The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 4, 1906. THE WARD CABINET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1825, 4 August 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 4, 1906. THE WARD CABINET.

Tun forecast of tlio personnel of tlio now Ministry is much ns had been anticipated, and it must be acknowledged that in tho selection of the Ministry Sir Josoph Ward has oxerciued remarkable discretion. Where the late Premior believed in gathering to tho fold men who were more noted for their subservience than for their ability as administrators, Sir Joseph Ward is credited with having wisely chosen men who should be of great“assistance to him in the difficult task before him, Those who have been relieved of office, Messrs Duncan and Mills, could never be claimed as among the strong men of the Ministry, and even the valiant defence of the masterful Premior hardly reconciled the people to tho selection of those gentlemen for the responsible postg held by them. Mr Duncan had already taken the precaution to make it known that he did not care whother or not he was included in the reconstructed Ministry. Still it must be said for both gentlemen that they wore very popular in their constituencies, and Mr Seddon was usually careful to see that his colleagues were likely to be among the chosen when they had to face the electors. Messrs Fowlds McNab, and Millar are all men of ability. Each has a little fad that is not acceptable to the electors gener-

ally, but wo boliovo thoy will also liavo tho wisdom not (o thrust th o fads on an unwilling people. Altogether it must bo acknowledged that tho now Prornior has begun well, and wo liavo no doubt that from all sides ho will rocoivo fair play, aud oven considerable indulgence until lie has had a reasonable opportunity to get tho Ministry in working order and pronounce his policy.

HARBOR REPORTS. Tun adjourned mooting of tho Harbor Hoard on Mond: y ohould not bo a very vexatious matter as far as Mr Marchant is concerned. Tho hitch

that has arison provos how necessary it is to liavo business matters arranged without delay or the leaving of anything to aftor thought. Had terms been arranged boforo M Marchant loft Gbsborno, as would liavo boon arranged in tho case of any manual work or supply of material

involving sucli a large sum, there could hardly have been any subsequent disagreement as to torms. A layman reading tho torms sot out by Mr Marchant in his .letter to tho Board would conclude that the cost of the report to ho obtained would arnouut to over a thousand pounds, aud as the roloasod loan money is now practically exhausted and tho general fund must bo trenched on for such expense, the pressure will become burdensome. It may be that tho position now simply arises from a misunderstanding between tho Enginoor and tho Board, and tho proper thing for both sidos is to have that cleared up in the way proposed, for when all is said nd done tho supporters of an outor harbor will hud a fairly solid opposition on the part of ratepayers who believe that such a w’ork may well stand over for a time until the burden lias been lightened by the steady growth of the district. It would be a great pity to have any preliminary hitch, and the Hoard will bo doing right in seeing that the ground is made as clear as possible in regard to the report to be obtained.

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION, The news from Russia to-day is of a more than ordinarily sensational character. .Hut in the records of mutinous outbreaks one point stands out clearly. The zeal of

some of the revolutionaries in tearing up the railway lines doomed to failure a revolutionary movement of gigantic propor lions. Thu authorities have so far been able to deal promptly and effectively with the mutineers ; though the torch applied has again inflamed the people, the upholders of the autocracy still hold the mutinous masses in cheek A state of war has been proclaimed at Kronstadt, wo are informed, which is no doubt meant to be a state of martial law in the more acute Russian form. There is said to be the utmost alarm and apprehension prevailing

at Hi. Petersburg, which might well be expected in view of what is happening in other parts of Russia. There does not seem much hope of success from the present extensive outbreak, but the use of further repressive measures, as threatened, may bring about that climax of which the outcome will be a successful revolution.

THE VETERANS’ RACE. Tin; sculling race among the veterans, to take place at Sydney to day, is arousing very keen interest in the State which has produced so many sculling champions, ft seems rather a pitiable thing that a limn of seventy years of age should be induced to come out in a rowing contest. Poor old Dick Green is on the scratch mark. What old-time memories are raked up by mention of the name of that veteran, and more recently of Beach, Kemp, and McLean. While a great deal cannot bo attached to a race of this kind front a rowing point of view, it will at least serve to remind us of the splendid stamp of men that have come to the fore in rowing circles in New South Wales, It is certainly something to be proud of in regard to prowess in aquatics. The race to-day of course can hardly be taken seriously as a rowing test.