The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 27, 1901. THE COOK ISLANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 197, 27 August 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 27, 1901. THE COOK ISLANDS.

Recent information shows that things have not been proceeding as satisfactorily in the Cook Islands as was hoped would be the case when the annexation took place. Both the Native and the European population have, says the correspondent of the Auckland Star, been in a state of unrest. It was hoped that on the return of Lieut.-Governor General Gudgeon from New Zealand administrative affairs would have resumed a brighter phase ; but until the time of the departure of the mail no information had been publicly given as to the intention of the Government in the matter. There is, the correspondent explains, no doubt that since the return of the Lieut.-Governor he lias been greatly worried by events which took place while he was away in New Zealand, and which havo

occupied the greater part of his tim6 since he returned. All the Government' moneys passed through two officials, Goodwin and Gossett, j From the evidence, it ajjpeared, tho j latter had to be suspended through drunkenness, and during the term of suspension it was found that the moneys had been embezzled. Gossett, in admissions made 'by him, incriminated Goodwin. The embezzlements,

of course, have intensified the bad impression that was caused at the outset by the appointments. The European population did not view with any favor tho appointment of Gossett to such a position of responsibility. Ho is barely twenty-one years of age, and the only restriction over him was an audit once every sis months. Apart from these untortiinate considerations, the question of the new import duties has greatly exercised the minds of business people and others interested. The tariff arrangement seemed a blow to Tahiti. It is considered that the tariff is a special singling out of Tahiti for the imposition of a special burden. A peculiar feature in connection with the administration is the fate of the State paper, or the paper subsidised by the State.. Tho name of the paper is the “loi Karanga.” It had been in existence a little over four

years, The paper was subject to the censorship of embezzler Goodwin, and maintained a strong Government policy, but on the death of that official the journal began to assume a tone of some independence. The first notification that the public had of the discontinuance of the paper was an official notice bearing the British Resident's signature, stating that the paper had ceased publication. But the Government were not unmindful of the printer who had served them so well; he was appointed acting-secretary to the Government. The moral of the experiences at Karatonga is that the people of New Zealand should not be too precipitate in regard to Fiji. As for the paper, its fate largely bears out what many contend would happen with a State-subsidised or State - owned paper that would not strongly back up the policy of the Government in power

An advertiser desires to rent a furnished house in a good 1 locality.

A concert is to be held at Makauri on Friday evening in aid of the organ

Messrs Sheridan and Co. have for immediate sale three good draught horses, a tip dray, and a waggon.

With gold pieces are built pompous palaces ; with a penny one may buy a palace in Paradise. —Dunedin Tablet. Applications *or licenses for trainers, jockeys, apprentices, and gentleman riders must be sent in to-day.

At a meeting of the Gisborne Rifle Corps last night Mr Strong was elected to the vaeancv for lieutenant.

Prices won at the recent poultry show will be paid at the office of the secretary (Mr Ranger) aftar 7.30 to-night.

The adjourned meeting of creditors in the estate of George Searle, is to be held in the Deputy-Assignee’s office this afternoon.

Three tenders were received for additions to the Ormond Hotel, and Mr Andrew Somervell's tender of Toll 7 was accepted.

A petition from Tokomaru, praying lor the removal of the post and telegraph office to a more convenient site, has been forwarded to Wellington.

Owing to the plague regulations being in force in regard to vessels from San Francisco, the Sierra will not bo allowed to come to the Sydney wharf.

The man Cribb, to whose misfortune we alluded yesterday, lias been committed to the Auckland Asylum. He came from Te Aroha, and had left there with his son, aged S.

The enquiry regarding the validity of the Patca election will be heard at Wanganui on the 24th prox., the Chief Justice and J udge Williams constituting the Flection Petitions Court.

Mrs Matthew Clark, wife of one of the partners in the firm of Messrs Archibald Clark and Sons, died at Auckland on Saturday afternoon. The deceased lady was a daughter of the laic Mr Beveridge, barrister, of Auckland, and was highly esteemed.

The plain truth is that the administration of the Act so far as those precious so-called “ Conciliation ’ Boards are concerned—“ Aggravation ” Boards would be a better title—has become a bye-word and a public scandal. —Marlborough Express.

Our readers are reminded of the recital of sacred music to be held this evening in the Holy Trinity Church. The full programme appears in another column. Vocal numbers will be given by Miss Grey and Messrs Barlow, J. East, Foreman and Coster. It is expected that there will bo a large attendance. We warn them that if they have to face their constituents next election with disordered finances and increased taxation they will find some difficulty in persuading the electors to renew their confidence, after it has once been abused.—Christchurch Press.

The Opposition in the Now Zealand House of Representatives, it is to be noted, lias declined to choose a leader, and has, apparently, given up organised existence. Mr Seddon may well be the happiest of all Premiers I—Review1 —Review of Reviews.

The assumption that womankind is the weaker sox is unsupported by fact, and has held its ground simply bocauso women have found their advantage in deluding their fathers and brothers and husbands into believing it. Napier Herald.

It is very gratifying to the Patutahi Church Committeo to find the parcels and money coming in to them daily from town and country for the coming bazaar. Hitherto, it has been rather a neglected district, and not only have the inhabitants of Patutahi awakened to the fact, but outsiders arc putting their shoulders to the wheel to help them. The ladies have definitely fixed the 3rd of October for the bazaar, and we wish them every success.

Tho telephone bureau at Matawliero, which during the past year has been in charge of Miss Stephenson, has proved a groat convenience to the settlers of that district, and has also been most successful from a financial point of view. The telephone has been used to a largo extent by farmers attending the sales at the Matawliero yards, and the quickness in which the messages have boon despatched by Miss Stephenson lias been much appreciated.

At the Police Court yesterday, before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., Walter Langford Gavey was charged with the theft of two cheques for £8 15s Gd and £3 14s 6d, 15s in cash, and a gold ring of the value of 10s, the property of J. McGee. Accused elected to be dealt with summarily, and was remanded till Monday nest. A first offender, who had been having a lively time, was convicted and fined £l, costs 2s, medical fees .£2 2s ; in default seven days’ imprisonment. At least two brakeloads of townspeople leave for the Druids’ social at Orrnond tonight. The brakes leave the Masonic Hotel corner at 6.15 p.m., the return fare being Is 6d. There should be a beautiful moonlight night, and a large attendance from all parts of the district is assured. Any townspeople who have not already booked seats in the brakes are requested to leave their names with the secretary, Pro. 11. Burns, or with Messrs Johnston and Co., by noon to-day. The debate in the House of Representatives on the Advances to Settlers Bill showed some of the distrust that has been occasioned by the mysterious transfer of money from one Department to another. If a loan is required for making advances to settlers it ought to bo easy enough to show the position without inviting the criticism that was offered by Captam Russell and the member for Riccarton. What is wanted is perfect candour on the part of the Government, and with such a majority as ho has at his back Mr Scddon has no excuse for clinging to the dubious ways of his Conservative predecessors.—Lvttelton Times.

•'Whcrp is New Zealand?” asks the St. James's Gam-tec, and goes on to quote the following: —“ It is wonderful in tin's age of free education the amount of ignorance there is displayed concerning New Zealand. One good lady wrote to a provincial paper some time ago to know the best way to get there. The editor replied in bis columns that the P. and 0. would take her to Australia, and from '■here ferry boats ran to New Zealand everv r-uaftC:' tia hour. Even this was capped by a Ban francisco tilpa'Chaut who bail been .exporting goods for years’ *? New Zealand'. Suddenly he turned round and asked his clerk if New Zealand was the capital of Sydney.”

Notwithstanding their signal defeat at the polls, and the proof afforded year after year of the prosperity of the colony under the Liberal administration, a large section of the Press, which is subsidised for the purpose, continues to distort and misrepresent facts and serve them up for the benefit of its readers. Here we have lately had papers, aspiring to the position of loading journals, taking a most despondent view of the financial position of the colony, yet they had the returns for the railways, stamps, Customs, telegraphs and other departments to hand entirely disproving their assertions. Tt is gratifying to know that these attacks on the Government have ceased to carry any weight, and while they please those who pay for them have no effect on the intelligent elector.— New Plymouth Daily News.