OUR SOLDIERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 157, 15 July 1901, Page 2

OUR SOLDIERS.

It is to be hoped that the young men from South Africa -will not return to Gisborne to find that the only place along the line where they have not received a hearty wolcome is the one which they left when setting off for the war. So far no active preparation has been made. There has been criticism of past methods, and some suggestions have been thrown out, but so far nothing definite has been done. Some of the local organisations might well take the lead in the arranging for something in the nature of a conversazione where dancers and non-dancers could assemble. A dinn°r that would be confined to a few is naturally open to objection, and there is naturally objection to asking the troopers to sit on the stage for a few hours while speeches aro made of a kind that has been heard over aud over again. What is required is a homely and sociable gathering, where the troopers could bo met by old and new friends, aud given a warm welcome back to their old home. If that is to be done it is time steps were being taken in tho matter.

THE ELCHO SHIELD. Our cablegrams this , morning announce that the English team was the winner of the Elcho Challenge Shield, a competition of historic interest. Tho highest possible score is 1800, but the scores this year aro well up to tho averago. Tho competing teams (eight from each place) are permitted to use any riile, and have 15 shots at each distance, SOO, 900, aud 1000 yards. On this occasion England only won by 1-1 points, Ireland being 10 behind Scotland. In earlier years Ireland showed up very strongly, and Scotland rather poorly, but latterly England has beou holding a strong place in the competitions.

Mr S. Phillips, of Patutahi, has n quantity of pumpkins for salo. The attention of stock-owners is directed to an advertisement in this issue. Tho annual general meeting of the Poverty Bay Turf Club take place at 2 this afternoon.

To-night is tho last pay night in tho financial year of tho Gisborne Co-opera-tive Building Society, and is an appropriate time to take up shares. A Press Association message received yesterday from Invercargill states: — “ There was an extremely hard frost today, but at midnight the wind changed and rain fell.” The cost of the Premier's trip to tho South Sea Islands, just before last session, was .£llsl 0s 9d. Tho wages of tho crew of the Tutanokai amounted to 11370 19s sd, and coals, provisions, and stores to £771 Is 4d. One of the young men who havo been visiting Gisborne for the racing season was arrested by Constable McLeod on Saturday night on a charge of striking another young man. He was let out on bail, and will appear beforo the Court this morning. The present session of Parliament is not likely to be a very lengthy one, but will close about the end of September. It is probable that the House will meet unusually early next year, in order to allow of the Premier going Home to attend tho King’s coronation ceremonies about June next. A peculiar effect of tho gale yesterday was that tho force of tho wind worked up tho springs on some of tho incandescent lights in front of business places, and tho pilot lights gave way to the full illuminations, It looked comical to see an hotel front lighted up in the daytime, but a stranger would hardly understand why tho verandah light of a hardware shop was lighted up on a Sunday night. A Now Zealander, who is at present touring Europe, has written to Mr T. E. Donne, chief of the Tourist and Health Resorts Department, giving his opinion that the Rotorua baths “ put all European baths in tho shade.” Ho adds that the baths at Bad Mauheim (Sprudel), whence ho writes, aro beautiful, and everything is highly artistic, but living is “ terribly expensive.” Mr Charles Hall, M.H.R., is a candidate for a seat on the Education Board, and all school committees in this district should retain that gentleman’s name on the voting list. Ho is a member of tho Land Board, and in Parliament bus always been ready to put in a friendly word for the Poverty Bay district. Ho is well acquainted with tho needs of this district, and would make an excellent representative on tho Board. The “ Squire ” in Napier Telegraph writes : —“ Ballinger, when the property of Mr Gollan, was thought to bo extra good as a two-year-old, Percy Martin, who has had heaps of clinkers through his hands, being of opinion that he was one of the best that he ever had anything to do with. Leg troubles unfortunately put Dreadnought’s son on one side. He was used as a hack at Mangatarata for some time, and a good sort he was at the business, for I have very pleasant recollections of a ride that ho gave me a couple of' years ago when I was up reviewing the youngsters at Mr Gollan’s station.” A fire occurred at Maharaha, Dannovirke, about two o’clock ou Friday morning, when a five-roomed house belonging to Mr A. G. Monk, who lately came up from Ivaikora, was totally destroyed. Mr Monk was away on some land he has at Ngapaeuru at the time, and Mrs Monk with three children wore alone in tho house, and in saving the children, some of whom were slightly burnt, Mrs Monk got severely burned, and is in a pretty bad state. Mr Monk will be a heavy loser, as there was only about fifty pounds insurance on the building, and none on the contents. Mr G. J. Smith, one of the candidates for the Christchurch city seat at the byoelection, represents himself as an Independent Liberal. He announced himself as astrong supporter of thoElectivo Executive, which, to his mind, was “ the only natural outcome of our present system of popular government.” The system of Ministerial pronouncements as to what . should or should not bo party measures was absurd. There was now only one ,

party in tire House, and, in face of this, the Government had no excuse for delaying dealing with the matter of an elective executive, inferring to the Upper House, ho expressed the opinion that there were great diliiculties in the way of its abolition.

Mr Gilruth, Government Veterinarian, who returned from England via San Francisco recently, states that he exI perienceu suIF! Acuity in veterinaries of the stamp reqnireu, uu„ very well satisfied with the selection made. He says the War Office will have nothing to do with horses having any hackney blood in their breed. South I African experience has shown that such horses soon break down, and arc totally unfitted for the severe work required of horses sent to the Transvaal. The cows he selected in England were chosen for their tine milking strain, Mr Gilruth stated that there is now no such thing as hydrophobia in Great Britain. There has not been a ease for two years, and the greatest precautions are taken regarding the importation of dogs. The Labor .Journal for July has the following reference to the labor market in Gisborne: —Building trades : Brisk in all departments, but deficiency of timber and bricks is hindering progress of several con-

tracts. Retail trade (general): Fairly brisk for season of year, with tendency to improve. Miscellaneous: Owing to shutting down of freezing works for winter months, a number of hands have been dispensed with, and arc seeking other employment. Unskilled labor: A few bushfelling contracts have been let during the month, and tenders for others are now invited. At .present there is an abundance of local labor. The local bodies are curtailing work, undertaking only that which is urgent. Fifteen men have been engaged during period for Government roadwork.