Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3418, 23 August 1913, Page 4

Local and General.

Out of 500 ewes on one holding in the Wbarerata district it is stated that over 450 have lambed.

The suspected case of small-pox at Tokoinaru Bay, reported early in the recent scare, turned out to be a severe eczema.

Excellent progress is being made with the erection of the new bridge over the Waiapu. Only one set of piles has yet to he 'driven and the platform work will then he proceeded with.

A first-class programme will he submitted at the sacred- concert which the Gisborne City Band will give at His Majesty’s Theatre to-morrow night. A feature of the concert will bo the four selections fby the Band, which 'has been practising most assiduously of late.

Extensive alterations to Gladstone Road front of Hotel Coronation—the present bars to be turned into up-to-date shops. W, R. Clarkson, late of W. Pettie and Co. for 10 years, will be opening up at an early date at Hotel Coronation Buildings, Gladstone Road, with an up-to-date stocky of men’s mercery, hats and clothing. “The hotise for men’s wear.”*

The Labor Bills'Committee of the House will take evidence on. the Shops and Offices Bill up to and including September S.—P.A.

At last night’s meeting of the La; bor Party it was unanimously de- ! cided to. protest against the action off the Borough Council in disposing of: j valuable Borough properties to other , bodies strong exception being taken to' sueh transactions.

Competitors in the Shakespearean dialogue at the Competitions. Festival, j should note that the time limit off 7- ! minutes for the own selection items does not apply to the dialogue. The 1 time limit for this section is. 12 min- : utes..

“The Black Countess,” an appealing drama which introduces a gorgeous spectacular ballet and a wondrous Eastern dance, will be the star foarture in the week-end change of programme which Path© Pictures will introduce at His Majesty’s Theatre tonight.

There were two offenders for drunkenness before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M. yesterday. F. Heenoy was fined 10s. in default 48 hours in gaol, and Dennis. Cronin was fined £.l or four days’. His Worship telling, him that he would be more severely dealt with if he did not leave drink alone in future.

The Minister for Mines is to be asked (wires our correspondent), by Mir W.. J>. S. MacDonald when there will be a reasonable prospect of. surveyors: being available to complete the geological investigation of. the oilbearing country. in the Gisborne and Waiap.u districts.

Tlie Gisborne City Band’ has a busy time in store for r/le next fortnight.. To-morrow night, a sacred concert will, be held, on Monday the band will play to the hockey entertainment in the Opera House, and on Tuesday to the Rice Benefit at His Majesty s, while other engagements are arranged tor the following week, including, a march to the Opera House for the Comedy Club, and a concert at the Recreation 1 Ground.

The danger of cyclists disregarding 1 the rule of the road was strikingly empliasised 1 in Gladstone Road late yesterday afternoon. D. M'cKeague was driving his taxi-cab- towards Peel Street from the Masonic Hotel, when a girl cyclist approached him- and became perplexed and rode right Across the path of the car. which was not travelling at a rapid rate. There was sufficient impact, however, to considerably bend the frame oh the bicycle.. Its rider fortunately escaped unhurt.

“Motorists ahvays -under-estimate their speed, even if there is a stopwatch against them,” observed Mr. W G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington. His Worship added that spectators to “speeding” generally over-estimated the speed. In the case before the Magistrate at the time, h e motorist said he was travelling at six miles per hour, a policeman made tiie speed a minimum of 20, miles per hour, and a cabdriver said the motor was going as fast as a good horse could gallop.— “Dominion.” _ The second dance .social of the Poverty Bay Scottish Society was held Last evening in the Scottish Hall.. In spite of the unpleasant state of the weather, about 70 couples took the floor. The future success of these dance socials is assured. Numerous requests have been received by the committee to extend the series of dances, and the committee has this under consideration and will announce its decision at the next dance, which takes place next Friday night. Music was supplied last evening by Messrs Jones (piano), McMurrav (duleiner), and Hannah (accordeon). Mr Copley played the extras. &

lii reference to our paragraph ot yesterday anent the haunts of mutton "birds, one of our readers, who has travelled much in this country, assures us that, though the mutton bird usually lives and breeds around our coasts and outlying islands, more especially in the south, it is no uncommon tiling to find these birds breeding in mountainous country far inland. On the high forest country between here and Opotiki they and their nests are quite common, the same may he said ot the Coromandel Peninsula and various other parts. Even upon the high open slopes of lit. Ruapehu sea birds’ n?sts are met with.

An unusual sight was witnessed in Spey Street Invercargill near the the gasworks on. Sunday last, when about a dozen laborers were engaged m trenchig work and laying sewer pipes in connection with the up-to-date system of sanitation in course of being established hi that city. The necessity of departing from the custom of observing Sunday as a day of rest arose from the fact that, to connect the intercepting sewer running parallel with the estuary with the Spey Street pipes, excavation work required to be done under the railway line and the choice of Sunday for the operations saved the inconvenience that must have otherwise arisen. The men were employed' from 7 a.m. to 9 p. 111., when they completed the job.

Mr J. F. Montague, of Auckland, who is acting as judge at the Invercargill Competitions Festival, states that from the point of view of entries, public enthusiasm, and general organisation, the Invercargill Society could justly claim the honor of being the premier institution of its kind in the Dominion. The town was handicapped somewhat by reason of its geographical situation; nevertheless, there was every indication that, in time, Invercargill would be regarded as the Ballarat of New Zealand. He was astonished at the public support acorded the Festival, and was pleased at the hearty co-operatiin given by tlie schools and educational authorities. Such support, he was sorry to say, was not forthcoming in the other centres of the Dominion.

A feature of the alterations which are at present being made to the Hotel Coronation are the metallic ceilings which are being installed by the Australian Embosteel Ceiling Company. These are made of the very best British Bessemer 29 gauge steel sheets, hard rolled, close annealed, and patent flattened. The designs for the public and private bars are set out as panelled ceilings, finished at the edge with an enriched cornice, with ventilating centres. This class of ceiling is new to the Dominion, though it has been in use for upwards of 30 years, and is largely favored in Australia, and particularly in Sydney. The new ceilings, which are fireproof, have been much admired, and have attracted much attention from builders and architects. Messrs Wilson and Shaw, of Wellington, are the New Zealand agents, and the work of installation is being carried out by one of the Company’s experts, Mr E. A. Robertson, who" has supervised many large contracts in Australia, including the entrance to the Bank of New South Wales Buildings, Pitt Street, Sydney, which is claimed, to be the finest example of metal ceiling work yet attained in the Commonwealth. A feattire of the metallic ceiling is that it is both cheap and effective.

The average healthy, high-spirit ad school boy isjasually. pretty hard Jf his clothes, #Eyf this fact is no doiJp by niothers^vhgl Mo H»JtsJ suitable ' wear, and 4i'e now offering ipem at prices considerably lower «ronan usual. Their window contains a special display of these suits, in nil sizes, and all plainly priced.*

■ Qur Tokomaru correspondent advis;ed yesterday that a. heavy sea was, ! running, in. the- Bay,, and) fearsi expressed, that the steamer i o i South, would not be able to. be workedthis morning.. Very heavy ram wasi falling; om thedhash. ; Before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., yesterday, Herbert Eaves, or. Gisborne, carter, was proceeded against by .the Cook County Council (Mr DomngtonV j on. a charge of. removing; material from Riverside Road and so altering; ! the scarping.. Defendant pleaded, •guilty and was- fined 10s. He wasalso ordered to pay the cost of the, damage done (30s),and'costs ®! lbs).

Messrs. Bull Bros, are making good progress with their contract for exrtensive alterations to the Hotel Coronation. The cellars are almost completed, and these have been so constructed: as .to be. absolutely proof. The foundations are bemg constructed, so as- to-allow of a third storey being- erected' when,reqpiredi-

Our Parliamentary correspondent reports that;Mr W.. D; S. MacDonald j s to ask the Minister, for Defence what is the occasion for the long delay in: connection with the acquisition on a rifle range for the Gisborne territory, ials, particularly now that, it is understood a favorable site has been reported' upon:

“The immoral tendency of tkßar wasi a 1 jocular! phrase used by Mr. xi. W. Bishop at the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court on Monday,, when Bd, civil cases were disposed of in 15 minutes Mr. Bishop’s remarks (says the “Press”) were not audible from, the pressmen’s table, but he was referring,, presumably, to the fact that all the solicitors got- away m time tor the first race.

In discussing; the- situation, on the Macquarie Island with a Sydney “Telegraph” reporter, Mr. Eitel, secretary of the Mawson Expedition,, statedP—“The fact that the stores on Macquarie Island are depleted, is certainly a very grave matter, and one that calls-, for immediate ction. Having visited the island myself, I can give the definite assurance that there is no possibility of. these men. being starved. Animal life is abundant on the island—sea elephants, penguins and penguin eggs are available all the year through, while splendid fish, of a, variety very similar to the New Zealand blue cod, can be caught off; the rocks. From the stores ordered by wireless, I know that the Mawson party has nearly, a ton. of flour at the present- time. The lack of other stores, however, will, undoubtedly constitute a very great- hardship.”'

Interesting experiments-and:investi-gations in Rontgen: X-rays- liave been made recently in the laboratories at Victoria College (says- the “Evening Post.”) Though the rays_ were discovered as long ago as 1890, no regular reflection of the rays from; metals lias yet been observed.. During the last year certain German scientists have succ-eded m reflecting Rontgen rays from non-metallic-substances. Mr Stewart, demonstrator in physics at Victoria College, and Professor Labv have j ii.st suceeded in reflecting'Rontgen rays from a metal'. A', crystal oi bismuth was used in the experiment, and a photographic plate exposed to the rays coming from the bismuth shows them to be faintly reflected. According to the ordinary optical law, an exposure of about ten hours was found necessary.

Durng his brief stay in Gisborne “Skipper” (Francis; Hie- cripple athlete, has formed many friendships, and he was accorded a cordial sendoff by many supporters at the Opera House last evening. In course of a little speech Mr Francis remarked that he was present at the memorable football match when Males defeated' the famous A I]-B!aets and', although he was V h ”-ni to the backbone, he had to adrr 't that Dean's try, which was disavowed by the referee, was a perfectly fair score, and the WcMrneo v -r: lucky in winning, as had W-J.’ace got a look in he would certain!v have converted and the final score would have been five to three in favor of New Zealand. The “Skipper'* goes north by the Monowai this morning and opens his Auckland season on Mondav.

Another land mark in the shape or the old Timaru gaol is now changing from a reality to a mere memory. Tifeiaru came prominently under tl.e notice of the public (observes the ‘Herald”) through one Jonathan Roberts escaping in the latter part ot ’B9. Many people thought that it was a very clever escape. Roberts and other prisoners were exercising in the yard, and the officer left all »ae doors open, giving the prisoners t:»-o access to the public office. Roberts was not slow in recognising this, and passing through the office stepped into the store room, picked up his own carpet bag containing a suit of plain clothes. and quick!v walked away with it. Mr. Swan, the gaoler, saw him passing through the trees and gave chase. Roberts, however, was too fleet of foot, and after waving his hand and shouting ‘"Good-bye,” vapidly disappeared. By taking refuge ill a cowshed not one hundred yards from the prisoners’ yard which he had just quitted, he took no time in changing his clothes, and in less than an hour he was seen crossing Saltwater Creek in a punt- that happened to be on the right side of him. Some weeks later he was discovered by Constable Simpson, of Leeston, working on the public road a short distance outside that township, which is twenty-five miles south of Christchurch. On Simpson producing a revolver he submitted quietly to arrest, and was taken to Lyttelton prison, from winch institution some months later he effected his final escape.

The desires of Rot-orua people to secure railway connection with the East Coast line were voiced at the annual meeting of the Auckland Railways League last week by Mr. H. S. W. King (chairman of the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce) and other delegates from the district. The main arguments put forward in support of a resolution urging the Government to complete the connection were that it could be constructed at comparatively small cost and almost at once, greatly benefiting the Opotiki and Hot Lakes districts. It was contended that if they had, on the other hand, to wait for railway access by way of the Pae-roa-Pokeno or the Waihi-Tauranga section of the East Coast line it would mean waiting for years. The advocacyof the country delegates, however, was not strong enough to overcome the opinion of the rest of those present that- the lines now under construction, and particularly the Waihi-Tauranga section of the East Coast Railway, should first he completed. The Rotorua resolution was lost, and at a later stage, when one or two of its supporters wore nominated for seats on the council of the league, they declined office on the plea that the league did not appear to wish to assist the districts concerned. A telegram has been received bv Mr King from the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce stating that it fully endorsed the action of the Rotorua Chamber in regard to the East Coast connection.

A hundred Trays to make money. This is what wo are all struggling to do. We can show you a very simple wav of making money. Look at it- in this light: If you deal direct from the manufacturer you must be able to buy groat deal cheaper than if middlemen,s profits liavo to bo p-aid. Tho People’s Emporium, by buvmg direct, cut out all these profits, and are m the position of being able to hand on the benefits thus gained to their eustomersv This is a fact, and if you would be convinced, .fust call in and price some of tlieir goods, tlien go and pric© the same lines anywhere else in Gisborne, and this will prove to you that the quality is as good and the prices much, lower than elsewhere.*

Hi- connection. wftli> the Matawaf assault case, the accused O’Leary will appear before the Court tins morning, and Lamont on Monday. The third man; arrested;. named’ Duggan;, has been remanded from Opotiki to appear at Gisborne on Friday, 29th.

Mr Geo. Tarr has resigned his position as-manager of the Gisborne Opera House. Mr. Tarr will’ remain im Gis-borne-'over the Competitions Society’s festival, and will then journey to Auckland, where he has extensive interests in: connection’ with the forthcoming; Exhibition;.

From the Minister for Works Mr. Wk tDi. S; MacDonald seeks to ascertain whether, in view of the fact that ballasting operations are nearing completion, it is the intention to Hand over the Rhkauma and' Matewai sections to the working Railways Departmentatan early date, and if so wheu the settlors and sawmiUers of the district- may expect*.the opening tc be effected:—Own correspondent.

The mechanical ingenuity of a nnmber of experts at the taxi-stand* last evening failed for some two hours to discover what prevented the engine of one car from moving. The car had fares aboard when the engine “jibbed” and no amount of coaxing would' make it go. so that vita! parts were cleaned, primed and replaced, all to no avail: Finally a wag suggested that* “a-little b’enzine might-move her ’ and acting on the suggestion the own. gp jhtrodiicjid a pint of the precious fluid’ and'the engine ran as smoothly laa-any engineer would like.