The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 1, 1901. WARD AND PESSIMISM.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 172, 1 August 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 1, 1901. WARD AND PESSIMISM.

The fuller reports to hand of the speech made by Sir Joseph Ward, at the banquet tendered in his honor, shows that the spooch was of more than ordinary interest. Dealing with personal matters, Sir Joseph said that from his heart he felt ‘ more than proud at the great gathering that had met to do honor to him and also at the receipt of the magnificent address.

He was not going to talk a lot of balderdash about the honor that had recently linen .conferred on Jiim. It was a matter of supreme indifference to him that a small section in the colony objected to his acceptance of that honor. Ho accepted it as an honor to his colleagues as well as to himself. If there were any who thought that having received a title he contemplated retiring from politics, they made a very huge mistake. He had had a good opportunity of judging the feelings of the people of the colony. He knew the opinions of the great mass of the people. Despite misrepresentation they j udged fairly, and there was nothing to fear if the Eeople were behind him. Whatever o had done in public life it had been ydth the assistance and co-operation of his fellow-Ministers and the rank and file of the members of Parliament. With regard to the troublous times in his career that had been referred to, he would only say that he thought he had been very badly misjudged, aud did not have fair play. However, he was generous to his enemies, and was content to let the future tell its own tale. If he lived the ordinary span of life he hoped some of the people who had held adverse opinions regarding him would have good reason for thinking that they had been mistaken. Sir Joseph Ward then went on to deal with affairs of State. He said that while they had a right to be prudent it would be a bad thing if they allowed themselves fo he controlled by any

spasm, of pessimism which might be calculated to send the colony backwards instead of forward. He would make a brief comparison to show the state of things now as compared with the time when the present - Administration took office. In 1891, the wealth per head of the population of New Zealand was £230 ; in 1900, it was £290. There was enormously increased settlement, and in connection with the savings bank and banking institutions there was a state of things that had never existed before. In the bauking institutions and savings banks of the colony at the present time there was the enormous sum of £22,000,009 of the people’s money on deposit, whereas in 1891 there was only a little over £13,000,000. He asked his audience to realise that if the}' could. In 1890, there were deposited in the savings banks £2,000,000 less than last year, while at the present time there were £6,000,000 in the bankiug institutions not bearing interest. These figures meant there was an abundance of money in New Zealand, more than had ever yet existed in the colony’s history. If the Government kept up a vigorous public works policy —and he was sure his colleague, Mr Hall - Jones, would —with this enormous sum of money available, what became of tho cry of the pessimists in the face of these figures'? He scouted tHo idea of a reversal of our prosperity. Contrast the colon}' s position in 1891, and it would be seen how wonderfully all classes had improved their position. It was quite different to the old days, when, a reversal of tilings in the commercial world would have beon a vory serious business. Some people said there was no justification for this vast increase j of money, but he declared there was a l very striking reason. In the period he had mentioned property had gone up £ IS,OOO,000 sterling in valuo and the revenue had gone up £1,900,000. Land under settlement had also increased from 8,400,000 acres to 12,600,000 acres. He would mention only one other indication, viz., the large increase in tho number of factory hands. Although the flax industry, which in 1891 was flourishing and employed a largo number of hands, was unhappily not so prosperous now, he had quoted these figures by way of contrast, and declared that even if there was a possibility of bad times the country was never in a bettor condition to meet them. Our exports had increased from £9,500,000 to £18,240,000. Why say there was any cause for alarm in tho face of this ? He could not disclose the future policy of the Government, but he could say they were paying their attention to the opening up of fresh markets for our products, and were closely and forcibly attending to the matter, as evidenced by the recent appointment of a Trade Commissioner. If a vigorous, thorough prudent public works policy was carried out, and advantage taken of tho colony’s natural facilities and wonderful resources, nothing could deter the colony in its progress.” Of course Sir Joseph Ward’s remarks are to some extent partisan, but that should not alter the bald facts set forth. There are always “croakers” in the foreground, and it is as well, provided prudence is exercised, that people should look on the bright side.

Mv Alfred Tockei' has boon gazetted as postmaster at Kanackanae, Gisborne.

Gisborne district’s vital statistics for the month of July show up well: Births 30, marriages 0, death. 1. Captain Edwin reported yesterday : “North-west to west and south gale; glass rise; tides poor; weather very cold.”

No share of the responsibility for the increasing birth-rate can be fastened on Gisborne, which last month registered 30 births as against one death. The Kaiti Football Club has elected Mr John Murphy captain of the senior fifteen in the place of the late Mr T. Kirk, Mr J. Eaton being elected vice-captain. The Governor has been pleased to appoint Mr Othello Joseph Morell to be inspector of weights and measures for the Borough of Gisborne.

Mr Askenbeek, formerly cadet in the Magistrate’s Court Office at Gisborne, has been appointed Clerk of the Court for Rcofton and Sheriff for Central Westland. The tenders for the Gisborno-Karaka railway station building contract wore : E. Saunders (accepted) £1796, James Morris £1854 16s, Maekrell and Colley 111908, It. Kay £1920. Messrs Dalgety and Co., for whom Mr George Eliott is the local manager, has a business advertisement in this issue. The temporary officos secured by the firm are in the Union Bank Buildings, Gladstone road.

Captain Edwin Phillips, of tho s.s. Wgdkare, remained behind in Sydney this trip owing to ill-health. Captain Bobert Stewart, well known as late chief officer of the s.s. Mararoa, and more recently as chief of tho Waikarc, is now in charge of the steamer. Miss Morse, one of the ladies injured in the Grand Hotel fire at Auckland recently, was a passenger to Gisborne by the Waikare yesterday afternoon, being accompanied by her brother. Mr and Miss Morse aye staying with Mr and Mrs C. P. Browne, of Whatappoko.'

At the Police Court yesterday Patrick Monaghan, a prohibited person, was charged with being on the licensed premises of tho British Empire Hotel on the 15 oh inst. Accused pleaded guilty, and was convicted and fined £3, and costs 9s ; in default of immediate payment, 14 days’ imprisonment.

Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Company (Messrs Wyllio and Mason, agents), have received the following cable from their London office, Messrs Sanderson, Murray, and Co., dated 26th inst.: “ Wool sales have closed firm, with average attendance of buyers, but market shows no mateviyi Gunge. Crossbred, medium market is weak aui irregular, IT old over 48,000" bales.” '

Mr Ted O’Reilly, of the Albion Club stables, bus just returned from a—possibly voyage would be the most appropriate term to ss? —haying piloted Mr Goldsmith, .Caimi/E-inner of Lauds, from Gisborne to Mu>ere, via Wairoa. He describes the reals as being in a particularly byd condition, and this in addition to the severe weather encountered—one fine day out of eight—rendered the outing anything but an enjoyable one. Mr Donald Gordon, whilst calling attention to the fact that all moat sold by him has had to undergo Government hispection, informs us that during the past lfionth he has had condemned three per cent, of sheep killed and ten per cont. of pigs, which on the face of it seems to be an argument in favor of inspected meat. Mr Gordon informs us that the publib are appreciating his meat being killed under inspection; and the number of his patrons is very satisfactorily increasing.

Tho following is the statement of receipts prepared by lion, secretary, Mr J. M. Cumming, in connection with the fund for Mrs Blair and family Concert returns, £4l 4s ; collected by A. Coad, £1 14s, W- Soloman £3 17s, C. Neenan £3 2s 6d, R. CoiebvooL: £2 3s fid, Mrs (Canon) Webb £l, R. Cogar’ £25 Bs, Currie and Hogan £1 6s, Mrs Ledger 2s, J. Marshall ss, Mrs Cogar 13s 7d. Mrs East £7 14s fid, Rev. Itothwell £6 2s, Mrs Bennett £1 3s, Sheet’s employees £5 ss, Mrs Siddells £ll 10s 6d, J. M. Cumming £lB 17s Qd, S. Earle ss, R. N. Jones £l, Wyllie and Mason £3 3s, C. Gray £l, Saywell 3s ; total £149 14s 6d. The Committee acknowledge accounts written off by Messrs Adair Bros, and W. N. Attwood, Mr McKee’s contribution of free use of the Theatre, the Gas Company for gas, and free printing and advertising.

Au important sale of household furniture will be held by Messrs Wyllie aud Mason on Saturday next.

Messrs Clayton Bros, notify that they are landing a thousand tons of Newcastle coal. Part of the coal is being transhipped at Napier, and a big .-apply will be to hand next week. Orders are now being booked.

The Waiauu Prohibition League intend holding a monster meeting in the Theatre Boyal next Thursday evening. The Rev. Canon Webb is to occupy the chair,. aud speeches will bo delivered by prominent public men, songs interpersing the speeches.

At a meeting of the Ballauce Tent, No. 1-2, 1.0.1 i., S.U., held last evening, Bro. W. Roland was presented with a splendid book of recitations won by him in a competition among the members for the best reciter. The book was presented by the Superintendents of the Tent, Bro. A. Georgeson making the presentation.

Tho Poultry Show opens to-morrow, and promises to be a great success. Mr W. IT. O. Johnstone, of Auckland, who is to act as judge at the Show, arrived by the Waikare yesterday afternoon. Mr D. D. Hyde, Government poultry expert, will arrive from the South on Saturday morning, and will meet farmers at two ojclock in the afternoon at the Show. On Saturday evening ho will deliver an address.

A meeting of the Gisborne Tent, No. 54, LO.R./S.U., was held in the Tent room last evening, Bro. M. G. Nasmith, jun., C.R., presiding, Bro. J. Georgeson resigned his position as treasurer, and Bro.. J. Peckover was elected to the position. Bro. A. Cooper was elected as Book Steward, aud Bro. A. Pool, P.C.R., as Right Supporter, and Bro. V. Somervell as Left Supporter of the Chief Ruler. One new member was initiated and another proposod. A large amount of routine business was also transacted. The monthly meeting of the Hospital Trustees was held last night, there being present: Messrs A. F. Kennedy (in tho chair), Harding, Joyce, Johnston, and Warren. Tho monthly report _ showed that there wore 9 patients remaining from last month, 13 had since been admittted, 8 had been discharged, and 1 had died, the number remaining at date being 13. The receipts during tho month wore £312, including the Government subsidy of £IGI Is lid, and Charitable Aid Board

requisition of £6O. The disbursements wore £267 5s 2d, tho balance at credit in the bank being £45 14s. Tho accounts passed for payment amounted to £69 Is lOd. The Visiting Committee reported that everything was proceeding satisfactorily at the hospital. Messrs Warren and Dewing were appointed Visiting Committoe for the ensuing month. It was left to the building committee to furnish dotails in connection with the buildings now being erected.