Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3725, 10 January 1913, Page 4

Local and General.

The lock-up was empty last evening. : ; ‘ ' ' ..

Tire results of the junior national and the junior and senior Education Board scholarships will come to hand from Wellington about Jaw. 2(1. “The Light of St. Bernard,” a splendid Vita graph story, which shows liow a brave girl foils the attempt of wreckers to lure a treasureladen ship to destruction, will be The star picture in the. new programme which Patlie Pictures will show at His Majesty’s Theatre to-night.

) J,kit Gardner, a -sect.nd offender for drunkenness, was fined £2 and costs 2s ypsterdav,” and for a breach of Ins prohibition order was ordered to tome up for sentence wnen called ujjon, Mr D -McLeod, Harbor Board overseer, received a painful injury ypsterdav afternoon, his hand being 'crushed " between the derrick and a “monkey” which was being placed into position. I The speakers' class, held undm; the auspices of the Dinted Labor . Party, will hold its fortnightly meeting m Town lev's Hall to-mght, at 8 o clock. The subject, “Essays and Spcechy : Famous Historical Chaiactus, should be productive of nnich interesting discussion. _ All friends cf the Labor cause are invited to attenr.. I -\t the same time and place the father of a bride who was married at Sutton Courtenay, Berkshire, married ! the mother of the bridegroom. There ! was a triple wedding, for on the earne . occasion the father’s other daughter | was also married. The contracting 1 parties were : Mr James Bridges <o6), • widower, and Mrs Margaret Lovelace (49), widow: Muss Rose Bridges i (22) and Mr Mnlliam Lovelace (24), Miss Ada Bridges (26) and Mr Leonard Bailey (24). ’ The Gisborne Drivers' Union last evening decided to send a delegate (Mr J. Campbell) to attend the Federation of Labor Conference to be held at Wellington on January 21, with a view to planning “a vigorous campaign to end the power of a party frankly hostile to Labor, and to amend the anomalies of a law used to further organised blac'kleggism. Jhe ✓Genera! Laborers’ Union has decided that it deeplv regrets its inability to send a delegate, but it expresses the hope that the deliberations or the conference will materially benefit die conditions of the workers.

j A most successful trip to Waikare- : moana was undertaken by a local ! taxi-car proprietor, Mr Farrington, who took Dr. Collins and party through on Wednesday. The party ' had a most enjoyable trip out. there being no enforced delays. Few people have” a knowledge of the attractions of Lake Waikaremoana as a holiday : resort. At this time of the year the j native bush clothing the mountains !is unrivalled. ■ Mr. Farrington states 1 that the trip can be done in a day, as ! tlie journev back was done, in seven hours’ running time easy travelling. 'He returns again for Dr Collins in i the: course of a few days. It may be mentioned that the presi- | dent'of tiie Rifle Club (Mr A. i . Lawrie) is so satisfied with the eapabili--1 ties of some of the members that he ij trying to make up a team for the j New Bisley at Trentham in ! February next. It is a matter for regret that rifle practice could not have been started earlier to enable enthusiasts to get in some training for the big event of the shooting year. Whatever happens on the present occasion it may be confidently anticipated that the'Gisborne Rifle Club will be able to give a good account of itself at future rifle meetings. In the meantime the Club's first essay m competition will be watched with interest.

A cable from Dublin lasi week xtated that a cattle dealer named Fritzpatrick died in the fields of Kells and was^taken to the mortuary. His St. Joseph’s cord was cut in tiie process of laying out the body and lit recovered * The incident is popularly regarded as a miracle. St. -Joseph s cord is torn round the waist by the members of an arch-fraternity- having its headquarters at St. Mary’s College. Dundalk. it is practically unknown in New Zealand. It is tressed and worn to the greater honor of St. Joseph. The Very Rev. Father Price, Administrator of the Christchurch Diocese, was seen about the above message. He stated that it was not taken seriously. Cr. W. Webb, who was absent from the last meeting of the Borough Council, had some remarks to make to a “Times” reporter yesterday on the question of bridging the Waimata. Briefly stated, Cr. Webb approves of Cr. Smith’s suggestion to construct a bridge of a lasting kind, probably of ferro-eonenete -and steel as suggested. but regrets that in his opinion such a project is impracticable for the present. Tiie main factor facing tiie Qouneil was that urgenew was absolutely necessary in that tinsewerage pipes had to be taken over the river as soon as was at all possible. That being so. it would, in his opinion, be the proper policy to proceed at once with ilie bridge for which, plans had been prepared and approved.

In the course of a talk with a “Times” reporter last evening with reference to the statement of Mr Corbell at the annual meeting of the British and N.Z. Meat Coy at Christchurch on Wednesday that during the last season too much inferior meat had been shipped to London and that lambs eight and nine months old and only a little over 201 bs in weight had passed freezing works and been sharped to West of England ports. Mr C. A. deLautour (chairman of directors of the Gisborne Sheepfarmers Coy.) stated that lie had never heard of such a thing in this district. It would ho very unbusinesslike land would not be good for trade to send meat not in prime condition to the London market. Such a thing might possibly arise from a sudden slackness in feed in a district, but was to be regretted in any case as the shipment of such inferior meat was profitable to no one.

Before Mr W. A. Barton, S.YL. yesterday judgment for plaintiffs by default was given in the following cases: Fiskiu and Ludwig (Mr Dawson) v. Alexander Wesley Simpson £4 4s lOd and costs (10s); Gisborne Publishing Company (Mr Nolan) v. John Dodgery, £2 10s and costs (12s). in - the case of Thomas Fraser (Mr Mann) v. George Murray, a claim on a judgment summons, an order was made for the payment of £3 15s forthwith, in default 3 days’ imprisonment. Paku Taylor was ordered to pay- Robert Thomas Williamson (Mr Dawson) the sum of £5 3s forthwith, or serve 5 days’ imprisonment ; in the case of Charles Buscke (A. Trevor Coleman) v. Andrew Hood, • Ebor Charles Selwyn Hamlin and William Good, an order was made for the payment of £ll. 10s 4d forthwith, in default”ll days’;

During the last ten days Melbourne Cash have been getting ready for their great drapery and clothing safe. They have thoroughly gone through then- large stock, and all has been marked down at the very fewest bargain prices. This sate is one which always attracts from far and wide, on account of the many money-saving opportunities it presents. Safe nowon.*

The New Zealand Drivers’ Federation will hold a conference at Christchurch on Wednesday,- April 9. The .Gisborne Onion will be represented.

“The Relief of Lucknow” and “The Glass Coffin,” two very fine dramatic pictures, will be screened at the lOpera House for the last time this evening. Special attractions are notified for to-morrow.

An amusing feud of two families in the County Mayo, the Sweeneys and the Caseys, was before the justices at Kiltimagh on summonses, Mr McGinley, District Inspector of Constabulary, elucidating its incidents. One of the Caseys having been ordered to wear spectacles, Sweeney, for ridicule, paraded before their house in a pair of tin goggles. Two Caseys next appeared. One dropped a purse, which the other seized and ran away with. This, said the inspector, was to indicate that a. Sweeney had been sent to a reformatory for purse stealing.

The Government has had great difficulty in getting a suitable man to act as Resident Comimssioner at the Cook Islands (telegraphs a Wellington correspondent). Several well-known and capable men have been on the point of accepting the position, but have drawn hack at the last moment. At present the Government is in negotiation with a. well-known resident of the North Island, who has a good knowledge of law and also of the manners and customs of the natives. It is expected that the position wi’l be filled shortly. Three passengers in a motor-car hacl an extraordinary adventure at Bilbao. They were on the way to Algorta, driving at full speed along a straight road. There were two. women in the hack of the car, and the husband of one of them sat by tlie chauffeur He noticed that the driver had remained perfectly still jfc,‘r several minutes; but when a. turning was reached and the chauffeur was not steering, he grabbed the wheel, managed the turn of the road safely, and shook the chauffeur angrily. The man was dead. His fingers were stiffening on the steering-wheel, and a serious accident was only just averted.

An extraordinary murder confession .is at present engaging the attention of the police at Buffalo. The confession is contained in a letter, the writer of which is apparently a realisation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Declaring that he is a homicidal maniac and “loves to kill,” he admits the brutal murder of three boys, whose names he gives. Fie declares, however, that he is not able to give himself up. since he occupies a prominent position in society. The coroner’s records confirm the particulars given in the confession.

A New Zealand actor-pony, Sandow. is creating a good deal of interest in London just now. Sandow was trained by Mr Ernest O’Neill, a New Zealand buck-jumper rider, under whose direction lie performs a series of amusing and clever tricks. He demonstrates his powers as a mathematician, rapidly answering problems in the simple rules of arithmetic. When his trainer assumes the character of a won’t-get-home-till-morni og reprobate, Sandow shows bow he would get his dissipated friend home. He meets some children coining liQjne from school, who want a ride. All the boys are bucked off, but when a -little girl mounts Sandow walks demurely round the stage. It is said he can perform for 25 minutes without repeating a single trick. Sandow has already appeared before Queen Alexandra.

The decision of tlie New Zealand Federation of Labor to hold -.it Wellington. on 21st January, a conference with a view to planning “a vigorous campaign to end tlie power of a party frankly hostile to labor, and to amend the anomalies of a law, used to further organised blaokleggism,” does not appeal- to have aroused much enthusiasm in Dunedin labor circles. As far as can be ascertained, only one union (the Drivers and Carters ), have decided to send a delegate to the conference. The Federation Executive has sent to unions another appeal, asking them to cast aside prejudices and personal animosities, if any, and meet together actuated by the desire to further the interests of one and all. and if unions hav'e adversely voted upon a. former invitation to the conference to reconsider tlie question of representation at it.

It is the case that much pleasure is being expressed by members of the Rabbit Board at the prompt and busi-ness-like steps which Hon. Mr St. Leger took to acquaint the Board of the capture on his property of a member of the bunny tribe. To a “Times” reporter yesterday a prominent member said that it was a great pity that other settlers and run holders had not helped the Board, in the same way. There were many instances on record where property owners had preferred to conceal the fact that they had caught rabbits. on their places. He was speaking more particularly of the Wairoa district. Seen about the matter, the excuse put forth had in some cases been that as the property was for sale it might injure the prospects if it became known that the Se’st had out in an appearance on it. [r St. Leger, as is well known, not only had the rabbit he saw killed, but sent the skin post haste to the Board, with the result that a full and early investigation of the locality has been made possible.

A correspondent of the Christchurch “Press” is verv indignant about- some references to New Zealand in an interview with Miss Ethel Warwick, an English actress, published in the “Weekly Scotsman.” It is possible to attach too much importance to the lady’s remarks, but they are interestas an example of how not to refer to a country one has visited. Miss Warwick travelled through New Zealand'with “Brewster’s Millions,’ hutall she has to say about us is that touring here is extremely primitive, and some remarks about the inhabitants and theatre, accommodation of Palmerston North. In the streets of Palmerston she says the company were “greeted by elderly black ladies wearing—well, hardly the latest Parisian models,” and the stage on which the plav was produced was only fourteen'feet- bv six. No doubt some people on reading this said something to this effect-:. “Dear me, what dreadful places these poor actresses have to; go to, all among the nasty, horrid savages.** “Brewster’s Millions- was staged in the Ouera House in Palmeiston. Miss Warwick inust have: confused Palmerston with Wanganui.

A special meeting of the High .School Board of Governors was held yesterday to arrange several matters of detail ill connection with the appointment of the new Headmaster. The new tug to be brought out from Home for the Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Company by Captain Sewell is due to arrive some time next month. Advice concerning her is expected any day now.

During November 4308 persons arrived in the Dominion as against 5248 for the corresponding month of il9ll. The departures numbered 205-5 as compared wtih 2054 in November 1911.—P. A.

A gentleman well-known from 25 to 30 years ago in the athletic world is visiting Levin, in the person of Mr Angus Cameron. For many years liis prowess at jumping, vaulting, tossing the caber, and even a sprint was known to all. After settling down to farm life, however, he developed a second growth, .and at one time turned the scale at 34 stone. He iiiow complains he is fading away, only being able to weigh in at 24 stone. A Wairarapa paper says :— People in the backb'ocks have other things to contend with besides bad roads, fn one locality there is a rough narroiC track skirting round a wild-looking hush-clad hill? At times, in just about the narrowest p’aces, a highwayman pig, a gigantic black boar with gleaming tusks, holds up the unfortunate traveller. For days the brute will not be seen, and then when ’east expected or wanted lie grimly appears. There is only one instance, so far, where he has actually attacked a man on horseback, but several have been blocked for a time. Efforts have been made to meet the pig by armed men, but so far the callers have not been received.

Mot uoka, the port of one of Nelson’s most- fruitful 'districts, has a trade which is steadily improving from year to year. The country is not much known to the tourist, notwithstanding its close resemblance to wellgroomed English farming country. It is a solidly prosperous district, taking in Riwaka, and has none of that rough, unkempt appearance cf some of the newer settlements of the North Island. For the year ended 31st December, Motueka’s exports showed substantial increases- in almost every direction. It sent away 144,086 cases of fruit, an increase for the year cf 11.044 cases, 1064 bales of wool as against SO3 bales last year, and flax and. tow and ’hops also showed large increases. Butter showed a decrease of 157 boxes, which is amply compensated for in 233 factory cans of cream —a new item for export, and a good .indication of the rapid growth of home-separation in' the Motueka district. In- from two to three years, judging by the greatly-increased acreage already down in fruit, the export «f apples from Motueka should show an enormous increase.

Tlie “Christchurch Evening News” has been looking. into the visitors’ book at the local tourist bureau. One Sydneyite volunteers the information that there are more bicycles to the square inch there than in any other town. A Siamese visitor, _ who has doubtless well put in his time, “admires the clears,” but he somewhat spoils tlie effect of his remark by putting a query at the end. A "Waikato resident commits rank heresy by saying of Christchurch: “Easily the queen city of New Zealand. Beautiful gardens and river. All it wants is water.” What a blow to Auckland! A Canadian thinks this a fine country, but that it has changeable weather, and a disappointed Queenslander declares the place co’d and wet. It remains for Dimedinites, however, to supply the jarring note. One sarcastically reflects, “Very English,” another commits the .unpardonable insult of describing us as “A city of flats.”

During his visit to Auckland at holiday time, Cr. Webb was much impressed with the remarkable progressiveness of the Queen City, which had developed into a regular Sydney in the matter of business, traffic and general city appearance. As to travelling in the main trunk express, there was one complaint which -ur Webb had to voice, and that was the disgraceful amount of ill-conducted drinking whicty went on in the through train. It was positively beyond all reason, beer and all kinds of liquor (being consumed to such an extent that travelling was rendered uncomfortable “and irksome. To rest, was something quite out of the question. Mr Webb does not mind anything of the kind within the bounds of reason, but when the sound of pulling corks, the stench from combined spirits and the noise from the continued rejelling made sleep an inipossibllity," there was surely room for complaint. The guards did not appear to assume much control, and if the regulations permitted, of such happenings (which they probably do not. according to the letter of the law), it was high time that something more stringent was enforced.