The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAY 23, 1902. THE MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 423, 23 May 1902, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAY 23, 1902. THE MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE.

An item that will greatly interest our readers, and probably also perplex them, is the Times cable this morning stating that Mr Bennett Burleigh, the war correspondent, lias cabled privately to a friend that he is returning. A .simple message of this kind is interpreted by the journal he represents to be an early intimation that the Boers have accepted the British terms, and that therefore peace is in sight. The strict censorship exercised would preclude the correspondent from sending a plain message direct to the journal he represents, and therefore there is some ground for the belief t-hat the the message to a friend is of great moment as a means of.circumventing the censorship

that is the bane of the enterprising press representative. However, if trie message is really what it is suggested to be the good news will soon be made Known through official sources. The Veereruging Conference to consider the question of terms assembled last week, and sufficient has leaked out regarding the discussions to show that the coneilables were seeking to prevent the acceptance of the terms offered. The fact that the Conference has been continued so long is a hopeful sign that the Boers have at last become amenable to reason. The steamer Balmain, whi - i ha« ar'v.d at Sydney, is to proceed to Newcastle t load coal for Gisborne. The Poverty Bay Hun Club meet on Saturday next at the Masonic Hotrl corner at 2.45 p.m. A meeting of the Gisborne branch of the Farmers’ Union will be held to-morrow mo iling at 11 in the Masonic Hotel sample-rooms.

Yesterday afternoon Colonel Newell inspected the East Const Mounted Rifles, with whose work he was very much pleased. The New Zealand Football Association has resolved to enter into correspondence with the English Football Association with the view to sending a New Zealand team to England for the 1903 4 season. Captain Edwin wired at noon yesterday : —“ Strong winds from between west and southwest and south; glass rise, tides high, sea heavy from southward on coast.” Mr T. Alston Coleman yesterday made his first appearance in the Magistrate’s Court as a solicitor. His many friends will wish him a successful professional career. Yesterday a fresh westerly wind was blowing at Auckland, with gloomy weather; at Napier it was squally from the S.W. ; Wellington, gloomy ; Christchurch, bright. The sea was heavy on the West Coast, and moderate on the East, The following additions havobeeu male to the Telephone Exchange list : No. 84, Mr J. H. Martin, Gisborne Hotel, Lowe street ; No. 159, Francis Stafford, timber merchant, Gladstone road ; No. 205, S.M. Court ; No. 206, Isabella liackett, groce', Gladstone road. There was a large audience at the Theatre Royal last evening, when the Rev. W. Ready repeated his lecture entitled “ From London Streets to the Pulpit.” The lecture was full of information, and was much appreciated by those present. Rev. B. F. Rothwell presided.

The dredge John Townley was again got to work yesterday. It is hoped that the dredge will now work smoothly, without any inore of the vexatious delays caused by breakages. The ratepayers are expressing their opinion in an emphatic way that the dredge will soon have to do something to justify the price paid for it. The Star of Gisborne Lodge, No. 61. I 0.0. F., of New Zealand, held their usual meeting last evening at the Lodge Room, Masonic Hall, Bro. R, Robb, N. 9., presiding. Two new members were elected. Four candidates were impressively initiated and three new members were proposed. A large amount of business was transacted. The Lodge will take part in the procession of Friendly Societies at the Coronation celebrations, in conjunction with the other local societies. A visiting brother from Star of the West, No. 14, W.A., was accorded a hearty welcome by the N.G. on behalf of the Lodge. Tue 3 day evening next will be the monthly legveo meeting, when all wishing to advance are requested to attend at 7.80. Bowlers throughout the district will be pleased to hear that Mr Julius Ciesar intends to lay down a bowling green at his picturesque grounds at Ormond, and it is hoped that even early next season play will be held on the ground. There is nothing that will tend to promo’te the success of. bowling in this district inoro than the establishment of a number of country clubs, and the step taken by Mr Ciesar will no doubt lead to other clubs being formed. Mr Ciesar has taken a keen interest in matters pertaining to sport in this district, and his intimation that he intends to go in for a bowling green at Ormond will be thoroughly appreciated by all lovers of the game. The Gisborne Club has a membership of about 130, and thero should be sufficient inducement offered to start a club outside of Gisborne.

The eighth animal meeting of the Poverty bay Dog Trial Ciuo was opened at Kaiti yesterday. The attendance was only fair, being confined principally to those persons who were personally interested in the proceedings. . The whole of the day was occupied with class I—heading, bring back, and yarding competition, which was not concluded last evening, Some tAvenly competitors got through their trials, and excellent work was done. Eight or ten entries in this class have yet to he disposed of. Mr J. Russell is Acting as secretary, and satisfactory arrangements have been made by the Committee for the conduct of the meeting, which promises to be a most successful one.

At tho Magistrate’s Court yosterday morning Mr \V. A. Barton, S.M., entored up judgment for tho plaintiff in tho case of McFai’lanp Bros. v. R. M. Birrell (submitted to arbitration) for £7 18s 64d after deducting a counter .claim, posts .£1 17s. Mr L. Rees appeared for plaintiffs and Mr R. N. Jones for defendant. Judgment by default was given in tho cases of Common, Shelton and Co. (Mr T. Alston Coleman for Mr DeLautour) v. Thomas G-ilinjan, claim £l7 18s, costs £1 15s 6d ; Kaiti Jffoail Board (Mr Nolan) v. Ellen Mooney, claim £1 6s, costs 6s; James McKee' (Mr G. Lysnar) v. James Hume, claim £l4 4s Sd, costs £1 10s 6ii. A good deal of evidence was taken in the caso of 0. B. Hubble v. J. H. Aisiabie (Mr Nolan), claim £2 3s 6d. Plaintiff had arranged to erect a furnace for defendant, but on gping out the lime wa3 not to be found ; defendant did not think it was in the shed, and had refused to give the keys in prd.cr to allow a search' to be made. Plaintiff left, refusing to have anything further to do with the work; later on the lime was found, and defendant wrote expressing regret that there should be any annoyance. Ho considered the charges exorbitant. Judgment was given for 10s, with costs 9s. In tho course of evidence Mr \V. If. Clayton stated.thatboth plaintiff, and defendant had paid for the lime, Mr Hubble refusing to take bis money back. The High School Board of Governors met yesterday, Messrs W, Morgan (chairman), J. Coleman, B. Johnston, and J. W. Nolan being present. A letter received from Mr Maclaurin brought up the subject of travelling allowances to winners of scholarships. A Matawhero pupil would get £lO travelling allowances, while Miss Maclaurin, travelling over a rougher roal, would only get £5 2s. The Governors acknowledged the justness of Mr Maclaurin’s request, but they could not see how they could depart from the regulations adopted. It was agreed that the question should be considered when new regulations were drawn up. Mr Morgan was appointed treasurer, and with j Messrs Colemau and DeLautour, was authorised fp sign cheques. The Education Department wrote advising the form the scholarship regulations should take, and the Chairman and Secretary were deputed to draft regulations. Mr Anderson, technical instructor, wrote offering to give two hours’ instruction on M ednesday mornings to pupils of the High School, at a salary of £4O per annum, and the School Committee wrote approving of geometry and model-dra«h n 5 being duccd lute the syllabus tor a course C. three years. Mr 'Nolan thought a three years’ course was toe long. It was decided to confer with the Committee and Messrs Rowley and Mann upon the subject. The School Committee forwarded Mr Rowley's report upon the accommodation required for the secondary classes. This was also remitted to the conference suggestedabove. Tbe Chairman said heretofore the Governors had paid £8 a year for cleaning and fuel, but now the School Committee got capitation for the purpose. It was decided to discontinue the expenditure after June 80th. Mr Johnston said the Governors would have to take great care of their funds if they had to build a new classroom-

Our Karaka correspondent sent information last night that there was quite i gale blowing out that way, the wind being very cold, as ii it was blowing over snow-clad hills. The weather in Gisborne yesterday was fine, though a high wind was blowing and affected the shooting scores at the ride range. A painful accident occurred at Mangatu yesterday, by which Walter Crisp had his leg very severely injured. He was brought into the hospital during the night. From the meagre information to hand, it appears that Crisp was driving bullocks at the time of the accident. He was sitting on the dray and slipped and fell in a line with the wheel of the dray. The wheel went over his leg, with the result that the leg was very much injured. The sufferer is well-known throughout the district, and much sympathy is felt for him in his trouble. lie is a single man, and has been working in Mangatu district for some time. One of the most popular pastimes lor winter evenings is roller skating, and we arc pleased to note that a rink is to be opened in Gisborne next week. Mr W. Miller has secured the Theatre Royal for the purpose, and the opening night has been fixed for Wednesday next. In all the towns throughout the colony, large crowds are nightly drawn to the skating rink, and a more pleasant way of spending an evening cannot be obtained. It is intended to open the rink on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturday evenings, from 7.30 to ten, and special arrangements have been made for a first class band to be present on the opening night, on Wednesday evening next. Skates can be purchased at Mr W. Miller’s, or can be obtained on hire at the hall.