The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 16, 1901.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 40, 16 February 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 16, 1901.

Our cables this morning are of more than usual interest. The debate on the speech from the Throne shows that the Salisbury Government are determined to have no paltering with affairs in South Africa. Complete and unconditional surrender is the declaration. In the colonial cablegrams a shocking railway accident is reported from Sydney. Seven or more lives have been lost, but the wonder is that the loss of life was not much greater, considering the time at which the accident occurred.

The Gisborne Gas Company pays a 10 per cent, dividend this year as usual. An important sale of suburban sections is to be made at noon to-day by Messrs Wyllie and Mason. Captain Edwin reported at noon yesterday : “ North-west to west and south-west gale; glass fall; poor tides.”

Yesterday was the hottest day experienced in Gisborne this summer, the thermometer registering among the nineties. The steamer Elingamite is expected to arrive in the Bay at about 11 this morning. A launch for outward passengers will go out to the'; steamer at 7 p.m.

The Postal Department, for the purpose of historical record, is collecting papers which contain comments on the death of her late Majesty the Queen. The drawing for Mrs Scott’s art union has been fixed for the 28th. The prizes, a very choice lot, are on view at Mr. C. F. Lewis’s premises, where tickets are obtainable.

Last night, after the very successful school picnic, a social was held in the Patutahi hall. There was a large attendance, and a very enjoyable evening was spent.

The East Coast Mounted Rifles and the Gisborne Rifles return from Napier this morning. The opinion if) Napier was that Captain Winter could beat fIU. other commanders.

Entries for the lawn tenuis championship close to-day with the secretary of Lawn Tennis Club. The matches commence at 2 o'clock on Thursday next, and play will also take place next Saturday. At Holy Trinity .Church to-morrow night the sermon wall be preached by Dr Welchman, who is stationed at the Soloman Islands, but will be in Gisborne on Sunday. Dr Welchman is a worker in connection with the Melanesion Mission. When information came to hand yesterday morning of the detention of the Elingamite it was feared that Gisborne people would be deprived of the opportunity to see the Arnold Company, but all doubts are now at rest, and the droll tale of what happened to Jones will be duly unfolded at the Theatre Royal to-night. The company proceed to Auckland by the midnight boat. A very pleasing ceremony took place last night at the Gisborne Hotel, the members of the Union Club meeting to make a presentation to their captain (Mr H. Rowland) on the eve of his marriage. On behalf of the members the presentation was made, by Mr Tattersall, who wished Mr Rowland long life, happiness, and prosperity. The gift was a handsome writing desk. The gathering took the form of a social, and songs were given by Messrs J. Ferris, G. Tattersall, and H. Rowland, and a recitation by Mr P. Sheridan. The recipient of the present has been captain of the Union Cricket Club since its formation. In returning thanks he said that the first use to which the desk would be put would be in the writing of a letter thanking the members of the Union Club for their kindness. The rnusio during the evening was supplied by Mr E. Parnell,

At a meeting of the Land Board at Napier yesterday, the lease of section 14, Motu, was declared forfeited. It was decided to place the Hangaroa-Matawai block on the market at the earliest opportunity. On the representation of D. Ross that the rental asked for a pastoral run at Mohaka (£80) was too big, the Board decided to re-offer it at £6O. Section 1, block 16, Waikaremoaua, and section 12, block 12, Tuahu, are to be offered on the optional system, and four other sections in the latter district as small grazing runs. The Board resolved to call upon the tenants at Motu and -Pouparae, as well as several settlements in this district, to show cause why their leases should not be forfeited owing to non-payment of rent. The lease of section 6, block 8, Waimarie, was declared forfeited, and ordered to be reopened for application. A number of applications for land were granted. The Federation Commission promises to be a very expensive affair for the colony. The following is a fair sample of some, of the evidence given : —The Rev. Curzon-Siggers said that his reason for opposing Federation was that, through the design of God, we were an insular nation, whereas Australia was a continental nation, and history all along the line proved that insular and continental races diverged further apart. He was also opposed to the Federation Court of Appeal. He had read judgments delivered by the Judges of Australia and New Zealand, and for lucidity, grasp, and power, there was no man in Australia equal to our own men, Sir Robert Stout or Mr Justice Williams. He failed to see in the matter of appeals to Australia that we should be likely to get any legal decision that would satisfy us more than the decisions we get here, and if there were to be any appeal, let us appeal to the greater lights of the Home Country. At the Police Court yesterday, Maurice Power was ordered to pay 10s a week towards the maintenance of his mother, for whom Mr R. N. Jones appeared.—On the information of Mr Currie, Dog Registrar (for whom Mr R. N. Jones appeared), three Natives were fined for failing to register their dogs.—John Ryan, a prohibited person, pleaded guilty to having gone into licensed premises, Kaiteratahi Hotel. Mr L. Rees appeared for the defendant, and pleaded for leniency. A fine of £3, with costs, 11s, was imposed.—A good deal of evidence was taken in regard to a trouble that had occurred at the Kaiteratahi Hotel on December 31, 1900, an

information having been laid against Alphonz Martin for having refused to quit tlie licensed premises. Mr L. Rees appeared for defendant, and gave an explanation of the circumstances, his contention being that Martin was assisting to quell the disturbance, instead of provoking one. His Worship fined the defendant £3, with £2 2s 6d costs. —An information against Thomas Mullins, for using obscene language at the time of tho trouble, was dismissed. Mr John Robb, Photographer, has returned from his Wairoa Studio.—Advt.