AUCKLAND SPECIAL

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 336, 10 February 1902, Page 1

AUCKLAND SPECIAL

BBAVE LADY BESCUEB. (Special to Times.; Auckland, last night. Mrs Niccol, wife of Malcolm Niccol, Mayor of Devonport, has rescued three persons from drowning this week. BOEE PEISONEES AT THE CHATHAMS.

Discussing the proposal to send Boer prisoners to the Chatham Islands, one paper says ;—“ The Chatham Islanders, so says a telegram from New Zealand, would bo pleased to have one thousand prisoners quartered upon them, with a warship and some soldiers as guards of the prisoners. The Islanders would provide a market for local dairy and farm produce. The prisoners would be unable to escape, being easily guarded. As to this latter point, it may bo said that the easiness of guarding would depend upon the presence of a warship and a fairly strong body of British soldiers, so that the Chatham Islands of themselves offer no greater facilities for retaining prisoners I than do many other places in the absence jof a guardship and proper guards. It will be remembered how easily the prisoner Te Kooti and his Maoris seized an American barque, and got away from the Chathams, landed in New Zealand committed the Poverty Bay massacre, and conducted a very unpleasant little war against the British for some time. Te Kooti, like many a similar ruffian, subsequently escaped all consequences of his crime, and died on whatever substitute for a bed he was accustomed to. The less, therefore, said by the Chatham Islanders as to their island offering better conveniences for the prisoners with less requirements in way of guarding the better. The truth is that the Islanders want the Boers for the best of all reasons —they want to get a share of the British expenditure in keeping the Boer prisoners of war. They are not to be blamed for this, only they might as well admit it at once. For tlic rest, what was said by the German Prince of Blackwood may be said of the Chatham Islands. The Prince ■ remarked : ‘ I know' it; I ave been there. It is a beastly ’ole.’ ”

PROPOSED PUBLIC TESTIMONIAL, Auckland is to honor Mr Seddon, before his departure for England to attend the Coronation, in recognition for his splendid services as an Imperial statesman, The circular issued expresses the sentiment in very appropriate and forcible termß. It says: “ There must be of course wide differences of opinion as to the general policy pursued by Mr Seddon, as to his I position and merits as a party leader, but I there can be none, we think, as to the courage and promptitude with which he has proved to the whole world the readiness of this colony to share in whatever sacrifices may be necessary for the maintenanpe of thp honor and integrity of the Empire. It is proposed, therefore, that setting aside all questions of polioy and party, the men and women of New Zealand should join in making a public presentation to the Premier in recognition of the spirited way in which he has shaped and guided the colony’s attitudo towards the war.” >