The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE. NOV. 22, 1906.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1940, 23 November 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE. NOV. 22, 1906.

A iiovjesijjxt liaa been started in Auckland which may seem at first sight to be supeifluoug; but a moment's consideration must convince anyone who knows the conditions bearing upon tho question that thore is ample reason for the movement that has taken shape under the expressive title of “The National League of New Zealand/’ the chief object of which is “to ensure domestic peace and secu-

rity from all possible invasion.” There are those who think that there is little chance of any threatened invasion of these shores from outsido, and that therefore the stai.ing of this league is a superfluity; but (boro are many reasons why, even if that were so, wo should not aUogethor overlook the important question of a safe national defence. There is, unfoitu sately, too strong a tendency to overlook that question altogether in times of peace, and to leave the matter of attending to the defences of the country to the Minister who has charge of that Department. Every nation that adopts that policy is a doomed one ; and in the history of the pa3t century may be found many instances of national disaster that could be dirGctly traced to neglect in taking proper aud finely precautions to, keep the nation’s defences in a state of efficiency. Can anyone believe, for instance, that Japan would have defeated the Rus-

sian hordes if the latter had been as active in making preparations for thoir own safety as the former were in preparing for the attack, or that the Spanish fleet would have crumbled to dust almost bsfore the first American broadside if Spain had taken reasonable precautions to preserve her fleet and the prestige of the nation instead of committing national suicide in going to war without preparation. The

Franco« Prussian war is another instance of “ the survival of the fittest,” because the fittest in that case had in time of peace established her army on a war footing while France as a nation devoted itself to social degeneracy while the other nation was preparing for all possibilities, and her triumphant march to Paris was the result.

Germany is just as active to day as she was then, and the lessons of 187 Q and '7l have not been forgotten by her erstwhile enemies ; Eussia though defeated, discredited, and internally embroiled to the point of atomic disintegration, has not yet lost her persis

| tent desire to possess a seaboard free jj from winter’s ice, and may recuperate 1 sooner than is now expected ; Japan, though tethered for the nonce by an alliance with Biitain, is flushed with her unexpected successes and desires

to become more famous, while China's four hundred millions aro determined to rid themselves of the foreigner end ' if poesible to acquire new territory for her congested population, and is already following the example o? the Jap in having some of the e millions convorted into wauiou. Then who can say that poace is permanently secured ? But that is not sll. In

Southern Africa, apart from our own immediate relationship wbh the Boers who have strong sympathisers in both Germany and Holland, the interests of three nations are converging upon contact points, and in Morocco tney have already met (so far amicably_), j but there is no permanent guarantee for thestability of peaceable conditions. |

America is strong though isolated, but (every one of the nations feels the ] incentive to capture commerce wherever it can be found, and in that respect there is not a permanently safe spot on the globe, or a place where diplomacy is not put to the test to

maintain peaceable conditions. Far | off South America is now attracting attention as a field for colonisation and the extension of business, and competi-. tion between manufacturing nations is becoming so keen that militarism is an I absolute necessity as an adjunct to its national success, and the nation that neglects to support it 3 commercial enterprise with up-to-date naval and

military display must lag behind her stronger rivals in the competitive battles. Even peaceful Britain is not unmindful of her necessities, and the launching of huge battleships and military reorganisation are in the air. The ramifications of her trade and interests reach every corner of the earth, and the protection of her colonies compels her to hold command of avarv hah - but. nvon fnr snch a tri-eat '

nation tho task may bo too big a ono if those) colonios do not loud a hand or

if they allow tho instinct of solfpresoivatiou to bo lulled into a sonso of fulso nooutity simply because them uro no immediate anticipations of international strife. Therefore tho

movement of which wo liavo spoken finds ample justification in tho most peaceful outlook, and it behoves ovory truo Briton to lend his aid to tho spreading of its tonots and tho realisation of its object. This can only bo secured by united and timely action, and tho “ ptuieoublo citizen” who desires not war cau boat attain bis dosiros by being prepared for combat whon the necessity urines and the confiiet is inevitable. Ho should remember, tea, that tho man who would refuse to do this is no patriot, nor has ho a right to expect others to fight for his safety if ho is unwilling to do it himself; but how can ho do it effectively if ho is not prepared ? His clear duty, therefore, both to himsolf and to tho nation is to become prepared with the least possible delay, and tho most convonient way to start the preparation is to become a member of the National League of New Zealand.

Tho fino now bridge ot Maiowhoro was opened yobterdoy without any oeromony. Mr T. Adair, who haH boon visiting Wairon, roturnod yesterday. Word w»3 received last night at tho polico station, Qisburoo, that a Maori had died suddenly whilo ahouring at Tarawora. No further particulars were available. Wanganui pipers give npproeiativo notions of Me W. S. Dusiio, she wellknown caterer, who has joi red tho ranks of Giaborno businoas men. “Wo wish Mr Dustin every hucoeea in his new venture,” slatos tho Chronicle.

Miss Lily Raes (writes tho N Z. EEsrald correspondent) has boen visiting England prior to returning to her home in New Zealand, early in December. Mies Bose llees has been achieving suoeess as an authoress oi plays and writer of stories. The Ohrislchuroh Press, in a oompli montary reference to Mr J. Whinray’s efforts to have Gisborne represented at the Exhibition, slates : “ Tho Exhibition would be all tho better if New Zealand could boast of a fow more men like Mr Whinray, of Gisborne, 1 ’

Even Magistrates may make mistakes as well as the polios. A oouple of days ago Mr Barton mentioned to Sergeant Williams about “being more oarotul in searching the reoords, as he (Mr Barton) was suro the offsador bad been before him proyiously.” Although the reoords have since been searehed back 20 years no previous conviotion has boon found against tho man in question, and tho only time he was ever in the local Court was as a witnos in an ordinary earn.

Mr W. Miller has disposed of a portion of his interest in Wonderland ” at tho Exhibition at a good profit. “ Wonderland ” is proving a great success. Yesterday afternoon tho East Mounted liiiles were instructed in squad' ron drill, and judging distances by sight) by Btaff-Scrgcaut Major Burr. In the

evening a dismounted parade was held, anddrill instruction given, as well as judging distances by souud. At the conclusion ol' the parade Lieutenant Evans addressed the men. A number of tho corps will probably go into camp with the- Gisborne Bifics in the first week in December. 11 Was the wire intact V ” asked a solicitor in the Court yesterday of a witness. 11 No, it was new,” was tho reply of tho witness.

Thorc was no polico business in tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Some heated argument took place in tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday between two solicitors in a civil case. The defen-

dant had lost a letter written by plaintiff, and defendant’s solicitor asserted that plaintiff’s solicitor should have produced a copy of same without special notice under the usual stereotyped notice that all documents should be produced. The position taken up by tho defendant’s solicitor was characterised as absurd, and after some heat had boen shown on both sides, His Worship made peace, and asked the Bar not to waste any further time.

In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday in tho undefended case of Henry B. Smith (Mr Blair) v, Minnie Kathleen Perry, a verdict was given for plaintiff for the amount claimed, £8 18s, costs £1 11s 6d, In the case of A. H. Gillman (Mr Blair) against Eratara Whaitcre, judgment was entered by consent for XT 9s 4d, costs 18s. In judgment summons A. H. Gillman (Mr Blair) against Maka Kangitenea, a verdict was given i'oi' Do os 9d, or four days’ imprisonment. Christopher Boaciy (Mr Lysnar) v. Thos. Howell, a verdict was given for balance of claim, T 9 14s, iu default 10 days’ imprisonment. A claim brought on by Geo. Colebrook against Geo. Moss for Tl Os (3d for board, ginger boor, hop beer, cigarettes, etc., I occupied Mr Barton in tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon for about half-an-liour. From tho ovidcnce of tho parties it appeared that a Maori, named Ohuka, purporting to bo a brother of Mr Ngata, M.H.R., had obtained board for a few days from Colebrook, who looked to the defendant for tho money for same, as ho (defondant) had stated ho would be responsible. After hearing the evidence of both parties, His Worship knocked 6doff tho account and gave a verdict for plaintiff for £l, with 6s costs.