The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERT MORNING. GISBORNE, OCT. 18, 1905. MAORI LAND BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1587, 18 October 1905, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERT MORNING. GISBORNE, OCT. 18, 1905. MAORI LAND BILL.

There is now every reason to hope that Mr Oarroll’s Maori Land Settlement Bil] will be pushed through this session. A clause of great importance to the district was inserted in the Bill by Governor's message just before midnight last night, to the e£feot that where a majority of the owners in a block are consenting parties the Government will have the right to acquire tbo land. The rapidity with whioh the Bill is being pushed through prevents close touch being kept with the alterations made, but so far as they can be followed on the report-sent by telegraph there seems every reason to feel pleased with Bill, notwithstanding amendments. It will prove of enormous value to this district, and though perhaps not going quite so far in some respeots as we would like, it seems to be a highly satisfactory measure.

Tho Gisborne Sheepfarmers' Frozen Mead Oo.’s works will ro-open to receive stock for freezing on Monday next.

Messrs Rodstono and Sons’ Coast coaoh loaves for Tolago Bay at 8.80 to-morrow morning. Tho steamor Tuatea, tho Union Company’s now tender for Gisborne, was to leave Auckland, via Limestone Island, at 10 o’olock last ovcning. At tho Foltoe Court yoslorday John Rcapliy was lined 10s and costs for drunkenness, and £2 for being found on lioonsod premises during tho ourroncy of a prohibition order. At their auction mart to day Messrs Bain Bros, will dispono of n quantity of household furniture and effects, and on Saturday will soli a valuablo building site , in upper Gladstone road. At Tolago Boy on Monday ovoning, Mr Woll was asked the following question : “ If the Bon. J, Carroll bs not returned next election, who is to be our noxt Premier ?’’ When tho applause whioh followed bad ceased, the candidate replied, “ I am afraid that question is a little beyond mo. If you tell mo who is going to got into tho Hauso I may be able to pick him.’’ (Laughter and applause.) The local rowing olubs have fixed on Friday noxt (Trafalgar Day) for the opening of tbo rowing season, and immediately after the opening of the band rotunda at tbo Point, a procession of steamer excur-

sions to the Bay will take place. Owners of launches and private boats are invited to take part in the procession. The following bookings are reported by Mr W. Miller through Thos. Cook and Bon’s local agenoy For London :Mr F. Barnes, per Mongolia, leaving Sydney Ootober 28; Mr H. Wilson, per Barbarossa, leaving Sydney, November 11 ; for Hongkong, Mr M. Maritz, per Chingtu, leaving Sydney November 17 ; for Capo Town, Mr S. Barker, per Salami's, leaving Sydney Decembor Ist; world’s tour, Mr and Mrs Harry Bayly, leaving Sydney March -21st. There are a number of enquiries for accommodation in boats, sailing oarly next year, and intending passengers would do well to secure their berths early. Prohibition is not very popular on the Coast, and at each of the meetings Mr H. EL Wall is being very severely crossexamined in regard to it. The following is a sample of the questions asked “ Would Mr Wall, if elected, be prepared to subsidise an expensive coastguard to prevent smuggling cheap liquor ?’* “Is is not a fact that along the Bast Coast line of 220 miles two whito policemen have under lioense been found sufficient ? And bow many do you think would be required if prohibition were carried and sly-grog selling rampant ?” Mr J. Sheridan, who aoted as chairman for Mr H. Wall at his Tolago meeting, in his introductory remarks po'nted out that the conteei was being conducted in a friendly spirit, that though Mr Wall was a Prohibitionist his chairman that evening was a wino and spirit merchant, and Mr Sheridan, though generally regarded as a staunoh supporter of the Hon. Jae. Carroll and certainly an intimate friend of Mr Clayton’s, nevertheless felt that in acoepting the position ho bad beeo asked to take that night, his duty would be a light and pleasant one, and that he oould bespeak for the candidate a fair and attentive hear-

ing, whetbor or not they agreed with tho views he advocated. (Applause). He hoped that the friendly spirit manifested would be maintained throughout tho contest.