The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MARCH 7, 1901 THE PLAGUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 56, 7 March 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MARCH 7, 1901 THE PLAGUE.

Our telegrams this morningjsliow that the reappearance- of the plague will, as before, cause a great deal of inconvenience in shipping circles, and as Gisborne is almost wholly served from the port, that inconvenience will be especially felt in this district. All Australian boats are to be quarantined for 24 hours on arrival in New Zealand ; that is the order from the Health Department, and though we may chafe under the restriction, it must be admitted that it is a necessary precaution. It is far better to submit to much inconvenience than have New Zealand ports declared infected. We suggested yesterday that the Gisborne Borough Council should appoint a special committee to give their attention to matters connected with the plague, but the matter has so far been left that there is always the risk of a senseless scare. What we may now expect is that directly • a sickly or crippled rat is seen about the place, there will be alarmists ready to rush off and declare that a bubonic-infected rat has been found, and the whole burden of the work of ascertaining facts and allaying people’s minds will be on the Inspector. It is incumbent on the Council to take every precaution, not only to see that preventative measures are adopted, but to avoid the working-up of scares.

A light brown gelding, found at Te Karaka about three months ago, is advertised in this issue. Twenty-nme acres at Karaka, close to the township, are advertised for sale or lease by Mr John Coleman. Captain Edwin reported at noon yesterday : Moderate to strong northerly winds ; glass fall; tides moderate; indications of rain. Messrs Wyllie and Mason hold a clear’ inggiale of Messrs McMaster and Slialders stock of drapery at their premises, Gladstone Boad, on Saturday morning at 11 o’clock. Messrs Wyllie and Mason yesterday sold section 289, Kaiti, and subdivision 2, of section 288, comprising 16 acres, at theh mart, on behalf of the mortgagee. Mr Nolan was the buyer at £750. Tenders arc invited by Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. for ploughing and harrowing 80 acres of land at present under rapo at Buslunere and Makauri. Tenders close on Saturday next, at 3 p.m. In our rowing report yesterday we omitted to mention that Messrs Arch. Kirk and E. File were selected as emergencies, and Mr J. Webb as coach, of the Poverty Bay Rowing Club’s senior “ rep.” crew.

Mr William Pettie is at present opening up his shipment of autumn and winter drapery ex s.s. Rimulaka and Karamea, from London, and intending purchasers have a wide and choice assortment to select from.

The Gisborne portion of the San Francisco mail is coming via New Plymouth. It left New Plymouth by special train yesterday morning, and should roach Gisborne by first steamer from Napier, probably on Friday morning,

A Traders Association has been formed at Timaru for the protection of the various classes' interests against bad debts, excessive holidays, subscriptions, taxes, and the neglect of shipping requirements. The Association has taken up a big order. At the Salvation Army this evening Captain Hill will deliver an address on the thrilling experiences of police life in London, what he has to say having reference chiefly to his own observations during the tirno lie . was in the London police force. It is expected that there will bo a large attendance.

The Matron of the Hospital acknowledges with thanks gifts during the month: Of fruit from Mesdames Kenway, H. Martin, Barker, W. H. White, H. H. Wall, Esq., and other friends; old linen from Mrs Canon Webb; illustrated papers from Mrs Dr Craig and Mr Dewing; also, a dozen of champagne from Mr H. Martin. The following have been selected as the 10 stone crew to represent the Union Club in the annual inter-club fixtures at Easter: —Ten stone crew: W. Jackson (stroke), W. Montgomery (3), E. Kirk (2), J, McGill (bow). The junior crew will be: G. Willis (stroke), H. Minnctt (3), C. Dick (2), and T. Fraser (bow). It is improbable that the Club will be’able to send a senior crew owing to two of their men, E. H. Taylor and Pointer, having enlisted with the Seventh Contingent.

The social in connection with the Poverty Bay Cycling Club to be held in MeFaiiane’s Hall, this evening, promises to bo a great success, and there is bound to be a large gathering. The committee have been hard at work during the past few days, and.no efforts have been spared on their part to assure a good house. Mrs Fernandez and Mr Cullen will supply the music, and this is a sufficient guarantee that nothing will be lacking on that score, .

In response to numerous requests, the Hospital Trustees have .decided to have a Birthday Ball this year. The matter was referred to by the Chairman at the meeting last evening. -Mr Nolan said that a number of the public had spoken to him with regard to the question, and ho therefore brought it before the meeting. It was decided that the ball should be held on May 24th, and that a public meeting should be called for Wednesday evening, 20th inst., to make arrangements for the gathering.

There was a, large and representative attendance at the meeting of the St. Patrick’s Sports Committee, 'qt' the Masonic Hotel last evening. The Rev. Father Mulvihill presided, and amongst others present were Eev. Father O’Connor, Messrs T. Hackett, J. O’Connor, T. Walls, F. Harris, E. Williams, W. Webb, J. Griffen, G. Maher, J.H. Martin, C. Clarke, W, Kenny, J. 0. Connor, G. Henderson, P. Maher, W- Frqser, and Quigley. It was decided to engage the City Band for the sports. The Committee decided to retain the programmes, inviting tenders for printing the same. Mr J. Erskine’s tender was accepted for .the refreshment booths. Messrs' H. Patterson, T. Walls, S. Liddle, E. Williams, G. Eice, M. O’Connor, J. O’Connor, J. Dower, and J. Power were appointed to take charge of the different gates. Mr A. Pritchard was selected as clerk .of the course, and Messrs J. Henderson, J. Rosie, Clark, and J. H. Martin a course committee, Mr A. Gr.egg having charge of the jumps, It was decided to have a Hospital Eace, and a number of gentlemen were appointee! to canvass for entries,

At Dunedin Amelia Bilson was fined £lO and costs for selling beer with oysters.

“We all make mistakes,” said the Premier at New Plymouth. “ I do myself, but never admit them.”

Mr Barclay, M.H.R., of Dunedin, thinks that Friendly Societies should not pay stamp duty on their cheques.

Mr A. L. Windsor has retired from the editorship of the Melbourne Age, a position he has held since 1572.

Ten persons between the ages of 15 and 16, and twenty-eight between the age of 16 and 17, were married in New Zealand in 1599. '

An American paper states that General Colville travelled in the field with six cooks and a waggon load of champagne, and on the night when the Yeomanry were surprised was giving a “ spread.” Messrs T. Y. Aston and May left for the South last night to take part as soloists in the band contest. It is to be hoped that the Whataupoko band’s representatives will he successful. An effort is to be made to have the next contest held at Gisborne.

The work of the new post-office at Feilding is being expeditiously carried on, and now assumes a business-like aspect. It is to be a two-storied brick building faced with cement, to imitate stone, and the clock tower will stand 50ft from the ground.

Some idea of the magnitude which the sheep-raising and selling industry has attained at Palmerston North may be gathered from the fact that 50,000 sheep were yarded one day recently. The majority of the sheep were locallyowned, and were mostly Romney and Lincolns.

The funeral of the lato Mr Charles Seymour took place at Whangara yesterday afternoon, and though the notice was very short and the interment private, there was a largo attendance of mourners. The deceased’s nephew and niece arrived by the steamer - in the morning, and the sad news was broken to them by Mr Thomas, a friend of the family. The sito of tho burial was about seven and a-half miles from the residence. Tho Eev. H. Williams conducted the service. Tho vote of L3OO for encouragement of swimming by school children has been allocated to the Boards as follows, on tho basis of average attendance : —Auckland, L 64 9s lOd; Otago, L 47 17s 6d ; North Canterbury, L 45 Is 5d ; Wellington, L 33 4s 4d ; Wanganui, L 23 17s 7d ; Southland, L2l 12s : Hawke’s Bay, LlßSs2d; Nelson, Ll2 12s; Taranaki, L 8 18s lOd ; South Canterbury, Ll2 2s 9d : Mai'lborough, L 4 16s ; Grey, L 3 18s 3d; Westport, L 3 Is 4d. The sheep traffic on tire Napier section of railways is unprecedented. Special trains are being run as often as possible, and every effort is being made to meet the pressure, yet thousands of sheep for Wellington and elsewhere have to be kept back for flays. Numbers of sheep are also being shipped from Napier by steamer to the South, and so great is the demand for freight that it cannot be obtained fast wrought to cope with the needs of exporters.—H.B. Herald. Mr Thomas McGregor, proprietor of the Kia-Ora butter factory, has an advertisement in this Issue with regard to establishing a creamery at Patutalii. He has completed arrangements with Messrs Hair Bros., to run a creamery on their Lavenham property, in conjunction with the Kia-Ora factory. suppliers receiving the same price and terms as those at the main factory. Great credit is due to Mr McGregor for the enterprise 110 has shown in connection with the dairying industry in this district, and we sincerely trust that in this new departure he will have the cordial support of all settlers in the Patutahi district. Within the last two or three years, four of those intimately associated with the fortunes of the Iluddart-Parker Company —J. Huddart, Parker senior and junior, and Captain Webb—have passed away. When the Canadian-Australian line of steamers was formed, Mr Huddart withdrew from the Australian Company so that he might be able to concentrate bis whole energies in the new concern. Unfortunately, tho new speculation was for him a somewhat unlucky one, though others are now likely to reap the benefits of his far-sighted policy. One of his sons (a midshipman in tho navy) was killed during a fight with the Boers at Graspan. The Kaiti Road Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs J. A. Harding (in the chair), Colebourne, and Wyllie. The chairman was granted leave of absence owing to indisposition. A letter was read from B. Bott, applying for a share of the work of knapping the metal recently put on tho Kaiti roads, or any other work that was being done. The matter was allowed to stand over. It was decided that steps be taken to secure tho more rapid payment of overdue rates, in order that the Board might be able tq see its exact position. In the case of contractors under the Board who were on the defaulters’ list, the Clerk was instructed to deduct such sums from contract moneys. Accounts were passed amounting to £46 9s 2d. It was decided to instruct the Engineer to prepare an estimate for formation work on Danvin road from the embankment to Cox’s gate, and to call tenders, same to be returnable on March 18th. At the meeting of the School Committee last evening, a member of the Visiting Committee stated that the headmaster had adopted a novel plan to assure more regular attendance on the part of the childron, Tickets had been printed and distributed to the childron who received good attendance marks. These tickets entitled the boys and girls to have a shot at a target with. an air gun, and it was surprising how well tho scheme had worked. Twelve air-guns had been purchased for the Headmaster. The Committee were not likely to make a loss on them, as in the event of the scheme failing the guns would be a good saleable commodity. Another member predicted

that it would not be long before the school would bo ablo to boast of a company of girls in khaki, whilst a third suggested that tho hoys and girls would probably be soon buying the guns to shoot their own brothers and sisters.

At the monthly meeting of the Hospital Trustees held last evening, the following members w ere present:—Messrs Nolan (in the chair), Macfarlano, Harding, Tuohy, Warren, Dewing, and Johnston. The Treasurer reported that the overdraft on the 6th inst. was £193 9s- 2d, and the receipts during the month £BO 4s 6d, including patients’ fees £24, subscriptions £45 4s 6d, and interest on mortgage £ll. Accounts amounting to £lO9 16s 6d were passed for payment. The Secretary explained that the overdraft was large owing to £3OO having been paid on account of the Building Fund. The monthly report showed that 22 patients remained at the Hospital from the previous month, 19 had been since admitted and 15 discharged. There had been two deaths. At present, there were 24 patients in the institution, 12 being fever cases. A letter from Mr A- J. Wheeler, asking to be allowed to'"tender for interments, was pastod on to the Charitable Aid Board. Mr P. Maher ivrote, forwarding a cheque for the amount duo for bis wife’s treatment in the Hospital. On behalf of his wife and himself, he wished to tender his sincere thanks to the matron and staff for their kind attention. Messrs Joyce and Kennedy were appointed a Visiting Committee.