The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 16, 1901. HISTORIC WORDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 12, 16 January 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 16, 1901. HISTORIC WORDS.

By the last mail there came to hand the full text of the speech made by the much-loved’ Commander-in-Ohief on his leaving Capetown for England. Some of the most impressive portions of the speech are given in another column. “ God has given into our hands a great heritage, and we have to pay a heavy price for it in the blood of our dearest and best,” said Lord Roberts, and in doing so he uttered a truth that will strike home to many a sorrowing heart, for truly the war has robbed many of their dearest and best. There was the brighter side to give, Lord Roberts’ own words being : “ The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, and the guiding Hand of Omnipotence can bring good out of what to our finite understanding appears to be most evil and most unfortunate, and in preventing the war of 1881 being brought to the conclusion which we all then thought it ought to be brought to, that guiding Hand, by the light of recent events, can now be clearly traced; for if the war of 1881 could not have brought the far-reaching effects which this war has brought about, that war could not have welded the whole of the British Empire firmly together as this war has done. Eor the war of 1881 would have been fought by the regular army alone, whereas'this war has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion, not by the regular troops alone, but by the Militia, Yeomanry, Volunteers, of Great Britain, and by those admirable and workmanlike contingents furnished by South Africa, Canada, Australia, India, Ceylon, and New Zealand, who fought as brothers in arms under the dear old flag of the Mother Country in the service of sir Empress Queen, And in this

respect I hold a unique position as a Field-Marshal of the United Kingdom, for I am the first to have had the honor of commanding an Imperial Army formed of representatives from all paits of Her Majesty’s dominions, all bound by one common aim and object—to uphold the honor and prestige of the MotheECountry and to die, if need be, for her interests. This unanimous and spontaneous outburst of patriotism will not, I am sure, be of an ephemeral nature.” The Commander-in-Chief was not altogether; accurate in his prophecy, for he predicted that the guerilla war would soon be over, and even after he had landed in England we hear of invasions being made into Cape Colony, and of the clever De Wet becoming so brutal as to make prisoners of and to flog those whose mission was one of peace. But, nevertheless, the sentiment of Lord Roberts’ speech is of a lofty kind, and it will be read with a feeling of pride by every Britisher.

The steamer Moura, which arrives tomorrow morning from the South, brings 185 rams for Gisborne.

A stir was oaused in town yesterday by the riotous behavior of an unfortunate man who was suffering from the effects of drink. The foolish fellow, after giving a good deal of trouble, was locked up. Mr A. Zacbariah is making good progress with the contract for supplying uniforms for the East Coast Mounted Rifles, and the officers inspecting the work are highly pleased with its quality. By the steamer Moura, to-morrow morning, Mr Campbell Thomson, Inspector of Stock, ships five horses for the Sixth Contingent. In the ordinary course they would have gone by the Mararoa, had not the weather been so rough.

Mr James McKee’s new shipments for the preserving season include Mason’s glass jars in great variety, American lightning jars, jelly barrels, glasses, and cans, as well as some special enamel, brass, and copper preserving pans. All these goods will be sold at bedrock prices.

The Survey Department (says the Lyttelton Times) has just finished cutting up the Lyndon property, purchased by the Government from Messrs D. and A. Macfarlane. The block of 4200 acres is now cut up into eight sections, varying from 394 to 732 acres. The sections will be balloted for in Maroh, under the lease in perpetuity system.

A meeting of the committee of the Gis" borne Cycling Club was held last night, there being present: Messrs Eure (chairman), Cruikshank (secretary), Ferris, Beere, Crone, Warren, Andrew, and Tattersall. It was resolved to hold sports on the 7th March. A programme was drawn up, and it is anticipated that a very successful gathering will take place.

The secretary of the Gisborne Caledonian Society has received programmes of the Wanganui, Dannevirke, Takapau, and Napier Caledonian sports, and those interested are invited to inspect the programmes, which may be seen at Mr John Rosie's shop. All the” societies offer good prizes. The programme of the Gisborne Caledonian Society has also been issued.

An instance of the great convenience of the telephone system was given this week. A gentleman at Puketapu, Hawke’s Bay, desired to communicate with Mr Hutchinson, of Waihuka, and he did so by telephone, the parties being able to hear each other distinctly. This is a proof of the value of private lines, as well as of the general lines. A meeting of the High School Governors will be held on Monday next to allocate scholarships. Teachers should note the fact that applications should be in hand by that time, and must conform to the regulations adopted by the governors on the recommendation of the School Committee. The scholarships are tenable for three years, and their renewal from year to year is dependent upon the progress made by the pupils, the pupil’s worthiness being certified to by the teachers. Mr J. T. Cassidy has an advertisement in this issue with regard to the Whatatutu coach service. His coach will in future leave O’Reilly Bros, stables on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 11 a.m., returning from Whatatutu on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7.30 a.m., and reaching Gisborne about one o’clock. The booking office is at the above stables, and all parcels left there wiil receive prompt attention. Mr Cassidy is an excellent driver, and should receive a fair share of public patronage. In the near future, with the railway running to Ormond, land in that township should considerably increase in value. An excellent opportunity to obtain a section on most advantageous terms will be presented on Saturday next, when Mr Graham’s Marshlands estate will be offered for sale by Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. The property is within half a mile of the school and proposed railway station, and will be offered in suitable lots. The sale is to be held in the Theatre Royal at noon, Mr J. Kells officiating as auctioneer.

The Wairoa Guardian has these kind words for the Times “Itis a very creditable production, and well supplied with advertisements. We wish our contemporary a long and prosperous career. We have no doubt it will advocate and support everything that is likely to advance the interests of the East Coast in general and Wairoa in particular." Wairoa in particular, says our neighbor. That is perhaps hardly the way to put it, but it will be a pleasure to us to do all we can to advance Wairoa’s interests.

A meeting of the Military Tournament Committee was held last evening, Mr J. Colebourne presiding. The report presented showed that the gathering had been a great success, everything having gone off splendidly. Votes of thanks were accorded to the judges and others who had given assistance. It was decided in conjunction with the other corps to hold a sports gathering on May 24th, the proceeds to be devoted towards making additions to the Drillshed.

A meeting of the City Band was held at the Bandshed last evening, when there was a full attendance of members, Mr T. Morrison presiding. The latter treated the members to an account of his trip in the South Island, expressing himself highly pleased with what he had seen of the southern bands. It was decided to take steps to get the Band contest held in Gisborne next year. The competition is to be held at Wanganui this year. A considerable amount of routine business was transacted. Mr C. Adair, the treasurer, reported that the finances were in a satisfactory condition. ■ On the front page of this morning’s Times there is a special article descriptive of a trip to the Tahora district; an article is given on the subject of penny postage, about which there is a good deal of misconception: there is a letter by “Civis,” combatting the contention that an engineer engaged for a special work should make use of other reports for the framing of his own report; and there is a quotation dealing with “Beautiful Te Reingai” On the fourth page there is interesting cable and telegraphic news, the war record showing that Boers wearing khaki got within severr yards of the British trenches before being identified. A report of special interest to country readers is that of the sale held aP Karaka yesterday. The sale was a most successful one, and was largely attended.

A New Zealander who has just returned from the Transvaal informed a Times representative that some of our boys have been placed in responsible positions which, when military control ceases and civil administration obtains, should prove remunerative. One is foreman of the electrical.department of the railways at Pretoria, and has several men under him. Another acts as chief secretary to the military superintendent of railways, while others occupy responsible positions in the compensation office (where claims by owners for damages sustained by their properties are investigated), police department, railway office; and another is foreman of the Pretoria military fire brigade. Mr Sanderson, once of the New Zealand Government Veterinary Department, has been placed in charge of the veterinary branch of General Baden-Pgwell’s Counted Police.