The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JULY 4, 1901. FEDERATION COMMISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 148, 4 July 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JULY 4, 1901. FEDERATION COMMISSION.

Though the Federation Commission went to a great deal of trouble in obtaining information on 1 which to base their report, they dealt with that information very promptly when it was all before them. Their decision was a complete and unqualified condemnation of federation as between this colony and Australia. That decision was anticipated by those who had

OIOSOI3' followed the evidence given to the Commission, and,to .a certain extent we believe that'it will be endorsed by all who have given attention to the subject. Those who have studied the trend of politics in Australia would be very sorry to have New Zealand at present enter into a union with Australia on tho lines of federation. In

the years to come that may be advisable, but it is not so now, and for the time being at least New Zealand is doing better to work out her own destiny in a spirit of self-reliance but of friendliness with her kin across the waters. At present we have before us two practical points that would not come within the range of the Commission. One js that Tasmania is strenuously but unsuccessfully objecting to interference with the State post offleo ; another is that Sir John Forrest has been trying to bounce the Federal Government because West Australia cannot get all its own way. New Zealand for the time* being, is better out of such quarrels, When the Australian colonies haye settled matters among themselves and have got into proper working order it will be time enough for New Zealand to again consider the question of time it is better to take the risk of any unfriendly action on the part of Australia.

A full account of the Napier Park races, received by telegraph last night, appears on the front page of to-day’s Times. Mr James Smith, proprietor of the Sea View Hotel, Awanui, has been in town during the last two days. He returns this morning. A subscription list has been opened in Auckland in aid of' the employees of the Grand Hotel who suffered loss through the lire. Over L2OO has already been subscribed. A cablegram from Hobart states that the Ophir and cruisers met with a gale on I Saturday. It continued through Sunday unabated. Monday was very boisterous at sea. j Brethren of the 1.0.0. P.. A.C., are reminded that the installation ceremony will take place at the Lodge room, Childers road, at half-past seven this evening. A full attendance is desired. Mr T. G. Lawless has a new advertisement in this issue. Those wishing to secure houses, or town or suburban sections, are invited by Mr Lawless to call and inspect his list of properties. The Matron of the Hospital acknowledges with thanks gifts of oranges from Captain Tucker, lemons from Mr George Schmidt, honey from Mr Stevenson, and old linen from Mesdames Webb, Sampson, and East. Mr C. D. Bennett, handicappcr for the Gisborne Racing Club's Steeplechase Meeting, has been paid a high compliment by the various owners, as in nearly every instance the horses weighted have been accepted for. A meeting of the Natives’ Association Ball Committee was held last evening, |Mr W. Webb presiding. Everything was reported to be in n forward state in connection with the ball, which promises to bo a most successful affair. The shareholders in the Gisborne Cooperative Building Society will be pleased to learn that two more appropriations are shortly to be made. One sum of £3OO is to be decided by ballot, and a sum of .-GdOO is to be offered by tender. The meeting to decide the appropriations will be held on July 18 in the Wesley Schoolroom. The regular monthly mounted parade of the East Coast Mounted Rifles takes place at the drill-shed at 2.15 this afternoon. The uniform hats aro expected to arrive from Sydney this morning, and if time permits they will bo served out before the pai-ade. It has been decided to have a non-commissioned officers’ examination at an early date. Intending candidates will require to give in their names to Sergt.-Major Beerc. Gisborne, wo regret to say, is about to lose one of its chief lady vocalists, Mrs J. McConnell, a lady who for somo years past has taken a loading part in Gisborne musical circles, and who was ever ready to assist any deserving cause. Mr McConnell has accepted an appointment at Auckland, and probably loaves for the Northern city on Saturday week, and of course the future homo of Mr and Mrs McConnell will be in that cit\ T . They have made many friends in this district, and their departure will be much regretted. Notwithstanding the wet weather on Tuesday night, the Salvation Army social was carried out. There was a fair attendance, and a joyful time was spent, with solos, choruses, etc. Addresses were given by Ensign and Mrs Hill, who spoke very highly of Gisborne, and said they would be sorry to leave it. Several soldiers, also the Rev. B. F. ltothwoll, and Mr Peckover, spoke, wishing the departing officers God-speed, and expressing warm appreciation of the earnestness and zeal with which Ensign and Airs Hill prosecuted the work of the Army. After the prayer meeting at St. Andrew’s Church last night a presentation of a handsome writing desk was made by the members of the Christian Endeavor Society, to Miss Winters on the eve of her departure from Gisborne. The presentation was made in recognition of the services rendered by the young lady, who for some years past had been an active worker on the Social Committe'c; She has for some years past done excellent work in St. Andrew’s Sunday School, as well as in connection with the Christian Endeavor Society. She leaves for Napier next Sunday. Mr T. G. Lawless, land and estate agent, informs us that there is a good demand for town and country properties. Last month seven important properties were disposed of through the agency of Mr Lawless, at satisfactory figures, and those wishing to dispose of properties would do well to place them in his hands. Mr Lawless informs us that ho has several enquiries from outside buyers for sheep and grazing runs, partly improved. He daily receives applications from those desirous of renting houses. Cottages are hard to obtain, Mr Lawless having on his list quite a dozen names of those desirous of obtaining bouses. It would, he thinks, be a good investment for anyone to have dwellings erected for the purpose of letting.

The monthly meeting ot the Hospita' Trustees was held last evening. Present

Messrs J. W. Nolan (Chairman), Harding, Johnston, Joyce, Kennedy, Dewing, and Tuohy. Messrs Dimond and Hart, of Wellington, wrote forwarding information regarding a patient who had died in the Hospital, and claiming his effects as one of the chief creditors. The Secretary explained that deceased had no effects when he came to the Hospital. The monthly report showed that there were thirteen patients remaining from the previous month, eleven had been admitted since and thirteen discharged, nine being at present in the institution. The Treasurer reported that the credit balance at the bank amounted to JE6S 2s Id. The Visiting Committee reported that everything was working smoothly at the Hospital. Accounts amounting to £'259 were passed for payment. Messrs Tuohy and Warren were appointed a Visiting Committee for the month. Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. are making a good show with their garden and flower seeds this year. Being encouraged by the success of the seeds they have distributed among their clients during the past three years, they are again confining their orders to Messrs Pilkington and Co. of Auckland, and at their request have got the Auckland firm to offer a prize at the forthcoming A. and I’. Show, for the best collection of vegetables I grown from Pilkington and Co.'s seeds. [ Common, Shelton and Co. inform us that during the past three years they only received one complaint of the result of Pilkington’s scedsj which was tiiat lettuce seed bought from Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. had failed. The firm at once had some lettuce seed from stock sown to prove it, and found that the complainant had been unfortunate either with the ground or management, as the seed tried in consequence of the complaint grew most satisfactorily. This experience should be worth a good deal to lovers of the garden, as it is most unsatisfactory after trouble has been taken to get a garden planted to have barren results, and Common, Shelton and Co. are to be congratulated on their continuous effort to supply good seed to our vegetable and flower gardening community. Speaking at the Salvation Army social | on Tuesday evening, the Rev. B. F. Rothweii said that if General Booth was the father of the Salvation Army, then John Wesley was the grandfather, and he (the speaker) was there fo speak words of grandfatherly congratulation. Quoting the words of one who said that Methodist thought had influenced the past century more than' any other, he claimed the Armv as Methodists, and said that they had shared in the work. When 'Wesley commenced he had to meet a teaching on predestination, which amounted to a cruel fatalism, but there was no such teaching to-day. Formerly it was only the Methodist who sang, “ I know, my sins are all forgiven,” while others branded the sentiment as a wicked presumption. But today when the Methodist sings the others say, “ What are you shouting about ; do you think nobody knows that but you ? ” Again, when they sung “ For ail, for ail, my Saviour died,” the rest chimed in, “ Well, don’t make such a noise about it ; we aU believe that now.” It was a matter for devout thankfulness that this bright evangelical teaching was in every pulpit in the land, and there were somo who formerly repudiated the sentiment with scorn who were not afraid to-day to use the word “ saved,”

Important sales of stock take place at Waerenga-a-hika to-day. The extensive telegraphic budget in today's Times has resulted in some reports being held ox er. The football fixtures for Saturday next are :—Senior West End v. City. Juniors : K iv. City. The fin- ' d year of the Gisborne Cooperative building Society ends on the 17th Jit 1 /. It is therefore an opportune time no ,\ to take up new shares. A few still remain unallotted. Ensign and Mrs Hill (Salvation Army) have not yet received definite instructions as to when they are to leave Gisborne, or as to their successors in command of the Gisborne branch. The s.s. Omapore was delayed at Napier | to wait for the sea to go down on the Coast. She left Napier last night, and sails from here at ‘2 pan. to-day. Shippers are requested to have their cargo at the wharf not later than noon. The following is a list of letters from places beyond the colony received in the postal district of Gisborne, during the month of April, and unclaimed on the oOth June, 1901: —E. Roberts, Tasmania ; H. Parker, United Kingdom ; S. McPliee, Now South Wales ; Robert James, United Kingdom ; C. J. Denny, United Kingdom ; Thomas Allen, New South Wales ; S. Schillings, United States. The total capital value of Kaiti rateable property is T 00,950; Titirangi, £20,050 (approximate); total value of rating area for special rates, jEII 1,000, which at a rate of one half-penny in the £ would realise £231 ss. The interest charge on . £3598 4s 6d (the amount of loans at 4} per cent, was £l6l ISs sd), thus a halfpenny rate would bring in about £7O more than required, and could be proportionately reduced.