The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAR, 20 1906.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1703, 20 March 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAR, 20 1906.

SOUTH AFRICAN PROSPECTS. South Africa and its troubles is ever before the British public, claiming attention from all parts of the Empire. The war is an event of the past, matters relative to settlement of the conflict are arising. Self-government having been promised the new colonies, the Home Government are discussing the question of responsible versus representative government; the labor question, Chinese v. Kaffir and white, a day or two back was debated in the House of Commons; Lord Milner’s policy as High Commissioner in South Africa is to be criticised by the British Parliament; and now enquiry is to bo made into the native rising in Natal. No doubt an enquiry into the Natal trouble will give rise to the question of what will be the relation of the colored people to the whites. The question of black, labor versus white labor has been decided by the climate in favor of the colored races, and as the bulk of the population is now black, so it will remain. Ihe substractum of society, which is largor than the strata it supports, seems likely to be, probably for ever, com* posed of colored persons. The grades of advancement amoDg these natives from pure barbarism to civilisation are almost infinite. Scarcely, lees varied are the intellectual capacities of the different elements in the mixed multitude of bblored people/ All are alike treated by the whites as divided from themselves by a wide and impassable gulf, a sentiment of repulsion being generally entertained by the higher toward . the less advanced races. This situation is likely, to gro.w worse than better as time goes on because the more educated and capable the natives become, the more will their industrial competition press upon the whites, and the less inclined will the natives be to acquiesce, as they do now, in the social disparagement and inferiority to which the contempt and aversion of the whites condemn them. The future place between the white and the black will largely, depend upon the wisdom and temper with which the higher race treats the backward one, and leads it

onward and : upward. The other race problem seen in the rivalry of the Dutch and the English is not likely to be a serious factor in South African

affairs, for in this case fusion is possible. ■ South Africa seems destined to

belong to the English type of civilisation, and to speak the English tongue. But the Dutch tongue also will hold its ground for many years to come, and

Boor traits will no doubt powerfully affect tho South African character as it acquires, aftor a generation or two, a settled and distinctive quality. Tho wish and hope of overyouo is that tho fusion will como about by a process of gradual assimilation similar to that which turned Englishmen and Scotchmen from onomios into friends.

Mrs Campbell, of Oxford House, Pori Btroot, has vacunoioa for soveral boardors.

Mr D. Gutbau'ay, of Kai'ak', will have ohorgo of tbo station and post lillioo at Te Kavaka from the Ist April. At tho Magistrate’,) Court yesterday tho case of Mary It ait v. John lta.t (Mr Lysnar), ui order for maintenance, was brought befoio Mr Barton, B.M , and adjourood until this morning, Mr H. H. Sharp has bcon offered £75 for his chestnut mare Flog, winner of the Tolago Bay J.O. Handicap. Tho offor is from a Tolago Boy sy n fioato,, nnd it is probable tbat a silo will bo effected. Ojo of tbo moit pleasing foatues o' tie Tologo Bay Jockey Club’s annuolmeeting wns tho ollotmout of weights by Mr 0. H. Bennett, handieappor to tho club. There was not a single exprrssioa of dissatisfootion hoatd on eithor day, but rn tho contrary very favorable comments were passed, and Mr Bennett reoeived many oongratula’ions upon his handioipping. An application was made at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to take ovideoco of defondant in a Wellington maintenance case. Mr Barton, S.M., stated that bo was g’ad that provision had been made for such a procedure, os often whoa defendant was in a destitute condition it caused muoh hardsh’p through his inability to find the means to travel to tbo Court, where the oase was heard. A social will bo tondcred to-night to Mr A. Caioott on the eve of his depatture for tho Salvation Army Training Gsrrisor, Melbourne. Mr Calcott has been a member of the 1000 l oorps for many years, and has always taken an active part in the good work of the Army. He will go through a course of training for twelve months befoio taking an appointment as an officer in the Army. An elderly man, named John McFar--1 anwas brought before Mr Barton, S.M., yesterday on a ohargo of drunkenness. Accused, who bal been out on bail, was ordered to be looked up until the morning, his Worship declining to take a man’s plea while under tho influence of drink. Frederick Seeker, who did not appeir, was convicted of diunkenness, and fined the sum of 18s, ersts 2j,

A meeting of those interested in the formation of a company to exploit the fishing industry hero was held last evening. As the meetiDg was not BtroDg enough to form a company it was deoided that the promoter, Mr Cotterell, canvass the town for suppoit, and lay all information before those desirous of assisting the venture. If Buffloient inducement was promised a meeting would bo called at a later date.

Tho meetiDg of the Chamber of Commerce, oonvenod for yesterday ofternooa, for tbo purpose of making arrangements for the space to be acquired by Poverty Bay at the Christohuroh Exhibition, 'apsed for want of a quorum. It was deoided that Mr E. L. Maude, secretary Chamber of Oommeroe and looal Exhibition Committee, sse the president of tho Chamber, and find out how muob spaoe would be required If the publio did not take sufficient interest in the aubjeet to attend the next meeting, it was agreed to take no further steps in the matter.

At the Police Court yesterday Rangi Thompson, who pleaded guilty last week to a charge of horse-etoaliDg, was brought before Mr BartOD, S.M. The police reported that the horse bad been recovered, and that there waß nothing reoorded against accused. His Worship took into consideration the youth’s previous good character, and the assistance rendered in recovering the s'olen property. The accused was admitted to probation for eix months on the usual terms, with the speoial oondition that he paid the oosts of proseculion, £2 7s 61, within a month.

A lengthy meeting of the Committee of a:-r. Domlina Clnh V.„M U«t evening, when several matters of interest were discussed. In regard to the HaitiCity matoh, it was deoided by four to two, that the game should oount as a win for City. Arrangements were made for the continuation of the shield matches on Thursday next, and it was deoided to olose entries on Wednesday for the Simson Cup. Entries for the fours and first year’s players matches olose on Thursday. Effotts will also be made to get forward with the champion of champions matoh, The Seoreiary announced that photographs of the Wellington tournament were to hand, and those desiring them could order them,

The appeal made by the Gisborne City Band to the residents of Gisburne should meet with heatty and generous response, a 3 there is no more worthy' institution. The band have at all times given their services to the publio without charge, and in many cases have even been put to considerable personal out-of-pooket expenses to meet their engagements. The public should reoognUe that the band is their own, all properties being vested in several well-known citizens for the people of Gisborne, As Gisborne is advancing we are sure they are not asking too muoh in the amount stated in the appeal, and we hope to see a willing response, so as to bring the band in line with other plaoes, The Hauiti Brass Band ball, held in the band hall, Hauiti, on F.iday and Saturday nights, in aid of the band’s funds, proved a most enjoyable function, danoing being oarried oo until an early hour in the morning. A large number of visitors from Gisborne and a'oeg the East Coast were present, and were very hospitably entertained A very pleasing oeremony was performed the second night, when Mr Nepia, To Arai, on beba'f of tho Hdauri/ Mabaki, Mahutonga, and Rongowbaka visitors, presented the sum of il4 5s 2d to the band, They had heard the band at at the races, and it gave them pleasure to contribute towards the upkeep of the institution. The presentation was made with full Maori ceremony, each note being thrown into the middle cf the hall during the speech. At the conclusion of the oeremony a deluge of ooins was thrown into the centre of the room. The bandmaster suitably acknowledged tho gift. The Hauiti Brass Band is a orodit to tha township, and fully deserves recognition of its services from tbo people of Uawa,