The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2023, 7 March 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1907.

Now that the Arbitration Court’s decision has been given in what may be termed the slaughtermen’s strike, it' must become apparent to those who have to suffer tho penalties inflicted by tho Court that their action was not a wise one, because they could have gained the same end by more amicable means and with far less cost to themselves. In the whole of these disputes it is safe to say that the men have not gained that amount of sympathy from the public that a more conciliatory method would have ensured, and the benefits obtaiuod by "the strike could have been secured without resort to such strainod relations between employer and employed. Now that the men know their fate and the consequences of having taken tho law into their own hands one’s sympathies naturally go with the men who have to suffer, not because any approval can bo accorded to their actions in bringing the penalties upon themselves, but because they have been the victims of ill.judged advice given by men who have not taken part in the struggle, or shared the burden of the victims in any way; but who, on the contrary, have stood by under cover of anonymity, and stood to lose nothing if tho experiment had been more disastrous. It is an open secret that the whole matter of slaughtermen’s claims from one end of the colony to tho other was engineered from a central pivot in 'Wellington by one or two men who do not know how to slaughter a sheep, and who have given up manual labor for the easier work of sitting behind a table and talking politics without risking their own livelihood in standing beside the men they advise and taking thqir share of tho burden with them. By accepting tho advice of this little coterie the slaughtermen have suffered the loss of their valuable time in addition to ’the penalties and have gained nothing that could not have been gained by mutual negotiation, for in no case have the employers shown a disposition to treat them unfairly. It is but natural, of course, for each party to try to make the best- bargain possible, and no one can blame them for so doing, but to' the credit of the employers it must be said that they never at any stage of tho proceedings attempted to take advantage of their legal rights, or insisted upon matters remaining in statu quo until the Arbitration Court could sit to sottlo tho matters in dispute. They cheerfully couccded the principle that some increase of pay was due to the men, and liberally offered to make retrospective whatever increase the Court would grant. In the face of that fact there was lio sufficient reason for the men to cease work until the negotiations arrived at such a point that mutual agreement was found to be impossible, and even then the intervention of a volunteer arbitrator, as in the cases of the Wellington and Gisborne disputes, would have settled the whole business without loss to the men or the incurring of fines which would have been better spent in domestic requirements than in swelling the public exchequer. If tho men had been asked to contribute the ten or twelve pounds apiece which the matter lias now cost them to even a strike fund before the disputes arose, they would have hesitated to incur so large a liability; but they have allowed their imprudent advisers to drag them into the maelstrom of dispute in a way that was not best calculated to placate their opponents, or to give them their desires. Every fair-minded person admits that “the laborer is worthy of Iris hire,” and

Alessrs. AV. AA’ebb and Son, who recently purchased the old Theatre Royal building, announce that they have a quantity of second-hand timber for sale. The timber is sound, and will be disposed of cheaply, A quantity of second-hand joinery is also advertised.

Air A. Sawyer, wlio was employed by the Gisborne Slieepfarmors’ Co., was loading a horse up a plank from the deck of the ketch Coronation to tho wharf, when the horse slipped and pinned him to the deck. He was not seriously injured.

The polo carnival concludes to-day with a sports gathering. There are nineteen entries for the Polo Cup race, which is to take place on the Alakaraka course, other events following at the AA’illows. The sports will bo under the management of tho Alangalieia Club. The following players will repro : sent Te Rau Cricket Club in their match with Union to-day in the Domain:—Cary, Gorman, Junior, Alaude, Cox, J. AA’ack, AV. Andrews, Pirie, Olsen, Übert, and AV. H. AA’aek. The following represent the Union Club: O’Hara, Babs, AlcDonald, Lang (2), Coleman, Grant, Emanuel, Perry, Rice, O’Neill; emergencies, Sims and Allen.

It is a curious fact of which mention has previously been made that the Salvation Army is more popular in some towns than in others; and no reason can he found for the fact. It is worthy of note- that Ensign Slattery has left one town (Gisborne) where the Army is extraordinarily popular, and is going to another town (Eltham) in which the Army has a remarkable standing.

Answers to Correspondents.—“ Old Salt.” The greatest ocean depth yet discovered is that now known as tho Nero Deep in the North Pacific, so ■called after the American Survey ship Nero from which it was sounded last year. The depth is nearly six miles; but ivc are unable to state the exact depth in fathoms.—Ed. G.T.

A civil case was dealt with yesterday morning at the Police Court, before Messrs H. Lewis and J. AV. Bright, J.P.’s, when tho Gisborne Times Company (Air Blair) sued H. H. Kirby, to recover the sum of .-£lO 10s, advanced to him as passage money from Melbourne, ho intending to leave Gisborne. Judgment was given for the amount claimed and costs £1 9s Od.

Tho Cook County Council lias received intimation from tho Government that the £3OO voted last session for tho Waimata bridge is available, but at the same time the Department wants to know what the Council is prepared to give to supplement the amount, the estimated cost of the bridge being £ISOO. The County Clerk, in acknowledging the letter, refers to the proposal of tho Council to build three bridges at a cost of £4OOO, contingent on a Government grant -of £2OOO. An official reply of course cannot be given until tho matter is dealt with by the Council. ’

Adjutant and Mrs. Dickens, who arc to have control of the Salvation Army corps in Gisborne, arrived yesterday by the Waikare from Palmerston North. They were in charge at the latter placeijfor a short time, and were in contr’ol of the "Wanganui corps before that for about a year. Yesterday evening Ensign Slattery, whose place Adjutant Dickens is taking, accompanied by his wife, left by the Manuka en route ior Eltliain, Taranaki, where ho will have •control of the Taranaki division. There was a large- gathering of Salvationists and other friends at the wharf' to hid farewell to the Ensign and his. wife, and the band played a selection of airs, concluding with “Auld Lang Syne.”

Mr. "Wilson, of the firm o( Goode, Son and Matthews, who has boon retained to consider the report by Mr. Merchant on the formation of a harbor for Gisborne, arrived from tho north by the Manuka on AYednesday evening. He is to visit the proposed site to-day. Seen by a “Times” reporter yesterday evening, Mr. AA ilson said he could say nothing on the matter just then, and would not be able to do so during bis visit he would see the site and the plans, and some consideration would he necessary before an opinion could bo formed.

A meeting of the Chess Club was held at the Library yesterday evening. Present: Messrs. J. A. Connell (in the chair). C. Blackburn, J. Mahony. W. F. Crawford, J. II- Bull. J. "W. "Witty, and 11. Cognr. The following officers were elected for the ensiling year: President Mr. AY. 11.I 1 . Crawford, vice-presidents Messrs. J. T. AA r itty and J. A. Connell, committee president, vice-presidents, secretary and Messrs. J. H. Bull, J- Alabony, and C. Blackburn; secretary and treasurer Air. It. Cogar. . The Club is to meet at the Library on Saturday evening next at 7.30 o’clock.

In the final for tho championship holt at tho Now Zealand Rillo Association’s meeting, Corporul Breingan, of Gisborne, scored equal points with those who came fifth, sixth, and sovontli on tho list of winners.

In tho window of Air Cecil Davies’ crockery store in Peel stroot arc to be soon a half-crown, a shilling, and a sixpence, recovered rocently from the Elingamite wreck, tho vessel having been lost on tho Throe Kings Islands, about six years ago. Air Davies was a friend of tho determined diver who lost his life while endeavoring to recover the bullion on tho Elingamite, and obtained tho coins from his successor as a memento of his friend.

Mr. G. G. AA 7 ellsted, tho local station master, is leuving for a trip to the Old Country on a well-deserved pension. He lias had a varied career and lias in turn been a station cadet, barman, chemist, storekeeper, steward, cook, painter, butler, ami chainilia ii with a survey party. When the Maori war broke out in Taranaki in 1868 lie beeam ea trooper in the AVniiganui Armed Constabulary. Ho saw seven years’ service in the Taranaki and Urowera campaigns. He and a companion assiduously practised telegraphy and became tolerable operators. He was appointed postmaster at Blenheim and took charge of the combined railway and post office when the- former was inaugurated and has been station master at Caversham, Balclutha, Lumsdon, Featherstone, and finally Gisborne, where he remained up till tho prosei't.

Yesterday Air. Cecil Davies opened in Peel street a fine store for the salo of glass, china, and earthenware. The window has been very tasteiully dressed, a fine effect being produced by stacks of tea-sets, many-colored salad howls, massive and ornate flower pots, and ornaments and sundries of all descriptions. Here aro to be seen a selection irom the largo stock of flower vases, a huge, imposing, de-licately-colored Royal Dux vase being itself worth an inspection. The rest of the stock of vases are of first-class quality, and are st-ocked in all shapes, shades, and materials. Toilet sets aro shown in groat variety, and there is also a fine and diversified assortment of tea-sets. One of the largest departments of the establishment is tho ornament department, in which there is a bewildering variety; and a set of figures in the ancient Egyi>tian style, made in earthenware, or< unique in subject, coloring, and general effect. The stock of glassware is large, and includes ordinary domestic articles of all descriptions. It is safe to say that one will not find any form of glassware, ‘cliinaware, or earthenware not represented in tho store, and the seeker after solid, hard-wear-ing articles is as well catered for as the lover’of chic and unique crockery.