The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 24, 1903.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 824, 24 February 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 24, 1903.

A further batch of Justices of the Peace will shortly be made public. Sinclair’s Tolago Bay Coach leaves town this morning at eight o’clock. The annual meeting of the Harbor Board will be held to-day. County rates which were due on August sth last not paid before March Ist will be sued for.

The Opotiki Guardian states that a great rush for Motu sections is expected to take place in March. A special coach leaves the Masonic corner at S this morning for the sale at Mr Kellerby’s homestead at Waimata. The cricket match at Ormond on Saturday, between Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay should attract a large attendance of spectators. in the North Island yesterday the weather was overcast, with occasional showers, and in the South Island it was close and muggy, similar to Gisborne’s experience, with rain in some places.

A Press Association message from Wairoa yesterday stated that a native named Enoha Te Ko had been committed for trial at Napier on a charge of indecently assaulting Miriama Tapene Haeta, aged ;i years, on the iyth February, at Scartiperdown Creek, Frasertown.

An important clearing sale of live stock takes place to-day, under instructions from Mr A. L. Bellerby, at the homestead, Waimata. Ihe sale commences with the cattle at half-past eleven. A splendid lot of stock is to be offered, and there should be a large attendance of buyers. The -'bus service instituted yesterday was so well patronised as to give promise of being a great success, it is to be hoped that the support will continue, and it is now for the residents to give practical proof of their desire to bavs such a convenient service permanently established.

A great attraction for Thursday afternoon will be the Turanga Church fete. This is always one of the most popular outdoor gatherings held in the district, and should be a greater success than ever this year, swing to the facilities given by the railway. A special time-table has been arranged to suit the occasion, and holiday-makers can get on and off the trains at the Avenue.

Further improvements are being made in business premises in Gladstone road. Mr J. Craig is having the front of his brick building altered, and Mr W. S. Collins, manufacturing jeweller, will occupy the portion now used as a dtnmg room. A handsome show window is to be fitted in, giving the front of the shop a very attractive appearance. Mr Collins expects to enter into possession next month. Mr Craig will use the upstairs portion of the building for the purposes of a dining room.

Mr R. Robertson removes to his new premises to-morrow, re-opening for busi ne=s on Saturday.

At noon yesterday Captain Edwin telegraphed : ,l Expect glass fall : moderate easterly winds ; moderate tides.’’ The steamer Kent left Wellington at 0.40 last evening for South Africa, via Sydney. At the same time the Chaudius left Wellington for Hamburg. Messrs Clayton Bros., having their employees insured in the Government otiice, have received £.\oo on account of the

fatal accident to Mr D. Curtin, and the money will be handed over to the widow.

A question as to carpenters’ wages, which was brought up months ago, is at last likely to be dealt with. The first sitting of the Board at Gisborne has been fixed for March The President of the Cricket Associa-

tion, Mr J. \V. Nolan, presents a bat for the highest score in the match on Saturday, and Mr W. Acland Hood will give a bat for the highest bowling average. A change has taken place in the proprietorship of the Coronation Hotel, Mr G. Oman having sold to Mr Thomas Spear, of Dunedin. The new proprietor will enter into possession on Monday next. The sale was negotiated by Messrs •J. Sheridan and Co. Next month, Mr W. S. Collins, manufacturing jeweller and watchmaker, of Gladstone road, will be removing to more commodious premises in Craig’s block, and prior to doing so he will make a liberal discount for cash on all goods purchased The opportunity should bo availed of by the public. Mr H. McGill, lately in the employ of Messrs W. Miller and S. Earle, has started business in premises adjoining the New Zealand Clothing Factory, in Gladstone road. Mr McGill is a first-class

tradesman and should receive a large share of public patronage. The County Council aro proceeding against a local livery stable proprietor for furious driving on the Haiti, and against Messrs J. Allen and McFarlane, of Matawhero, for failing to comply with an order of tho Council in regard to the removal of hedgo clippings. Both the cases come before tho Court to-morrow.

In regard to tho subject of noxious weeds, tho following resolution was yesterday moved by Cr Clayton, at the County Council meeting :—“ That ragwort or ragweed (senecio Jacobaens) mentioned in tho second schedule of the Noxious Weeds Act, 1900, bo declared by this Council a noxious weed as provided by section 4of this Act.” Cr Clayton said that tho weed was travelling very fast towards Gisborne from Wairoa, and unless precautions were taken it would prove a greater danger. The motion was carried. A largely-attended meeting was held at the Cosmopolitan Club rooms last even-

ing *o consider the best means of raising funds to assist Mrs Kennedy and family of nine children, who have been left in destitute circumstancos on account of tho death of the breadwinner. Mr T. Adair presided, and suggested that a concert should bo held. This proposal was favorably entertained, and a strong committee was appointed to givo effect to it. It was nlso decided to open subscription lists. The object is a thoroughly deserving one, and we arc sure that tho public of Gisborne will readily respond to the call for assistance.

Tho settlor in the back blocks is apparently the last person considered by the Post and Telegraph Department. As a rule ho has to pay for tho construction of his own line and then he has to pay double for using tho same. Cr Harding brought tho matter before the County Council yesterday, and pointed out that whilst subscribers within a radius of twenty-four miles from Gisborne had to pay 6d and 3d those residing beyond that limit had to pay in proportion Is and 6d. After members had freely expressed themselves on tho question, the following resolution was adopted : “ That tho Department be asked to concede to subscribers outside the radius of twenty-six miles tho same concession that has been given to thoso within the radius.”

In concluding his report to the Cook County Council yesterday, tho Engineer, Mr De G. Fraser, remarked, 11 I would respectfully point out to the Council that while every effort is made to keep ahead of tho requirements, I find that the wants of the district are so largely increasing, and that the extra work ontailed by Government grants and loans, scattered over the whole district, require so much of my time, irrespective of tho ordinary work of tho Council that it is impossible to givo satisfaction always, and any seeming neglect in one locality is due only to pressure of works ill other parts of tho district.” Mr Fraser is to be complimented upon the interest that he has Bhown in all matters pertaining to tho welfare of tho Council, and especially for his efforts to make the limited funds of the Council go as far as possible.

In applying to the County Council for a grant for repairing a road, tho Waimata Board asked that the work should be done by contract, as they thought that better value was obtained in that way. They 'offered a subsidy of HIOO towards the work. Cr Murphy wanted to know where the Council was to find their HIOO. He pointed out that if tho Council were putting their funds up to auction they should give everybody a show, aDd then the meu with tho most money would obtain tho subsidies. Cr Clayton thought that if tho Council could get subsidies for any work done tho.y would soon get th« roads in repair. Tho Chairman : Wo would have doublo the funds to work with. Cr Murphy: It means selling the County funds. Cr Gray said the road had to bo maintained, and tho work had to be dono in some form or other. _ It was decided to undertake the work on the terms and in the manner suggested.