The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1988, 25 January 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 1907.

To-day, more than any other of the throe hundred and sixty five that divide the complete journey of this little globe of ours round the sun, Scotsmen all over the world will wish that the whole population of the globe were Scotsmen like themselves. Not because Scotsmen have any illwill otwards the remaining portion of the inhabitants of the earth; but because of the sincere belief they en tertain that to enter heaven it is almost necessary to be a Scotsman. If you are asked when is a Scotsman a real Scotsman you can truthfully answer, On the 25th of January, because on that day this little globe of ours comes round to the same point in space that it stood in when the most adored Scotsman that over adorned the earth was born. That man was Robert Burns, and his natal day surpassetli Hogmanay, for it bringeth back to the minds of all true Scotsmen the typical characteristics of their race so well and faithfully depicted in song by the “Baird of Ayr.” It must not be supposed, however, that the annual journey of the earth is completed to the desired point in obedience to the importance of the event or the influence of Scotland upon “the wheels of nature,” although it has been said that the coincidence is remarkable that Burns was born at Alloway in Ayr and the earth 'comes all the way in air to reach the spot on the 25th of June after travelling over three hundred millions of miles. That, of course, is but a coincidence, and to-day Scotsmen all over the globe will celebrate the happy event that gave to their beloved country so great a man who alone caused his countrymen to understand themselves, and inspired in them a patriotism that would have been to a large extent wasted without the inspiration of his homely verse. Through verso Burns has endeared himself to the generations of his countiymen that have followed him, and those that are to come will continue to sing his praises. The rugged charm of his songs appealed to his countrymen as nothing else could appeal to them, and the manly sentiment that always pervaded his

themes loft its induonco upon tlioir hearts . AA’hat wonder is it then that to-day his devotees have magnified his memory into saerodnoss and elevated his shrine into the realms of the gods. Burns deserved it all, for his life was typical of manliness, and il' it was not tinged with tho puritanism of tho present day it only shows that his nature was a true one and. that lie did not try to hide his faults. AVliat ho did ho dill manfully and boldly, and whatever faults he did display were far more than counterbalanced by thoso excellent qualities' of kindness, of love, of generosity, and of all the other estimable things that constitute him what he really was—ono of nature’s noblemen, notwithstanding his faults, for after all, who is there without them? Had Burns soared to the highest flights of poesy and embalmed his sentiments in tho tlowery language of Byron or a Richter, the chances are that his memory would he almost forgotten to-day instead of being adored oil all sides' of the globe and treasured wherever a Scotsman exists, hut ho spoke to his countrymen in the vernacular which they best understood, and by doing so they grasped the sublimity of his thoughts and took thorn to themselves as a second gospel of human virtue. “Aiva’ ye selfish wardly race,

AVlia think ye having sense and grace E’en lovo ail’ friendship should gi’ place, To catch the pluck, I diinia want to see your face Or learago crack. But ye whom pleasure charms, AVliose heart the tido o’ k’lidness warms, AVho hold our being on tho terms, Each aid the other. Como to my heart, come to my arms, My friends, my brothers.” Thus wrote Burns in doubtful lnetm which the captious critics could make sport of; hut when they had mastered tlm method of expression they would find that the sentiment was faultless, lofty, and good, and they would find also that not ono of them could have expressed those sentiments in a way that would so easily or effectively appeal to the class of people for whom Burns wrote A T et lie was by no means devoid of the true sense of poetry or the power to express it, for what poet lias expressed a prettier similo than—‘•Pleasures are like poppies spread, You seize the flower, its bloom is shed, Or like the snowflake on the river, A moment white it melts for ever.” And tho inan who wrote that ins but a self-educated plough-boy. All honor to his memory, and the natio.i that produced him.

“The Shadows of a Great City” at Jlis Majesty’s to-night. A publican’s license for the AA’airoa races was not granted. . Two sheep dogs, lost from tho Record Reign Hotel, are advertised for. An old and respected resident. Mr. Denton Tate, died yesterday morning. Captain Tucker and Mr. A\ 7 i Pore have been appointed members of 'lie Legislative Council. - Mr. F. J. Wilson, architect, invites tenders for the removal of two cottages from Peel street. A meeting of the Gisborne Debating Society will be held in the Union Bank buildings at 7 to-night. To-morrow night’s train will bo delayed till after the performance of “Under Remand” by the Holloway Dramatic Company. The steamer Fanny yesterday brought 245 rams, consigned to Common, Shelton and Co., Murray, Roberts and Co., and AVilliams and Kettle.

Acceptances for first day’s events at the Gisborne Racing Club’s Summer Meeting and entries for minor events for both days close on Tuesday night at 9 o’clock. For the Fire Brigade tournament at Christchurch, the team chosen to represent tho Gisborne Brigade are: Sub-Superintendent G. AA’ildisli (captain), Foreman A. Thomson, Junior Uiancliman McLaughlin, Firemen J. Sim and N. Kirk; emergency, AA r . Fraser. The first and second heats in connection with the Poverty Bay Rowing Club's trial fours for Mr. B. S. Cox’s trophies were rowed over the the Waimata course last evening. Young’s crew had an easy win from Archie Kirk, and Sheehan beat Stuart after a very hard tussle. These races will be continued tuis evening, the crews leaving the slims at 5.45 p.m. It is understood that a permanent clerk will shortly bo placed in charge of the local olfice of the Agricultural Department, the district now being constituted a separate stock district. Any inconvenience, therefore, that may have been experienced by farmers and business people in the past owing to the absence of the stock inspector will now. bo obviated, as in the near future the office will bo constantly open during business hours.

Strong representations have recently been made throughout the Thames Valley district) to induce Mr J. A. Young, of Hamilton, to become a candidate for the now Tauranga electorate. Mr Young has just passed through Walton, Waharoa and Matamata, on his way to the Te Buko, Tauranga, and Katikati localities, so as to ascertain the feeling on the other side of the range, before giving his final reply. Mr T. W. Fisher, who has been appointed a Native Band Court Judge, was for many years one of the largest farmers in the Waitotara district. Ho was a member of the Wellington Band Board for a considerable period. For several years past he was a native reserve agent at New Plymouth, and President of the Aotea Maori Council, and has an intimate knowledge o fnative language and customs. Mr. M. J. Gilfedder, who has also received a place on the Native Band Court Bench, was at one time the member for Wallace iii the House of Representatives. It is announced that Mr. F. Edgar, who is about to retire from the position of Under-Secretary for Native Affairs, will tako up Native Appellate Court work.

In regard to arsenical spray for codlin moth, the annexed mixture is recommended by Mr George Quinn, of the South Australian Department of Agriculture. It has gone through many severe tests, and is known as Kedzie’s mixture. It is made as follows: —lib white arsenic, 21b washing soda, 1 gallon-rainwater. Boil until the arsenic and soda arc dissolved. This is the stock solution. To one pint of it add JO gallons of water, into which .the milk of lime from 01b to 81b newly-slacked quicklime is strained. The fresh lime is most important : otherwise no combination takes place, and the wash will burn the foliage and the fruit. The stock solution is very poisonous, and should be kept under lock and key to prevent the possibility of accident.

.A racing enthusiast who is. or was, the owner of a racehorse, entered the said horse for a race, looking upon it as a sure thing. As he lived out of town, he brought the animal in on the night before the race, and accepted the generous offer of a friend to put it in his stable. A few hours after. the steed had been locked up for the night, a budding youth employed by the owner of the stable happened to come along, and was greatly pained and shocked to find a strange horse occupying the “boss’s” stable. With the remark that it was “darned cheek for a dead-beat to use tlio stable without the boss’s permission,” the budding youth forcibly expelled the horse with the aid of half a brick. Next morning there was trouble, and the budding youth, after having been duly carpeted, was cast into the outer darkness to look for the steed. In the course of time he found it, but the awful experiences of the night had evidently been too much for the poor animal, for it came nowhere in the race.