Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3770, 4 March 1913, Page 4

Local and General.

Parties of Maoris journeying to the hui at Manutuke yesterday enlivened the way with jovial liaka's, much to the general entertainment.

While driving some cows to water yesterday a son of Mr Dan Parker fell from his horse and sustained a bad injury to one arm. Mr H. D. Robinson met- with a nasty accident while riding past the cemetery at Mqkaraka yesterday. A section of the road in this locality was recently asphalted as an experiment, and Mr Robinson’s horse is supposed to have slipped upon this, falling, and breaking its rider’s leg. Mr Robinson was attended to by Dr. Wilson and brought in to the hospital. It will be remembered that last Tuesday night Mr Bowen sustained exactly similar injuries in the same way in the same locality,

The Supreme Court will he’d a sitting in Chambers at 9.30 a.m. to-day. Last night the lecal police cells were occupied >by throe drunks and one mental defective. A young man, declared to be insane, will be escorted to an asylum to-mor-row. Waiting jurors were discharged from the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon until 10 a.m. to-day, when the Court will resume its sittings. A Christchurch I’.A. wire states that at a meeting of the Seott Memorial Committee it was decided to wait on the Prime Minister and ask for a subsidy on the amount collected, and also that local bodies be empowered to make contributions to the fund. A Chinese at Whangarei, charged with- employing in his laundry a Maori girl after hours without a permit, advanced the defence that the girl was his fiancee, and went to the laundry only in the course of courtship and not to work, while her mother went with her as chaperone. The defence was not successful. The director of the Wanganui Observatory states that in the total eclipse of the moon which takes place on the night of March 22 the first contact with the shadow will begin at 9.43 p.m. The beginning of the total phase will.be at 10.41 p.m., the middle of the eclipse at 11.28 p.m., and the end of the total phase 15 minutes after midnight. The shadow passes i.ff at 1.13 a.m. A novel sight in Wellington streets on Friday afternoon attracted the attention of many passers-by. Toby, the educated baboon, now appearing at the Theatre Royal, was vigorously col-, iecting from all and sundry on behalf of the lioness at the Zoo. The baboon was dressed in the height of fashion, and appeared to appreciate his novel employment. He is understood to have signified his entire approval of the scheme by which the lioness is to be retained. In the case against John James Ross before the Supreme Court yesterday, his Honor Mr. Justice Cooper said he had been approached in connection with the new section of the Act, which allowed that a counsel could be assigned by the Court for a prisoner in impecunious condition, provided that special circumstances prevailed. In the present case he seemed it unwise that a .counsel should be assigned. Prisoner, consequently, conducted his own case. Boycott in New Zealand is not unknown, but other places have their records in this respect. San Francisco is one. A Wellingtonian, who has just returned here, states that as he was proceeding along one of that large city’s main thoroughfares his attention was attracted by the following cry: “This shop is unfair! This shop is unfair! Naturally enough, "he became interested, and on making inquiries, he found the cry came from a man wearing attached to the lapel of his coat a red ribbon. He was walking up and down on the pavement in front of the shop. Later, he (the Wellingtonian) was informed that the particular shop was boycotted. When it was decided to boycott a shop, the practice was that a man was placed outside it, and he called out, day and night, “This shop is unfair.”

; The Government mil probably inj rite tenders for the erection of the 1 new Parliamentary Buildings at a very ! early date.' The foundations have | now been practically completed by the . Public Works Department, and* the work of finishing off the "rounds in their new formation is well advanced, f It is unlikely, however, that a start will be made upon the erection of the r building for about- six months from the present date. Reasonable time will hare to be given to intending tenderj ers to go over the plans and make out j their tenders, and if a contract has I been let three months hence, good progress will have been made. After ; these preliminaries have been settled * the successful contractor will have ex- : tensive preparations to make. Mate- , rial for steel reinforced work which | will be required at the commencement ; of the building operations willTiave to jbe obtained from England. The esti- | mate that a start cannot well be made j n ß on the building for six months is based upon the facts of the case „ The business of! deciding upon a Xew Zealand memorial to the late Captain Scott is not likely to prove an easy one, remarks the “Dominion”, if it is to be a matter of taking the greatest common measure of all the ideas current on the subject. Bishop Julius, of Christchurch, has suggested a great cross on some eminence near Lyttelton, and this idea -was submitted by the “Press” to various people for criticism. One, a business man, wanted “some gigantic figure on Lyttelton Heads” ; “a farmer” suggested “something useful,” such as a scholarship or an institution for seamen, and “two Labor men” also approved of the scholarship idea. One City Councillor favored a memorial in the heart of the city, and another advocated the erection of a statute in the beautiful Christchurch Gardens. Several others simply said that Bishop Julius’s idea was the best. “A scientific man” put in a plea &>r “a little gem of statuary”— a group commemorative of the five men who died. “I hare no hesitation whatever "in saying that the ordinary working man is not required to keep books showing his receipts and expenditure,” remarked Mr. Justice Cooper at the Auckland Supreme Court when discussing a section of the Bankruptcy Aot which sets forth that a man must keep such books of account as are usual and proper in the business carried on by him. “The man who works day by day or week by week for wages,” he added, “cannot be held to bo in business.” Spenking in regard to tlie case of a painter who simply took up small sub-contracts and sold practically only his own labor, his Honor said that assuming he was required to keep ledgers and a cash book the jury would have to determine what standard of book-keeping would have to be complied with. As far as his Honor ooula say, such a man was obliged simply to keep such a record his transactions as would enable the Official Assignee, without unreasonable difficulty, to ascertain his position during the three years prior to 'bankruptcy.

Large numbers of people have already been attracted to our store to view the contents of great numbers of eases just received from Home. Perhaps something mar© attractive will be the return of the popular Buyer and Milliner of Melbourne Cash with great purchases of millinery, etc., tastefully selected from the best fashion centres. W© cordially invite an early inspection.*

t " The popular “Confederate Iron- ' clad” programme; which was received with such enthusiasm by a bumper house on Saturday night, will be repeated for the last time by Pathe Pictures at His Majesty’s Theatre tonight. At Greymouth yesterday Robert Semple, for flailing to give the age of his son to the Defence authorities, was fined £4. Mr Semple said he absolutely refused to give the information on the grounds of alleged improper. methods adopted to obtain the same.—P.A. There are plenty of Parliamentarians within hail of Gisborne at the present time, and all are conversant with the requirements of the district. In addition to Hon. W. H. Herries, there are within call Hon. A. T. Ngata, Hon AV. D. S. MacDonald, and Sir Jas. Carroll.

A curio which has created much interest (says the “Timaru Herald”), has now been added to Mr D. Cowan’s collection, which was found at Mr G. Allen’s residence, Highfield, shortly after the electrical disturbance of last month. While fishing at Motupipi on Wednesday last Mr J. G. Hunter landed no less than 76 sharks and dogfish in three hauls of his net. Two of the sharks measured over ten feet in length. Sharks are very plentiful in Golden Bay at the present time, says' a local paper. The advent of the American-built automobile has provided an important item in the freight list of steamers from Montreal and New York (says the “Auckland Star”). Steamers frequently come down to New Zealand with as many as 30 motor cars below the hatches, and there seems to be a general increase in the number being shippd from the United States and Canada each year. The North Auckland correspondent of the “Press” says-that he had a ■conversation with an immigrant recently, and was told the story of his first week’s experiences on the gumiielcls. Six days’ work averaged a return of 2s 9d per day, he had four fierce fights with Maoris, lost his gum•spear and spade in a gum-hole, learned to say ‘ 'lt;a Ora” and “Dobra dan,” the Austrian equivalent for “good day,” and ran up a bill with the local storekeeper for £3 16s. He said he "thought lie would try a fireman’s job or bush work in the King Country. . A child’s narrow escape from a'most •certain death occurred yesterday afternoon near the Opera House. It appears that a horse attached to a -trap belonging to Mr Leader, fishmonger, took fright at one of the advertisement boards blowing dawn at the theatre. Mr Leader was just in time to pull his little son out of the vehicle when the horse tore down the .road and came into violent contact with some trees. The trap vas smashed to pieces, but the horse apparently escaped unscathed. 'I he'little boy was none the forso for iis experience.

"It is pretty plain wluu a racecourse _guesser is,” remarked Air Justice Edwards at the Auckland Supreme ■Court. “I don t know many . racing men, but .a guesser, in my opinion, is a man who goes to John Smith and tells him that a certain horse is sure to win, and then goes to other men and tells them that other horses are l>ound to get home first. Having exhausted the whole of the horses in the race,, one of his tips is bound to be right, and, therefore, at least one man feels grateful to him. The guesser approaches the man to whom he has given the correct tip, and usually secures some remuneration for his kindness in placing valuable information at a friend’s disposal.”

Surely there can be nothing equal to an earthqiiake as a means of concentrating the human mind on the pressing subject of the moment? At any rate, on Saturday, states a "Westport paper, a well-known resident of Millerton showed he had thought for one thing only at the time, and that was seismology. He was enjoying a bountiful meal at a Westport- hostelry and had just lifted a dish of vegetables when the crash came. He rushed into the street, and bystanders were surprised to observe an otherwise apparentlv sane gentleman gazing at the Post Office tower with a dish of steaming cabbage clasped lovingly. When (danger is past humorous incidents recall themselves; indeed, a touch of earthquake makes the wliole world jgrirt .

At a meeting of the historical subcommittee of the Early Settlers’ and Historical Association, of Wellington, held on Thursdav evening, it was resolved that, with a view to placing facts on permanent record for future generations, the following subjects should be written up by various meni’hers of the Association: —The early history of the New Zealand Land Cornmany ; the early church history of Wellington ; military, municipal, and education history of Wellington; the history of "Wellington shipping, music, and sport ; also the early settlements .round Wellington, such as Miramar, liutt, and Manawatu. These records are to he published in serial form in tho Journal of the . Association, the first number of which appeared at Christmas. It was also resolved that several of tho oldest pioneers should be interviewed, and their interesting reminiscences taken down in shorthand, as by this means many glimpses of the spirit of the early days and the social conditions then prevailing would he obtained.

Speaking t-o a “New Zealand Times” reporter on Thursday, Commissioner Cullen remarked that many rpolieeme'n would rather remain in their present rank than accept offers .of promotion to positions as sergeants. One policeman to whom such promotion was offered declined on tho ground that he would make a financial sacrifice of £7O a year on the change, “and if a policeman stated that, the chances are that the sacrifice would be even greater.” This did not imply that sergeants were not better paid than constables; the explanation was found in the fact that numerous constables exercised other functions and •duties in addition to those pertaining to a police officer. For instance, in .various districts tho local constable acted also as clerk of court, bailiff, registrar for sundry purposes, and in addition had his own house and cultivated plot of ground. He was a sort of official factotum for the district, in possession of many comfortable perquisites and sources'of emolument, the relinquishment of which hi favor of sergeant’s rank would mean .considerable financial sacrifice.

It is understood that as from Saturday next the goods yard and sheds at the Gisborne Railway station will be closed at noon on Saturdays. The “Dominion” states that a person reported for misbehavior is to be exchided from th© Wellington public baths for the remainder of the season. It is reported in Blenheim that the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher contemplates opposing Mr M‘Galium, the sitting member for that district, at- the next general, election.

The Wanganui River is very shallow just now (says a local paper), and in some parts in the upper reaches the rapids have to be worked by poling, and also by means of the cables and steam winch. As a matter of fact, navigation is very tricky; but the skippers of the boats learned the alphabet of the river long ago, and they never fail to reach Pipiriki. The business of the Police Court was heard by Mr W. M. Barton, S.M., at 9.30 a.m. yesterday. Stephen Cairns, a second offender for drunkenness, who did not appear, was ordered to forfeit the amount of liis bail (30s), or 4 days’ in gaol. A first offending Maori was fined the amount of his bail (10s), and another offender, whose last ai>pearance was made in 1910, was fined 10s. It has been noticed that the married men’s race on a sports programme has very often been won by a young man, perhaps not long married. A club a few miles out of Wellington,' evidently realising the disadvantage under which the older benedicts suffer, has added a stipulation which makes th 9 conditions of the married men’s race read as follows: “For married men with not less than three children.” ‘

The United Labor Party (Gisborne Branch) at its meeting on Friday week will finally decide on the candidates to represent the narty at the forthcoming municipal elections. At present the following have been nominated by various Unions: Messrs J. C. E. Turner, D. W. Coleman, Gill Inglis, A. H. Anderson, G. T. Bartlett, Jas. Perry. This number has to be reduced to five.

Extraetum papaveris is the euphemistic description of a decoction from poppy heads, and it has been coming into the country without attracting the attention from the Revenue Collector that opium does. . Now the extractum has been pounced upon, and from it will be extracted a duty of 4s per pound. The reason is that as prepared, according to the British Pharmacopoeia, it approximates in its properties to opium in a degree that renders it liable to 4s per pound duty. The searchlights "which are being used at night by the Territorials wiio are now in camp at the Auckland forts attract hundreds of moths and other insects (says the “New Zealand Herald.”) The beany of light is thick with them, and quite a large pile of dead insects lies in front of each light. Occasionally a gull or other bird is attracted by the light, and seemingly blinded by the glare, flies along the beam until it comes to the light itself, where it is caught quite easily by the operators.

The dark lantern, or bulls-eye, traditionally associated with the police force, is doomed—at least (says the Auckland “Herald”) that is the belief of many members of the force in New Zealand. It is pointed out that the lantern is cumbersome, out-of-date, and, particularly in the Auckland district, is uncomfortably hot to carry. This latter objection is put forward as one of the principal arguments against the use of lanterns, while in addition, it is stated that the lanterns frequently get out of order and, becoming. smoky, form an excellent danger signal to the burglar With the keen nose. The adoption of electric torches, which could be stowed away comfortably like the baton, is considered essential.

Under the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act last session it was provided that those teachers who were in the education service on the Ist of January, 1906, when the teachers’ superannuation scheme was first started, and who had neglected to come into the fund, should be given an option of joining under certain conditions. The Act gives such teachers six months in which they can exercise the right, but already more than three of the six months have lapsed, and only a very small number of teachers have availed themselves of the provision. The Department is of opinion that teachers, especially in remote districts, are not aware of the amendment having been passed. During tho past few days (says the “Lyttelton Times”) Mr Wright, one of the scientific staff of the Antarctic expedition, has been busy at the local magnetic observatory making preparations to swing a pendulum in order to determine- the force of gravity. This work is necessary in order that comparison may be made with similar records obtained in the Antarctic and , elsfcwhere. The Telegraph Department has made the necessary connec- ] tions, and done what wiring is neces- \ sary. Arrangements have been made | with the Government Astronomer, in | Wellington, to make observations, to ensure absolute accuracy in the determination of time, but should tmfavorable weather hinder him the time will be determined locally, by means of a transit.'

A citizen -of Wellington has protested against the continuance of the name Basin Reserve into the days when the ground may be a beautiful oval. _ “It is a terrible name, with no special significance,” tho critic said. We dispute this statement in all its allegation, says the “Post.” The name is not “terrible” ; it is a good, plain, honest word, with a meaning which goes back to the early days' of Wellington, when the site, of the cricket pitches was a swamp. The roads now' termed Cambridge terrace and Kent terrace are the old “Canal Reserve,” leading to the proposed “Dock Basin.” Thus the name Basin is interestingly linked with an old scheme, which a great earthquake helped to thrust aside, for the level of Te Aro Flat was raised in that upheaval. Why should the word he changed? Whv should this generation thoughtlessly throw away a name that is historic? “If better were in, better would come out,” says a Dutch saw, which may be applied to mean—The better the Brandy an invalid takes the sooner he will get well. TherefoTe, in illness, buy Martell’s.*

| A combined Salvation Army band festival is to be held at Hastings during Easter. The Gisborne Band will leave for the Southern town on Good Friday and will return on the following Tuesday.

It is reported that a young lady swimmer found herself in difficulties on the Waikanae beach on Sunday morning. A gentleman waded in his clothes and effected a rescue. The lady was little th© worse for her adventure.

The Labor Party intends to nominate Messrs J. C. E. Turner and Will Rowell for seats on the Hospital Board at the forthcoming election, and they have also reauested the Housewives’ Union to nominate for the Party’s support the names of two candidates of the gentler sex.

The Native Appellate Court opened at Gisborne yesterday, the Chief Judge (Mr Jackson Palmer) presiding. Owing to Supreme Court business at New Plymouth Judge Rawson will be unable to arrive until Sunday next. Yesterday the Court adjourned till Friday in order that inquiries may be made as to where it is most desirable that the Court shall sit.

.At the Wellington Licensing Committee meeting yesterday, the Health Department forwarded a resolution passed by the recent conference in Wellington, recommending ;as a means of assisting the prevention of tuberculosis the. periodical cleansing oil hotels. The department suggested that the committee should make it a condition to the granting of licenses that in addition to the ordinary daily cleaning, all J- Irooms should be thoroughly spri, ; cleaned at least once a month. The chairman of the committee pointed out that the committee could not make such a condition as suggested.