The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 13, 1903., THE BUDGET.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 967, 13 August 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 13, 1903., THE BUDGET.

If the Premier’s Budget Speech had been cut down by' two-thirds wo could have congratulated him on its lucidity, and generally, on the facts set forth. o,ur colony is one to be proud of; it can stand a great deal of bad management, and responds m a splendid way to good management.,, The Colonial Treasurer gives much good advice in his Speech, Rut it is for him to act upon that counsel, and not 1 merely to preach it to others, especially .when such preaching is done at such dreary,? length that probably few will read the Statement However, regarding it as if it were shorn of its ponderous pomposity and set forth with simplicity, and terseness, we can extend our warmest congratulations ! to the Colonial Treasurer and to the 1 colony. There are points for grave reflection, such as the steadily-increasing incubus of the public debt, and the need for further borrowing ;■ but taken altogether the outlook is bright and the Statement .while being very cautious, reflects cheerfulness in every note. Let the credit be whose it may, statesman, politician, or producer, the fact remains that the position is one with .which we can all be pleased,; .While our kin across the waters are losing) hundreds of the best, of their population, New Zealand is building up a sturdy yeomanry of the permanent order, and while the Australian Parliaments with painful regularity, report deficits, our old friend the surplus is as much in evidence as ever. It is not the best system of finance to have surpluses when so much requires to bo done in the way of public works, but it is popular finance, and certainly, a surplus is always preferable to a deficit. When .Victoria had a tiny surplus recently, the English papers set up a . paen of praise, but New, Zealand surpluses are so regular as to call for no special comment. Even the criticism has become monotonous,' and the only persons who are likely to take a keen ineerest in the financial debate are the members who will talk at length for the joy of having their speeches recorded in Hansard, at the country’s expense.

The Chamber of Commerce meets ■this evening at 8 o’clock.

The Maxitana Assembly hold their fortnightly dance this evening. Captain Edwin wired yesterday: — “ Strong winds from between north and west and south-west; glass fall; tides poor.”

Mr E.- Devery notifies that he intends to apply for a license to slaughter cattle at his slaughter-

house at Pubatikotiko

Mr Alexander Keefer, land agent, advertises a number of choice properties for sale in town and suburbs. Two fine sections at Kaiti are offered, and also a valuable half-acre lot, with house of fourteen rooms, in town.

The programme for the Military Ball on Friday night will he a facsimile of the one used at the Exhibition Buildings, Adelaide, at the Mayoral Ball to meet the Governor General and Lady Tennyson, on June 16ch, 1903, when over 3000 people were present. .The music to be played by Mrs Fernandez’s band will be selected from all the latest operas, including :—“ La Poupee,” “ Chinese Honeymoon,” ‘‘ Casino Girl,” “ San Toy,” “ Florodora,” “ Messenger Boy,” “ The Runaway Girl,” “ Mikado,” “ Geisha,” and “ loi ant-lie.”

The hockey season is fast drawing to a close. The members of the Kia-Toa and Rangatira young ladies’ dubs have arranged a challenge game for this afterqood, and the losing team have to treat tbeir opponents to afternoon tea. The following are the names of the players : Rangatira: Goalkeeper, Miss Beere ; fullbacks,'Misses Simson and Cussen ; halves, Misses Samson, A. DeLautour, and I. Somervell; forwards, Misses Sampson, McCredie, Reynolds, DeLautour, and Thelwall. Kia Toa : Goalkeeper, Miss Parsons; fallbacks, Misses Townley and Coleman ; halves, Misses Jones,- Wallace, and Harding; forwards, Misses Davis (2), Bloomfield, D. Jones, and Wellsted,

The I-lincmoa leaves Auckland for.

the Kermadec Islands to-day. The Te Karaka concert and dance is postponed until Thursday, 27th August.

Mr J. D. Robcke advertises that he is a buyer of a double-furrow plough and sets of harrows. East Cape reported yesterday :—“ N.E. fair breeze ; barometer 30.60 ; thermometer 57 ; cloudy ; good tide ; moderate sea.” Wairoa reported yesterday :—“ N.E. light breeze ; blue sky ; good bar : beach workable.”

A man who was lost on the hills during the recent snowstorm in South Canterbury died at Ashburton from the effects of exposure. The Taranaki Union have requested that Mr Haliamore be asked to act as referee for the Hawke’s Bay-Taranaki match, to be played on Saturday. “Nymphs of the Corkscrew” is the heading which the Auckland Star rudely gives to the discussion in regard to the abolition of barmaids. !A! man charged at the Auckland Court the other day with drunkenness made a boast that lie had had 99 long bieers, and seemed quite proud of his achievement. The Government are asking the various Hospital Boards to make

offers for about 5501 b of antityphoid tablets, which were not required by the contingents.

A business notice appears this morning from Mr H. G. Watson, of the Victorian Shooing Forgo, Peel street, who has a high reputation as a horse shoer. Owners of racehorses especially commend his work. A complimentary concert will be tendered Mr Edmund H. Buckingham, by his pupils and musical friends of Auckland in St. Benedict’s Hall on the eve of his marriage. There are a number of unemployed at New Plymouth, and the Borougn Council has decided to find work for them in stone breaking and clearing furze, blackberry, etc.

The costs of the recent Court of Inquiry into the Niwaru’s mishap at Napier, which Captain Fishwick was ordered to pay, totalled £39 2s.

Mr Arthur Cleave arrived in Napier by motor car from Auckland on Sunday, accompanied by his son, and continued his journey to Wellington on Tuesday, loaving Napier shortly before 11 a.m, Much sympathy will bo felt with the brothers Majeroni, now acting at the Auckland Opera House, in the bereavement which they have sustained in the death of their mother.

The motor bus purchased by the Hawke’s Bay Motor Car Company, •to be run in connection with their service between Napier and Taradalej will be put into active commission in a few, days. The Waihi Borough Council has lodged an application at the Warden’s Court for a water-race on the Waitawheta stream for the purpose of generating the necessary power for lighting. the borough by electricity. The theatre-going public will no doubt be pleased to learn that the Stine-Evans American Musical Comedy Company have made definite arrangements to play a season of three nights at the Theatre Royal, commencing on Thursday, the 27th insti Signs of a coming boom in the Tauranga district are .becoming daily more evident'. Public meetings re a railway, freezing works, water supply, etc., are being held in Tauranga and Te Puke, says the Auckland Star Correspondent. In Otago, a firm demand still exists for first-olass upstanding draught horses, suitable for farmers and contractors. A week ago sales took place in various centres up to £56 for geldings, and as high as £lO for youDg mares. The Napier Fire Brigade and Fire Police have communicated with the Minister of Justice relative to the recent prosecution.of two members of the latter body on charges of theft and statements made by Inspector Macdonell during the proceedings. When the s.s. Cygnet arrived at Le Bon's Bay on Tuesday morning last, the sea was so rough that a boat leaving the steamer with passengers was upset. All were picked up immediately, none being much the worse for the ducking except Mrs Marsh, of Le Bon’s, who was rescued in a rather exhausted condition. The wife of a carman was granted a separation at West London Police Court the other day on the ground of her husband’s persistent cruelty. Among the allegations against the defendant were that he had put mice in his wife’s bed, and that he had roasted mice and placed them round the room as ornaments. The question of farmers keeping books cropped up at a creditors’ meeting in Christchurch lately. The official assignee expressed the opinion that not 20 out of every 100 farmers kept books. A legal gentleman present dissented from this view, and said that there were plenty of farmers who kept books, and knew to a pound or two what their position was. Owing to the bursting of the right barrel of his gun whilst out shooting, a lad named Laurence Campbell had two fingers of his right hand blown off on Sunday morning at Paeroa. The lad was taken to Thames hospital, where it was found his hand was also badly shattered. The following reply, was received through the Secretary of State, to a cablegram' conveying congratulations : “ Their Majesties cordially/ thank the Government and the people of New Zealand for their congratulations on the anniversary of the Coronation, and on the continued good health of His Majesty the King,” The Financial Statement, which took Mr Seddon two and three-quarter hours to road, and contained over 24,000 words, has only been exceeded on one occasion, when Sir Julius Vogel delivered a State-

ment of some 30,000 words. The interest taken in this -year’s Budget was not so keen as usual. The House was not quite full during its delivery, while there was also more room than usual available in the public galleries. Mrs Millens, a young woman, sustained severe injuries at Waitekauri, on Saturday. She was cleaning out the back part of the fireplace in her kitchen, when her clothes caught fire. Although enveloped in flames she ran into a creek near by. Neighbors, hearing her screams, hurried to her assistance, and everything possible was done to ease the pain. The sufferer, who was burned on the arms, breast, and face, was conveyed to the Waihi Hospital.

According to an Auckland clergyman the facilities for obtaining credit, combined with the many temptations to betting and gambling, resulted in money often being used for betting purposes that should go towards paying for the support of the home, and wife and children, and so people got into debt. He admitted that in dealiug with the evil results of getting into debt he was open to the retort that many churches, including his own parish, were in debt, and, therefore, he made a strong appeal to the congregation to make a determined effort to pay off the parish debt, and thus help to raise the tone of the community in this matter. This is a day of records in fat sheep prices, and if the present rise is continued there is no telling what figures may be reached, says the Christchurch Press. At Addington saleyards three new records were established. The New Zealand and Australian Land Company a few weeks ago obtained the highest price, 655, recorded in the colony for fat wethers, which were from the Totara Estate. But yesterday the same Company got 65s to 67s 6d for Shropshire cross wethers from the Acton Estate, Bakaia, which was 2s 6d above the previous top figure. Mr B. M. Morten also received 28s to 29s 6d for a line of 200 crossbred wethers from Mount Pleasant, on the Port Hills, the highest prices given for such a large number, and 150 of these were taken for freezing at 28s. A line of Buckley’s Lagmhor Estate, i Ashburton, were bought by an exporter at : 21s Id to 21s 3d, which is also a record for i a large line of tegs. :

The Majeroni Dramatic Company are playing to crowded houses in Auckland.

In South Westland oat sheaf chaff is retailed at from 10s to 12s per bag, and bread at Is per loaf. In the Glen Innes district, N.S.W., recently, 11,000 ewes were sold at £1 5s a head, a record price on the tableland.

A contractor in the Ashburton district has imported a road-roller at a cost of over £IOOO.

A movement is on foot in Brisbano for the appointment of stipendiary stewards at race meetings. The old residence of the late Hon. John Martin, at Wellington, has just been sold for ,612,000. The ketch Jeera has been chartered at Sydney by the London Missionary Society for a cruise to New Guinea.

A Victoria Cross, awarded to Sergt. H. Ramage, 2nd Dragoons, for rescuing a comrade in the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, was sold for £6l.

According to the Hawera connty clerk the recent bad weather has made a difference of about £IOOO to the County Council’s overdraft.

The whole of thoroom at the quarantine station, Launceston, has been taken up by smallpox patients, but extra accommodation is being provided. Blackleg in a severe form is affecting the cattle in the Moruya district, New South Wales, and owners of stock have sustained serious losses in consequence. Recently, Mrs Alice Warner, who was making a few hours’ stay at the Federal Coffee Palace, Melbourne, fell down the lift well, a distance of 80ft, and was killed instantaneously.

An unfortunate woman named Isabella Leckie, one of the liabituals of Christchurch, was convicted last week of drunkenness for the 122nd time in the past 27 years.

A large shearing shed is now in course of erection at the Fairfield Freezing Works, Otago, in which it is proposed to instal an electric motor capable of driving six shearing machines.

A Chinese seaman was arrested on the dyke at Newcastle, N.S.W., with 14 tins of opium in his possession. He gave the police a longthy chase, but ho was eventually captured under some coal waggons. A settler mado a profitable deal at Feilding a few days ago. He met a farmer who was taking 100 lambs to the sale, and bought them for 7s 9d a head. The lambs a few hours after brought 10s 3d at the yards.

Private cablo advices received from Home (says the Manawatu Times) indicate that the butter outlook for the coming season is excellent, and it is predicted that butter will prove even more reliable and remunerative than cheese.

A sample of fresh beef preserved by a new process was despatched from Switzerland to Durban. No freezing process assisted in the preservation. The meat on arrival at Durban had a transparent iceless coating not unlike shellac, which was said to be the only preservative.

During a phenomonal thunderstorm at Cronulla, N.S.W., which lasted for an hour, violent discharges of lightning, followed by heavy thunder and rain, were almost incessant, and the earth and dwellings were perceptibly shaken. At Hobart a safe weighing nearly 4cwt was taken from Patinson and Sons’ engineering works on a wheelbarrow to an adjoining workshop, where tools were available, and it was easily forced. The plunder secured by the burglars was trifling. At the Supreme Court, Auckland, in his charge to the Grand Jury, Mr Justice Conolly referred to the charge against a chemist’s assistant, and remarked that the horrible crime of procuring abortion was one that, he feared, was frequently committed, both men and women being concerned in the practice.

While Timothy Brown was chopping wood at Tairua his axe slipped and almost severed three of his toes. He walked to Puriri, suffering great pain. At times the agony was so intense that he was compelled to crawl along the road. On his arrival at the hospital Dr Aubin found it necessary to amputate two of the toes. On Saturday afternoon, Allan, the seven-year-old son of Mr Stanley Lyme, of Grafton Koad, Auckland, had the misfortune to fracture his left leg, midway between the shin and ankle. The little fellow was engaged in a wrestling bout with a playmate when the unfortunate occurrence took place, the crack of the bone being distinctly heard by other children in the vicinity.

As a result of negotiations between counsel representing the three city hotelkeepers who have dives on their premises and the City Licensing Committee (says the New Zealand Times), a compromise has been arrived at which will obviate the necessity of proceeding with the applications for writs of mandamus in the Supreme Court to compel the committee to issue the licenses.

Three pedigree shorthorn cattle arrived in Auckland by the Paparoa on Monday, and were taken down to s Motuihi Island, to undergo the usual period in quarantine. All three are pronounced by experts, who viewed them on board the Paparoa, as magnificent specimens of the shorthorn breed, and likely to greatly improve the standard of this particular class of cattle in the Auckland province. One of them is a handsome roan bull, named Edward XXII., the second "a very fine red cow (Buby Duchess), and the third a yearling bull.

A peculiar accident happened to a little girl, aged two years, at Morningside, on, Thursday; last. The mother was playing at horse and catt with her, mother being the horse, the child’s arms as shafts. The child cried out with pain, and the mother, thinking she had sprained the child’s wrist, hound it up d The father came home late that night, and upon asking after the health of the children was informed that 1,1 Winnie had a sprained wrist.” A hasty, examination revealed something more serious, and the father hurried off for Dr. Moir, who went at once to Kingsland, al ; though it was 11 p.m., and there Was nothing before him hut to walk home afterwards in torrents of rain and heavy wind. A careful examination showed that the child’s collarbone was fractured and the wrist sprained.