The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 17, 1903.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 970, 17 August 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 17, 1903.

A slight shock of earthquake was experienced in Gisborne at five last evening. Tho Huddart-Pavkor Company’s steamer Zealandia arrived in Auckland at halfpast six yesterday morning. The La Mascotte Quadrille Assembly lurid their long night on Tuesday evoning, instead of Thursday, as previously notified, owing to the Hospital Social being on the Friday evening. A preliminary meeting of the Farmers’ Club was held on Saturday in Dunlop’s buildings, when a Provisional Committee was elected. The total number of members is 115, and 70 honorary members. The Matawbero school cadets have lately procured new uniforms, which should look very neat and striking on parade. Tho tuuio is of navy blue serge, with a badge on the left sleeve of royal blue, bearing the outline of.a crown above tho monogram “ M. 5.0.” The knickers are of khaki, with red facings. The boys intend donning their new uniforms at the Matawhero school concert on Thursday, Sept. 3rd, when they give an exhibition of physical drill. The heavy weather experienced in the Bay on Saturday morniDg made it impsssable to tender the Huddart-Parker Co.’s steamer Zealandia, which was compelled to pass the port. The steamer reached Auckland at half-pact six yesterday morning, and passengers and mails will be brought back to Gisborne by tho Westralia on Wednesday. Although the southerly gale and heavy rains caused a good deal of inconvenience in shipping circles, the rain was nevertheless most welcome to farmers, the ground requiring a good soaking before tho dry season sets in.

Much uneasiness was caused in Gisborne yesterday through the arrival of the steamor Zealandia not having been reported from Auckland and placed on tho notice board, This is not the only oocasioij on which tho Auckland officials have been ypvy lax in such matters, but in the case of a steamer passing by a port as tho Zealandia had done, tho omission to report the arrival was absolutely cruel, and should be enquired into.

Thero was another pitiful scene on the Haiti yesterday when a lot of boys, numbering about twenty, were spending the Sunday afternoon in pelting ‘f Soapy ’’ Tom. Tbo police arrived on the scene, and no doubt a lesson will bo given that such conduct cannot be allowed. The pity is that something cannot be done to cause the weak-minded Tom to alter his ways of living. His box tenement having been partially burnt, his covering now consists of a couple of sheets of corrugated iron—that on such a night as Saturday 1

The Motu Farmers’ Union have passed a resolution thanking Mr ,T. W. Whinray for his constant advocaw of the requirements of that district, in a letter to the Union Mr Whinray states " Anything I may have done has been prompted out of admiration for the indomitable perseverance of those pioneer settlers who have for years struggled against difficulties that would have daunted many less hardy and persevering than yourselves. I feel sanguine yon will be rewarded in the near future by improved facilities to develop your prolific and fertile district, and when the historian of 50 years hence writes the pioneers of New Zealand settlement, Motn will afford a striking example of grit, perseverance and self-denial.”

At the Police Coart on Saturday morning a first offender wa3 convicted for drunkenness and discharged. Impounding notices in connection with the Gisborne and Matawhoro pounds appear in this issue. The best unthreshed hay is advertised for sale by Mr Thomas. Orders by Hatten’s coach will be promptly attended to,

The New Zealand Farmers’ Union notify that Friday, August 28th, and Friday, September 11th, have been appointed days for laying poisoned grain. The emigration from Victoria and Australia generally is beginning to be viewed with alarm, and efforts are being made to find some remedy. While two boys, one of whom was named Raleigh Maxwell, were chopping | wood at Waverley, N.S.W., Maxwell bad his skull fractured.

The West Australian Government in

tend to advertise in England and America for a person to fill the position of Director of Agriculture.

A new system of wood-blocking, introducing a mastic joint, which is distributed over the whole width of the street, has been adopted by the Sydney City Council. A boy named Holloway, employed at a Goulburn factory, New South Wales, died through swallowing some copper rivets, which he was holding in his mouth. ! A dividend of 2s Gd has been declared by the Waihi Company, making the total dividends for the mine £1,190,390. 'A verdict of suicide whilst, temporarily insane was returned in regard to Charles T. Batkin, .who shot him--1 self at Wellington. The Attorney-General of New South Wales says that the holding of lotteries is j becoming widespread and demoralising, I and that steps are beiDg taken for the curtailment of the practice. At the Cootamundra, N.S.W., Quarter

Sessions, James Campboll, a railway porter at Junee, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for stealing goods belonging to the Railway Commissioners. At a meeting of plumbers at Wellington it was resolved to urge that plumbers’ certificates should he made effective throughout the colony*.

Premises formerly occupied by the Otago Malting Company, at Dunedin were destroyed by fire on Friday, the probable loss over insurance being set down at £IOOO.

A little boy named May, son of a settler at Hikutaia, has been admitted to the Thames hospital suffering from a broken arm. The mishap was caused by a churn falling on him while he was playing in the yard.

At the last meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board the Hon. J. Carroll intimated that he would recommend the Minister of Education to favorably consider the board’s representations with regard to grants for schools attended by native childron.

Things are only middling down at Blackburn. The School Committee there have intimated to the Hawke’s Bay Education Board that unless the teacher resigned in three months parents would keep their childron at home. A 1 Wairoa contingent joins the Napier deputation leaving for Wellington this week, to urge the completion of the Napier end of the Napier■Gisborne road. We .wish them all sorts of good luck. At Dunedin a mass meeting has been called for Thursday by the Council of Churches to protest against “ the extraordinary action or inaction of the Premier and Government in connection with the Bruce and Newton local option polls.” There was a large congregation at Holy Trinity Church last evening, when a most impressive sermon was delivered by the Rev. W. Welsh. The anthem, “My Soul Truly Waiteth Upon God,” was tastefully rondered,by the choir.' Mr E. N. Sidebottom presided at tho organ. The hoavy rain of Saturday was most welcome to farmers, coming at a time when it was badly required. Tho winter was one of the driest on record, and rain was badly required, so as to allow the preparation of the ground for cropping. At Patutahi a few days ago a settler was digging a well, and sevon feet below the surface he found the ground was dry and cracked, showing the want of rain. Matters sanitary have of late years received much attention from Government, but it is only of quite recent date that school sanitation has been brought under Government’s notice. At tho last meeting of the Education Board at Napier the Secretary was instructed to write to the Minister and members for the district drawing attention to the matter of school sanitation and tho large expenditure involved. The death of Mr James Hume, of Auckland, is recorded. The deceased gentleman was for many years manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Hamilton, and he took a prominent part in forwarding tho interests of tho Waikato district. Upon' his retirement from the service of the Bank of New Zealand, Mr Hume became manager of the milling firm of Bycroft and Co,, Limited, and by his energy and ability did much to extend the company’s business.

The Christchurch Gun Club’s £SO National Handicap Pigeon Match was shot off at Heathcoto Grounds on Saturday, August Bth (New Zealand Inanimate Pigeon Association rules). Tho stakes were divided between Messrs Fraser 33 yards, “ Cashmore ” 25yds, McCarthy 21 yds, H. Hunter 24yds, G. R. King 26yds, who killed all their birds. Mr Fraser, Mr G. R. King, and Mr 0. Hunter were using the Colonial Ammunition Company “ Favourite ” cartridges. King Mahuta has already had enough of tho Legislative Council. Instead of assisting the Hon. Colonel Pitt in the conduct of the Government business in the Council, ho left Wellington without consulting his fellow Ministers. He is now living quietly at Huntly, and the date of his return to Wellington is uncertain! But the business of the country seems to get on somehow. The criticisms of Mahutp, on the proceedings of his colleagues and on politics in general are (says the Auckland Herald) exceedingly severe; and if he could be got to address freely tho Liberal and Labor Federation, his remarks

would be instructive. Mr Henare Kaihau

has also left Wellington, and is now on his farm near Waiuku. Wo understand that he thought he could be more usefully employed there in getting in his potato crop than in listening to discussions in Wellington, when the Government were doing nothing in the way of redeeming their promises with respect to Maori lands.

Particulars of the suicide of tho man Harry Thornton, who first attempted to cut his throat and afterwards jumped from the Auckland Hospital window, show that after admission to the hospital he was kept in tho male ward on the top floor, and in an unguarded moment he eluded the vigilance of the nurse on duty and his fellow patients, who heard a crash and saw him disappear into the darkness below. The window was smashed to splinters. When Thornton was picked up he was found to be suffering from terrible injuries to his head, and he died a few minutes after the incident. It was ascertained that he fell a full 30ft on the asphalt be ; low. A request for someone to watch the unfortunate man was mado to tho police but it was not complied with. On enquiry from Inspector Cullen if it was not usual to detail a constable to watch patients under treatment for attempting to take their own lives it was learned that unless a man is charged with an offence, or has in addition to attempted suicide tried to take the life of anotbdr person, the police are not responsible for the safe custody of such persons, This accounts for the policp not responding to the request of those in charge of the man Thornton at the hospital to watch him. It would, Inspector Cullen states, require three men, which he can ill spare at the moment, to do this duty.

FOR 21 DAYS ONLY !-To reduce our Stock, we will give a Special Discount of 3s in £ on all Dress Goods. First-class Dressmaking at moderate prices. Satisfaction guaranteed.—C. Rosie and Co.

Burglars have been devoting special attention to clergymen’s houses in Melbourne.

Only 25 retailers in Napier and the Spit are in favor of the Shops and Offices Bill.

A murder by blacks is reported from Central Australia, the victim being a man named 'William Lange.

An expert is visiting Dannovirke in connection with the scheme for lighting tka town by electricity. Several cased of ptomaine poisoning are reported at Glen lones, New South Wales, arising from eating canned foods. A draper named Edmund Travis, of Fitzroy, Victoria, has died from injuries to the head sustained by a fall while in a tit.

Mr B. Sheppard, of Hobart, has won the 20-guinoa prize for the best design of a national soldiers’ memorial. Twenty of the designs received came from England. To give some idea of the rate at which depopulation of France is proceeding, the population of Normandy alone fell off 7500 during the year 1900. The New Plymouth Borough Council has decided to make inquiries relative to the suitability and cost of motor conveyances for passengers, with a view to running a municipal ’ous service in New Plymouth.

A submarine cable, weighing 240 tons’ has been brought to Wellington by the Delphic, to the order of the Government. It cost over .£6OOO, and will be used for repairing any of the Cook Strait cables which may becomo damaged. Out of 15 replies received from agricultural and pastoral societies by the Horsham (Victoria) Agricultural and Pastoral Society as to shoep-dipping being made compulsory, fourteen declared in favor of compulsion.

The test of a supplier of the Waiokura Creamery, Taranaki, for June was six points for the first fortnight, and 6.8 for the second half of the month. For July the average was 6.6. This is a record round about Mount Egraont. Complaints are being made concerning the wholesale destruction of timber taking place on land held under improvement leases in the Forbes district, N.S.W. Steps are bemg taken to bring the matter under the notice of the Minister.

Lambing has already commenced in South Canterbury. Mr Austin, of Albury, has several lambs on his farm, and though surrounded with snow, and the mothers dependent for sustenance on dry food, they appear to be doing well. Becontly several cows, grazing at Bickmond, Victoria, died through eating Cape tulip. A dairyman near Black Forest lost nearly the whole of his milkers through a similar poisonous plant, and seven bullocks wero found dead in a paddock at Keswick, near by. Death is supposed to have resulted from the same cause. At the Kurumburra Court, Victoria, recently, when charges of insulting behaviour wore preferred against some coal miners, Mr Wilkie, their counsel, objected to Mr Smallman, the police magistrate, sitting, on the grouud of bias. Mr Smallman denied being in any way biassed and declined to rctiro, as he was simply there to do his duty. The Mangaweka correspondent of tho Wanganui Chronicle says that the agitation which was set on foot by Mr B. Hornblow some two years ago to provide land for the co operative laborers will very shortly bo a matter of faot. The men employed on the railway works in that distrust have had notice sent to them intimating that land will be available. Mr William Thomson, of Numurkah (Vie.), speaking of the benefits of irrigation, recently cited tho case of forty cows being fed on two paddocks of 25 acres each, cropped with lucerno last year. The cattle wero shifted to alternate paddocks fortnightly, and made 201 b of butter weekly. The Buthorgleu (Vio.) Winery Company has received an order from a firm of wine morchants in London for a trial shipment of 20 hogsheads of wine. The order is the outoomo of samplos sent through the Victorian Agricultural Department, and a good price is offered. The order has come from a firm which has not been in the custom of importing Australian wines. There is a proposal to stock tho islands in Lake Wanaka with wingless birds, such as kiwis and wekas. The islands are free of weasels and similar natural enomieß, and tho birds would have a chance of flourishing for an indefinite period. It is proposed to have the islands proclaimed a sanctuary. The Otago Acclimatisation Society its willingness to cooperate in stocking thorn.