Local and general.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3774, 8 March 1913, Page 6

Local and general.

The Red Dandies have booked the Opera House for a five-night season during May next.

The River Board has issued reminders to those on whom notice has already been served, with regard to the removal of obstructions, that the time allotted will shortly expire.

Mr. W Nicholls, relieving guard at Gisborne, had a finger cf the left hand badly crushed while engaged in shunting operations on Thursday evening.

' A Maori, a first offender, was fined 10s and 2s costs yesterday at the Magistrate’s Court (Mr. Barton, S.M.), for being drunk on the esplanade on the previous day. It is' gratifying to ascertain that typhoid fever, which was very prevalent in Gisborne a month ago, has now greatly decreased. The number of eases now reported is comparatively speaking, few. A meeting of> the Licensing Committee was to have been held at the Gisborne Police Court yesterday, but owing to a quorum not being present the pioceedings were adjourned till to-day The Gisborne Slieepfarmers* - Frozen Meat Company, Ltd., notify by advertisement in tliis issue that they have a few vacancies upon their slaughtering board at their Kaiti works for men who have been used to killing. ‘‘For Valor,” a big Edison drama, which introduces some wonderful battle scenes enacted by the' soldiers of the Second Battalion of the Queen’s Regiment, will form the star drama in a bright programme which Pathe Pictures will introduce to-night at His Majesty’s Theatre.

The shortage of milk in Gisborne to-day is causing some anxiety to the people. This shortage lias been brought about by reason of the weather, but more especially by the fact that new cows coming on will not be able to maintain their full profit on this account. Unless there is a change in the atmospheric conditions the shortage is likely to continue. When the case of George Hutchison v. Wetini Rikirangi and others (Mr Burnard) was called at the Supreme Court yesterday, it was announced that Judge .Tones, of the Native Land Court, had agreed to act as arbitrator, as had been agreed on by the parties, pending.the consent of Judge Jones. The only condition set down by Judge Jones was that he would act in everything except to the , taxation of the costs. He was granted leave to apply to the Supreme Court Registrar (Mr W. A. Barton, S.M.), to have the costs taxed.

To-day at 3 p.m. a voluntary parade of the Mounted Rifles will be held on the camp grounds at Waiohika. No arms will be required.

According to the “Auckland Star” Mr H. D. deLautour had the ill-luck to lose the bay colt Monicia, by Monoform—Alicia. The colt fell near his stable on Saturday, and fractured his skull, dying next day.

“Quip” writes: “There is a tragedy about Routene Road. We were all very surprised about the levels. The destruction of so many chains of kerbing grieved us. Now we find a search being made for a line of r> : nes, probably with a view to some alteration. Is it not all very costly?” The adjourned sitting of the Native Appellate Court yesterday was further adjourned till this morning, when as Judge Rawson will be available as Associate the Court will probably lie adjourned to Te Araroa on Wednesday. The reappearance of the reorganised Gisborne Brass Band at the hui at Manutuke, after a silence of well nigh a year, will be hailed with satisfaction by music lovers, and the hope is expressed that the band may have a long life of usefulness. There will he a complete change of programme at the Opera House tonight, including two star films, one “Nellie the Lion Tamer” dealing with circus life, and the other “The Curfew shall not ring to-night” from the wellknown poem. The Gisborne Hospital and Charitable Aid Board are about to take decisive steps in regard to those patients who have failed to pay their fees. It is notorious that many patients who are well capable of meeting their obligations fail to do so, and the contemplated action of the Board will be generally welcomed. The same rate of things prevails at the Wellington Hospital and at the Otaki Hospital, and the matter at the present time is engaging the serious attention of the local authorities in the Wellington province. In the opinion of an esteemed correspondent, “Pakeha” some of the similes used by the speakers at the hui are by no means perfect nor striking. He instances one in which it was stated that now that the Natives had heard the proposed sailing directions of the new commander or pilot of the fleet they would consider them. What sort of a fleet, he asks, could be expected if the crew are to reserve to themselves the right to obey the lawful commands of the master? Other similes, adds “Pakeha.” were equally absurd. According to a P.A. wire from Wellington, giving evidence before the Imperial Trade Commission, the Government Geologist (Mr Morgan) stated that the chief iron deposits of New Zealand were those at Parapara and the Taranaki ironsands. An examination of the Parapara deposits showed that there was about 22,700,000 tons of iron ore. There was said to be an equal quantity in an adjacent block. The Taranaki iron sand made iron of a good quality, but there would be difficulty in transporting it to the smelting works. It contained titanium, which made it difficult to smelt. The Taranaki district appeared to be the most promising for petroleum. but the yield was not up to expectations at present. The goldmining industry was not in a particularly flourishing condition owing to depreciation in the value of gold, but New Zealand would lie a gold-mining country fur many years. Mr Wickham, TMtish Trade Commissioner, lief ore the Imperial Trade Commission yesterday, urged the need of ascertaining the country or origin in case of imports. There- was no question that- preference was given to Germany and America by the shipping lines. He mentioned a firm dealing in agricultural implements, who questioned whv, when freight from New York to Lyttelton via London was 28s 9d per ton. they could not get a Iletter rate from London direct'than 50s per ton. Other similar complaints had been made, and witness could not get any satisfaction from shipping firms, but it was said that there was a good deal of competition out of New York. He thought (says a P.A. wire) that there was sufficient trade to justify a direct shipping service between Germany and New Zealand. The North German Lloyd's steamers now traded to Australia and a large proportion of our imports was transhipped here from Australia. Says an Auckland P.A. message: At the St, Helen's inquiry to-day. Driveller attended to elucidate the point in connection with some previous evidence relating to an episode of some years ago. in which the doctor whom she had asked to assist her at an operation had declined to do so. In reply to her questions, Dr luglis said lie was at the time president of the British Medical Association, and in that capacity was telephoned to by the doctor in question for advice. The case was not in his opinion an urgent one, and he advised the doctor not to attend. The reason lay in the trouble which arose some years ago when the friendly societies obtained the services of some medical practitioners who did the societies' work much cheaper than members of the Association. The consultation with Dr Iyeller was refused, not becauseshe was not a member of the British Medical Association, but because she was associated with practitioners who were serving friendly societies. It is expected that there will be a large attendance at the important sale of freehold and leasehold properties, to be conducted at 11.30 o'clock this morning at His Majesty’s Theatre by the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Company, in conjunction with Messrs Dalgety and Company, Ltd. The sale is being hold under instructions from Mr T. A. Coleman, East Coast Commissioner. and the area to be disposed of will be 30,4-10 acres of freehold land, consisting of Mangatu 5 and 6 blocks. This area is divided into seven sections, varying in size from 2800 to 6620 acres. As the land is being offered on most liberal terms, there should be keen demand for the sections. The lease of four sections, each containing about 2000 acres of good bush land, situated in Taliora No. 2F. will also be offered at the same sale. The leases will l»e for 21 years, with the right of renewal for a further term of 2-1 years, and with compensation for improvements, ascertainable by arbitration. Particulars of the sale appear in the advertising columns of this issue.

There have been great crowds going out to the Hui at Te Arai every day—it lias been quite a centre of attraction. Melbourne Cash lias been the same in town. Everyone likes to see now goods, and they have received big shipments of millinery, jackets, jerseys, hosiery, dress materials, etc., all now showing and soiling freely.*

At Timaru yesterday Messrs Mc'ftobre and Armstrong of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, ad--dressed a largely attended meeting of business men on the industrial unrest and the need for organisation. A resolution was carried unanimously approving of the Federation’s action -hi extending its defensive organisation and pledgnig those present to use every effort to forward the same. Messrs Mcßobie and Armstrong meet the farmers to-morrow.—P.A. message.

Before the Imperial Trade Commission at Wellington vesterday Mr Morgan (Government Geologist) stated that conditions in the Dominion were unfavorable for coal mining, and probably only 100,000,000 tons of the *374,000,000 tons of proved bituminous coal would 1 be mined. The total quailttty of proved coal of all classes was estimated at 1,001,000,000 tons, and not- more than a quarter of that quantity could he mined. The supplies of good coal that could be mined were limited .and would probably be exhausted in 100 years.—P.AMr W. It. Morris (secretary of the Post Office), giving evidence before the Imperial /Trade Commission yesterday, recounted the history of reductions in cable charges. Despite a drop in the rate from 10s 6d io 3s per word, the cables’ earnings had not fallen off. In 1911-12 the loss on the Pacific cable was £40,498, of which New Zealand paid £4500. With the steady growth of traffic the time would come when the loss would be wiped out. The Pacific cable could carry 7,000,000 words annually, but at present it only took two million. Proposals had been made bv which the charge could be cut down to 2s 8d per word. He believed it possible that even if the charge were reduced to sixpence the increase of cables would result in the service being efficiently conducted without loss.— P.A.

The Governor, Lord Liverpool, had intended leaving on Sunday on a week’s tour of the North of Auckland. His Excellency was to have been accompanied by the Countess of Liverpool and Hon. W. H. Herries, and it was intended to have visited Russell, W 1 langarei, and other places. In anticipation of Their Excellencies’ arrival, the Maoris have been making preparations for a reception in accord with the Native Customs. Yesterday, however, came news of an outbreak of enteric amongst the Maoris at Ohaeawai, and Lord Liverpool has decided to postpone his northern tour in view of the .strong recommendation of the District Health Officer that no Native gathering should take place in proximity to the infected area.—Auckland P.A. telegram.

The hull of tlie old steamer Wellington has been towed to Mohau Granite Quarries, near Coromandel, and sunk to form an extension to the breakwater (says tlie “Auckland Star”). The finely modelled old steamer has been in New Zealand waters for about 46 -years. Although she braved many storms round the coast, she was always fortunate enough to escape without any serious injury, and was looked upon as a particularly lucky ship.. The operation of placing her at the end of the breakwater was a somewhat difficult one, but fine weather favored the attempt, and the old steamer was sunk exactly where required.

In connection with the Mount Lvell disaster in Tasmania, the Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey) cabled to the Premier of Tasmania asking if any monetary assistance was required, and received a reply stating that no money was needed. The Wellington Trades and Labor Council, however, sent a donation to the secretary of the Miners’ Union, and quoted the reply that had been received bv the New’ Zealand Government. A letter has been received acknowledging receipt of the amount, but the writer adds: “I note your remark about the Tasmanian Premier that no money was wanted. You will be shocked to heai' that up to the time of .writing (February 18) the Tasmanian Government lias not provided any relief for the uiclows and orphans.”

Says the “Tapanui Courier” : Talking to a 50-year-old resident lately, the subject of grass-burning came up. “Yes,” he said, “Vincent Pyke warned them when they started to fire the tussock that they would ruin the country, and they did. Grass! Why, you couldn’t find horses in the tussocks that grew up Manuherikia-Dunstan flat —that is, if they were lying down. You had to sing out to make them raise their heads. Even on the Knobbytops you would get wet above the waist in the tussocks on a dewy morning, and those tussocks held the moisture. hence the big water supplies we used to have. Oh, yes! The men who ■burned the tussock did incalculable harm to Central Otago,” and that must be the verdict of everyone who remembers the grassy days o’ auld fang syne.

In reply to Sir Rider Haggard at the Dominion’s Commission in Christchurch, Mr Ensor said that. New Zealand could carry a population of ten millions. Sir Rider Haggard: “I suppose you know that the Old Country lias been skinned and that there are few rural workers to he obtained?” Mr Ensor: “Mr Walter M'Farlane gave evidence before the Commission in Loudon to the effect that there were anv number of suitable men in the country districts off the Old Country.” Sir*Rider Haggard: “That is what Mr Walter M'Farlane says. You pay extraordinary high wages here. How does farming in this country stand it? Are the farmers so much more prosperous than in the Old Country?” Mr Ensor replied that the country was blessed with a reliable climate, but the farmers were not so verv prosperous. He urged at length that the shortage of labor was harmful to the farming industry. Unless more labor was obtained the limit of the country’s output would soon be reached.

Harvest Festival Services are to be held in the Methodist Church to-mor-row. The Sanctuary will he suitably decorated, and special harvest hymns will he rendered. Anthems: “His Name is Excellent” and. “Fear Not O Land” both by Simper. The Rev. J. A. Lochore will be the preacher. Missioner Jones will conduct both services at Te Hapara and Mr H. Field, •of Auckland, will preach at Mangapapa at 7 o’clock. The United Bible Class Rally will be held in the afternoon.

f r Mr M. Champion, the famous New Zealand swimmer, is to be mvited to give an exhibition at the Gisborne swimming sports on Easter Monday.

According to a P.A. message' from Invercargill a boy named Collins, son of E. Collins, Ita Creek, was killed on the railway yesterday near Brydone while trying to board a moving train.

The first of the 10s Federal notes were printed last week. When i> substantial number has been run off, the Treasury Department will issue the notes to the.public through the Com-' monwealth Bank.

According to a. P.A. wire from Wellington, the members of the Imperial Trade Commission will be taken to-day to Levin and will visit the Wornroa. State farm. Some members will visit Taranaki on Tuesday in order to inspect the farming and other industries.

Advice has been received in Wellington by Captain G. G. Smith, Naval Registrar for New Zealand, that H.M.S. Prometheus, the Admiralty’s drill-ship, will arrive in New Zealand waters on 13th April. Several men belonging to the Dominion arc waiting to join her for training purposes.

The attention of students of engineering is directed to an advertisement School for Engineers that has had a truly remarkable record of successes. In six years passes have been obtained by them for 734 students. The firm will be only too delighted to supply any information with reference to their courses.

Li connection with the Westland Jubilee the celebration committee is anxious to compile a list of/ pioneers who were on tlie West Coast any time in the sixties, and desires those in the Poverty Bay district affected to communicate their names and addresses to the secretary of the Jubilee Committee at Hokitika.