The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, APRIL 22, 1901. SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 87, 22 April 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, APRIL 22, 1901. SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

The annual meetings of householders throughout the district are to be held at 7.30 o’clock to-night; As these meetings are all of importance, it is hoped that there will in each case be a large attendance of the householders. To-night is the opportunity for those who have anything to say about tho management of the different schools. Whether the householders are pleased or dissatisfied, they should make a point of attending the meeting in the locality wherein they are concerned. It is most discouraging to see at such meetings a sparse attendance, and householders should give heed to the responsibility they have in such a matter. _________ THE HALF-HOLIDAY. An effort, wc understand, is to bo made this morning to get the half-holiday changed this week on account of the election. Wo hope that there will be no such playing fast and loose with the holiday, and we are surprised that such a suggestion should come from those who arc offering their services as Borough Councillors, gentlemen who should be the last to make such a proposal unless on very good grounds. Had the suggest tion been made a week beforehand there would have been no reason to complain, but it would be a most improper thing at this stage for the Holiday Committee to harass business people by an alteration of the half-holi-day a day or so beforehand. In the town there are not only the employers to consider : th& employees are entited to some consideration, and it is not fair to them to suddenly make an alteration. But more than all, the country people are to be considered. There will be a bank holiday to-morrow (St. George’s Day) and many country settlers will not be made aware in time of any alteration in tho general half-holiday. In the case of teams coming to town, the Holiday Committee would be responsible if the drays had to return empty. Further, it may bo pointed out that Wednesday is the main steamer day of tho week. Three steamers are expected to arrive and depart on that day, and it would considerably hamper business if people were all off holiday-making. A short time ago, there was a great outcry against Sunday steamers, but if the Wednesday is to be lightly encroached on, it is bound to lead to an increase of work on the Sabbath. No good purpose can be served by a change of the holiday, and if anything it would likely lead to people jaunting off holiday-making and disregarding their civic responsibilities, with the result that a less than ordinary number of votes would be polled.

"Shneeting of the Gisborne Rifles will be held this evening.

The steamer Waikare arrived at Auckland, from Gisborne, at 11 yesterday morning. Messrs Williams and Kettle hold an important stock sale at the Matawhero yards on Thursday next. Mr H. Guthrie Smith was a passenger by the Waikare for Sydney. He joins a P. and 0. liner for Home,

Mr R. N. Jones, a candidate for the Borough election on Wednesday, has an address in this morning's Times. The annual meetings of householders throughout the district are to be held at 7.30 to-night, for the election of School Committees.

The following tenders have been accepted by the Patutabi Road Board: Black’s road, J. T- Saddler, £23 ; Ferguson’s drain, F. Ferguson, £27. An important addition dealing with the question of the metalling of the roads is made by Mr W. D. Lysnar in his address to the Borough electors appearing in this issue.

Magistrate to pension applicant at Rangiora : “ What is your age ? ” Applicant (in a strictly confidential tone) ; To the best of my recollection I was bom in 1828,” A very intelligent infant to remember that.

A parade of the East Coast Mounted Rifles, in full dress uniforms, will take place to-morrow night. At the parade tho new uniforms, which have been excellently made at Mr A. Zachariah’s estabishment, will be given out. On the same evening the prizes won at tho recent rifle match will be presented. To the Editor: Sir, —Can anyone give an explanation of the miserable increase for Gisborne and suburbs shown by the census ? Surely there must have been a lot °f people who never went to bed on the nigiu * , '° census was taken.—l am, Enquirer.

The New Zealand Times of Friday states that in the case of William Cable" and Co. v. Common, Shelton, and Co., a claim for £69 5s 3d on account of repairs to boilers, etc., effected by workmen of the plaintiff firm for defendants, the dispute principally binged upon questions of the time occupied on the work, of the amount of alloivances to be made for time lost in proceeding to and returning from the Gisborne district, and for maintenance allowances. The sum really in dispute was £33 4s 6d. Mr Ollivier appeared for plaintifis, and Mr Myers for the defendants. Judgment' was reserved.

At the bowling green on Saturday afternoon an interesting match was played between a local team and a rink consisting of four commercial travellers. The former was represented by Messrs Sidebottom, McGowan, Bright, and Ponsford (skip), and the visitors by Messrs Gamble, Hoyte, Ifwerson, and Buttle (skip). The game was keenly contested, and resulted in a victory for the commercial representatives by 21 to 17. Each team scored five points in a single head. The visitors played a really fine game, and are to be complimented upon lowering the colors of such a strong team its was put in the field against them.

Captain Garth, of the schooner Norval, reports a strange incident on his recent trip to Surprise Island. He says :—“ On the run to Noumea strange phenomena were observed. An arc of a circle extended from north-west to south-east, under which we passed. It was pure white and most perfect. Just before the hurricane was encountered a photosphery encircled me sun for two days, and the night of the hurricane, when the sea was running mountain high, the rain coming down in torrents, and the wind howling through the rigging, the whole heavens were lighted as though an immense conflagration were raging. The masts were lit with St. Elmo’s fire, like large lanterns, the heat being most intense. It was a sight never to be forgotten,—Exchange,

George Sutherland won no less than eighteen firsts during the present season, Dunlops carrying him to victory every time.

Nelson hops sell at lOd per lb, while those grown in California fetch 2s 9d per lb: The suggestion is made in a Nelson paper that the Department of A<n-iculfcure should endeavor to find new markets for New Zealand hops. Mr Henry Scott, the Otago engineer who has returned after a lengthy stay in the Old Country, in the course of an interview said he was convinced there was a splendid future in the development of electrical engineering in this country, owing to the abundance of water power. “No doubt our streets want improving,” said Mr Wilford. at Wellington; “ they are like the waves of the sea. (Laughter.) It has been said that there are flagstones on some parts of the footpath. I say they are tombstones—(laughter)—tombstones of municipal imbecility.” (Continued laughter.) A shooting match for .£IOO a-side is on the cards between Mr Eccles, of Blenheim, a prominent shot of the South Island, and a well-known marksman, Mr Mackcrsey, of Waipukurau. Mr Eccles has twice been runner-up for the championship, and Mr Mackerscy is a former champion. The following is the substance of the last circular received as to the movements of the Tyser line of ships:—The Tomoana was to have sailed from New York for Melbourne, Sydney, and New Zealand ports on the 13th April. The Hawke’s Bay is to follow her on the 12th May. The Indragliiri arrived at Melbourne on the 6th inst., and is due at Auckland on the 23rd, thence she will come here via the East Coast, and will probably finish loading at Lyttelton. The Indramayo left New York on the 26th February for Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Welling, ton, and Lyttelton. She will load for South Africa, and sail about Ist June. The Star of England left London on 6th April via Australia and way ports. She should reach Melbourne about the 6th prox.

The road-roller imported by Mr McLaren to the order of the Christchurch City Council has been handed over to the Council. The roller has several distinguishing features. It works on the compound principle, and the wheels are made so as to fit in the radius of the road, while .the valve can be adjusted, and repairs, if necessary, effected when the roller is under steam. The cranks are provided with balance weights. Another important feature is that the scrapers arc made with springs, so that in the event of any foreign substance adhering to the wheels they can adjust themselves, thus minimising the liability of breakage. The speed of the roller can also bo adapted to circumstances, and provision is made for renewing at any time the outer rims of the massive wheels—a convenience that will, in the long run, result in a -good saving to the civic authorities. The gear is arranged on the differential plan. In its replies to correspondents the Greymoutli Star has the following: Mr J. Moriarty.—Your letter is decidedly spicy, and would create a beautiful breeze if published. We don’t mind taking the risk of a single-barelled libel, or at a pinch might negotiate a double-barrelled one, but you have a long tom, pom-pom, maxim, and a dozen mausers all in one, and we’re a trifle] scared the thing might explode and do us bodily harm. In six sides of manuscript we have found seventeen distinct criminal libels, three sentences of doubtful efficacy as “prison-catchers” and two wavering between “libel” and “ freedom of speech.” We would like to oblige you, for we dearly love a real, good row, but then wo are rather attached to our present county residence, and besides we don’t think Cemetery Hill House, Hokit'ka, would agree with our health, and we have a decided objection to breaking stones and being adorned with the broad arrow. We are afraid we shall have to pass the savory morsel on this occasion. “ Freedom of speech ” is a grand thing so long as it does not entail “ captivity of body.” When it gets that length we get frightened and sit tight. At the Masonic Hotel on Saturday morning, Mr Brown, an officer of the Education Department, who is organising the work of technical instruction in tho public schools, had an interview with members of the local School Committee with a view of obtaining information as regards the requirements of this district. Tho question was discussed at length, and Mr Brown recommended that the Committee should make application to the Government for a grant of, say, JESOO for certain manual classes, such as cooking, carpentry, and dressmaking. It was pointed out that Gisborne was at a special disadvantage owing to its isolation, and could deriye no benefit from the grants made to the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, which would be expended in Napier. Mr Brown mentioned that the Department were about to issue a new syllabus fqr the schools, making provision for instruction of a manual and technical nature in tlje ordinary school course for children of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Standards. The subjects would bo entirely optional. School children would be taught free, but others attending the classes would be required to pay a small fee. The subject will probably come up for discussion at the meeting of householders to be held this evening.