The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE. JANUARY 17, 1905. GISBORNE-AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1356, 17 January 1905, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE. JANUARY 17, 1905. GISBORNE-AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Tho New Zealand Herald of Friday las'ii liaa an, able article on. the subject of railways. After referring at some length to the slow progress of of the main Trunk line, and the ridiculously small amounts allocated to tho north of Auckland compared to the expenditure in the South, the writer goes on to contrast the manner. in .which the highljr-i important .Gibbornc-Auckland railway, is dealt .with in the light of what is being done in the ease of loss productive works. ” Sir Joseph Ward,” .the article states,. ” has possibly in' his mind some railway proposition Which would at least modify the discontent that will otherwise wrest every provincial seat from the Seddon party at the next elections. As we have said, we are getting practically, nothing in the shape of railway construction from tho public funds although wo are the leading contributor to those funds. What ia to be done bo, push forward the (North of Auckland line and the Gis-.borne-Ro'torua ■? And what does Sir Joseph think of the utter neglect ■that- leaves the magnificent country north of Gisborne shut up from profitable use by absence of railway, communication ? In this last mentioned district alone there is more good land waiting settlement than in the wllolo of the South Island. It has a had coast, Tauranga being the only decent port between Coromandel and Gisborne, hut it lias fine and extensive stretches .of really good land. The residents and local authorities or the district are endeavouring to secure railway communication between Gisborne and Opotiki and the lands beyond. The lands in use arc famous for tho productivity. ; the Government has great local interest in the iiossession of large blocks of "Crown lands Which would become valuable the moment a railway went towards them. 'F;or the residents to consider the raising of private capital,, for the local authorities to seek to build a railway, on their own responsibility, arc trenchant criticisms upon’ tlio condition, to which Auckland Province has been reduced. If ' tlio Otago Central waited lor somebody other, than the .Government to build it, or even to talk of building it, it would wait for a century, as Sir Joseph must he well aware. ' .Yet to build t-lie Otago .Central and similar lines, Auckland Province is being starved and lines arc neglected which, were the Government to retire altogether from tho railway business, would he built and rumrinig within a few years. Wo [would therefore ask the Minister for Railways, who lias a keener business instinct than is usual with our politicians, what ho thinks of the O.potiki proposal ? It is a perfectly legitimate'one, bccauso such a railway will tap country add open up to settlement Crown lands whose desirability ia admitted on all hands. If tlic pflo'vinco is to be fairly dealt witn we should npt only have work vigorously pushed' on the North of Auckland, but have similar energy employed in opening up the country to the north of Gisborne.”

It is pleasing 'to see that Auckland people are beginning tu take keener interest in what must eventually become their most important line, lor the reason that it will tap such a vast area of rich land.

The Borough Council meets to-night. ,“Tho Boso of the Biviora ” at Hie Majesty's to-morrow evening. Tenders close to-morrow for the erection of a school at Whatatutu.

The Tyscr Company's s.s. Tomoana sailed for Napier last evening. The balance-sheet of the Cook County for the half-year ondiug 30th September last appears as an inset in this issue. Messrs Dalgoty and Co. have joined Messrs CotnmoD, Shelton and Co. in the Puhatikotiko stock sale. The treasurer of the Cook Memorial Fund (children’s section) acknowledges 2s received from the children of the Biverhoad school. Waitemata—previously acknowledged £192 13s 61d, total £192 15s 6Jd-

By far the biggest lot of scenery and baggage ever landed in Gisborne came to hand by the Taiune on Sunday afternoon in charge of Mr George Stephenson’s staff of mechanists, who are now making all necessary preparations for the opening production to morrow evening. The biennial meeting of tho District Council of the Now Zealand Central District of the Independent Order of Bechabites is to be hold in Dunedin early next month. We understand that already 50 representatives from the various Tents have been appointed to attend the meeting which promises to bo tho largest yet heTd by the Order in tho colony.

The following crews have been selected for the Schumacher Cup, by the Selection Committoe of the Gisborne BowiDg Club : —Bayly, Swinnerton, P. Hamilton, Dobson ; Donkin, (Smith, Pulling, DeLautour; William?, Martin, Keiha, Cummings; Bodie, Puflett, Hales, Bharland; Adair, Willock, Sharp, Butler; Johnston, Nolan, Doyle, Williamson; Hamilton, BrookiDg, Pangii Eiobarde.

Messrs Mnckroll and Colloy aro making good progross with tho now Club building iu Lowo street. Tho main portion of tho framo work ia nlrondy up. Last woek a rocord in pig-driving was registered by Mr Tbolwall, who drovo a mob of 400 bead from Mr W. D. Lyanar’a Arowhana Station to Okitu in four daya. In regard to tho miabap to tbo atoomor Wuinui a Nelson telogram states : Tho a.a, Wuinui bus u alight loak in bor foro tank, but is not othorwiso injurod. Tbo criekot fixturoa for Thursday next aro Common, Sholton and Co. V. Turauganui on No. 2 wicket, and Union and Uisbomo try conclusions on tho now wicket.

Tbo following weights havo boon doolared for tbo Foxton Cup :—BoEeal 8.10, Douche 84, Suufish 7.0, St. Joo 7.8, Ngatarua 7.1, Seagull 7.0, Tirolo 6.10, Tomairangi G. 12, Rapids 0.10, Ruugarawa 6 9. Tbo great realisation sale held by tho Mclbourno Cash has boon pbonomonally successful, a largo volume of business having boon transacted sinco Saturday. Tbo whole of tbo firm’s lurgo stock of drapery, millinery, and men’s clothing is boing oilorod at greatly rodueed prices. Tho salo will continue for a fortnight. Tho first beat iu the handicap double sculls of the Poverty, Bay. Rowing

Club for Mr Kllcrbeek/s photos, wasi rowed ofi between the crews stroked by. M, Gmail, 3sce., and S. Roderick, 3 see. The I’ormer was too many for hia opponent, and won fairly easily. Another heat will lie rowed at about six o'clock this evening. A farewell social was tendered to Adjutant Hildreth last evening dy friends and soldiers of the local

corps of the Salvation Army, During thei,r three years in Gisborne Adjutant and Mrs Hildreth have made many friends, who will wish them God speed in their future work in Musterton.

Yesterday there was a haze over tho laud, caused by hush' fires. An amber shade was cast over the town. The sitting stut formed a pioturesque sight. From five o’clock it was like a bright red hall. Tho oficct on the seashore was very pretty, ruby colors hashing on the waters'. Ac one time it seemed as if bathers on the Waikanca beach wore plunged into beautifully colored water. The moon rose clear, hut as it was setting this morning it was like a flaming red hall.