friday.

Members of the - Napier Operatic Society arrive this morning by tlie Takapuna. They will stage "'A Greek Slave’’ at the Opera House this evening.

A grey-haired old fellow was'prohibited yesterday morning on his daughter’s application. “I’ll simply have, to keep it/’ was his retort to the Bench’s exhortation that he should rigidly observe- the provisions of the order. While at Wairoa during the past week, Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., had 202 oases to deal with, an unusually heavy list, embracing a wide variety of offences and numerous civil claims. The business was of a general nature, no exceptional eases coming up for hearing.

Xo inquest is to be held concerning j the death of Michael McCormack, who 1 died in the Hospital as the result of I injuries received from an accidental srunshot, self-inflicted, on Sunday last. Death occurred on account of the large amount of blood which deceased lost. Before dying, McCormack made a statement to a nurse, to the effect that it was “a pure accident” and the Coroner (Mr AY? A. Barton) decided that an inquest was unnecessary. Deceased was a married man, 40 years of age, and was employed as a road overseer by the Public Works Department.

An unfortunate affair, which has a happy ending.—Owing to the mistake of a London .buyer sending out too large a shipment of ladies’ hats, a large warehouse has had to sell their whole stock to Melbourne Cash at a loss of 60 p.e. A big clearance is commencing to-day; Ladies’ ready-to-wear-hats and straws from Is 6d each. Every lady ought to see them.*

The lock-up was empty last evening.

Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald, M.P., at the request of the settlers, will deliver a political address at Motn on Fridav evening.

The annual picnic of the local schools’ school children winch was held at Waikohu last year proved a most enjoyable gathering; m every way. The next treat will take the form of a picture entertainment at His Majesty’s Theatre. The published rumor that Mr. J. W. Boynton, Secretary to the Treasurer, has handed m his resignation, is not correct. Mr. Boynton’s health has been very unsatisfactory for some time, and the question of whether liewill have to give up his duties is now under consideration by his medical advisers.

Gisborne theatre-goers will retain the most pleasant recollections of I ’Sweet Nell of Old Drury.” which was played here with such remarkable success a few years ago by that incomparable actress, 'Miss Nellie Stewart. The Bathe Picture management have secured an exclusive pictorial dramatisation, of the great historical work, which will be presented at His Majesty’s Theatre shortly.

A billiard saloon keeper at Te Arai will be charged at Court to-day with having, on a recent Saturday u; nr. kept his premises open after 10 p.rn. ir. contravention of the County bylaws. The police, it is alleged, put in an appearance at the place at p.m. and found the proprietor and five others enjoying a game. This morning a young man. a defaulting territorial, will be called on to answer a trio of charges—failing to attend parade, failing to render the personal service required of him under the Defence Act. and failing to notify the authorities of his change of address. It is stated that the offender in question endeavored to evade his responsibilities by. leaving the port in the employ of a ship. A coal cart, while being loaded with coal from the Ihumata at the wharf yesterday, got into difficulties. It was being backed underneath the staging on to which the baskets are landed prior to being tipped, when it went over the side- It was. however, stopped from going into the water by the canvas stretched between the ship and the wharf, which is used, to prevent coal going into the river. The horse was quickly unharnessed and the vehicle hoisted on to the wharf again. In times -of plague anti pestilence there could hardly be more professed infirmity than in Invercargill in .so far as 'it was represented by a big squad of delinquents called upon to answer for their failure to render personal service under the Defence Act. The “Southland Times” states that about half a dozen had denied their obligations on account of.various ailments, when liis M orslnp looked round the Court, sighed heavily, and said. 1 ‘There seems to be quite a lot of infirmity. I don’t know what is coming to us.”

A wire was recently fashioned (says the Taranaki "News’'’) from the white metal extracted from Taranaki ironsand by two New Blymouth investors and used in connection with a wireless plant in 'Wellington. "Word has been received by the local syndicate controlling the invention that the wire has given far better results than the usual platinum wire. The metal has also been used in place of olaivnm or. motor cars and on electrical *■ advances of various kinds, and in every case has proved a great success. The metal can be cheaply produced, and ir it can be used in pUice of platinum (which is three times the value of gold) there are big things ahead for the invention and those associated with it. A meeting of builders and contractors was held last night at Mr. F. B. Lawton’s office. McKee’s Buildings, to receive two delegates from the journeymen bricklayers. Mr. Geo. Smith was voted to the chair. [Messrs. Birie and Field (the two delegates) stated their demands, which were chiefly in regard to wages and tire number of improvers employed. It was agreed the demands should be carefully gone into and a reply sent at a later date. The delegates thanked the meeting and then withdrew. Afterwards a committee of builders was set up to go into the matter, auc the meeting then closed.

j A thickly-built young seaman. Join I Mars, descended upon Gisborne the j other day, and. looking too long upor j tlie wine when it was red, was soor so far under t’ne influence that lie disputed Constable T. Johnston's right u lay a hand on him. This was on Monday evening and quite naturally a scramble followed in which the uniform won and Mars was allowed tv illuminate only his own cell for the whole of the night. By yesterday morning he had fallen and said that he rembered nothing about the affair. “But,” with a look of credulity- at the police, “it must- be correct. I was drunk.” Sergeant Hutton said that Mar’s place on his ship in port had been filled and Messrs Joint Townley and H. E. Hill. J.'sP. ordered him to pay £5 for resisting the constable, in-default 30 days' imprisonment, and os and costs , (2s) or 24 hours’ for drunkenness, the sentences to be concurrent.

The mistakes of solicitors led to two peculiar circumstances in divorce petitions before the Supreme Court at Christchurch, counsel hastening to explain that mistakes in dates had been made. In one case petitioner stated, in her petition that her husband deserted her in 1903 and a child was born to the parties in 1903. Counsel hastened to explain that the date of the child’s birth should have been 1898. In the other case, one in. which the same counsel was appearing, petitioner in her petition said she was married to respondent in 1894, and the eldest child was born in 1893. Counsel considered there was a mistake, but he was unable to say where ! it was. “I take it that there has been a mistake made.” remarked Mr. Justice Denniston kindly. In this case some years had elapsed between the time of filing the petition for divorce and the date of the causes of the grounds for the petition. “What is the cause of the delay in these pro-/ ceedings?” inquired his Honor. “Itjj is generally for the one sufficient- reajf -son,” lie murmured, reflectively. a

The tremendous Jkeitement caufcff by the arrival <if Jche Great Whiffi Fleet in waters son* three years agffisr still fresh in tire mind of An almost similar stir is being jGisborne this week by Great White Sai&n Such a 'show of ladies’ r iiderwear, dir fightfully trimmed witgr indeGcribalJe delHgacyi /’/ihariningiy stylish, and cmbjggjftrtngVaJiFthe pretty sparkles of newness and style so much admired by exacting womankind, has never before been seoa in Gi&borne.*

The hones of 13 Chinese, disinterred from Westland cemeteries, went through in the s.s. Arahura last week, -on route for China.

A conference between sports bodies and the Borough .Reserves Committee will he held this evening in the Borough Council Chambers, to consider the matter of the Childer’s Road Reserve. -

A Maori judgment debtor at Wairoa on Wednesday, says the “Guardian,” was asked why he did not pay his debt, and lie replied that lie had no money, because he had not gone to look for work. His Worship: On©' of those born tired individuals. 1 can’t encourage such laziness.—Order, made for payment forthwith. During the Magistrate’s Court sittings at Wairoa last week, Mr Lynch, on behalf of an accused person, made application tor a week in which to pay a fine. The Magistrate refused this, and Mr Lynch remarked : Can you not give him 48 hours? His Worship: I have just given him 48 hours—for drunkenness.—Wairoa. “Guardian.”

Chinamen in the Dominion are, generally speaking, not slow to recognise in a practical manner the benefit of our public hospitals. A case in point cropped up at last week’s meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board, when the following letter was read from a Chinese resident in Waitara:—“Pleas? find enclosed postal note for one guinea, towards your hospital funds. A purs in ‘faith, hope and charity’—”. As evidence of the fecundity of rabbits (says the “Matalira Ensign”) it is of interest to note that a district farmer was engaged a few days ago in digging out burrows with a.-'view to reducing the pest on his farm. He had not been occupied long at this task when lie caught and despatched a female rabbit-,, and a few minutes later found nine young ones. Following the track of the burrow he came across another rabbit, which he killed, and after skinning it he found that it was carrying a litter of 10.

Whilst clearing a portion of land at the Maori pa at Manukorihi (Waiter a) on Tuesday, one of the natives discovered a splendid specimen of a Maori axe. The axe was eighteen indies in length by four inches wide at the blade, and is made of pure greenstone. The axe is supposed to have belonged to the late Wi Kingi te Rangitake, the latter having had it handed down to him by his greatgrandfather, a noted rangitira- who took part in the Maori war. It is valued at from £IOO upwards, and must be several centuries old.

Mr Hartnell, of the engineering staff of the Waitara Freezing Works, informs the local paper that- he has discovered a new method of treating crude petroleum, which consists of taking the crude oil and then mixing same with certain proportions of. sawdust and shavings into a briquette formed by pressure, applied either by hand or machine-power. These briquettes are then in a form that can be used as patent fuel and can be safely stored on ships and in places convenient for firing or steam raising purposes. Air Hartnell has been experimenting with this method for some time, and he believes be has discovered a- good commercial article.

Witnesses sometimes get strangeiv tangled up m the matter of ages and dates (says the Auckland “Star.”) A witness, giving evidence in Auckland, declared that her husband was 55 years of age, and that she was 42 years old. She further stated her husband was 2l years of age when they were married, which, by a simple process of arithmetic, would indicate that the lady was eight years of ag? at the time of entering married life. Strange to say, the court overlooked the anomaly, and the figures went on the records as stated.

According to the “Stratford Post.’’ the general mix-up with regard to daylight saving and hours of closing in Stratford is apparently getting worse and a further petition is being signed by a large number of shopkeepers in Stratford, requesting (1) that shops open at S a.m. and close at 5.30 p.m. all the year round ; (2) snops close at 12.30 on Thursdays; (3) shops close at 9 p.m. on Saturdays, commencing January 1, 1913. A number of those who signed the petition a few days ago requesting that shops open at 7 a.m., after more mature consideration, think that it would he much too early for general business. and would not be in the best interests of tbs business people of Stratford. They have accordingly signed the second petition.

A thrilling fight took place between a. Polar bear and a powerful boarhound in full view of the spectators at Wirtli’s Circus in Melbourne one night recently. The incident occurred during the performance by the Polar bears, one of which, without warning, rushed the boarhound while it was seated a stool awaiting his turn in the proceedings- The bear viciously hugged the dog, which in turn showed fight. Herr Schmidt, the trainer, at once took in the situation, and began heating the bear across the nose, while many attendants prodded both bear and dog, and in every way attempted to separate them. Whenever the bear relaxed its grip the boarhound returned to the attack, hut it was always underneath, and in evident danger of being killed. After the conflict had lasted 10 minutes and both animals had received a violent heating, a separation was effected, and the hear went to its corner, “feeling and looking very sick,” and blood-bespattered, while the boarhound/ which will not again he introduced into the performance during the remainder of the season, looked very little the worse after the trouble. The other hears in the cage looked on during the attack, and not one stirred from its position.

Man wants but little bore below. But that little he must buy; And if you ask us where to go, 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 hv 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 article_ 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.*

“Where there’s a will there’s a way”—but there’s -only one way to make good Brandy—the Martell way.*

There is said to be a family in the Masterton district, composed of eight children, not one of whom has yet seen the ocean. Neither father nor mother has been to sea.

I ‘There is no other man in the world who comes upon the scene as a coroner does, who has got all the power he lias.”—Dr M‘Arthur., S.M., while conducting an inquest in Wellington. The Bank of New Zealand opened a branch at Motu yesterday, and it will remain open daily. A receiving agency of the branch will be inaugurated at Matawai on. December G, and it will be open everv Tuesday and Friday.

In discussing the subject of the scarcity of fish in coastal waters,"an ancient mariner advanced a new explanation to a “Southland News” representative. He attributed it to the enormous increase in the number of seagulls, due to the legislative protection which.these birds have long enjoyed. _ Visitors paid an unwelcome attention to the poultry yard at the- Waikato Hotel, Hamilton East, last week (says, the “Waikato Argus”), and, in addition to hiding a number of fowls, wliicli they left- behind, got away with a considerable number. The outcries of the feathered victims awakened some of the occupants of the liot-el, who proceeded to investigate, and chased the marauders, but they unfortunately escaped. Sir E. Alontague Nelson, in presiding at the half-yearly meeting of.the Bank of Australasia in London on October .3, said: “We hear a good deal in this country about the increased cost of living, and we hear the same thing in Australia. I do not know personally whether it is actually the increased cost of all the necessaries of life or whether it- is a higher standard of living which we have adopted, both in this country and in Australia, but, whatever it is, it makes peopl? there as well as here think they ought to have a higher rate of pay.' We have taken' this into consideration; I think it was foreshadowed at the meeting 12 months ago. The advances in salaries which have been made since then are considerable, and we understand that they are very much appreciated by our staff in Australia and New Zealand, and that they are fairly well contented, which it is very desirable they should be.”

One of the outstanding features of the recent fire at Alar ton (says the Auckland “Star”), by which the U bite Hart Hotel was destroyed, was the heroic -conduct of the proprietor, Mr Cameron, who, at the risk of liis life, saved two of his children from being burned to death. Another instance of heroism was that of Mr J. T. Mulool-ey, who, hearing that a fellow hoarder had not been accounted for, re-entered the furnace at very greatpersonal risk and saved the life of the other man, who was unconscious at the time, and would undoubtedly have 'been burned to death. In order to gain an entrance Air Alulooley was obliged to break a window, and in saving the other helpless man his hands were so badly burned that the skin peeled off completely; in fact, when his injuries were being attended to. the surgeon had to cut off ilie whole of the skin, which was hanging like a turned-out glove. Owing to the man’s condition chloroform could not- be administered, and the poor fellow had to bear the intcii--: pain which accompanied the operation. It is extremely doubtful whether he will ever be. able to use bis hands again,, owing to contraction.