AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 169, 29 July 1901, Page 3

AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

ELECTRICITY. (Special to Times.) Auckland, Saturday. This evening’s Star contains a lengthy leading article in reference to electricity and water power for Auckland. In the course of its remarks the leader continues :—“ This consideration leads up to a matter of great public interest and importance which we have already several times endeavored to urge upon the notice of this community. Throughout this colony public attention has of late been directed toward the possibility of supplying our cities with electric power generated from our splendid and unfailing water supply. In Christchurch the scheme for harnessing the Waimakairiri has already passed beyond the merely tentative stage. In Dunedin similar projects are engaging widespread popular enthusiasm, and the laudable enterprise of Gisborne and Rotorua in endeavoring to utilise their natural resources should be a standing reproach to our own inactivity and lack of

initiative.” GAMBLING. The lion. Jas. Carroll, speaking of tho Totalisator Abolition Bill, an old Bill with a now father, said in tho House, according to a special wire, that tho spirit of gambJing permeated every class of society, and < those who attempted to suppress it in ’ every form would be confronted with ] insuperable obstacles. If it were stopped ( in one direction it would break out in f another. He contended that since tho tote had been legalised it had diminished c tho small meetings, which chiefly r got up by persons who had*”designs on i: tho pockets of their fellow men. Lacing r had been raised to a higher grade. a Mr Willis : Yes, higher grade of gamb- b ling. h Mr Carroll: No, not a higher grade of gambling, but a more public and open £ style of it. There was gambling even in L the House. Was gambling on the Stock Jc Exchange interdicted? Why interfere J with tho liberty of a person who liked a (t bit of sport, preventing him from enjoying A a day’s picnic at races, and putting on a J. small stake ? # m

Mr Lauronson: Then why interfere with the Chinaman who plays fan tan ? Mr Carroll: Because it is carried on secretly, and in dark places under miserable conditions, which is very different from making investments in open daylight. Tho people who patronised the tote did not do so in a mere spirit of gambling. He paid a high compliment to the members of tho Lacing Conference, who are the representatives of all*thc racing clubs throughout the colony, who, lie said, devoted a good deal of time and attention to improve tho sport, and in trying to clear it of irregularities. lie would support tho Bill were ho not confident that it would be barren of good results and lead to disappointment, because they might do away with the existing form of gambling only to open the door to far worse types of it. Mr Gilfcddcr was proceeding to speak in support of the Bill when he was cut short by tho hands of the clock pointing to halfpast ten, tho hour of adjournment, and the House then rose.