PRESIDENT LOUBET’S VISIT.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 941, 14 July 1903, Page 2

PRESIDENT LOUBET’S VISIT.

A writer in the Auckland Herald, commenting on the visit of the President of France to England, states: The cordiality of the welcome given by King Edward and our countrymen at Home to the French President is only surpassed by the appreciation of the French people. It is said that bis welcome surpassed their expectations. Why ’should it ? We have fought France often enough; to have a very great respect for her, and once found her (against the Russian) a stout ally in a very dubious campaign. We only object to France when we conceive of her as our bitter and determined enemy, sworn friend to the Tartar, straining her resources in preparations for our overthrow and clinging to our colonial waters so that she may have naval bases from which to harry our shores. But if a party is rising in France—and it really seems to have risen—which will bend the national strength for the national I

redemption and not for our British degradation, then France and Brit- | k ain may easily be the very best of oi friends. If France has found a permanent form of government, as she seems to have found it ; if she p is not going to trail the pike in the 1 Cl service of the Tsar, but to assert n her ancient dignity as a free and independent Western nation ; if she will stand with us for the peace of “ the world and the maintenance of t: Western institutions ; she will be, as - v King Edward says she ought to be, r “ England’s best neighbor.” There C is no difference between us so seri- t ous that we cannot arrange it if v mutual goodwill prevails, and no r misunderstanding so vital that we cannot forget it in the confident assurance that regenerated France is prepared to deal fairly with us in I the future. This is the spirit in which the Anglo-French understanding will be greeted throughout the British world, not forgetting that we everywhere realise how com- 1 ple'tely, upon our part, it is due to the strenuous efforts of the King aad to our confidence in his perception. I A reminder is given that entries for the Poultry, Show close on Saturday next. The La Mascotte Quadrille Assembly hold their fifth dance of the season in the I Academy of Music this evening. The Post Office collected and distributed 1 last year on various Government accounts nearly 25£ millions. The net amount collected by the Customs at Gisborne during the year ending 31st March, 1903, wa3 £19,246, and cost £2 7s 5d per cent, to collect. The hounds of the Poverty Bay Hunt Club meet next Friday at Mr Patullo’s, Rangatira, at 11 a.m., for a drag hunt. . Captain Ed«vin reported at noon yester* day :—“ Strong gale from southward ; glass rise; tides high ; sea heavy outside ; weather very cold.” The Takapuna, with the ’Frisco mail, arrived at New Plymouth from Onehunga at 9.40 last night, and left again for Wellington at 11 o’clock. East Cape reported yesterday :—“ Fresh westerly breeze ; barometer, 28.86; thermometer, 60; sea rough; heavy N.W. gale Sunday.” “Shamrock 111. behaved, splendidly under all conditions, of weather across,” is an item from our ’Frisco mail budget received from Auckland last night.

Last year £81,376 15s 3d was deposited in the Gisborne .Savings Banks, and £73,717 3s Id withdrawn. There is now over £89,000 to the credit of 3357 depositors, an avorage of £26 10s 5d per account. Absolutely given away, is the heading of an advertisement of 0. Rosie and Co.’s in this issue. This firm are giving to their cash customers a number of valuable articles, which are at present displayed in their window.

Rough seas were reported from all coastal reporting stations yesterday, and the weather generally was boisterous, with rain at most stations. Owing to interruptions to linos no rei.orts were reeeived from Christchurch and south. , Colonel Porter notifies that lie will not be responsible for any debts or liabilities incurred in his name, except . upon his personal or- written authority. One speaker at the meeting of the Tiniroto branch of the Farmers’Union expressed the opinion that the Stud Bill would create another army of inspectors and officials. Speaking at the meeting qf Waimata settlers yesterday, Mr 0. A. DeLautour said that the starting of a dairy factory would put a pound per acre on the land in that district. In sayiDg this he considered he was putting it very mildly. The following foreign letters are unclaimed at the Gisborne Post Office : Mr A. E. Adams, Kaitaratahi ; Mr A. Florence, GisDorne ; Mr K. E. Janson, Gisborne ; Mr E. Mayes, Gisborne ; Mr T. Marsh, Gisborne ; Mr S. Morris,. Rakauroa ; Mr F. Reid, Matawhero ; Mr H. Sproule, Gisborne ; Mr G. 0. Saunders, Gisborne ; Mr E. J. Stephens, Gisborne. A special meeting of the Farmers’ Union Club is to be held on Saturday next, to. decide whether the Club shall remove to Mr C. Dun : lop’s buildings, or remain in the present premises. Both sides of the question will then be placed before the members, so that they can have an opportuniey to .arrive at a decision that will be most satisfactory. At the meeting of the Management Committee of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union last evening, the protest lodged by the West End Club in connection with their match, against the Huia Club on Saturday week last was 'further adjourned to admit of fuller evidence being laid before the Union on the matter. Mr W. Gibson was appointed referee for next Saturday’s senior match, Kaiti-City v. West End, lb was decided to play a junior trial match on Saturday next, in view of the junior representative fixture to be played here with Hawke’s Bay on August Ist. Mr W. McGredie was appointed referee for the junior trial game. Messrs Dalgety .and Co. inform us: It has been determined by Messrs Huddart, Parker and Co. Proprietary Limited, who lately, conjointly with the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand Limited, contracted with the Federal Government to carry the mails between Tasmania and Victoria, to, build two new passenger and cargo steamers, in order to enahftj them, with increased efficiency, to fulfil the requirements of their Tasmanian and New Zealand Trades. The boats will be built

somewhat upon the lines of the other new steamers of their fleet—the Westralia, Zealandia, and Victoria—but with such modifications and improvements as experience dictates. Of the last vessel, the Victoria, a full account is given in the Shipping World of 18th February, which describes the steamer as a magnificent ship, forming one of the many links in the chain of our world wide Empire, , One of the directors of the Company, Mr John L. Webb, proceeds to England at the end of the month to place the orders, and will be followed by the superintendent engineer, Mr William Gumming(to whom will be entrusted the designing and building of the vessels.) It is : expected that the first of the steamers will be here for the summer season of 1904-1905.

! The adjourned meeting of the Waiapu Temperance Reform League was held last evening in the Farmers’ Union Club Rooms. There was a fair attendance, including some ladies. The Rev. H. Williams presided. 'A letter from Blr Somerville (Tolago Bay), already published in the Times, was read. As regards his suggestions re the talcing over of the hotels, the League decided to amend their policy as follows —“ That the suggested amendments he the granting to the people of the option of assuming direct control of the liquor question, and the passing of certain remedial measures.” An exhaustive report was read dealing with direct local public control and remedial measures. _Mrs Scott proposed, and Blr Lys’nar seconded (pro forma) that the clause dealing with 1 the abolition of barmaids be struck out. An animated discussion thereon took place, and on its being put to the meeting, the motion was lost. It was resolved that the Chairman, and Blessrs Grant, Lysnar, and Wallis, be a committee to draw up a petition to Parliament in regard to the above recommendations. • A subscription fee of 2s 6d a member per annum was decided upon, the year td commence from July .Ist. The following clause was struck out of the rules : “ To work , and vote against prohibition or no- l license as at present provided for • by law.” The motion was proposed 1 by Blr Wallis and seconded by Blr 1 Birrell. The question of a secre- > tary was discussed, and Blr God- i irey was suggested, but it was de- 1 cided to leave the matter in the < hands of the Chairman and Mr Lys- i Bar* If ...... .. . b

A Press Association message states that Mr W. Berry has been elected President of the Journalists' Institute. A Press Association message from Reefton last night records the death of the Rev. Dean liolland, who arrived in the colony 37 years ago, and took a prominent part in the Maori war. At the meeting of the Temperance Roform League last evening, when the question of hotels carrying on a bottle trade was discussed, reference was made to the number of prohibited persons before the Court recently, and the remedy suggested by Mrs Scott, in order to know them, would be 11 to put a ring in each of their noses.”