The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, NOV. 10, 1906.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1929, 10 November 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, NOV. 10, 1906.

“ How the mighty have fallen.” General Stoessel, we are told, has had to apply to a eharitablo institution for relief, yet only a couple of years ago he was the only lion of a great army of a nation that covers one-fifth of the dry land of a whole hemisphere. He was in fact the only man standing between the Czar of all the Russias and ignominious defeat, for Kourapatkin, the Commandor-inNChiof of the Army, was “ advancing northwards ” in Manchuria before Oyama’d forces while Stoessel was at least keeping the enemy at bay at l J ort Arthur through one of the greatest sieges in the history of international wars. But Stoessel surrendered and was court'Diartialled, or, it would bo perhaps more correct to say, made the scapegoat of the nation that had to invent an excuse for defeat, and ha was blamed for lowering his Hag to the Japanese at a time and under circumstances that made any other course uuwiso and criminal if not altogether impossible. He might, of course, have held out a iow days longer j but he chose an

honorublo surrender to an inevitable defeat., and savod many liven by ho doing. Ho had fought a stubborn light, and addod ono more utory to the gruesome list of historical conflicts which placed hie naino amongst thoso famous men who have taken a fore most part in tlio dofeneo of their country. Every nation on oartli ex copt the ono to which ho belonged accorded him tho highost praise for the part ho had taken, and his intrepid opponent admitted that his valor and resource wero things to bo admired and emulated. At tho time of his surrender tlio Kiusian Army elsewhere wero demoralised, a fact which lie probably know, and certain defeat stared the Russian legions in the faco at every point. There was positively no hope of success for thorn whether Port Arthur held out a month or a year longer, and the only tiling loft upon which a faint hope may have found a temporary resting place was tho bare chance of the Baltic Hoot under jtonhdostveusky escaping Togo’s vigilance before reaching its destination ; but no one know better than the Russian generals themselves that tho cause of tho Baltic fleet was but a feint of exceedingly doubtful utility, and that had it boon otherwise koshdostvensky would not have wasted valuable time in fighting fishing si tricks on tho Dogger Bank and looking for someone to detain him in western waters. 110 was in no hurry to go to Btoessel’s assist auce, and if Stoossel did not know of his countryman’s real plans no was amply justified in believing that lie could hope for no relief for his beleaguered garrison from any such expedition, and so he wisely surrendered to his inevitable fate iu stead of getting his men killed either by wounds or starvation, bio had already done his part and done it nobly; but, as wo havo said, the nation’s prestige required an excuse for its defeat, and dtoessel was the selectod scapegoat. Kourapatkin’s record might havo furnished all requirements in that respect, or the excuse might havo been found in tue miserable transport and commissariat arrangements that were controlled by corruption and incompetence of the worst kind ; but to do the right thiug or to punish the real offender has never been the desire of Russian officialdom, so the blame was feebly laid at Stoessel’s door, and the punishment was placed upon the head of the ono and only man that had fought for Russia as a man should fight since the days of the great Skobeloff. Poor brave Stoessel has been deprived of his rank and become an outcast and a pauper while other funky fellows who held high rank by favor of the Court may yet have the chance to repeat their disgraceful tactics under pretence of serving their country. It is a pitiful tale, and one most probably without a parallel; but while anathematising the Russian potentate and his advisers for permitting such things to occur, one should not forget that warriors who have fought for the protection of the British Crown and displayed their valor on the battlefield have not always received that measuro of justice or appreciation that was their duo, and it has been no uncommon thing to find old veterans of the battlefield and heroes of historic ware being cast into the workhouses of Great Britain to eke out a miserable existence for the fow remaining years of their lives when their decrepid frames could no longer sustain the effort necessary to earn a living for themselves. Even some of “ the noble six hundred,” whose deeds the late poet laureate has embalmed in neverdying pcetic strains, have ended their existence in that way, and hundreds of others equally brave have met a similar fate and have died ‘‘unhonored and unsung” in the midst of poverty and experiencing a coldness of public appreciation equal to any that has been felt on the heights of Balaclava in midwinter.

*■ Whon vf&t is co« and dangor 13 nigh God find tho eoldi-or is all ths ory. But when war is over and dmgac rightai God is forgotten and thaaoldier is alighted.

Mr and Mrs C. A. DeLautour returned from England yesterday. Mr Marobans, who has gone to Tim wu, is having further inhumation sen! down to him ho that ho ean there oomplete his pinna for the outer harbor. A pleasant social took place at His Majesty’s Theatre last night, about sixty coupler participating. Sts Worship the Mayor and Mayoress, togothor with a oumbor of Councillors, were present, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. Mies Moore’s orchestra supplied oxcidlent urusio, and Messrs Gaudin and Webb acted as M.O.V, The floor was in good condition, and dancing went on merrily until a late hour. A supper was provided, by the ladies, and a good spread wolc mid tho dancers on adj mrnment, full ja-mou boing done to tho good things provided. The tables wero tastefully decorated with flrwore. It is intouded that the ptooaeda of the social will be utilised with other moneys to pay for a memorial drinliiDg fountain, whioh is contemplated in Glad* stone road.

The following passengers arrived by tho b.s. Manuka yesterday afternoon from South :—lntercolonial : Megdames Rioharde, DeLautour, Wood, Miss Wilson, Meßsrs Rioharde, and DeLautour. Coastal: Mesdames Hughes, Jones, Bennett, Murphy, Soarfer and 3 ohildcen, Biuoo, Yowles, Walworth, Graham. Norman and child, Campbell, Misseß Wyles, Mauraie, Guptell, Poflett, Messrs Bennett, Cook, Wardrop, Higg, BuchanaD, Muir (2), Oram, Marshall, Dearßley, Taple, Todd, Kennedy, Gondy, Reardon, Patton, Outhbers, Collins, Brown, Williams, Johnson, Ritchie, Crompton, Jones (2), Dell (2). Plotueki, Washer, King (2), Morris, Eaton, Freemm, Lycob, Harrison, Gold, emitb, and Pratloy. Outward : Mes dames Gardner, Veale, and child, Ohriep, Messrs Pike, BowmaD, Forsyth, and Mansfield,

A mooting oi the Hospital Social Comtnit'.eo was held on Thursday night, the Mayor presiding, The balance-sheet was presented by Mr T. A. Coleman, showing the net proceeds to be bended over to tho hospital to be about £176 2s 7d, to which the Government subsidy has to bo added The Mayor said that all things considered the result was highly satisfactory, and ccrnirg Q 9 the affair did after tho flood, tho surprise was that they had done so well. It was practically a town affair on tbi3 ccoaeion ; tho usual generous couutry support could not be expected. Tho oommitteo had every reason to congratulate 'hem ; olvcs on the great sueoess attained. Tbero was one feature which should be guarded against in the future in acme way. A number of peoplo had waited for tho'children’s night, when the charge was only Is, instead of going on tho first night, Mr Withers said eomo bad not only waited for tho sbiiling night, but wero dissatisfied because they were not allowed to go on the floor oarl'er. Mr Little reforred to the previous years, and said the reoent social oould be classed as a groat sucoets, Ho specially referred to tho groat assistance given by the ladies who had supplied the edibles, and the appreciative remarks were cordially endortel by the Mayor aod other speakers, and a special vote of thanks was accorded tc them. Votes of thanks were eccorded to the ladies and all others who had asei-tod ; to the New Zealand Shipping Company and the manager (Mr R. G. Hallamore) for the use of the woo! store ; sc Mies Mooro and her band for playing tho exiras ; to Dr Sohumaoher, for She u'a of his motor ear; to Messrs Tuohy and Neenan, for supplying evergroins; to tho doorkeepers, and others who had kindiy helped, tho Mayor eonoludirg with a vote of thanks to tho secretaries. A vote of £5 5* Was passed to tho Baud and £3 3s to Mr Withers for ; 'the great assistance given. Last year , each band rtp3iv6d £3 3-’,

The next Harbor Board olootion taken place in February. Tho olootivo members aro Mosers Hardffig, Hopburu, Lysnar, and Whinray.

Tho rain yesterday caused the Floral Fete to ho postponed, probably until Thursday next.

A Gibing party went oul yesterday morniDg, but bad weathor sotting iu the fishermen had no luck.

Yesterday morning a mnn namod Wm> Manning, (or grossly indeooui conduct oDd resisting tho police, reooivod 43 hours oo

the first oount, and was fined £3 or seven days (or resisting tho pohco, O/i Thursday James Downs, a bushman of Tahora, was Good LI, and L2 4h 6.1 costs, or sovon days’ imprisoumont,

for appropriating a pair of bullock horns, tho property of Frank W. Road. Tho floe was not paid, Downs oleoiing to “ take it out.”

Jamos Robert Oorreh, found goilty of stealing jowsllory, and romanded to enable inquiries to bo made us to his antooedentß, was on Thursday brought up for Bontoneo. Sergeant Williams said he had not found anything recorded against accused. Ths latter was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor in Napier gaol on oaoh oflonoo, sentences to bo concurrent.

Ths team to represent the Wanderers’ Cricket Club against Uuitod this afternoon at tho Domain will he chosen from the

following : —McOoll, McConnell, O'Hara, Torkiugtun, libart, O’Hadoran, O’Donnell Sharp, Muudo, Adamson, Wnluog any Barry, Woai, Oman aud Were.

Mesirs W. Pettin and Co. osll ep ci«! attention to their furnishing departmi nt W.’UCii is now stock d vvitn a firm ra g < »>l

ca peia, oto., of t,xoiUslva designs and o go quality.

O.ia'ng ti the ccLmunoy of tho wea'-her too cricket m ito > Marriorl v. did not take place yesterday. If the weatuur takes up the olub matoticjs will be commenced this uf.ornocn.

A mail for the Oaited Kingdom, Continent of Europe, oio. (due in London, Do oornber 28. d), oloses per Wanaka to-day (Saturday, November 10« b), at 4 pin., conceding with Manuka at Auckland and O/ieDt boat at Melbourne, via Suez. This will be tho last mail before Christmai.

Before Mr Barton, S.M , on Thursday in the case of Council v. J. R,Redstone for driving horses on a footpath, Mr Stock appeared for defendant, and pleaded guilty A fine of 10s and 7s costs was imposed. Tho holiday yesterday was spoilt by the rain, but there was still rejoicing, the rain being much needed and very welcome,. During tho services in the Baptist Tabernacle to-morrow, the Rev. D. Parry will discourse in the morning on “ The Inexhaustible,” and in the evening his subject will be. ‘‘A Matter of Choice.” On Sunday Wesley Church will hold the Sunday school anniversary. Rev. W. Grant, Mr Palk, and Rev. C. Griffin are the preachers, each taking an appropriate subject. There will be special music, the choir and children being assisted by an efficient orchestra. Collections will be for Sunday school fund. The Navua, which landed at Auckland from the Islands, brought only 107 cases of oranges, of which 72 cases were condemned as being infected with the fruit fly.

A volcano on Tufaa Island, 70 miles from Tonga, was in active eruption on. October 28rd. There are three new cones on top of the crater, and they are discharging with a great noise streams of lava, which are flowing into the lake of the old crater. On the voyage of the steamer Navua between Lautoka, Fiji, and Suva, it was discovered that the steamer’s safe had been broken open and robbed of £IOOO, which was in a case. Tho safe was opened with a key, and locked up again prior to the discovery of the theft. The safe contained a thousand sovereigns, also four boxes of silver coin. The gold had disappeared, leaving no trace, but the silver was untouched. Such large sums of money are carried for trading purposes, At the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, Mr Barton, S.M., presiding, verdicts were given in the following cases for the amounts claimed:—H. N. Lysnar (W, D,

Lysnar) v. Henry Davis, £4 16s 2d with 103 costs; Wm. Miller (Mr Bright; v,

Alfred Henry Sadd, £5 18s 2d, costs 23s 6d; R. 11. Image (Mr Blair) v. Basil Saxe Frieka, £1 Is 9d, costs 9s ; Richard Hawkins (Mr A. Coleman) v, Martin Turei, £49 9s 7d, costs £2 18s, Several cases on tho list were postponed by consent, while others were struck out owing to there be-

ing nowppearancc of the parties. Oj TtiU-slay evening ttio Wanderers, eapiuiasd by Mr J. A. Htrdiug, paid a visit to the Cosmopolitan Club. Mr Arntridg?, president of ths Cosmopolitan, cordially welcomed the visitors, assuriug jbem that they were always glad to see them. Various games of cards aud billiards were indulged in, 43 players taking part, tho result of the play for the night being 57 to 64 in favor of the Cosmopolitans. At 9.30 the company adj jucuod to supper, wtnon was kindly provided by Mr G. B. Oman, of the British Empire Hotel, who went to special troubio in the matter. Play was then rotumed, concluding about 11 o’clock. At the conclusion, Mr Harding, on behalf of

the Wanderers, thanked the Oosmopo’

tan 3 for a very pleasant evening, and ttusied to Hg,in visit ths club. Mr Leydon, vice president, responded. Mr Ambridge added a few words, ia which he apologised for the poorness of tho olub’s present quarters, and trusted on the oooasion of the next visit by the Wan derers his club would have tnuoh finer quarters to welcome them, as they contemplated having more suitable premises in tbe near future.