The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, APRIL 18, 1901.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 85, 18 April 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, APRIL 18, 1901.

Mr Tom Bell has a poetic advertisement in this morning’s issue. A notification in regard to New Zealand railways is made in another column. Nominations for soats on the Waikohu Road Board arc to be in by noon on Tuesday, the 30 th of April. The tender of Mr R. Little has been accepted by the Kaiti Road Board for works on Craig road. Persons who have not sent in their census returns are warned of the risk they are taking. Sickness is the cause to which G. Poulgraiu, of Tc Arai, attributes his bankruptcy. Mr W. Eraser is instituting a chess club in connection with the New Zealand Natives’ Association. Captain Edwin wired yesterday at noon: “ North to west and south-west winds ; glass fall ; poor tides ;. indications of rain.”

Messrs John Sheridan, Thos. Morrison, and W. Douglas Lysnar, candidates for the Borough Council, have addresses in this issue.

A fire was observed near Waerenga-a-hika on Tuesday. It proved to be a stack of oaten hay on fire. The stack was destroyed, there being no means of putting the fire out. Mr C. P. W. Longdill is prepared to give written charts of character, with valuable rules for health. Mr Longdill has devoted a number of years to the study of phrenology, physiognomy, and physiology. • A change of advertisement is given by Mr T. G. Lawless, the district agent for the Widows’ Life Assurance Society, .and agent of the Ocean Accident Company. Mr Lawless notifies that he has many properties under offer. An offer has been made to the Whataupoko or Gisborne Rifle Band to accompany the East Coast Natives who are to visit Rotorua to take part in the welcome to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. At a meeting of the bandsmen it was decided to accept the offer, and about 22 members of the Band will go. Messrs Williams and Kettle (Limited) have completed the sale of Messrs Torrie Bros.’ Poututu property, comprising 785 acres, the purchaser being Mr William G. Riddell, late of Waverley. The property is excellently adapted for farming purposes. The reason for sale is a dissolution of partnership of Messrs James and George Torrie, A cyclist had a novel experience on Tuesday night in the suburbs. There was a stray horse on the road, and the cyclist rode between the horse’s legs, but could not get right through, though the rays of the lamp-light shene afar from beneath the horse. The annual, which fortunately did not lash out, then awoke to the situation, and galloped off into the darkness. The cyclist was not hurt in any way, though he had a good shock to the nerves.

The London Missionary Society’s steamer John Williams arrived at Sydney from New Guinea on the fith inst. The steamer had as passengers the Rev. J. H. Holmes, Mr and Mrs Perkins and two children, Mr and Miss Bromilow, and TMiss Pearse, also 29 natives, including women and children, who are proceeding to their homes in the South Seas on furlough. The - John Williams will leave Sydney again for the South Seas on the 20th inst.

We call attention to an offer of reward by the firm of J. Peckover and Co. for the recovery of an ornamental sign forcibly wrenched and stolen from the front of their premises on Tuesday night. From the manner in which the large screws were wrenched, it would appear to have been done by means of a rope, and considerable force must have been used. It can only be characterised as a dastardly act. The sign was eight feet above the ground. At the Police Court yesterday, before Mr W. A. Barton, S,M„ Chas. Edyvard Ryan, for drunkenness, was fined 5s and costs; Arthur Henry Norman, for riding a bicycle at night without lights was fined 5s and costs 7s ; Hugh Anderson, similar offence, 2s 6d, costs 2s; F. E. Shugar (riding on footpath), 2s 6d, costs 7s ; Thomas U’Rcn (driving without lights), 2s 6d, costs 7s; and John Mahoney, similar offence, 2s 6d, costs 7s. Pleas of guilty were put in.

One result of the enormous extent of country traversed within the past few weeks by bush fires along tke'back blocks and border districts has been to cause a perfect plague of crows and green parrots to settle among the orchards at Casterton (Victoria), Mr Wedd, of the Ardno nurseries, has had 10 acres of apple trees, which promised to yield well, literally stripped of fruit. Shooting was tried, but abandoned. In one tree 25 parrots were shot before the rest of the flock could be dislodged.

The Whataupoko Band is now the recognised band of the Gisborne Rifles, their services having been accepted as a portion of the corps. Last night the number allowed for capitation (five) were sworn in by Mr H. Lewis, J.P. -A meeting of the bandsmen is to be held tomorrow night for the purpose of changing the name’ of the band; which is likely to be known’ henceforth as the Gisborne Rifle Band. Before the meeting’ breaks! up the band will play the dead march in memory of the good old Whataupoko Band, which has successfully weathered the hard times of yore, and now emerges as a full rank military band,

A large quantity of onions were sent away' to Honolulu and San Francisco by the Sierra on Saturday. Mrs Hera Tuku Hangahanga, of Katihiku, Otaki, of the celebrated Ngatihuia tribe, is stated to be 105 years of age. The Government offices throughout the colony will be closed on Friday, May 24th, as a mark of respect to the memory of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria. The supplies of poultry for export are coming to hand so rapidly in Sydney that the Government Export Depot is again overstrained. The winnings of the members of the Wood villa Rifle Club at the New Zealand Rifle Association meeting totalled £2OO. A Chinaman was found dead hanging in a room at his' residence in Bloomfieldstreet, Gunnedah, New South Wales, on March 2Sth. The State Minister for Lands of New South Wales promises fresh legislation with reference to the ravages of rabbits in the country. Early the other morning a seaman named Jacobsen fell down the hold of the ship Australian at Newcastle, and died shortly after he was admitted to the Newcastle hospital. Mr E. Herneman, who has for several years been private secretary to the Minister for Public Works, has been appointed secretary to the Chief Health Commissioner. Mr Thomas Donnelly, the well-known Masterton prospector, has for some weeks past been engaged prospecting in the Lower Valley. He lias secured some very excellent prospects of gold-bearing quartz. With a view of establishing a stud of Southdown sheep, now so popular in the Wairarapa for breeding fat lambs, Messrs J. and F. Wall, of Martinborough, have purchased from Mr Samuel Garforth, of Springdon Lodge, Christchurch, 15 purebred Southdown ewes and a ram.