Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3798, 8 April 1913, Page 4

Local and General.

There were four occupants of the police lock-up last evening.

A first offender for drunkenness was yesterday called on to forfeit the amount of his bail—lßs and costs (2s).

' The Commissioner of Stamps certified to estates of deceased persons during the month of March numbering 25(5. The only estate for the Poverty Bay district was that- of Rasmus Alarouseu (£766.).

“Plot and Counter Plot,” a thrilling drama dealing with the abduction of an English lady by Italian bandits, will lie shov.n for the last time by the Pat he Pictures at His Majesty’s Theatre to-night.

A local resident who bad a lot of building material in his yard was astonished yesterday when lie had his attention called to a number of sheets or roofing iron which had blown over his fence, and which would have decapitated any passer-by had any been in the way.

A small boy of ten years was brought before Mr Lawson, S.M.. at Haniil--1011. charged with entering a dwelling and stealing one penny. After lining severely cautioned by the Magistrate, lie was discharged. His 'Worship remarked that it was an unfortunate thing for the matter to have been brought up under the notice of the police, as had the boy’s father been notified in the first place the boy would probably have been chastised and thus would have received sufficient correction.— I\A. message.

At the Magistrate’s Court at Greylnouth yesterday Jack Anderson, a recent arrival from New South 'Wales.’ was committed for trial for assaulting Ernest Woods at Blackball. The two had an altercation early on Saturday. The same afternoon Anderson entered an hotel bar, where Woods was standing and struck him on the jaw with a tumbler, knocking him senseless. The wounds required 10 stitches. "When searched a revolver was found in Anderson’s pocket. Bail was allowed.- —P.A. message.

In an interview at Hobart the Hon. F M. B. Fisher said: “While in Tasmania, I want, to inquire into your system of proportional voting. Our present second ballot system is, I think, absolutely one of the worst systems ever devised. The last two general elections in New Zealand have shown it to bo one of the most defective electoral measures ever placed on the statute book. Ido not think there will be another second ballot held in New Zealand as far as the present Government is concerned.”

A Hawera resident tolls against himself the story of some instruction concerning the deference due to the “softer sex,” administered to him at Hie Opunake races, where, after the usual painful pushing process, he had at ; length arrived at the head of the column in one of the pay-out races at the totalisator. At this juncture (says the “Star”) a portly Maori dame, "in defiance of all recognised rules to tho contrary, made her way up to the exit race and presented her ticket at the window. “Aren’t you out of your place, Mrs?” queried tho Hawera man. “No fear.” was the answer, “radios first ; I to rady, you only to men.” 'This prompt and convincing rejoinder, and the humorous laugh which accompanied it. „ rendered anything hut acceptance of the situation impossible, and amid considerable laughter, the “rady” scored her point. The report that the scarlet full-dress uniform is shortly to he abolished for the whole of the British Army.(including the Marines, hut excepting the Guards), ami that the khaki field-ser-vi © dr res wild he made to do service upon all- occasions in future, raises (says the military correspondent of the “Standard”) a ’few very -important, questions. At a time'when all European nations were still in favor of the ordinary visible uniforms—that is), at tho close of the South African campaign—tho British Army made the first essay in the direction of invisibility by adopting khaki. Now', when a decided reaction is bqminfnmig (as a result of the Balkan campaign) in favor of the old system, and when the most progressive of modern armies—that of Frame—seems .li'kely. to pronounce in favor of retaining the conspicuous blue coat and red breeches i'f tradition, wo are * proceeding yet further in the .direction of invisibility, and, abolishing' even such ornamental ccnspicuousness as remained to us. A

The unusual spectacle of a pkddock full of seagulls could be witimssc hear the Grey Street bridge dining the last two days, the birds having been driven inland by the inclemency of the weather.

“The Stolen Symphony programme will bo repeated this evening at the Opera House for the last time. Ihore will bo a complete change to-morrow nio-hf, headed by the sensational stai entitled “The Broken Sword. Mr G. J. Black suggested at yesterday’s meeting held regarding the battleship New Zealand, that tanners should combine and present oO carcases of frozen mutton to HALS. land, as an advertisement for Gisborne mutton.

The Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Meat Co., recently floated, has purchaMd a site for freezing works at M hakatu, between Napier and Hastings. I fan are in preparation, and it is intended to push on the erection of the buildings without delay. —Kapler I .A. message.

“We sometimes send patients to the Hospital and never see them again,” was an innocent remark by a medico at yesterday s between the Hospital Board and the local branch of the British Medical Association, which caused no h.tle amusement.

A meeting of the Works Committee of the Borough Council was held yesterday morning. It was agreed to accept the tender of Mr J- A. N ICO J for the erection of the bridge over tlm Waiinata River in the borough, provided certain details were amin e to the satisfaction of the Borough Engineer.

To be cremated m highly de ( .'oaß-l coffins is the latest term °t amusement for the South Germans Ibo brilliant colors of the ancient Egy ptian tombs are eclipsed by some of the pictures now. being painted oil the' co^) • of dead Bavarian citizens. The cmx of this is the rule that no metal may be used in coffin construction, <-\cn nails being supplanted by pegs, iao the Teuton who desires a funcial or the verv first order has taken i in decorative painting. Ihe coffins are painted pale blue or green, and on this background appear vivid oil paintings.

In those American States teat have given women the franchise the service of women on juries—which seenis evervwhere to be a corollary of -the suffrage—is making a difference to breach of promise cases. At Iseatt-c recent!v a plaintiff brought a suit tor £551)0 damages against a fickle lover, who was reputed to be one of the handsomest men in the State of A\ ashington. A-jurv of women was empanelled to hear the case. A jury of men it is believed, would have accepted the plaintiff’s valuation, but this jury of women scrutinised the defendant fairly and squarely, and decided that losing him would bo adequately compensated for by the- sum of £.£K).

An application was made at Lambeth Police Court for a summons against Miss Maud Duvall, of Bnxton, for wearing a live lizard as an ornament. Inspector Knight, of the Koval Society for the Prevention or CiueAy to Animals, stated that he saw Miss Duvall in Atlantic road, Brixfon, wearing a live lizard like a biooch on her breast. It was tied round her neck with a piece of string. “The string cut tightly and the tail of the lizard had already, fallen off.. ’ The inspector alleged; that- the reptile was in a sorry condition. The summons was granted.

On account of certain objections taken to Sunday pla.v bv a few member.' of ilie Seatonn (Wellington) Bowling and Tennis Club, tne “Dominion,” the committee has been at some pains to take a plebiscite of shareholders on the question. Grant interest has been manifested in the district ever the taking of the plebiscite. which closed the other day. It was found that 321 rotes were cast in favor of Sunday play and 59 against, so that bowls and tennis will be included iu the Sunday recreations at Sea tm: n

Apparently crazed by the cold, an elephant performing in a small circus in Watertown, N.Y., ran away, and before he could be captured had dene damage amounting to several thousand debars. Breaking from his keeper, the elephant started down the main street. The few persons on the street at the time fled as the elephant came rushing aljjng. Tho big quadruped smashed the front of two stores and wrecked a. portion of their stocks, and ended his campaign by smashing through the great oaken door-of the State armory. Inside he did considerable damage to the furniture of the company 1 coins, being finally rounded up by his keeper and a crowd c-f citizens.

Sir Ernest Shackleton made a moving reference to the late Captain Scott in a recent speech in New York. “This is the first time I have spoken in public of this tragedy, and mv heart is fu’l,” he said. “Eleven years ago three men were struggling through the Antarctic ice back from an attempt to reach the South Polo. One had buret a blood vessel in his lung as a result of scurvy, and was nearly dead, but Ins two comrades did everything for him, cheerfully denving themselves little comforts The man with the broken bleed vessel was I; one of the others was Scott, and tho other was Hr. Wilson. I stand here to-night to tell you about it, but ocott and Wilson are gone.”

the ‘’Southland Times” savs that the predicament in which southern passengers were placed, owing to the break on tho main line, was anything biit pleasant. The inconvenience to which many of them wore put mav be easily conceived. The accommodation at Clinton was limited, and a great number were not possessed of tho wherewithal to purchase such accommodation, even if it were available. A lady who had four children with hoi, and who. it transpired afterwards had only 2d in her pockets spent the first night in the carriages, and the result m regard to the children may be easily, imagined. On learning her pught the better-circumstan-ced members of the marooned party thought of an expedient to relieve the situation, and a concert was ouicklv organised. This resulted in a net return of £3- Is, the handing over of uhich brought intense relief t-o the troubled, mother, and proportionate satisfaction to the people who promoted tho happily conceived venture.

A talc which probably is not true was told at Cane Town during the visit of the battle-cruiser New Zeubind H, was said that a very youthlul officer was showing some' hulv friends around the big "ship in Portsmouth, and undertook to explain to them the operation of the 12-inch guns, winch arc loaded, sighted and fired, by means of extraordinarily complicated masses of mechanism. All the operations, of course, are performed by electrical and hydraulic power, and at that moment the power happened to bo on. “You pull this lever ” said the officer, “and the ” Before lie could explain further a very gi lmj and aggrieved dockyard workman arrived with a rush in'the amnnin)tion , ca " c '’ which had been brought suddenly from the bowels of the ship, the lever wljjch the officer had thought controlled the breech-block of the gun was the one used in hoisting powder and shot from tho ammunition chamber, where the workman had been tnking a possibly well-earned rest. '®* n hi doubt play.trumps” is an old \\ lust adage, applicable also to Brandies.. If in doubt say" “Martel] s, ’ and yen’ll rget some of the best you can buy. What’s more, you’ll never be m doubt again.* • . • ..

r A toolshed on the Haiti wharf was yesterday lifted bodily over it stack of timber and deposited on the other side a few feet from the edge of the wharf. The Harbor Board S employees, by whom the shed is used, had a strenuous .time putting it back in its old position.

According to the agreement arrived at between the marine engineers'and the Shipowners’ Federation regarding the mosquito fleet, the classification of vessels ranged from 80 tons to under 100 tons has been agreed to. Chief engineers arc to be paid as follows • Tinder 20 h.p., £2l per month; from 20 h.p. to tinker 60 h.p £22 10s; from GO h.p. to under 80 h.p., £23; from 80 h.p. to under 100 h.p., £23 10s j second engineers, £l7 10s; third engineers £l6 10s.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, the case -of J. W. Wade and Son (Mr Mann) v. Thomas B. Sweet, a claim for £9 16s Bd, for plumbing work done in 1905-7 were called on and plaintiff produced bis ledger, and explained the reasons for the apparent discrepancies .in the dates given in the accounts. In one item he had made a mistake of! threepence. Defendant said • that the errors in the dates had caused him to object to the accounts. His Worship dismissed defendant’s special defence that the action was statute barred on the grounds that in 1907 defendant admitted the claim. Judgment was given for plaintiff for"£9 13s 2d. the amount of the original summons, with costs £5 7s’ 9d, including £3 9s 9d for witness’ expenses.

Every man in every vocation must of necessity “claim that he ex els.” Your money back if my work pr ves unsatisfactory.—A. W. ,J. Mann, Che-mist-Optician.* ©