The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 16, 1905.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1355, 16 January 1905, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 16, 1905.

The annual meoting of the Turanganui Public Library will bo hold this evening. The Crystal Palace Entortainers appear at Ormond this evening, and at Te Karaka to-morrow night. The Hon. J. Carroll and secretary (Mr W. Gordon) left for Wellington last evening.

Sir Robert Stout (Chief Justice) and Mr Justice Cooper, who have been touring tho North, returned to Auckland on Saturday.

Mr Barron, chairman of tho Land Purchase Board, is at present in Gisborne. He will visit Ropongaero to-day to inspect the property desired by the Fruitgrowers’ Association for tho proposed scheme of co-operative fruit growing. Yesterday was one of tho hottest days experienced in Gisborne for some time, tho temperature being 92 in tho shade. Householders are already beginning to complain of the scarcity of water. The many friends of Mr and Mrs H. Kane will deeply sympathise with them in regard to the death of their infant son, which took placo yesterday morning. The interment will bo private. The Premier has received tho following cable from the Agent-General, dated London, January 18th :—“ Tho Now Zaaland court at Liverpool is in good order, and haß been visited by Mr Chamberlain, who took special internet in the Now Zealand exhibits, and was presented with a Mosgiel rug on behalf of the ooloDy. The Mosgiel exhibits were much admirod.” Tendors are invited for the privileges for tho Gisborne Racing Club’s summer meeting. These include tho booths, diniDg-room, race cards, and right to take charge of horses. Tondera close on Saturday next at noon, Most of the scenery required for Mr George Stophenson’s productions at His Majesty’s Theatre this week arrived by the Talune yesterday afternoon in charge of a staff of mechanists, who will have everything ready for the opening production on Wednesday evening.

A large concern operating in Canterbury is working under no fewer than nine awards of tho Arbitration Court, somo of which apply to one part of the district and some to another. The oonoern has (says the Press) found it ncoessary to engage a •gentleman whose duty it is to see that tho different departments are run in accordance with the terms of tho various awards, Theso documents, though probably understood by tho trained legal mind, are sometimes not bo easy of comprehension by the lay mind.

The regulations governing appointments to the post and tolegraph service of the colony have been amended by the addition of the following clause“ No person shall be eligible for appointment to the Department, if, whoa the question of his eligibility arises, two or moro persons belonging to his family are already officers of the Department. The expression ‘ family' shall be hold to include father, mother, and their children, and not more than one daughter in a family shall be eligible for appointment as a telephone exchange cadette.”

An old resident of Gisborne passed away yesterday in the person of Mr Archibald Livingstone Cooper, of "SVhataupoko, at the ago of 49. Deceased, who had been ailing for the past three months, had resided in Gisborne for closo on 'AO years. TTn leaves a widow to mourn his loss, and much sympathy will be felt for her in her sad bereavement. The funeral will leave Whataupoko this afternoon at half-past two for Makaraka.

A fresh development in connection with the robbery at Pilling’s hotel, Waihi, oocurred on Friday. Whon Mr Scott, of the local postal staff, was clearing the letterbox at Mr C. Saunders’, ho discovered among tho mail matter a number of loose cheques, and, arriving at the conclusion that these were a portion of the missing monoy, he immediately closed tho box avain and informed Mr Mclnerney, manager for Mrs Pilling, of the discovery. The latter immediately accompanied the postman to the letter-box, and there found that Mr Scott’s surmise was correct. The cheques were gathered up, and when taken to the hotel and cheeked it was found that, including two postal notes of 2seaeb, they represented the sum of *229 Oa 4d. The perpetrator of the robbery is evidently resourceful in tho way of covering up his trail as far as the cheques were concerned. Mrs Pilling’s loss has now been reduced to about £l7O, this amount being in gold, notes and silver. The robbery has led the people to cry out for more police protection. It is essential that further police protection should be given by the Government. Tho matter was referred to at the Borough Council meeting last week, and it rpsolvod that the Minister for Justice bo urgently requested to grant an increase of at least two constables foe Waihi.

Tho Land Board moots this morning. Mr J. A. Lucas has been appointed pound kooper to tho Matawhero pound. An impounding notice in connection with tho Ormond pound appears in anothor oolumn.

Tho Aucklaud Herald statos :—Mr Jamos Ferguson, late chief ongineor of tho B.e. Mokoin, who recently reuignod from tho sorvioo of tho Union Stoum Ship Company, arrived in Auckland from Dunedin by tho Taluno, accompanied by Mrs Forguson and family, and will in futuro reeido in this city, Mr Ferguson has oomo to Auokland to enter tho firm of Mossrs A. J. Parker and Co., engineers, as ono of tho partners.

While on her way homo on Wednesday night lust, Mias Donald, a nurse, living just below Boston Road, Mount Eden, Auokland, was assaultod by an unknown man. As she was coming up tho New North Road (Eden Terruco) tho man passed her, and as sho turnod down Violot Btroot, which has oocoss to tho Mount Eden Road, ho followed hor, and, after they had gono a few yards, struck hor on the breast. Miss Donald screamed for help, and, as people living in tho locality hoard tho call and turned out, the man

took to his bools and mado off. Miss Donald sufforod nothing boyond the fright, and can give no reason for tho assault.

Sovoral changes will bo effoctod in tho Auckland police forco during tho prosont week. Dotootivo Fahey, formerly of Christchurch, has been added to tho local detective stall, aud Sergeant Twomoy has been sont up from Wellington to take chargo of the Onehunga station, the work there having increased to an extent that warrunts a eorgoant being placod in control. S'ergoane MuoKenzio, for same months stationod at Newton, has boon transferred to Gisborne, and the Nowtoa vacanoy will bo filled by Sergeant Watt, of Holonsvillo, who was promoted recently. Sergeant Siddells, of Gisborne, is to bo transferred to the deteotive department of the service, and will be stationed at Palmerston North. The news of his removal will be received with groat regrot by all soctions of tho public, as during tho fivo years ho has boon in Gisborne ho has been a mo6t energetic, painstaking, and zealous officer. The Magistrate's Court was occupied for some tiuio on Saturday hearing a charge against Charles Thomas Cooper, entertainment proprietor, that on Sunday, Deoern. bor 25. at Gisborne, ho did keep opon a public place, His Majesty’s Theatre, for tho transaction of business. Sergeant Siddolls appeared for tho prosecution, the defendant his own ease and plouding not guilty. After hoaring the ovidonoe His Worship said that tho defendant was charged with openiug the theatre for the purpose of transacting business. It was proved that ho did carry on business as proprietor of a biograph company and that he was carrying on his living on Sunday. The first portion of the seotion did not refer to tho present case at all. From the evidence it was proved that he had kept open tho theatre for business, and therefore brought himself under the Act. As there were no previous convictions in this district for this offence he would make a nominal fine of ss, costs 7s. A curious case wos before the Stipendiary Magistrate at Palmerston tho other day. A man was charged with having been on the premises of tho Masonio Hotel during prohibited • hours. In his evidence defendant said ho was an old friend of the liceuseo, and on the occasion

in question had been invited by his old friend to spend tho day. In this tho defendant was corroborated by tho licensee. The defendant further said he had seen a constable visit the hotel, and, suddenly thinking that thero might bo letters for him thero, wont into the hotel and looked at tho rack. Tho possibilities did not occur to him, A constable gave evidence to tho effect that defendant had not seen him when he first went into tho hotel. Directly defeodant did see him, he (defendant) remarksd : “ 1 know I’m liable, but I wanted to sbo if there were any letters ; it is tho only chance I’ve got.” Directly ho saw witness defendant walked very quickly to tho letter rack. In fining defendant 10s and costs, the Magistrate said he was not satisfied that the presence of the defendant at the hotel was not a breach of tho Act. The statement made to the cons able on the day in question showed that defendant felt he had no right in the hotel, and that he had to give somo explanation of being there. He evidently felt there was something wrong, and that he was liable. Tho explanation made in his evidence was not made to tho constable at the time, and therefore the Court was not satisfied it was a fact.