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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2006, 15 February 1907, Page 4

Exhibition last week, and tlio main corridor was a perfumed blaze of colour. Most notable were Homo exquisite azaleas —in pales* tones of llamo, cinnamon, ivory, and primroso, which had just arrived from Belgium, and woro in full bloom, in pathetic disregard of the soasons of their new habitat. A curious exhibit was a collection of Jnpanoso trees, gnarled and of groat ago, but only a foot or two high. Somo bales wore among tlioso, which wore perfect miniatures of aged forest trees. EXHIBITION BILLIARDS. 'There is a magnificent oxh'bit of billiard tables and accessories, from Aleoclc’s, and twice a day a professional showed admiring crowds what ho could do with cue and balls, which it is impressed on you, must bo made of erystallate. Mr Bragg, as the professional was unjustly named, could do almost anything with Ins implements. A twist ol Ins linger would send an obedient ball curving round another and into a pocket, or steoplochnsing over rests and making impossible cannons. His hand billiards wero marvellously fine, and his calm, cool persistence an evident factor in his success. The faces round the enclosure woro intensely interested, and somo stolid countrymen actually woro moved to applause. SUNDRY SHOWS.

Various memory scraps occur to me as I write. There is the American Fairy Floss stall, whore the linencoated boy is for ever lifting wreaths of what scorns like cotton wool from a whirling pan and stalling them into card-board boxes. It is really most delectable, though sadly evanescent. Real American pop-corn, too, is made before your eyes by a picturesque French cook, and bought hot and fragrant by many. The handful of corn he throws into the .wire pan turns quickly into the most charming soft white balls as they dance above the gas. The only “patter man is ho who sells a marvellous combination instrument, _ such as most men have invested in once m their lives, and which as a rule is about as useful as Max Adder’s ironing table that turned into a stepladder. The particular vendor in the Exhibition has a fearsome flow of languago and a voice like a brake that wants oiling But lie is always surrounded by a crowd and disposes easily of his wares. The \ ictory stall—with momentous of Nelson—is in one of the galleries, which are littlo frequented. The gallened stem of tho battleship rises from floor to roof, and medals, busts and shields, together with a veritablo bulkhead taken from tho ship quite close to where tho hero fell, stand on the countor below. In the gallery, too, stands the huge moa, contrived and built by Mr Hamilton from bones and kiwi feathers. Tho needlework is exquisite, and it seems strange—in view of tho great spaces still empty—that it should not be more adequately shown. There are piles of handsome quilts, made and sent m with justifiable pride, that are almost hidden, ;uid have evidently not been unfolded. NOTHING FOR NOTHING HAVE. Verily the Exhibition —go you ever so carefully on your way—is a place in which to spend money. Except a few samples and pamphlets, nothing is given away, and a pound, when changed, disappears magically with nothing to show for it. Afternoon tea is a shilling anl luncheon unobtainable. My saddest recollection is that of an alleged restamant where most tilings were oil’, and one wished i. at tho remainder had joined the majority, for it was extremely nasty and ill-served, and the two shillings demanded wore handed over with a protest. But even this aas a warning, an experience, and something to laugh over ruefully when the flavor rf tho over-drawn-tea, and the appalling stew has disappeared. Like other tilings, the Exhibition looks better in perspective, when one has forgotten the weary limbs, the tired feeling, f.nd the aching eyes. But it is an experience—even an education --everyone ought to obtain —if possible ,‘ovon if a bed in a steamer allowav is the introduction or the finale to it. Travelling in herds as is tho case just now is fraught with discomfort, but even on a crowded boat on a bad passage, there is humour if you look for it. As regards whether the Exhibition will he a financial success or not, it does not matter to the ordinary individual who has gratified his fun and his fancy. But there are distinct whispers' of soitig very interesting differences of opinion, in which Mr. Munro looms largely, to bo threshed out when the doors close finally.

THEFTS BY A SOLICITOR. Harry Francis, tbo Christchurch solicitor, who pleaded guilty to several charges of thefts of clients’ money, appeared for sentence before Mr. Justice Chapman. The accused, when called upon, said that ho was not represented by counsel, and, for certain reasons, he had declined offers to bo represented. Ho handed in a statement to the Judge, in the course of which he said: “I have pleaded guilty to tho charges of theft brought against me, and I cannot attempt to justify my actions, but, although your Honor has doubtless often had the same plea urged, I do assert that in no single case did I commit the acts with the deliberate intentions of ultimately robbing my clients, whose money I have appropriated I have always

lived plainly, mid not one shilling of any money involved in my defalcations has gone into my own pocket, and I am bankrupt. When I was arrested the 15s I had on me was all the money I had. One of the prosecutors knew the state of my affairs, and also that I had a chance of getting the greater part of the money required if I had a reasonable time allowed. He would not give this time; he got almost the last pound I had out of me, and then issued the warrant for my arres't, so cutting from under my feet the last chance I had of settling with him and others. From the first I have given every assistance to the police in going through my papers and arriving at the state of my affairs and voluntarily giving them particulars of my defalcations. I have always had the hope of gotting my affairs straight. This and the desperate noed of ready money have caused me to yield to temptation and obtain money by wrongful means.” His Honor said that ho was very sorry to see a member of the accused’s profession in that plight. He had read with care the statement that ho had made, and, making duo allowance for the fact that it was one which lie had no means of verifying, ho had given some consideration to it, hut lie gave more consideration to the fact that the accused was well advanced in years, and that the likelihood of any further criminality on his part was extremely small. The accused had referred in his written statement to a case recently dealt with in Wellington, Jlo quite recognised that the accused’s case was a very different one; at the same time lie could not overlook the fact that there was an accumulation of offences; it was not one, but it was in a measure systematic. The excuses that were given by accused were those which wore very conunonly put forward by men who found themselves in the position of the accused, but they were not valid excuses, although they could not ho overlooked. Ho, liowcver, intended to give more consideration to the fact of the accused’s age, and to the crushing effect that any sentence' must have upon such a man. Taking that into consideration, and also taking into consideration his duty, which must bo to deal more severely with a professional man than ho would have to do with any poor dork who might drift into the same plight, he thought the least sentence that lie could inflict upon the accused was one of 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labor.

N.Z. Government Veterinarian ap' proves Sykes’s Abortion Cure. When the Government Veterinarian endorses a preparation it means that .lie is satisfied that it is the best. Captain Young is the Government Veterinarian in charge of Taranaki Province—the largest dairying district in the Colony. This is what lie says of Sykes’s ' Animal Abortion Cure: “A most useful preparation in handy form with superior advantages over tabloids, for the prevention and cure of abortion, and one which I can safely recommend.—A. R. Young, M.R.C.V.S., Govt. Vet. in charge of Taranaki Province.” Cows which have aborted, or health',’ animals which, after calving, rei. .: 'hr- whole or part of flip afterbirth, ••h-.-idd Hr-V be drenched with .' = ProTu-h, d ::i- allays the fever wborr*. " t »;«.••••-!;. ! w *_■» •. Sykes’s Animal AL'-rtien C"-*. g- pd. j YTHY GO HUNGRY. If your stomach is weak and you :ire suffering from indigestion, don’t ril:-« your health and comfort. Tint whc-’i•some food you want. !'••') I-., <■, D,. -bal lon’s Diges- : 1 after 1: nival. They and build you ;:p. y.-hije iL. • : ] is recovering its jiattuvi tenv.