The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, SEPTEMBER 22, 1903.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1002, 22 September 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, SEPTEMBER 22, 1903.

“MOATLHODI.” The resignation of the Hon. Joseph Chamberlain has come as a “ bolt from the blue.” As “Moatlhodi,” the title given him by Khama of Bechuanaland, lie is “ the man who rights things,” and he nas resigned his important office with the intention of righting the question of preferential treatment to the colonies. His resignation at the present time is an unique one; he practically succeeds in obtaining the Cabinet’s semi-approval of the principle of preference, but knowing that the present feeling of the country is against his ardent view of the question, he resigns his rank as a Cabinet Minister. As a private member he can put forth liis views to the constituencies without in any way committing Q-ovornment, and we have no doubt but that now he has doffed his coat one of the biggest fights in England for many a year will come to pass. The Hon. Mr Chamberlain has not passed the zenith of his career; it looms large on the horizon. Now that the dawn has opened on the question of preference, the fight will be begun unto the perfect day, when we should see the champion of the principle installed as victor. The fight will no doubt be a hard one, but once the constituencies have grasped the full meaning of the question the issue should not remain long in doubt. Preferential treatment and Imperial federation have long been the dream of this great statesman, knowing that the adoption of these principles would draw closer the bonds of union between the colonies and the Motherland. In a recent speech at a banquet, Mr Chamberlain, in dealing with these questions, said :—“ Wo have a common origin, we have a common history, a common language, a common literature, a commou love of liberty aud law. We have common principles to assert, we have common interests to maintain. I have said that it is a slender thread that bound us together. I remember on one occasion having been shown a slender, frail wire which a blow might break, and I was told that it was capable of transmitting an electrical energy that would set powerful machinery in motion. May it not be the same in the relation that exists between our colonies and ourselves, and may not that thread be capable of carrying a force of sentiment and of sympathy that will yet be a potent factor in the history of the world ? I am told on eveiy hand that Imperial federation and colonial preference are vain and empty dreams. If they be dreams, they are dreams that appeal to the highest sentiments of patriotism, and even to our material interests. They are dreams that are calculated to inspire every one who cares for the future of the AngloSaxon people- I think myself that the spirit of the times is, at all events, in the direction of such movements.” May the spirit of the times prove such

intervenes it will not be for territorial ~, » i aggrandisement, buttne maintenance ot the territorial status cquo. It would not be necessary for any onepower to intervene singly, and by so doing perhaps to raise the suspicions of the rest. In Macedonia itself, if the Turkish authorities are by themselves incompetent to deal with the present aggravated situation, the difficulty might be met by the enrolment of a force recruited from all European nations aliko. Among the subject Christians the Macedonians alone have so far found courage to attempt to win freedom from an intolerable tyranny, but if success were in the end to crown their efforts the Macedonians would not stand alone. The Christians of North Syria—Greek or Syrian in croed -—have many grievances of their own. The more fortunate Maronites of the Lebanon province, who have Christian police, and who are keen politicians, might become inoculated with the idea of independence. It may be that the Turks will once more assert their old predominance over their subjects. The Macedonians are destined to work out their own future or perish in the attempt. It is practically impossible for Europe to interfere, unless she is ready to undertake the administration of a new province. The subject populations are so much split up, and have so long been unaccustomed to rule themselves, that nothing but anarchy can be expected if the Turkish administration is overthrown. The happiest outcome that could be expected would be the creation of a new Christian province in Macedonia, where the oppressed might find refuge, and learn by degrees to rule themselves, until fit for independent existence as a Christian state.

Evoryone should see “ Yo Old English Village ” at the Academy of Music this evening.

“ Strike out the top line,” is what Mr Lysnar advises the electors to do on Wednesday next. “ Whatever scheme we go in for we should consider the suburbs.” Mr Lysnar at the water meeting.

The steamer Waiwera arrives at Gisborno on Monday next to tako a cargo of frozen meat. The City Band will play at the Salvation Army’s Fair at the Academy of Music this evening. In our advertising columns some particulars are given of the important land sale to be held on November 7th. Tenders are invited by Mr O. J. Morell for ploughing about 20 acres at the Willows. Tenders close at noon on Thursday, 24th inst.

Captain Edwin telographed yesterday: Strong winds to gale from between northeast and north and west; glass fall; tides moderate ; probably rain on Coast. A special train will leave town this ovening at 10.4 S in order to allow country people to see the popular comedy drama, “ The Lady of Ostend.” Tonders, addressed to the Chairman of the Cook County Council, will be received up till noon on Friday, October 2nd, for laying new platform, Patutahi Quarry. The continuation of tho unroservod clearing salo of drapery, etc., at Messrs Williams and Kettle’s mart will commence 11 a.m. to-day. A horso fair, under the auspices of tho Farmers’ Union, will be conducted by Messrs Williams and Kettle at Ormond, on October 26th. East Cape advised yesterday : — 11 N.Wlight wind, barometer 29-80, thermometor 59, foggy overcast, high tides, heavy sea, heavy gale on Sunday.” The Auckland Herald rightly states that the Gisborne-Rotorua railway line would be the market road of thousands of prosperous settlers. A Press Association message from Wairoa states that Mr M. F. Bourke, of Gisborne, has purchased Messrs Bowron and Butcher’s flaxmill at Tuhara and butchering business at Wairoa, taking possession yesterday. On Saturday evening the Poverty Bay Farmers’ Union club will be held. It will tako the form of a smoke concert. It is expected a large number of members and their friends will be present. Yesterday overcast gloomy weather wa,s .generally experienced in the colony, with N.W. winds. A heavy sea was running at Cape Egmont and Port Chalmers ; rough at Farewell Spit. Rain was reported at Wellington, Nelson, and Christchurch. “ All the time I have lost on this would have paid my water and drainage rates for ten years,” remarked Mr Lysnar at the meeting last evening. •• We cannot afford to run the risk of taking such a doubtful scheme as Waihirere,”

Großt interest is being taken in the

water and drainage loan poll to be held to-morrow. Indignation at the style of advocacy adopted in one quarter has had the effect of alienating some of those who worked hard for tho loan on the last occasion. The voting then was : For. 368 ; against, 188 ; informal, 15.

Telegrams to stations north of Napier, except Gisborne district, will suffer great delay through interruption of wires. A memorandum received yesterday afternoon stated: Napier has now one wire working to Auckland via West Coast. Pacific cables will be given prompt despatch. Ordinary traffic will suffer great delay owing to large accumulation. “ Commousense ” writes :—“ It is estimated that if Waihirere water scheme is carried it will produce 365,000ga1. per diem, at a capital cost of, say, £90,000, and an annual cost of, say, (with sinking fund,

and upholding and office expenses), £5500. What can the Council afford to sell 100,000 gallons per day for ?—or I should ask can it afford to sell twenty-seventy thirds of its total supply for £6OO a year ?” Perhaps Tommy can answer this question. There was a very large assemblage of natives at Tuparoa yesterday, when the President of the Maori Land Council was cordially welcomed by the natives, who expressed their confidence in Judge Jones and their satisfaction with the steps that had so far been taken. As the river is in flood, Awanui cannot yet be reached, and the Court sitting there will be held next Monday. Judge Gill left Gisborne yesterday morning to take his seat as a member of the Council, but he will have a | rough journey up, and is not expected to reach Tuparoa until to-night. To the Editor : Sir, —I intend to vote for Waihirere. Paradoxical as it may seem, I agree with most of what Councillor Lysnar says, disagree with what most of its supporters say, and regard with resentment certain journalistic 'tactics by which opponents, worthy friends of my own, are held up to ridicule and worse, so that I am also tempted to throw my lot in with those I have known for many years past. However,-1 am going for Waihirere because no satisfactory alterna-

live has been offered; therefore it is worth the risk.—l am, etc., Old Hand. A salutary fine was imposed yesterday by Mr Barton, S.M., in a case of procuring liquor for a prohibited person. The accused was Georgo Edward Maxfield, for whom Mr L. Rees appeared. The evidence showed that drink had been obtained, and that accused and two young men (one a prohibited person) had shared it. His Worship said defendant had aggravated his guilt by denying it; he must have been aware of the previous warning given. A fine of LlO, with costs 11s, would be imposed ; or six weeks’ imprisonment, in default of payment within 14 days. To-night at the Academy of Music the Salvation Army will hold “ Ye Olde English Faire," which will be opeued by His Worship the Mayor at 8 o’clock. The Army have made elaborate preparations for the exhibition, and we hope to see their efforts rewarded with a crowded house. There will be a host of attractions, such as work stalls, refreshment stalls, museum, fine art gallery, etc. The City Band will be in attendance. Mr Owen will sing the “ Dream of Paradise,” and Mr Benhall, of Ballarat, will sing 11 Old Time’s Sake.” The Wesleyan choir will also assist,

“Hot the Owner” : Your letter, if pub' lished, would be actionable.

A dividend of five per cent, has been declared by the New Zealand Shipping Company. The Government launch for Waikaremoana made about eight knots on a trial, and Mr Donne is mucn pleased with it. During the work of renovating, the Geisha Tea Booms will be closed until Friday next. The quarterly meeting of Court William Gladstone, A.0.F., will be held this eveniug.

Gisborne’s little line of railway continues to do well. For the four weeks ending on August loth the revenue wa3 £llßl and the expenditure £lO9l. “It is not a question of water or no water,” remarked Captain Tucker last evening. “You are only asked to veto Waihirere that we may have a better.” By the overturning of a waggon near Cromwell, Otago, Michaol Hynes, a waggoner, was killed, but the driver, Crawford, escaped unhurt.

The butchers of Marton and Bulls are determined to keep up their profits, and have made a further rise in the retail price of meat. 11 Is Daniel also among the prophets,” was a remark overheard at the water meeting last evening as Cr Somervell took the platform.

The pension of Mrs Charlotte Foster, of Palmerston North, has been cancelled, on the ground that she had indirectly deprived herself of property in order to qualify for a pension.

“ We already have one white elephant

in the breakwater, and we do not want another in Waihirere.”—Mr E. G. Matthews on the water supply, at last night's meeting-

“We are not going to take up a two and a-half penny parochial scheme like this Waihirere, which in a fow years will leave us with a whito elephant. Commonsense ratepayers will work all they can against it.” —Mr Sievwright at the wator meeting.

Last evening at the water meeting Cap;aiu Tucker offered to give ten pounds to ;he Hospital if any person could obtain a

pannikin full of water from the Waihirere creek running through his property. “If the flats absorb all the ram I feel sure that the Waihirere catcbmout will do the

same,” he added. Judgment has been reserved in the Ashburton Club licensing case. The Crown abandoned the plea that revocation of tllS charter followed on the introduction of nolicense, and relied on the alleged impropriety of the club eighteen months ago in selling liquor to members outside the club.

“ Mr Mestayer was brought to Gisborne to report on Waihirere only,” remarked Mr Sievwright last evening. “If there had been any other object in view he would have been asked to stop and perambulate other parts of the district, aud see where a proper supply of water could be got.”

“ The discussion has bean lively, but it has been conducted in a friendly way, and I hope this will be continued,’/ remarked Captain Tucker at the water Lueeting last evening. “ Both those for and against Waihirere are seeking for one thing, and that for a water supply that will benefit the town. Let us not descend into personalities ; they are unworthy of an occasion of this kind. Each should suppose that the other is acting conscientiously. Those who are prudent are protoctors and shielders of those who might too easily be led to do something that they would afterwards regret.”

What tho rates will amount to on a property of the rateable value of £SO was shown by Mr W. D. Lysnar last evening to be as follows:—Harbor Board rate, Is ; Borough general rate, Is 9d; surface rate per Act at 7 per cent., Is 5d in the pound ; special rate, 2s 2d in the pound ; special supplementary rate, in the pound, making altogether 6s 9£d, or £l7 17s 6d 'on a property of the value stated. “ That being so,” ho added, “ we cannot afford to adopt Buch a doubtful water scheme as Waihirere. We have already one white elephant.”

Or Somervell made the following admission last evening : " When I saw Waihirere there was a small stream of water in it, and I was thoroughly convinced that there was not a sufficient supply for us. I am very much in doubt as to whether there is the supply of water coming in. It is only a catchment. Mr Mestayer haß taken the rainfall for 21 years, and has said that so many million gallons fall into it in a year. If there comes a year like that of the present time, what are we to do for a supply ? What use is all the water that has flooded and gone from us ? We want water all the time.”

The need of an up-to-date theatre for Gisborne was emphasised last night by Mr Hawtrey, who apologised to the audience for any deficiencies there might be in staging the play as compared with other towns, owing to the need of a better stage. He pointed to a number of towns of lesser importance than Gisborne, which had far superior thoatrical accommodation, and he recommended the people when they had settled the water question to turn their attention to the subject of orecting a municipal theatre. The speaker’s remarks were warmly endorsed by the audience. In connection with the hall we have been asked by some regular theatre-goers to suggest to the management the advisability of discarding the side-door entrance in favor of the old plan of reserved-seat holders going in the main doorway. In fine weatder the side entrance is not so objectionable, but it is decidediy unpleasant for ladies, when the weather is damp, to have to stand in the narrow alleyway, awaiting their turn to get to the doorway.

Mr A. M. Newman, in a letter to the Executive of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday, stated: "I have come to the conclusion that there is far more lying, deception, and roguery in cattle dealing than in horse dealing. In buying a horse a man can get fairly near his age, can feel for his soundness, try his paces, etc., and buy him for six or eight pounds. With a dairy cow running into two figures the buyer has no such advantage, but must content himself with the bare word of the seller.” The writer then put forward several suggestions which he considered would improve matters in connection with the cattle sales hold under the auspices of the Uuion. Ho held that the purchaser should get a written guarantee from the seller, on which the buyer could sue, the warranty to include ‘‘soundness of udder, wind, and limb ; quiet to milk ; doesn’t suck herself; month duo to calve ; butter-fat test.” The Union decided to submit the suggestions for consideration by the various branches.