The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, APRIL 1, 1901.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 73, 1 April 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, APRIL 1, 1901.

INSURANCE MONOPOLY. Tiie combined Fire Insurance Companies are about to sir'.ko auother blow at policy-holders—an increase of 25 per cent, in the taGff of premums is, we are informed, shortly to be brought into force in G'sborao, where the companies wPI not give direct or indirect assistance in the matter of fire exh'ng ir'shing appliances. A good stroke of policy lies been made by allowing the cities to escape from the increase, and saddling the smaller towns with it. The step is a most unfair one, and it is tyrannical. It will have the effect of again turning people’s attention to the desirability of a public system of fire insurance. Some who formerly showed active opposition to such a proposal will now probably change their opinions. Tne 25 per cent, additional charge will certainly greatly strengthen the arguments of those who claim that municipalities should enter the business. It may not overcome all the objections, but it must largely strengthen the position of those who advise that the public take up the business. The fact that the smaller towns have been singlod out for the impost exposes the lino of policy adopted Dy the combination ; the power is concentrated against the weaker portions of the colony, and such places as Gisborne will have to pay dearly for the bad business done by say [agents in the South. It is said there are some towns in which careful people have boen menaced by the temptations offered to other people to become exceptionally careless in the matter of fire; but now it appears that the careful people are not only to be made to pay for past losses, but also for losses anticipated in tho future. The subject is one on which people can think a lot, and they should not meekly submit to the increased burdens.

In order to allow our employees to have full benefit of the Easter holidays, there will be no publication of the Times on Good Friday or Easter Monday.

To-day is “April Fool’s Day.” At the bowling green, on Saturday, rinks skipped by Messrs Batham and Rice, defeated teams skipped by Messrs McGowan and Ferris, Afternoon tea was dispensed by Mesdames Ferris and Price. Tho great Native meeting being held at Murewai is the largest gathering seen in this district in recent years. Notwithstanding the rain yesterday about 200 townspeople went out to the Murewai. The Natives provided a capital spread. On Wednesday last copies of tho Gisborne Times were delivered at the Mahia at 2 p.m., the papers having been taken by Capt. Martin, of the Waiapu, whose smart little schooner made an exceptionally good run down. A very handsome Lipp piano is on view at Mr 0. F. Lewis’ music warehouse,

where a special sale is being held of pianos, organs, and musical instruments of every description. Lovers of music will find it to their advantage to look in at the Dresden Music Warehouse,

For some time last evening there was a crowded gathering at the corner of Peelstreet and Gladstone Road, when an individual addressed those present on what he termed the kuotty points in the Bible. He was subjected to a good deal of interruption, and the crowd appeared to get a lot of amusement out of the proceedings. There is every; appearance of the approaching session of the Gisborne Mutual Improvement Society being as successful as, if not more so than its predecessors. Tho concert to open the session is to take place in a fortnight’s time, and a meeting of the committee is to be held this evening, when the syllabus for the coming month will be drawn up.

The Union Steamship Company and Huddart, Parker and Company have decided •to collect all freights payable here before the issue of delivery orders, and this now rule comes in force to-day (Ist April). This system is in force at all the large shipping ports, but somehow Gisborne seems to have adopted a system of its own, and which is about to bo replaced with a more up-to-date style. A special advertisement appears in our advertising columns. The Rugby Union has accepted the offer of the Natives to play a match, and the game will be played at Gisborne, on Saturday next. The Natives include among their number some footballers of colonial repute, and they will be able to place a very strong team in the field. The team to represent the Rugby Union will be a strong district team. A meeting of the Union will take place to-day, when a Selection Committee will be appointed to choose the team.

There was a crowded attendance at St. Andrew’s Church last evening, when the Kev. J. G. Paterson gave a very forcible address on the text, “ And he returned to his own company.” The reverend gentleman denounced freely the hypocrisy which existed among many so-called Christians, who often joined a church simply for business reasons or to serve a selfish purpose. He pointed out that these individuals, when freed from the restraint of the church, returned to their Own company.

The Mormon elders throughout the colony are assembling in the district for the purpose of holding a conference at Murewai during the progress of the Maori gathering. A well-known Gisborne gentleman, • lately on a visit to Tauranga, happened to be in that town when a purely secular entertainment was given by some of the members of ihe Mormon church. He informs us thatr the entertainment was an excellent one, the hall being crowded to the doors. He is endeavoring to persuade the Mormons to give a similar entertainment here,

Astronomers are flocking to Sumatra to witness the total eclipse ot' the sun on May 18th.

Messrs Peckover and Co., land agents, have a special advertisement in this issue.

A notice regarding the cutting up of the Hatuma estate appears in our advertising columus.

Advertisements for Ward’s champion ales and Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure will appear in to-morrow’s issue. Turanganui Masonic Lodge meets this evening, the business being election of officers and a lecture. A concert and dance will be held in the Waerenga-a-liika schoolroom, on Easter Monday evening. The programme will appear on Wednesday. The fall in the price of sheep, which has occurred during the last week or two, says a Wairarapa paper, will result in a substantial loss to many Masterton-specu-lators who bought in anticipation of a still further rise.

Mr Thomas Adams has just received a

large supply of illustrated. funeral numbers of the late Queen, including The Graphic, Loudon News, Sphere, and Black and White. Those desirous of obtaining copies, should make early application.

The price of moat in Wellington ap" pears to bo on the increase. The pro' prictor of an hotel and diningroom stated that the price of meat had been increased three times during the past 12 months. It was raised from 3d per lb to old, later to 4d, and at the present time he was paying 7d per lb for prime meat, and nothing less than 3id.

“ Plows may come and plows may go, but the ‘Oliver’ goes on for ever,” is the unique form of advertisement adopted by Messrs Morrin and Co., of Auckland, for the world-renowned “ Oliver ” ploughs. The firm keep a full range of these ploughs suitable for all classes of work, and they can be supplied by any of their local agents. A ruffian, James Healey, was fined LlO or three months’ imprisonment, at the Carlton (Victoria) Court recently, for a brutal assault on his wife and little baby because the woman would not give him what money she had that he might buy drink. He tore the baby from her arms, dashed it on the footpath, and then brutally assaulted the mother. It is more than probable that seventeen men will be selected from Auckland to go with the New Zealand Contingent to Melbourne to represent the colony on the occasion of the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York in Australia. The conditions are that they must be at least 6ft in height and well-built in proportion, and must bo smart, welldrilled men. They are to be selected from the Permanent Militia, Naval Artillery, mounted infantry, and infantry. It is a good sign of the prosperous state 'of a town when there are no unemployed, and this seems to be the case in Gisborne. The Cook County County recently advertised three contracts without getting any applications for the work. One of these was north ofTolago, and another between the Pakarae and Puatae. The money was granted to the Council to be expended under the the co-operative system, but in response to the advertisement not a single application was received, no one even taking the trouble to look at the specifications. The Council afterwards got permission from the chief surveyor to let the works by tender, and finally’succeeded in letting the section north of Tolago, but they received no offer whatever for the Puatae section. The Council had a good deal of difficulty in getting the votes referred to, and it does seem hard that they should bo prevented from spending them on account of being unable to get men to do the work.