The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, NOV. 6, 1906.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1924, 6 November 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, NOV. 6, 1906.

The terrible tale which is presented to-day in the cablegrams from Russia, recording the year’s work, will probably fail to attract the attention it should do, for the reason that the daily chapter of Russian horrors has almost resolved into the commonplace. It is like a great drama in which at every turn there is a sensation of the blood-curdling typo, The statistics given are in themselves horrifying, and we all know that as far as an actual statement of the position is concerned the figures supplied may be set down as fiction. They are merely a faint indication of the real state of affairs. The worst of it all is that there seems no way out of the trouble except a continuation of such terrible deeds as one must almost shudder to think of. Last week a statement was made that the Stolypin Cabinet was practically conceding all that had been asked, but no one would attach the

nlitrlitoßt crodonon to that statement. Tyranny mid outrage urn lining mot by vengeance of tbo worst typ" ;

assassination Ims become an alums!, everyday crime, and t.Jio assassins aro lining exalted into heroes among a largo class o£ people. JJrutality and anarchy reign supremo, and the wholosalo executions hoohi to have no

dotorront effect on those seolcing to wrouk vongoanco on tho authorities, The real surpriso in regard to nows from Russia nowadays is not that any dreadful occurrence should bo recorded, but that a day should pans without tho rocord of something that would under ordinary oiromnstariooH appear startling. This droadful condition of things auroly cannot continue indefinitely ovon in such a remarkable country as

Russia, which can stand what would reduce many a country to ruin.

Coe Day! Those who have boon in Australia liavo some idoa of tho visions conjured up by tlioso two words, for lovo of horso racing, a strong trait among colonials generally, is ossen->

tidily so iii Australia. Cup Day this year will bo associated with remark* ablo circumstances. Never in the history of Australia has there been such force brought to bear against gambling than at the prosont day. Tho appeals of the Sydney bookmakers tc lot them liavo Cup Day unmolested could bo regarded humorously were there not such a serious aspect to tho case. The outrageous impudence of making such a request to a Minister of the Crown shows chat tho gamblers feel strong in their power despite the great suppression movement. Whether that movement is only spasmodic, or is likely to gather force and spread further afield cannot yet bejudgod; but to have reached the stage of compelling Australian newspapers to cease publishing butting odds is undoubtedly a triumph for the auti-gamblers. In Now Zealand wo have had tho mockery of a Bill introduced in the dying hours of the session, when it had no hope of being passed. Apart, howevor, from the subject of betting, those who can enjoy a horse race minus the aid or drawback of betting will probably feel keen interest in to-day’s Cup race. New Zealand is represented by one of tho favorites, and opinion is equally divided between that horse and the brilliant three-year-old which won the Derby on Saturday. The history of tho race 3hows that the favorites in the majority of cases do not win—in fact some of them have been hopelessly beaten —and yet all the “ tipsters” give their opinion that Poseidon must furnish the winner to day, and dofeat the New Zealander. All who love a horse for its own sake would dearly like to see that contest to-day, far more so than those who simply regard the raeo as a means of trying to win somebody else’s money.

The reports coming to hand regarding the Exhibition are not of that roseate hue which had been anticipated, and reading between the liues there is every indication of a huge white elephant consuming much of the colony’s cash away down on the City of the Plains. It is estimated that the Stato has over £IOO,OOO at issue in the venture. Government do not state that; but with the information they do give, and the supplementary information obtainable from other sources, the estimate does not seem unreasonable. The State being intern ested in the project to such an extent it is to evoryone’s interest for the Exhibition to bo a great success. It is a pity that the reports of the main features of the Exhibition should be spoilt by captious criticism. On two days running messages have been sent all over the colony grumbling at the absence of catalogues. Inattention to these little matters must no doubt affect the whole concern, but surely it is not necessary to have these com' plaints sent broadcast, with the probable result of damaging the Exhibition ? It seems also that people are expecting a great deal for very little, and are objecting to some of the charges for admission. They seem to forget that it is highly desirable the Exhibition should be made to pay its way, and not become as one cartoonist has depicted it, a huge white elephant consuming the funds of the colony. But for consummate impudence the favored West Coast must be awarded the championship. The railway autho rities have kindly, at the expense of the rest of the colony, arranged a oneday service between Hokitika and Christchurch, and the pampered people on the West Coast are actually calling indignation meetings to denounce the conduct of the Department. The Department is certainly open to grave criticism at times, but if the Hokitika people have a grievance in this matter what must be the tale of the people in the north, who are not offered any of these remarkable advantages ? It seems that the more the Hokitika people get the more they want, and even at the expense of making a laughing stock of themselves they will persist in pressing their cl aim for luxuries denied to the rest of the colony. They are welcome to their indignation meetings, but they should show some small spirit of loyalty and not try to wreck the Exhibition by trumpeting their alleged grievances throughout the colony. Many people know the West Coa3t, and appreciate the comedy; unfortunately some people do not know it, and are apt to take these matters seriously. 'I he Exhibition is entitled to fair play from all loyal colonists.

Shocking news comes from China to-day. Missionaries report a terrible famine. It is reported that ten million people arc on the brink of starvation. Think of it! Many times the whole population of New Zealand suffering the pangs of hunger and all the horrors of famine 1 or nearly double the whole population of the Commonwealth and New Zealand combined. With such an enormous population having a precarious existence, famine is inevitable when through any particular cause tiic food supply fails No particulars being given the famine may not be as bad as some previous ones, but no matter what the degree of comparison the visitation must be a dreadful one, calling forth hot sympathy of tho_world.