AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 61, 13 March 1901, Page 2

AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

CONGRATULATIONS TO GISBORNE

(Special to Tuies). ' . Auckland, last night. The Gisborne Borough Council is to be congratulated on choosing the services of Messrs Steuart and Fenn, electricians, of Auckland, to report on the feasibility of lighting Gisborne by electricity. Mr E. J. Fenn, who manages the Dunedin branch, is a very able electrician. It can be said that he carried out all the works of importance in the Hauraki district. He has also undertaken many contracts of great magnitude throughout New Zealand.

OUR BOYS FOR HOME. I learn that the total number of rein nants of the First, Second, and Third Contingents remaining in South Africa is 374. These will he relieved bj r the Sixth Contingent, sent per the troopship Cornwall, and the remainder of the Fourth and Fifth Contingent by the Seventh Contingent, now being trained and equipped. The first three contingents enlisted to serve as required for one year, which terminates on March 21st. Of the First Contingent only five officers and twelve men remain, and of the Second 240 men. All remnants of the contingents in South Africa are under orders to return as soon as relieved.

MR CRAMMOND. , Mr F. Crammond, an old Auckland boy, and late manager of the Union branch at Tahiti, left by the Waikare this evening to enter into his more lucrative position as manager of the Gisborne branch of the Union Company. Ho is a capable and obliging officer, and will soon become popular in Gisborne. A NEW ZEALAND ’CHASER,

Levanter, the winner of the Riverside Handicap Hurdle Race in London yesterday, is an Auckland-bred horse. The cables inform us this evening that Levanter is backed heavily for the Grand National Steeplechase. The great event takes place at the Hurst Park Meeting, to be run on the 30th inst. Levanter won the Great Northern Steeplechase run in Auckland three years ago.

ADVANCE’S DEFEAT. Intelligence received from Melbourne yesterday is to the effect that Advance would have won the Newmarket Handicap had ho pursued as straight a course as his opponents, instead of losing ground by crossing over from the centre of the ground to the inside at the latter part of the journey. Advance was first off the mark. As was anticipated here, young Jenkins must have ridden a very bad race, and New Zealand was thus deprived of a big lump of Victorian bullion.

ECCLESIASTIC CEREMONY. It is seldom, indeed, that such an interesting ecclesiastic ceremony is held in Auckland as took place at All Saints’ Church, Ponsonby, on Sunday last, when two Maoris were admitted by Bishop Cowio to the order of deacons. One of the N atives was a Gisbornite.

His Excellency the Governor was present, and the congregation also included a number of Maoris, who appeared to take just as intelligent an interest in the proceedings as the Europeans. At a later stage, the two Gisborne Natives conducted the service. EXCELLENT TRAINING.

It speaks volumes for the able manner in which the Rev. H. Williams, of Gisborne, must have coached these Natives at the Gisborne Native College in their scholastic studies. The congregation listened most attentively to the two Poverty Bay Maoris conducting the services in English.

THE GOVERNOR’S DELIGHT. His Excellency (Lord Ranfurly) was highly delighted with the Natives in this good cause. The English of the Maoris preachers was particularly good, and I am not surprised at its being an eye-opener to the Pakehas present. REV. MR HAWKINS.

The Rev. Mr Hawkins, well-known to Gisborne people, also assisted in the proceedings.

COMPLIMENTARY INVITATION. The Natives, by invitation, called on His Excellency on the following day.