PARLIAMENTARY EXCURSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 508, 22 August 1902, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY EXCURSION.

A Parliamentary excursion to Gis. borne has been arranged for next week, the Tulanekai leaving Wellington on Friday night and returning on the following Tuesday. Mr Carroll may not be able to accompany the party, and in that case Mr W. L. Rees, formerly Chairman of Committees of the House,’will be the “ commander-in-chief.” For along time past an effort has been made to get an excursion party of the members of Parliament to combine business with pleasure and visit this district. Unfortunately, we will only be able to show them that which in the garden is lovely. They can have a pleasant jaunt on one of the best made little sections of railway in Gisborne ; they can tread on the spot where the famous Captain Cook first landed in New Zealand, and generally they can have a good time. We should like to see the members taken fora “jolt" in the back country, and given some idea of the difficulties under which the settlers of this fertile district labor. However, this cannot well be, in the time at disposal, so the best that can be done is to give them an idea of the splendid district, and the need for further development by road and rail.

| THE DULLER BLUNDERS. J Yesterday's cable messages from Lon don give a further condemnation of Sir ltedvers Duller. Tile latter’s attempt to justify himself by tho publication of the Ladysmith heliogram only made matters far worse, for it emphasised more forcibly the position that he occupied. On the other hand it splendidly displays the heroism of Sir George White. Fuller information by

the mail shows that Buffer gave corrections in his message signalled which would cause it to read thus:—“l tried Colenso yesterday, but failed. The enemy is too strong for mv force, except with siege operations, and these will take one fail month to prepare. Can you last so long': How many days can you hold out? I sug gest you tiring away as much ammunition as you can, and making best terms you can. I can remain here if you have alternative suggestion, but, unaided, 1 cannot break in. I iind my infantry cannot light more than ten miles from camp, and then only if water can be got, and it is scarce here. Whatever happens, recollect to burn your cipher, decipher, and code books, and all deciphered messages.” In reply the gallant Sir George White stated:—“Yours of to-day received and understood ! My suggestion is that you take up the strongest available position that will enable you to keep touch of the enemy and harass him constantly with artillery fire, and in other ways as much as possible. I can make food last for much longer then a month, and will not think of making terms till I am forced to. You may have hit enemy harder than you think. All our native spies report that your artillery fire made considerable impression on enemy. Have your losses been very heavy ? "If you lose touch oi enemy it will immensely increase his opportunities of crushing me, and have worse effect elsewhere. While you are in touch with him and in communication with me he has both of our forces tc reckon with. Make every effort to get reinforcements as early as possible, including India, and enlist every man in both colonies who will servo and can ride. Things may look blighter. The loss of 12,000 men hero would be a heavy blow to England. We must not yet think of it. I fear I could not cut 'my way to you. Enteric fever is increasing alarmingly here. There are now ISO cases, all within last month. Answer fully. lam keeping everything secret for the present till I know your plans.” Well, so much has now been hoard that those who previously felt that a strong case could be mado out on behalf of Duller’ must surely join in the general condemnation. Y'estevday’s cablegrams give further proof that it is a page' that may well bo dropped from British history.