The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2036, 22 March 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1907.

An interesting <caso under tlio Lands for Settlement Act came beforo the Marlborough Land Board recently which shows in a very unfavorable light how the Act affects tlio question of genuine land settlement. It appears that in tlio ballot for the famous Flaxbourno Estate' some eighteen months ago a certain Christchurch bicycle agent, who was not a practical farmer, succeeded in drawing a section of the Estate in tlio ballot and never afterwards did anything more to fulfil tlio conditions of settlement as applied to the holding beyond taking into partnership another person who was approved by the Land Board; but who also was jiliable to reside on the section, although his approval by the Board was granted upon that express condition. Now the partners applied to transfer the section to a Mr. Sharpe. This latter gentleman appeared before the Board and said that lie was paying to the partners the sum of £4OO for goodwill and improvements, the latter being worth £2OO, although the ranger had valued them at £IOO only. He had been an unsuccessful applicant in the original ballot, and ho was a practical farmer. A motion to grant the transfer was moved by Mr. Reader and seconded, whereupon the Chairman said it was all very well to talk about making the leasehold popular (Mr. Reader had used that as an argument in favor of granting the transfer), but lie (tlio Chairman) failed to see how the Board was concerned with that aspect of the matter. AVliat they had to do was to administer the Act, and it was necessary, in making the recommendation to the Minister, that exceptional circumstances should bo stated. What, he asked, did Mr. Reader propose to state as exceptional 'circumstances? Ho was satisfied as regards one of tlio applicants; blit the one who drew the section at tlio ballot had never yet attempted to do anything in tlio way of residing on the land. He thought that when the tenants found they could not fulfil their undertakings they should have surrendered the land. Mr. Reader admitted that the original tenant should never have been admitted to the ballot, and the Secretary pointed out that the injustice of gaining a transfer consisted principally in the preclusion of the chance of other applicants getting tlio land at the original rental. Tlio goodwill of £2OO or £3OO was being added without just cause. Further discussion took place on the matter, and it was eventually decided to recommend the Minister to grant the transfer, the Chairman and one other member dissenting. This is not a case of dummyism, hut it is just as bad, for it shows how under the leasehold system, which the majority of the Marlborough Land Board desire to make popular, the Crown lands are being made the subject of speculation with the concurrence of at least one Land Board and possibly in this case of the Minister himself also, for he too wishes to make the leasehold popular. This identical Board, it may bo said, is the one from which a member was deposed because lie was an Oppositionist, and because ho endeavoured to prevent a transaction in land that was not advantageous to the colony, hut which the Government wished to bring about for reasons which need not be stated, and his place was filled by the near relative of a late Minister (a nephew wo believe he was) who offered no obstruction to the pal})able job. AYo have been accustomed for many years to hearing the praises of tlio Lands for Settlement Act proclaimed from the housetops, and, like many other Acts, it may prove a blessing if properly administered; but with the Government winking at evasions and making the Act an engine for gaining for itself political support, it has in numberless cases proved a curse instead of a blessing, for under its administration trafficking in Crown leaseholds is rampant, and genuine settlers by tlio hundred are precluded from taking up holdings while speculators are admitted to the ballots and dunimyism is not by any means rare. Mock settlors are making little fortunes out. of the system while the genuine farmer finds it next tt> impossible to secure a plot unless lie pays the successful speculators’ price for the privilege, and yet we hear of the iniquity of the genuine settler who owns a freehold possessing what is called the unearned increment. The Cliristclnich bicycle agent, not being a genuine farmer or tlio owner of freehold is exempt from this charge of iniquity, and yet the circumstances above related show that he is about to rake in £2OO or £3OO of goodwill on this piece of land that lias been practically presented to him by a magnanimous Government under a beneficent land law, and which he has done absolutely nothing to earn, while the alleged possessor of a freehold increment has at least fulfilled the conditions of settlement without compulsion, and helped the development of the country by farming his land. Tlio case is highly instructive as showing the incentive for peojilo who are not farmers and who want no land for themselves, desiring to bring all Crown lands under the leasehold system, and it reveals also the real cause why the Government is so anxious that it should be so, for it gives them the pull on so many more votes. But the genuine farmer or settler who wants to possess a holding in order to make it his home and to develop it for the mutual benefit of himself and the country will scarcely endorse the policy when he has studied these facts.

The steamer Kotaro arrived in tlio river from Auckland at 11.30 last night. Tlio formal opening of the Gisborne Chess Club will take place at ~30 tomorrow evening. A socond-olfonding drunkard appeared at the Police Court yesterday morning, and was fined 10s and costs 2a. Tondors for cleaning out watercourses in tlio Borough aro called for ill this issue by the Borough Engineer. Tenders close at noon to-mir.'nv, ui.l> Mr. F. J AVilson, urehneot. for the erection of two shops ill Grey street. Tlio time for receiving applications for the position of organist at St. Andrew's Church has been extended until AA’ednesday next. Tenders for the stipl.v of milk to the Gisborne Hospital and Old Men’s I lonic close with the Ssecretary, Mr. T. A. Coleman, at noon to-day. Appropriations of £I2OO in No. 1 issue and £SOO in No. 2 issue of the Gisborne Building Society will he balloted for soon after Easter. By the steamer Toroa yesterday some choice Southdown stud rains came to hand from the AVairarapa, for Mr. C. Matthews. One animal cost 20 guineas. Tenders close at noon to-day for file lease of 85 acres at Mu tar, heio now in the occupation of Mr. Cameron! The tenders are to he addressed to Mr. John Colenm > According to Constable O’Hara, who arrived hack from Auckland oil Wednesday night, there is an extraordinary plague of mosquitoes in Auckland at present. Tlio Acting Chief-Postmaster (Mr. Gumming) advises that Vancouver reported at 10 a.in. yesterday that the Pacific cable route was interrupted between Vancouver and Montreal. The following pupils of the Sisters of Mercy were successful in the Trinity College examination, held in December, 1900: Gertrude Parker, 100 marks; AA’inifred Malone, 97: Eileen Collins, 83.

Advice has been received that the Poverty Bay cadets attending the Exhibition ’left for Gisborne last night. Mr Rowley, headmaster of Gisborne school, telegraphed from Lyttelton at 4.30 p.m. yesterday, to air J. Somervell, chairman of the School Committee: “Just embarking—all well.”

At the Police Court yesterday morning Francis Coke Denman Hodgson was charged with the theft of £4 15s from Air. Geo. Smithies. He pleaded not guilty. Detective Maddern stated that Mr. Smithies had left town, and asked for an adjournment till March 2Sth. The adjournment was granted. Accused was admitted to bail on his own recognisance of £25 and two sureties of £25 each. ,

At a committee meeting of the Gisborne Debating Society held last nigt, sixteen new members were proposed for election, thus bringing the membership up to fifty-nine. Messrs T. Alston Coleman and AV. Lissant Clayton were selected to lead the debate, the first of the season, on Monday night, on the question “Should tlio Colonies have their own Navy?” Debates are open to members and iintending members only. It was decided to admit ladies as members at half membership fee, and four ladies were accordingly proposed.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, before Mr. AV. A. Barton, S.M., judgment by default was given in the following undefended cases: —Williams and Kettle (Air. Nolan) v. John Tlios. Cassidy, claim £62 8s Id, costs £4 2s Cd; Clayton and Nisbott v. William Aloore, £l6 18s 3d, costs £1 18s Gd; Walter Ardorn (Mr. Burke) v. William Aloore, £2 ss, costs 10s; Oliver Sandlant (Air. Blair) v. Samuel Doloman (jndg ment summons), £3 IGs, in default of payment 3 days’ imprisonment.

Rossbottom and Searle (Mr. T. Alston Coleman) proceeded against Harry AlcGill at the Alagistrate’s Court yesterday morning on a judg ment summons- claiming £3 18s, which had been owing for about four years. Judgment debtor denied liability, but the S.Af. said lie could not deal with such a plea. After hearing debtor’s statement of li is financial position the S.M. made an order for the payment of the amount (£3 18s), in default of payment within seven days, imprisonment for seven days.

The firm of Nelson. Afoate and Co., which has been a household word throughout New Zealand for over a quarter of a century, have just added another laurel to their long list of victories, having received the gold modal at the International Exhibition at Christchurch. The name of this firm, in connection with tea, is synonymous with good quality. Their packet teas never vary in strength and are blended by Air. Nelson, who has had 33 years’ constant experience The sales have been gradually increasing for years past, notwithstanding fierce competition,but the quality and price of Nelson, Aloate and Co.’s ■|eas have always proved them to be the best. As far back as 1882 the firm won the gold and silver medal, so they are not novices in tec blending. They have only competed three times, and this last result makes three first honors to their credit a fact of which any firm might he proud.

The latest Labor journal has tlio following remarks in connection with Poverty Bay:—Tolaga Bay: Unskilled labor: No idle hands. Plenty of work and good wages arc offered. Gisborne: Building trades: These trades have been rather slack; hut the work contemplated will cause decided improvement to take place during the next few weeks. Engineering trade: The usual trade doing for the time of year. Boot trade (factories): Slack after Christinas and New Year, but compares well with same period last year. Retail trades: Groceries, iaii'ly..gpod ; clothing, fair ; hoots, fair. 'Miscellaneous: Dressmaking and millinery are fairly busy. Plumbing and gasfitting, fair trade doing. Saddlery, fair business doing. Unskilled labor: Very few. applicants for work. Two men were sent to private employment, and others would not take work offering. There is a demand for good bushnicn and good pick-and-sliovel men.

St. Patrick’s social was held in His Alajesty’s • Theatre last night, and was a great success. There were about 150 couples present’, and about 10 spectators. The ladies worked very hard to make the social a success. The following were the officers: Alesdames Alaynard (President), Barry (secretary), committee, Alcsdames Williams, Rossbotliam, Flood. Finn, Maher, Jennings, F. Alartin, J. Martin, J. Quinn, Alisses (Alartin (2), Eager, O’Rourke, Hatigliie (2). The ladies were energetically assisted hv the following gentlemen: Alessrs. E. Donovan, Williams, Afalier, Mahoney, Amodeo. The temperance bar was conducted by Alessrs. Aluldoon (2), and Peterson. Among those present were Fathers Lane and Dignan. The music was supplied by Mr. Liclitwarlc (violin) and Aliss Aloore (piano). Alessrs. Webb find J. Alartin officiated as Al. C’s. and gave every satisfaction. The social was a record of its kind. An excellent supper was provided by the committee. A programme of dancing proceeded till the early hours of the morning.

How ranch do you eaio Jor yoi:r head? If it is worth muon tfi . v - la don’t lot it ache. Stearns’ Headache Cuie relieves all kinds of beadi- pcs quickly and without bad effect. Advt,