Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3956, 12 June 1913, Page 4

Local and General.

The civil list for to-day's Court Is a fairly lengthy one. Messrs. Nelson Bros, have decided to close down their Tavuheru treezmg works on June 25. It has been decided to hold a ball in the- Scottish Society's Hall'on July 17 in aid of o’t. Joseph’s Convent School. ■ - Progressive Gisborne/' the locallyma.’ii’factored film which aroused so much enthusiasm 'last night, will be repeated to-night at His Majesty’s Theatre by Bathe Pictures. A large iron goods shed has been erected at Matawai for the storage of goodsji rriving for settlers by the Publie Works train. A storeman has been placed in charge. The Scottish Society will give the children a treat, following the big hall, with'a social'evening for the youngsters, on Saturday night, 14th June. Parents are requested to send children in need time.

The operations of Gisborne’s new trams are apparently being closely watched throughout 'the Dominion. The Palmerston North Borough Council has decided to send it ; engineer (Mr. Jkkell) to Gisborne to i < port upon the storage battery trams.

A great deal of interest is being taken in the Mayor's proposal to form a Beautifying; Association for Gisborne, and it is expected that there will be a very large attendance at the inaugural meeting to-night, which will l;o held at the Borough Council Chambers at 7.30 o'clock.

“The whole of it should bo bought and improved either by the BorcugTi or the Beautifying Association,'’ was Mr. A. Forde Matthews’ advice to the Court yesterday in regard to the section on the Waimata which is in dispute. between Mr. Paltridge and the Borough Council.

■'■Have you obtained engineering advice oh the point?” asked Mr. T. A. Coleman of Mr. T. G. Lawless at Court yesterday. “Oil, no,” said Mr. Lawless, whose reply occasioned much amusement, “but 1 have spoken to men who know all about these things. Every second man you meet in Giyhorne is an engineer, you know.” “Yes,” said Mr. Barton, “there are plenty of them in Gisborne.”

Visions of Gisbonfe as it is to ho were related to the Court yesterday, when Mr. lan Simson pictured rows of warehouses flanking the lower Waimata, with barges loading and unloading; at the side of the then looked river. On this supposition, he said the value of these properties must be based, as there was a high prospective commercial value. Mr. W. Lissant Clayton concurred with this view, allowing at the same time that it was a matter as yet "in the lap of the gods.”

A revised schedule of charges for metal and shingle has been decided upon by the Borough Council. As mentioned in last issue, the departmental charge for Gentle Annie metal lias been increased from Ss to 10s per yard, and for private buyers from 10s to 12s 6d. Other increases decided upon are as follows:—Screenings (departmental) 7s 9d to Ss 6d, private buyers 10s to 12s 6d ; thirds (departmental) 7s 6d, (private buyer) 10s; dust (departmental) os, (private buyer') ss; Stephenson’s gravel (departmental) 5s to 6s, (private buyer) 6s 6d —unaltered; Kaitaratahi gravel (departmental) 4s to 4s Gel, (private buyer) 4s 6d to 6s 6d. Fresh tenders, to close on June 30. have been invited by the Government for new Departmental buildings at Gisborne. The idle rumor to the efr fe- b that the .plans were to be modified is dispelled by tenders being called for the identical plans originally drawn out. The building is to bo erected on the site of the old Volunteer Drillshed, and will have imposing frontages to both Customhouse Street and Read’s Quay. Accommodation will be provided' for* theJLand and Survey Department, Native Land Court, and Maori Land. Board, /Agricultural Department, Public Works, Labor, Customs, Valuation, and Tourist Departments, and the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages.

& s hv the European fruiter&is, and a Sort is now being made to prevent European, but is only lecemng ww j warm support. G. very .mfavoroUe <voaPi,,,,, conditions, and it was antiu , noted that she would experience a command of Captain Stcnboil,, an . -Pffg “Sat. tho day morning last. The “Lyttelton Times” states that the complainant in a maintenance case burton complainant, and she went with l.er knitting ‘,7°VX that until afterwards, said the c., i of the court. The woman smiled and for a few minutes her hands weie -t 11, but unthinkingly she began her werK again, and the small red. wooden et she was making occupied all her attention while the Magistrate was deciding the case. Sneak-thieves are operating in ami about Papanui road (says t.iv “Press”), gaining access to house- on the pretence of inspecting gas-meters or telephones. The occupiers, it is stated, leave the men to carry out their alleged duties*, and this sints their plans nice I}', 1 }', Tor when the coco t is clear they .enter other rooms end make away with any valuables leit about. One householder is said to liave lost jewellery to the value < i £25 through trusting to the hour.fidcs of a self-styled inspector.

At the meeting of the committee < i the Sheepowners’ Union, held on Tuesday (says-the “Lyttelton l imes ) the question of the advantages <r having sheep shorn hv hand was fully discussed. Mr. T. Tesckemaker. of Otaio. who lias had long experience as a wool-grower, gave his support to Tim blades. Ke remarked that in deciJinrr the method of shearing the sheep, bad to be considered, and hr predicted that machine shearing would dec! ne in favor of blade shearing, a- ibe latter was better adapted to the climate of many parts of the dominion.

On Saturday, reports the Coromandel correspondent of the Auckland “Herald”, J. Gould was travelling over the hills near Kikowhakarere when he found a human skeleton, and at once reported to Constable Spellman, who, with Dr Craig, went and inspected it. The skeleton was not perfect. No doubt the recent hush fires, having cleared the bush, left ; the’remains exposed. Dr Craig says ; that it may have been lying there i from 15 to 40 years. The skull was a good deal smashed, and some of the : ribs missing: the boots, a few buttons, : and a pipe were found alongside the j bones. A man was missing from this j town about 15 years ago, but it is isni possible to recognise the remains. j Aii interesting proposal, having for i its "object the fostering of Imperial ! unity, was put forward by the Hon. j James Aden in the Old Country, to ! the effect that there should bo an exi change cf leading politicians between i the Heme Land and the overseas Do--1 minions. He thought that it would i lead to a much better understanding i of the aspirations and ideals of the j colonies if public men of the Old Coun--1 try could visit the dominions. "’When ! in England I said to leading pub,lie ! men that they ccuM learn something j hv coming cut hei>.: and in turn they j could also teach us a croud deal. I ‘ hope some cf them will come: and | English statesmen are getting very. | much interested in the questions of j the dominions. They are beginning : to’ realise That they must face the i situat'd! from on Imperial point of i view.” ! , "t'nd-vr. the Public H with Act j local authority has power to abate j certain nuisances and make the. txj pauses incurred a charge upon the j land. I consider that the coun.il should have similar power in cohhivj tion with land so overgrown with i ger.se as to ho a clang.'-." says In--1 spec; ;■ Doyle, in bis annua! report to ! the We! ling ton City Council on the ! work'ng cf his department. '! lie i mark- v.v-i e prompted 1.-y the great difficult v the sanitary staff experiences in cl . ohng with gorse. There were 5? complaints received, and the Fire Brigade was called out 3S times to suppress fires caused by overgrowth of gorse during the year. “In many cases” (the report continues) "the owner cf the land is an absentee, or his agent (if he has one) has no authority to spend money in complying with notices, and while we are trying to find the owner or fix the responsibility life and property are endangered.”

The well-known New South Wales pastoralists, Messrs Osborne Bros., of Currandooley, Bowylie. Bolero, and other holdings, recently made a purchase in New Zealand of a whole flock of Romney Marsh sheep, the purchase probably being a record for this class as far as New South Wales is concerned. The sheep number about 1900 ewes oil various ages, and 300 rams, the-vendor being Mr D. Cameron, of Maori Hill Estate, Invercargill. Messrs Osborne Bros, also purchased largely at Mr Short’s recent sale of Romneys, securing altogether 6S high-class stud ewes, and 29 rams. In addition, they bought 250 stud eifes from other well-known breeders in the North Island. They have (says the “Sydney Daily Telegraph”) demonstrated the hardiness and general prefitablenss of the Romney and Romney crosses in such districts as Monaco, and the introduction of so large a number of high-class sheep should he a distinct gain to New South Wales.

Investigation of the statement that the Public Service Commissioners have no statutory power at present to grant increases of salary to the Civil servants under their control, has resulted in the “New Zealand 'rimes'"

bringing into light a recent regulation gazetted by the Audit Department, expressly declaring that the authority of any change of salary must he quoted. The “"Times” considers this, regulation has the appearance of fortifying the Audit Department in its objections, and, while it accepts without the slightest reservation-Mr. Robertson’s assurance that “"everything is being done in accordance with the Act,” it is disposed to think that the authorities are finding something the matter with the Act. ' Apparently, it adds, a number of unfortunate charwomen are the victims, so that the difficulty is not calculated to cause the self-styled ' “Reform” Ministers any very poignant anguish of mind. The question, however, requires investigation for all that.

Facts speak louder than words. Whatever day or whatever hour you may go to Melbourne Cash you are sure to find them busy—generally quite busy. And why is this? Because their system of absolutely cash enables them to sell at such small prices and being cash, buyers thev are always picking np a lot of very cheap bargain lines.* f

More Martell’s Three Star is sold in England than any other mark.*

For the past few days, Mr. C. K. Armstrong, District Engineer, and an •assistant, have been engaged in plannine out the branch line to the Motu township. The station site is expect <1 to be located close to the Motu bridge. An appeal made for funds to erect -v Booth Memorial Training College at Wellington has resulted so far in £0076 being subscribed. Jhe balvation officials are appealing for further donations, as LloOO will be required, in-addition to £IO,OOO, for furnishing the building when completed. The Public Service Commissioner, if it was a fact that the Commission intended to onfoice the legulation providing for superannuation o£ Civil servants at the age of Go years, replied that notice had already been given to a number who had reached that age. He declined to make any other reply.

The Haiti School Committee met last evening. Present: Messrs. Hay (in the chair). Kirk, Park, Hudson, and Fraser. The headmaster’s report t-V’wed the attendance to be about the Karim as at the previoiK meeting. There lin'd been a slight faihng-ofl on account of sick ness prior to the school r-U ring down for three weeks for the tea' JUrs’ Napier visit. A success!u! c r-nc“rt had been held, the sum of £8 ha vim' been realised.- The committV..O psSseti a vote < f thanks to all who bad assisted at the concert. Accounts amounting to £l6 ISs'lOd were passed for payment. Messrs. Hudson and Hay were elected a visiting committee,' ami will have one or twotnfbng matters to attend to. A social and dance is to he held at the Church Hall on*the 20th inst. to further asset the ’school funds.

Shakespeare “wrote his” in an unpretentious jilace. Good work—-tinex-ct-Iled—is being done in a small room bv A. W. J. Man.i, Chemist-Optician ’