The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GIBBORNE, JULY 26, 1906. THE FLOOD AND ROADS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1818, 26 July 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GIBBORNE, JULY 26, 1906. THE FLOOD AND ROADS.

There is a feeling in some quarters

that journalistic keenness led to so

much being made out of the late flood as to seriously damage the reputation of the district. Numerous telegrams of a most anxious nature wero received er.q liring after the welfare of friends as if the town of Gisborne itself had been overwhelmed with disaster. The reason for these enquiries is better understood when we note the great space and numerous headlines given to the subject by some journals. In Auckland particularly tho few hours’ ilood got as much prominonco nearly

ns tho san Francisco earthquake. Serious as'tlio loss is to a number of individuals who can ill afford such an oxpoiienco, only harm can couao from tho “ booming” of tho Hood us if tho whole of tho district had boon complotoly dovastatod. But however groat

tho prominonco given in this direction thoro can bo no doubt that the Oook County Coir cil has boon very modost in its call on tho public purse. Tho damage caused to roads lias not been exaggerated ; it lias been groatly minimised. The work of years was swopt away in a day or two, Thoso who are accustomod to obtaining good metal at a light cost can hardly understand what the destruction of a small piece of macadamised road in this district really means. Mr Carroll of course has that knowledge, and can loud a sympathetic oar to tho claims of our local bodies. Ho knew the difficulties to bo contended with under ordinary circumstances, and should have an equally good knowledge of what tho recent damage moans. Iho Council has been most modest in what

it has asked for, and we trust that Mr Carroll will be able to secure that assistance which may be justly looked for. Sympathetic replies are reassuring, and we liopo will be speeddy given effect to in actual practice.

Tho Matawhoro stocic sales will be hold to-day. Mr Hawley, Collector of Customs, roturnod from a short visit to Australia yostorday. Yesterday was Arbor Day, but with tho exception that tho Government offices wore closod no public notice was taken.

The general committee organising the swimming bath social meets tonight in tho Borough Council Chamber at 7 ;>0 to receive report of the executive and pass accounts.

At Ilia Majesty’s Theatre to-night the Rev Loie F. Prior will hold a message meeting and seance. Psychometric tests will be given from dowers sent up by tho audience. The Poverty Bay Rugby Union has arranged for the match, Te Aute v. Poverty Bay, to be played at 'the Victoria Domain on Saturday next. This match proved a very exciting game last season, and it is hoped the match will be made an annual one. The following will represent Te Aute:

Rangi, Grennell, Piwhairangi, Brown, BroughtoD, Halbert (2), Rongo. Friday, Wepiha, Patihana, Moehe, Peni, Matanuku, Pine, Purikura, Euro, Hoke, Mutu, Hira. The Poverty Bay team will he Riddell, Nolan, Hay, RobinsoD, Rowe, Turei, Poulsen, Puflett, SwanD, Blair, Wells, Thomson, Johnston, Newton, Stewart and Hansen. The junior matches have been suspended.

By the s.s. Manuka yesterday Mrs Barker, and the Misses B irker, returned from a visit to England and the Continent.

The boekey match this afternoon will be between West End aod City, KL Krha being unable to raise a team.

Miss Amy Murphy, tho New Zealand soprano, was a through passenger by the Manuka yesterday, and spent a few hours ashore with friends.

We acknowledge the sum of one guinea from Mr T. A. Crawford, of Gisborne, and two pounds from Mr Hegarty, of Maogatu, towards the Times flood fund. These sums, in addition to tho amounts previously collected, have been banded over to the central oommittee.

At a mrc'ing of the Gisborne Reobabite Tont last evening, a committeo was appointed to go into the question of es‘ablishing a benevolent fund in connection with the Tent. A meeting of tho entertainment was held afterwards, when fiaal arrangements were made f.r the annual entertainment on August Bth, After a passage of six and a half days tram Auckland the Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ s.s. Ko6are put io aa appsannee yesterday morning. Tin vessel htd to Bfek shelter at Cabbage B i.y, Trypheoa Hither, Whangaparoa, and Whale Island, experiencing heavy north-easterly gabs, with high seas and thick, rainy weather.

Aa no steamer cat) be got to visit Waipiro Bay during the next frw days, it has been droided to bury the bodies of the into Captain Nicolas and Mrs Nico'as at W»ipiro. Tho many friends of tbe family will regret that this course bas been takeD, bet under the circumstances it could not possibly bo prevented. Me P. L. McDonagh, representing J. S Lindsay and Co., 21, Coombes’ Arcade, Auckland, has Braced in Qisborna for the puipoeoof establishing a branch of tbe Credit Reporting Agency. Branches have been formed in tho chief towns of the Auckland district, and aro of great assistanco to tradespeople in oolleoting overdue aeoounts.

The Gisborne Poultry Fanoiers’ Olub’s show will bo bold in the Theatre Rjyal to-morrow and Saturday. This is tbe thirteenth annual show of the Club, and prom’sss to bo one of tbe most suooeßsful yet held. The judging will be c impletod at 2 p.m. on Friday, when the doors will be rpon to tbs public. Tbe show will be open to 10 o’clock to-morrow evening, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday. At Pouawa on Mouday last Mr F Moore had a very narrow esoape from drowning. Ho was engaged with two others on a oontraot for Meters Evan?, Nield and Co , and bad to cress tbe river

to get tn work. Moore safely negotiated tbo fo-d, but his oompaniens would not make the attempt, and Moore started on bis return. Tho horse was oarried past ibe landing, and in struggling up the steep bank, ovetbahmesd, anl horse and rider were precipitated into the water. Moore was discovered, after a search, oliuging on to ihe branohis of an overhanging willow, and was extricoted in a thoroughly oxhaus'ed condition. Tho horse was drownrd.

Mr Hcgarty, of Mangatu, who arrived

in town yesterday, informed a Times ropiescntativ3 that the fall of snow in that Hi:trick on Sunday week last was partioularly heavy, and was tho main reason of ibo flood on the flits. At his home-.‘•t-cod, which is 750 feet above Eea level, ffiere was a deplh of eighteen inches of mov, whilst on tbo highlands, 3500 feet alove st a love 1 , thero was fully six feet of snow. •* It rrquirod no prophet to tell what was go ! ng to happen,” remarked Mr Higarty, " and tbe first thing I tried to do war to ring up on tho telephone to inform my friends on the flat what they might t xpcck Uufortunately the telephone lice was brektro, and I oould not give the svpinir g in time.” The importance of having a substantial telrphouo lino was urged by Mr Hrgsrty, who considered that it was in this direc ion (hit subsoriptioos should go. With a siuid telephone eer vice Information in r?ga:d to weather conditions could be communicated tj settlers on tbe flit, and tbey wculd thus receive ample warning to remove their stock.

The ceremony of unveiling the monument to the kite Ripcrata, mother of Mrs Carroll, will take place at To Eure, Wai kanac, to-morrow.

Mr 15. 11, Aislabio lias been appointed postmaster at Tiniroto, Mr I!. B.uice at Kanaekanuc, and Mr P. McUcnnott at Wharekopae.

Among recent cullers at the High Commissioner's office, stales a London correspondent, are Mr and Mrs C. A. deLautour ami .Air and Airs F. A. Lord. Tho two sons of tlie Prince of Wales, Pii.ee Edward and Frinca Albert, took part in a cricket match at "Windsor recently. Both sliapod well at the wicket, aud they are said to have in them the making of firstclass batsmen ; while both did some smart things in the field. The elevens, which were composed of small boys, principally from Eton College, were captained by the two Princes. The King and Queen were interested spectators for a timo.