The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, JULY 11, 1906. MR MARCHANT’S REPORT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1805, 11 July 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, JULY 11, 1906. MR MARCHANT’S REPORT.

I Tun unanimity which characterised the special meeting of the Harbor Board is a pleasing feature, not so much for the novelty of the thing, as for the fact that all agreo the right thiDg has boen dono iu tho circumstances, An expedient for getting rid of tho range at tho rivor entrance has fjubmitted by Mr Merchant, and tho cheaper mothod adopted. There could be no justification forspending JilU.OuO when an f| uter harbor echcmo must ail the lime bo kept iu view. The engagement entered into with Mr

Marchant for reporting on an outer schema is a reasonable one. Haying decided to go into that subject, the Board must not hesitate to spend what is necessary to obtain the best and most complete information. When that has been set before the ratepayers in the fairest manner possible it will bo for tho latter to make up their , minds, and until then thero can be a i truce to tho discussion ou tho subject. ;

NATIVE LANDS.

Tins quostion of nativo lands keep coming to tlio fore, and must continue to do so while so much native land lies idle. The Wellington Post, in commenting on rocont corrospondonco ) attompts a character reading of the mombor for Waiapu “Tho Native Ministor,” it politoly statos, “ is ono of

tho most Ciourtoous and amiablo of mou, but tho dopartmont of which ho has boon tho nominal head for so many yoara would bo bettor sorvod by a gontlemau of loss ongaging (qualities, who would not show himself so amiable in tho presence of such monstrous abuses. Tho iiual settlement of the native laud question is a problem of groat complexity, requiring gonuino statesmanship for its proper solution, and hero and tliero amid their many spasmodic and inconsistent attempts to deal with it tho late Government showed some gleams of statesmanship which wo wore glad to rocogniso ; but to remedy the intolerable abuses to which our correspondent testifies, not a statosman, but only a political mechanic of ordinary intelligence and energy is required. It is a mere question of administration and procedure that is involved, and tho analogy of our other courts should supply a sufficient basis for action with a little aid from tho native oxperts.” The Tost thon denounces the treatment of tho Chief Judge of tho Native Land Court and tho appointment of Judge Palmer. “If ho is now further promoted to oust from tho highest office in tho court a gentleman who has almost ideal qualifications for tho position,” declares tho Post, “ it will bo enough to prove that tho present stop-gap Government, though too feeble to face Parliament for a wook, is, at, any rate, strong enough to porpetuato a most flagrant and audacious violation of a public trust ” And thon comes tho nastiest I knock of all cies available in tho Legislative Council, Government has surely no need to look to the Chief Judgeship of this important court for a reward for a faithful follower.” But these porsonal thrusts cannot help thesituation much The antipathy to Judge Palmer may or may not have some grounds, but if he shows the same capability as the retiring Chief ho will achieve success.

Tho Qisborno railway showed a profi jEIOI for May.

Perry’s Biorama opens io His Majesty’s Theatre to night. Teodors for painting the Tutanganui Hotel closo at noon to-day, with Mr F. J. Wileon, architect. Mails despatched from Melbourne, via Naples, on J une 6sh, arrived in London on July Bth. The thirteenth annual show of the Gisborne Poultry Fanciers’ Club will be held at the Theatre Royal on Friday and Saturday, July 20th and 21st. Messrs Common, Shelton and Co., Ltd., have reoeived instructions from Mr G. McDonald to -offer for ealo at his farm, Bushmere, on Wednesday, 15th August, all hie well-known herd of dairy cows. Our Tokomaru correspondent etates Mr Hulme, who was prostrated during tho search for Hare Mateoga, ia now progressing satisfactorily, although his feet are io a very bad condition, owiog to the severity of frost bito. There is rejoicing at Parangi, Taranaki, oo the birth of a female child, said to be tho first in that locality for twelvo years, and tho winner of a silver goblet which tho settlers deoided to presont to the first girl born in the district. Male progeny, strange to say, are numerous. Brigadier Albiston fSalvation Army Hour wourngton tins morning, and will remain in Gisborne till Monday next. The Brigadier is tho officer in charge of the Army operations for the North Island,

A presentation of a silver-mounted

walbiog stick was made last night to Mr James Pirie, by tho Co-operative staff, on the eve of his departure for Napier, where ho haa obtained a good positioo. He loaves for Napier this eveuiDg. It is raroly that so high a personage as tho Prime Minister of tho Australian Oommonwoalth is summoned to the District Court to explain why it was that he cycled on tho path instead of on tho high road, Such, indeed, was tho case in Melbourne tho other day, whoD, along with the names of Isn oilisr similar offenders, that of tho " Hon. Mr Alfred Deakin ” appeared on tho Distiiot Court ctnrgo sboet. All tho defendants, including the Prime Minister, wero each fined 2s 6J and cost?.

lu proposing the toast of “Tlie Ladies ’’ at the New Plymouth Poultry Society’s dinner, Mr Bitcliilc asked “who looks after the broody liens?” The meeting responded, “ The ladies.” “ Who feeds the chicks'.’” “The ladies.” “Who collects the eggs '? ” " The ladies.” again came the reply: now growing more vociferous. “ Who sells the eggs and takes all the money?” “Theladies!” roared the meeting, hugely enjoying the trap into which they laid been led,

There was a largo atieocUnce at Ilis Mejosty’s Th afe list evening, when ths Rev. Loie P. Prior held a message meeting, givirg c airyoj act and psychometrie tests fiotn mticlos supplied by the audi enco. Mrs Prior is a foroeful speaker, and thoio is groat power in her olairvoyant descriptions. She r csived a very attentive hearing, a mi cellaooous array of articles bemg handed up to provide psychometrie teets. Mr Mockmll, President of the Gisborne Spiritualistic Society, cccupied the chair.

Considerable damage, estimated at over £IO,OOO, was done by fire recently at Btan!ey Houso stables at Newmatke', the hoadquatteis of the Hon. G. Lambton who trains for Lord Derby, Lord Sianley and Lord Faiqubar, The stables, which were built cn'y four years ago, co3t £50,000. Over sixty raoehesrs were in tbom at the time ; but fortuuaie'y every one of them was got out without injury, though the majority of them tad to be allowed to run 10030 for the night. Afror raging for a couple cf hours, and destroying 28 boxes and otbor building*, the fire was got under by the Stanley House's own fire hrigade, assisted by numerous volunttors from otbor stables.

At tbo Police Court yesterday a man named William Smith, who Sergeant Williams stated was no sooner ouf of gaol than ho was to be found around the hotels, was finod £3 for drunkenness, or a fortnight’s imprisonment, oud fined £5 or six wetks, for obtaining liquor during the currpney of a prohibition order ; while Robert Mamhbanly was fined 10s for diunkonness, and £IG or throe months’ imprisonment for n second offenoe of obtaining liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. John Thornes Harris, who did not appoar, was finod £3 or seven ays’ imprisonment, for drunkenness.