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Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1054, 23 November 1903, Page 3

Rabbits are increasiog at an alarming rate in the Blayney district, New South Wales. As the pest is showing a distaste for poisoned pollard, poisoned apple baits are being used. Evidontaly there is not much fear of prohibition on the West Coast of the South Island just yet. A few days ago an offer of *£1250 was refused for a hotel property in Hukitika. Six years ago the same house would have been bought lot £2OO. In tho Wbakatane district there are 65 Maoris and eight Europeans receiving £1312 in old-age pensions, while in the Opotiki district only £642 is annually paid to 24 Maoris and 13 Europeans.

It is proposed to commemorate the passing of the drought by a national day of thanksgiving and rejoicing throughout New South Wales, when tho harvest has been gathered in.

Recently Alexander Waller, a Russian, blew out his brains with a revolver at Hopetoun (West Australia), owing, it is supposed, to u disappointment in love. The Diseased Animals Importation Prevention Act of Tasmania has been extended for two years to all vessels that have been in any Indian port within six months.

The three-year-old son of MrLansdown, who was lost in tho bush near Goulburn, New South Wales, has been found. The child was discovered asleep near a Btump, and apparently none tho worse for the exposure incidental to spending a night and two days in the open air. A deputation of the W.C.T.U. to the Mayor of Brisbane asked for the introduction of the curfow bell into Brisbane. They wore advised to approach the Government.

At a meeting of farmors and settlors at Jur.ee, New South jvYales, it was decided to pay field hands during the harvest 6s per day, machinery-drivers 7s, and stackbuilders Ss.

Tho friends and admirers of Mr W. F. Massey, M.H.R., are arraDgiDg to entertain him at a banquet in Auckland shortly after the close of the session, in recognition of his rcconli election as leader of the Opposition in tho House of Representatives, The date has not yet been fixed, but it will probably be early in December. It is expected that thero will be an attendance of about 120, including Sir William Russell, M.H.R. for Hawke’s Bay. A circular letter to Bishop Lenihan has been addressed by Austrians resident north of Auckland, asking that a priest be appointed from Dalmatia, so that they may have ministrations by one who speaks the Croatian language. The sum of 10s per annum towards the cost of maintaining the priest was guaranteed by each person who signed the letter. The following is a striking instance of the increase in value of Wellington properties : —A section, having a frontage of 37£ft to Willis street and a depth of 97ft, was purchased oight years ago for £2OOO. A week or two ago the owner was offered £II,OOO for the property, although no improvements have been made.

*< If only the churches were Christian,” says a leading Melbourne clergyman, I believe the working men would turn to them in a body. In all the churches thoy nave a nucleus who are genuine and devoted, but around this nucleus is a large percentage who sing one thing on Sunday and do a very different thing on a week day.”

In the city of Chicago tho unions can compel an individual to buy bricks from the Brick Manufacturers’ Guild (says a correspondent to the New Zealand Herald), have the bricks hauled by union teamsters, carried by union hod-carriers, laid by union bricklayers on work or buildings on which none but union help are employed. Nobody criticises their right to do this, but the common people are not in sympathy with them in demanding exorbitant prices for a few hours’work. 1 am a union man of the conservative school, and I have little sympathy for bulldog unionism, which, to my mind, will mean the destruction of our domestio business prosperity if continued much longer in practice.

Thus the Napier Telegraph in regard to the Wairoa road :—lt is true that of late the Government have admitted in a more practical fashion than their predecessors their knowledge that such a road exists on paper, and that in the dry weather of summer the road may be said to exist in reality, but tho district has not much to rejoice over in the facts. The dictum of the Minister when receiving a deputation a few weeks ago, to the effect that “ year by year ” sums would be put on the estimates for this work—as if it were a work of completion of which he saw in the far distant future as a kind of possibility—does not suggest that he has comprehended tho necessities of the case and the gross injustice the district has suffered from for so many years. The votes set out ou the Bsti* mates in regard to that road do not tend to suggest that the Wairoa road is to benefit much by the improved outlook generally. A voto of £llO3 for the road itself, and £BOO for that part of its route whore the wash-out at Tuugoio has to be dealt with, seem too much in keeping with the ideal of “ year by year ” road'makiDg to afford grounds for satisfaction.