The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, SEPTEMBER 16, 1902. PATRIOTIC FUND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 519, 16 September 1902, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, SEPTEMBER 16, 1902. PATRIOTIC FUND.

A meeting of the local committee having control of the Patriotic Fund was held yesterday to consider an application for assistance from a member of the Seventh Contingent, who had been invalided home. The grounds of the application were that the returned trooper had been unable to follow his usual occupation, that of a farmer, on account of illness, and it was more than probable that he would have to leave for Rotorua at an early date. The members of the committee expressed the opinion thut too much care could not be exercised in entrenching upon the local funds, and after the matter had been fully considered it was decided to refer the applicant to the Government, which had already provided for the granting of such assistance as was asked for. The regulations issued by the New Zealand Defence Department provido that a member of any contingent within six months of his landing in New Zealand can go to any medical man to be examined, and pay for such. If the doctor certifies that fie is in such a state from the result of active service that a Medical Board is advisable, the officer commanding the district will send the man before the Medical Board. A Medical Board is empowered to grant leave up to six months, and a Government medical officer or Volunteer Medical Staff Officer

may grant leave up to two months, such leave to date from the assembling of the Board. A Board, Government Medical Officer, or Volunteer Medical Staff Officer, can recommend an invalid for re-exam-ination on expiration of his original leave. The Medical Board in addition to granting leave lor six months or more may also recommend returned troopers for treatment at Government Sanatoriums at either Hanmer or Rotorua. When it is consistent with the state of health of the man, Rotorua is recommended for men residing in the Notth Island, and Hanmer for the men residing in the South Island. When the Board, Government Medical officer, or Volunteer Medical Staff Officer considers the injury to the man to be of a permanent nature, or equivalent to the loss of a limb, under

the provisions of “ The Military Pensions Extensions to Contingents Act, 1900,” they should recommend him to be sent before a Pensions Board. Further, it is provided that in addition to sick leave, tho men should have free medical treatment. The local committeo in referring the applicant in the first place to the Government acted wisely, for it was never intended that’ the funds collected should be used for the purposes for which they were applied for yesterday, and more especially since tho Government have already made adequato provision for dealing with such cases. The funds which the local committeo havo in hand wore

raised for the benefit of disabled troopers and relatives of those wounded or killed in active servico. The local committee displayed great wisdom in keeping the money, for had they followed tho example of the four centres they would havo sent tho funds collected to tho Lord Mayor of London, to bo added to his fund, and that probably would have been the last they would have heard about them, as the amount would havo gone into tho general fund. Altogether about £20,000 was sent from tho colony to augment the Home fund, and in some cases applications have been made to have a portion refunded. Christchurch alone sont £6OOO, and in May last the Otago committee sought the good offices of the Agent-General to see if it could get somo of the monoy refunded for tho relief of necessitous cases. In making tho application to the Lord Mayor, tho Christchurch Press points out, Mr Reeves explained that when the £6OOO was sent Home it was understood that New Zealanders were to share in the benefits of the fund, but so far as the committee could'ascertain, very little of the said fund had been directed to tho benefit of their fellow colonists. The Lord Mayor referred tho letter to the Trustees of Lloyd’s

Patriotic Fund (for permanently disabled men) who, it appears, received £ISOO of tho £6OOO sent Home. The Trustees at once sent the Agent-General a cheque for £IOOO, which he has forwarded to the Otago Committoe, and they mentioned that, as far back as the 26th May, 1900, they- sent a draft for £6OO to the AgentGeneral as a preliminary grant in aid of disablod New Zealand officers and men ; that they then asked for a return of such cases to be 3ent to them, and intimated their desire to give further aid of the same kind. Presumably tho Agent-Genoral sent tho £6OO to tho Government of Now Zealand in due course. What became of the money nobody seems to know unless it went to swell the surplus of that year. Some time in January, 1900, the Daily Mail, London, sont out £SOO to the New Zealand Government for tho benefit of do-

pendents of New Zoalandors serving in tbo war. In tko following May the editor of Tho Press received a letter from the manager of tho fund, in which he said : 11 Might I ask if anything is known in New Zoaland of the £SOO sent to your Government from the Kipling Poem Fund for tho dependents of colonials serving in tho war ?” Apparently, therefore, tho Government had not thought it worth while to send Home oven a formal acknowledgment of tho donation. We ascertained from the Defence Department that the cheque had boen received, and we advised the Daily Mail of that fact. Wo have never seen any statement made, however, as to how tho DSOO was applied. It is quite certain that neither the committee of the Kipling Poem Fund nor Lloyd's Trustees intended their donations to go into tho Consolidated Fund to swell Mr Soddon’s surplus. In view of tho above circumstances, Gisboroo can congratulate itself on having kept in hand the greater portion of the money raised, and wo trust that the Commini-,- iyul. as Mr D Lauiour suggested, i ~,1 .e .i-ii. siic-t ti ii.’ as

in, i. . p. ,s s ~i. • i ill .1 dll’ ol nave returned and tho committee are in a position to see what claims they will have to meet. We would point out that full advantage should be taken by invalided troopers of the assistance offered by the Government, and then, if additional help is required, the local Committee will gladly give it.

The Borough Council meet this evening Tho Hospital Trustees meet to-morrow evening. Ballasting work on the railway will be resumed to-day. Mr Apriana Ngata is busy in the South conducting Maori Council elections. A stallion parado will be held in the Flagstaff Paddock on Saturday next. Fresh tenders for the construction of a railway bridge over theWaipaoa river are invited. Tenders close on October Bth. Colonial mails which left Melbourne on August 18th arrived in London on tho afternoon of the 14th inst. Messrs Williams and Kettle hold their monthly sales at Mataivhero on Thursday, when they will offer some fine lines of sheep and cattle. Tho annual meeting of the United Cricket Club will be hold at the Masonic Hotel on Thursday evening next at 8 o’clock.

Captain Edwin wired at 12.25 p.m. yesterday:—“Gale from between north-west and west and south-west, heavy rain, glass rise.” Tho schooner Waiapu (Captain Martin) left yesterday morning for Waipiro Lay, Bay of Penty, and Auckland. Mr Hookey was a passenger to Waipiro Bay.

Tho annual meeting of the Amalgamated Society of and Joiners of this district will bo held in the room over Dalrymple’s at 7.80 on Thursday evening next. Mr Justice Cooper, at Dunedin, advised a young man, who worked seventy hours a week for 87s 6d, not to get married. The man was a groom in the employ of the City Council! Mr W. Sievwright invites tenders for the purchase of several choice town and suburban properties. Easy terms are offered, and the properties should be quickly disposed oh |

There are at present 20 gas engines at work in Palmerston North. The Taratahi dairy factory, Carterton, shipped 140 tons of cheese this season. At Parkes, New South Wales, meat is now 9d per pound ; butter, 2s per lb ; and chaff, £lO a ton. Poultry-raising has become very popular in Hastings since the formation of an association there.

The hot fly is again in evidence. A butcher's trap horse in Masterton succumbed, and was found to be full of the grubs. At Wallrobba, New South Wales, whil e Joseph Mate was felling a tree, a larg e branch dropped off and fell on him, fracturing his skull, and causing other injuries.

.Some people have had to give tip the grazing of sheep in Folding district, owing to the number of sheep worried by (lugs. Women petitioned the Victorian Government not to Hog the youth Purdue whose death sentence for criminal assault was recently commuted to fifteen years with two Hoggings. The man Frank Manley was proceeded against at White Cliffs, New South Wales, for advocating plunder during famine times. lie was bound over to keep the peace. A rare opportunity to local residents to acquire fine building sections is offered by Mr E. L. DcLautour. The sections are situated at the corner of Cook street and Aberdeen road, and are offered on most reasonable terms.

The Salvation Army revival meetings are attracting a great deal of attention, and Major and Mrs Spargo have created a most favorable impression. The open-air meetings have been well attended, and the Barracks crowded every evening, A Wairarapa man has given an order for a motor-car to seat twenty people. It is bis intention to run it between Featherston and Martinborough. The oar, landed in the colony, will cost close on £BOO.

On Thursday next the East Coast Mounted Rifles hold their quarterly parade at Ormond, and will give a military concert in tho Ormond Hail in the evening in aid of the Hospital funds. There should be a largo attendance. At tho Mutual Improvement Society last night, the was a good attendance. The question, “ Should tho Bible be read in Schools,” .vas debated by Messrs Peckover and Vowlos. Several ladies and gentlemen joined in tho debate, which was a good one, and the audienco decided the question in the affirmative by a slight majority. The Maoris are evidently very suspicious of land valuers who visit their pahs. “ Did you get any information from the natives when you went amongst them ? ” asked counsel of a detective who

gave evidence in a ease at the Suprome Court yesterday. “No,” responded tho detective, “ they thought 1 was a land valuer and would not have anything to do with me.” —Exchange. The Grey Star states that a party of Chinamen at Payne’s Gully came across a block of greenstone which weighed over 3cwt. They sold u to a iocal syndicate for Ll 5, who, in consideration of a sum of L-10, passed it on to a third party, who has decided to ship it Home to the Lon don market. The block is one of the finest yet found on the Coast, and it is thought that it will realise a handsome price at Home.

Yesterday morning northerly and N.W. winds were generally prevailing, and overeast weather was general. Continued rain fell at Taupo, Wellington, Blenheim, Cape Campbell, Nelson, Farewell Spit, Westport, Greymouth, and the Bluff. Heavy seas wore running at Cape Egmont, Farewell Spit, southward to Hokitika, Ivaikoura; and lumpy at Port Chalmors. East Capo reported light northerly winds, gloomy, moderato tides, and moderate sea.

A movement is on foot at the Spit to obtain a set of chimes for the new brick post-office which is shortly to be erected there. At present tho residents living at the Port havo to practically rely on Niven’s foundry whistle for their “ official ” time, and a step in the direction indicated would certainly be one forward. No doubt the Spit people will outer into the project with their characteristic energy and earnestness, and if tho scheme is materialised it will prove a boon to many.—Telegraph. The irrepressible Mr E. M. Smith was one of the Parliamentary party that went to Gisborne tho other week. He went thero to see the spot on which Captain Cook landed. But, that is not what wo rose to say. E. M. told tho people that he wished they would hurry up aud got their monument, for ho intended to send them an ornamental pedestal for the statue from his ironworks in New Plymouth. Which ironworks ? Wellington Free Lanee.

At a meeting of the To Karaka School Committee, held on Friday evening, a roport was read from the headmaster showing that the attendance for the last quarter was most satisfactory, considering the state of the roads and the rivers. Some of tho children had to come a considerable distance, and some living on tho opposite side of tho river had to be lorried over in boats. The attendance at the school had substantially increased during tho last few months, which happy state of affairs is due to tho energy and enterprise displayed by tho headmaster, Mr P. Sefton.

At tho Supreme Court, in Banco, yesterday, before His Honor Mr Justice Conolly, tho case of Sarah Ersliine v. John Sheridan was heard. It was an appeal from tho Magistrate’s decision on a claim for £56 by Mrs Erskino against the supervisors in J. Erskine’s estato for boarding men employed by the supervisor, and also for commission on accounts collected for tho estate. Mr W. D. Lysnar appeared for appellant and Mr C. A, DeLautour for the respondent. After hearing argument by counsel, His Honor dismissed the appeal, and allowed tho re-

spondent soven guineas costs. A great fall of snow was seen at Mamuku, on the Rotorua railway, on Thursday. At 7 a.m., tho whole district of Mamuku was enveloped in a great, white sheet, and the snowflakes continued to fall until II o’clock. It was a picturesque sight to see the trees in the bush and the surrounding country covered with snow. The weather, as one could imagine, was bitterly cold, and more so as the thaw set in. A great deal of excitement and amusement was caused as the 9.15 train steamed in to the railway-station. Snow-balling was indulged in, much to the amusement of the onlookers in the train. Those inside and outside received their full share of snowballs. The mountain peaks round Rotorua (including Mgongotaha) were clad in a garb of snow.

Licensed victuallers and the public generally will be interested to learn that Messrs Sheridan and Co., with their customary energy, have secured the solo agency in this district for Whyte and Mackay’s excellent Scotch whisky—a wellmatured spirit of capital flavor and strongly recommended to dyspeptics—for which they ai'e now prepared to quote in lots of any quantity. Other specialties of the firm are Haig and Haig's “ Special Blend ” whisky, and Bell’s “ Three Bells ” whisky, now on the market for the first time. This enterprising firm have also secured the sole agency for Mumm’s champagne (G. H. Munn and Co., Reims), the most delicious vintage in the world, which holds all records for sales last year. Quotations for all wines and spirits on application, cither in person, by wire or post.

“ Something for nothing.” S imeone is sending circulars almost broadcast to residents of New Zealand whose names happen to be in the director)-, and to each the same attractive offer is made. The "‘Societie” has selected the particular distinguished person who receives the invitation as one of a very limited number of influential citizens to receive the benefit of a free portrait, so that in such a way the work may be advertised, and the beautiful picture recommended to friends and acquaintances. Sharland's Journal points out that it is not in human nature to offer such advantages, and expresses surprise that though the scheme has been so often exposed, it is still flourishing so vigorously.- Many of the circulars have been received in Gisborne, but anyone who takes the trouble to reply would be foolish.

At the Acclimatisation .Society's annual meeting at Hawera tlje balance sheet showed a credit of over X'SOO. It was decided to e-stablish ponds and a hatchery. One of Biand Holt's latest sensations is a real, live bike race, in which the contestants go at such a pace that one wonders how they escape going through the theatre walls on to the street.

At Kaiapoi last week Mr B. Maher, while digging cn a section off the North road, near the railway line, dug up a skeleton. It was thought that the remains were those of a long-buried native. A man named Xorthoyer met with a serious accident last week while bushfelling near Utiku, Forty-mile Bush. A tree fell on him, breaking bis jawbone in two places, and fracturing two ribs. It is not generally known that the practice amongst Maoris of rubbing noses when friends meet has Scriptural warrant. “ Iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance of a man his friend.” —Winton Record.

Some New Zealand humorist has been playing a joke upon the British Post Office. He addressed a letter to “ King Dick, care of King Teldy, London.’’ The G.P.0., however, was equal to the oeca-, sion. On the envelope was marked, “ Try Mr Seddon,” and for the New Zealand Premier the letter turned out to be. Mrs Torrey, the wife of the evangelical “ Tarrey, of Chicawgo,” remarked to some Sydney women the other day that she felt real shabby among the elegantlydressed Australian women. She also told them them that a woman’s place is her home and all the talents she possesses she devotes to her four children. The said children are at school in Massachusetts, so Mre Torrey probably keeps in touch by cablo.

It is hardly to be expected that the South African trade will prove a very lucrative business for the colony at first, as like most enterprises ot the kind it will have to fight its way to the front, but we firmly believe that by exporting only a first-class article, and in such a way that consumers can rely upon it, a great trade will in time be built up, but as it will take time, the sooner a commencement is made the better.— Manawatu Times. There is a project now on foot in Timavu with the object of creating a “ greator Timaru,” and it is probublo that a public meeting will be held shortly to discuss the matter. Au improved system ofjjdrainago is to be established in the borough shortly, and the municipal authorities recognise that before this can bo effectively completed a large portion of the suburban area will have to bo incorporated with the borough.

If Maoriland finance was just about as honest as that of Victoria or South Australia, (which, considering tho shocking dishonesty of public finances on this side, wouldn’t be much to boast) Seddon’s State would show a very largo deficit instead of its present alleged surplus of about j£210,000. A surplus which is made, by charging practically all tho unproductive works expenditure to loans is a lio and a fraud of the worst description.—Sydney Bulletin.

A contemporary states : —Tho horso is likely to become a rarity before the onslaught of the motor-car. Already several wealthy station owners in Australia are “ mustering ” their sheep with them in preference to horses. Also, many a boundary-rider, who used to ride wornout horses round his fences, now careers gaily round the station on the air-shod motor. If anything goos wrong, he whips his portablo telephone out, attaches it to the top wire of the fence, and rings up the station ! And yet Australia still has bushrangers 1

Tho spirit of tho times demands that majorities, and not minorities, shall rule, and therefore it is important that tho second Ballot Bill should be passed without delay. At present in a good many electorates the only hope tho Conservative candidate has of winning his election lies in the plothora of Liberal candidates ; but with the second ballot in force the disastrous effects of vote-splitting would bo avoided. Naturally the Conservatives, be■ing in a minority, are opposed to both preferential voting and the second ballot ; and although the Government’s Bill may not bo entirely satisfactory to tho supporters of preferential voting, it is far better than tho present system, which often encourages candidates who have no chance ol' election to come forward.— Timaru Post.

While climbing near Innsbruck on Sunday, July 13tb, a student fell from a ledge into tho rushing mountain torrent 150 ft below. Ho was carried away like a straw and his corpse was found floating far down tho river. On the Mitersberg, near Salzburg, six men bound to a rope were ascending tho mountain when one of them named Geyer, detached himsolf and fell 600 ft. He was mutilated beyond recognition. Tho next day (Monday) Herr Hugo Schramm, a brother of the Monastery at Melk, fell from Olpener, a peak of tho Zillerthal Alps. A fellow priest, who waSj with him, had time to give absolution before ho breathed his last. A German Alpine climber has had a marvellous escape. Herr Rudolph Schmoller, of Berlin, and his son set out for Pitzdell Ova Gotschana, 9000 ft high, without guides, on Monday, tho 16th. When halfway up Her Schmoller slipped and fell over 200 ft, sustaining sevore injuries to his head. His son returned to St. Moritz for assistance, and with the aid of ten men brought the injured man down. Tho undeveloped state of the wireless telegraphy system of communication gives some cause for satisfaction. If the system were in more general use there might be a diurnal chronicle of Mr Seddon’s doings and sayings on voyage. It has not been announced that the Tongariro has a Marconi instrument aboard, so it may be taken that we must be content for a little while with the Premier's farewell speech at Plymouth. Truth to tell, it was a comprehensive deliverance, well fitted to cover a week or two. It tooched on such a variety of subjects that au uninforwod reader might be excused for thinking tout Mr Seddon was Premier, not me.iiy of these ieiin.ee islands, but ut aii til B.i-

c.sll uoannioos over sea?, la say notUiiig of the Motherland itself. Its alternation of advice, scolding, and rebuke would annoy, if it did not rather amuse. His assumption that New Zealand is " as right as right can be ” in every social and economic particular was repeliant, for more than one problem confronts the colony, as Mr Seddon must know as well as anyone else does. For him to give advice to other colonies in the way he did was, in the circumstances, unwarrantable, and came near to being ridiculous, as he is likely to be told by those whose concerns he meddled with.—Hawke’s Bay Herald.