The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, DECEMBER 28, 1903.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1082, 28 December 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, DECEMBER 28, 1903.

About, 400 oscnri.ioniiit'i patronised the local railway on Boxing-Day. -a Svmpaihotic reference was made in ibe Churches yesterday in connection with the Auckland tramway disaster. Very inipcesidve special services were held on Christum.) :„Duy at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic OhurciJ, which wos voiy tastefully decorated. Holy Trinity Church was beautifully decorated for the Christmas services, which wore mado appropriate to iho occasion. Gisborne was favored with fine weather for tho huiiiioys, winch wore cioeeiy observed and much enjoyed.

Thp steamer AVhakatane, direct from Loudon, arrived m Auckland at 4 p.m. on Christmas Day.

Sports wens successfully held at Waorenga a biku, T'e Kara Its, and Whatatutu on Boxing Day. Reports are helu over. A brawl occurred in Lowe street South on Saturday night at 9,30. A great crowd gathered. Them was lighting and the pud use of obscene language. Recently J. Lear, an employee of the Queen Cress mil, Charters Towers, Queensland, was cleaning out a boiler connected with another one that was under steam, when the engine-driver turned the steam on. Lear was badly scalded, and tbo fckin pooled off him when he was being pulled through the manhole. Ho is, however, iikoiy to recover.

A much respected lcsidimt of Gisborne, Mr Thomas Cotter, died at about 6 pm. on Christum Day. He had been in poor hea'lh for a considerable time past, but had only recently been compelled to take to hi ) bed. The funei al took place yesterday afternoon, and was laigely attended. Mr Cotter was one of the original members of the Turongar.ui Lodge of Druid?, of which bo was a Past Arch ii.uid. Two brakes containing the Dm Mica I brethren attended tho funeral, as well as many in private conveyances The burial service was conducted by the Rev. W. Welsh, curd Brc. W. 0. Sheet dhpeneed the rites of the Order. Much sympathy is felt for the widow in her bereavement.

A tire occurred in one of the bedrooms o r jho Albion Club Hotel early on Sunday morning. A little after 2 Mrs Francis was a 1 armed by tbo smell ot something burning, and went into tho passage to investigate. Hero she was met by one of tho barmaids, who lmd just escaped from her btdvoom, tbo bedding in which was in flames. Tho alarm was instantly given, nnd Mr F. J- Francis, the licensee, with the aid of some of the hoarders, soon had the fire suppressed.- Tire bed and bedclothes were completely destroyed and tho wall at the head of :he bed was much charred, Ik is supposed that on retiring the young woman had left the light burning,‘'which had ignited the curtains at the head of the lied. Messrs Evans, Field and Co. wish to thank their many, customers for their kind patronage since taking over the Contra! Timber Yards, so long carried on by Messrs Kennedy, Evens and Co., and to couvev to thorn one and all the cotupli menls of'tbo season. The firm have made their mink ■in Gisborne by supplying nothing but tbo very boat of genera builders’ materials, also coal and firewood, nnd by having everything oarrii fl on under their personal supervision. Since commencing business they have found it necessary to greatly increase their stock of timber and joinery, and to enlarge their premises, and to-dfl,v we find one of tho best conducted timber yards and offices under the management of Evans, Field and Co.

There were not many decorations , in'tcwn for Christinas Eve, but the quality of the display was exceptionally good, some of the shops being done up with great taste. The palm undoubtedly fell to Messrs Adair Bros., with their handkerchief window and electric light display. Mr J. Adair is entitled to the credit; for the artistic arrangement of the windows.

The newly-formed Motu Cricket Club arc making a descent on the Poverty Bay plains with what is reported io he a good all-round team. They commence their tour with a match against Te Karaka to-day,

ana to-morrow make a first appearance in Gisborne, where they play a team representing the Poverty Bay Cricket Association. Mr Krctsehmar, Ihe selector, has chosen the following team to represent the local Association to-morrow on the Recreation Ground, play commencing at 1 'o’clcc! sharp: D. Porter, May (2), J. Ferris, L. Gouldsmith, Lang, Kretschmar, Macdonald, and Gibson (3). The Motu team are reported ■to have a brilliant player in Derry’eourt. ' The captain, W. Small, is ■the old well-known Coast player, who also played for the old Ranginui Club some seasons back.