The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2051, 11 April 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1907.

Wanted, a now dictionary. This is not an advertisement, but a growing necessity. Tho old dictionaries such as “Webster’s,” “The Standard,” “Walker’s,” and others have grown obsolete by reason of tho fact that new words are being added to the language, and many of the words defined in tlioso dictionaries are having their meanings altered according to tho commonly-accepted notion ol what they mean rather than the meanings that are based on classical derivations according to tho dictionaries. For example, we have the expressive word “ivia ora” that does not appear in the standard dictionaries though it has long since received the Royal assent. Then we have the word “Statesman,” which, according to ancient tradition and dictionary definition, means “A man versed in public affairs and in the principles and art of government; especially, one ominent. for political abilities.” It is a wide definition, though it scarcely covers all tho qualities that, according to modern notions, tend to fasten the title of “Statesman” upon some of our public men. No dictionary can be up-to-date now unless that definition is extended to include something like the following: “Any public man gifted with a large amount of meddlesomeness. A poke-your-nose-into-other-people’s-business kind of gentleman.” If the business into which the nose desires to be poked belongs to a foreign country the eminence of tho statesman is enhanced correspondingly to the square of tho distance of its location. .When the late Right Hon. R. J- Seddon wanted to clear the Germans and the Americans out of Samoa, and suggested to Britain how the South African war was to be ■conducted and the country afterwards governed, he was at once looked upon as a great statesman, and now Sir Joseph, anxious no doubt to emulate the doughty deeds of his illustrious predecessor, and ambitious of renown and to claim for himself the title of statesman, is urging tho British Go'VCrnmt?irir"“tt» tho Commonwealth's - land’s right of representation on the Suez Canal Council.” Remembering also, perhaps, that some thirty or forty years ago the late Lord Beaconsfield fairly earned the title ol statesman with a magnificent coup de main in connection with the selfsame Suez Canal, there is encouragement in the thought thatvits historic potency may aid his fond hopes and cause history to repeat itsell : but there is this difference, that Lord Boaconsfield (then Mr. D. Isreali) did it with British money, while Sir Joseph seeks to do it “on the nod.” At that time Great Britain had no more say in tho matter than New Zealand has to-day; but Mr. D. Isreali put four millions of British sovereigns into the business and secured control. To-day those four -millions are said to be worth twenty millions, and it is an ambitious proposal to suggest that tho southern colonies should have representation on the Council controlling those millions without payment of a red cent for the privilege. Besides, it is not easy to discover what possible interest New Zealand can have in the control of the Suez canal so long as it is controlled by Britain as it is at present, except on the poke-your-nose-in principle ' and the fulfilment of the pfipular conditions to be called a statesman. • If Sir Joseph wanted to control a canal ho lost his chance in not buying up French interests in Panama for a song when De LeSseps failed to dig it out, and the one proposal is about as reasonable as the other. The position of Councillor on such an august body as that which Sir Joseph seeks to secure would lx a fine billet for some aspiring flunkey from the ranks of the great Liberal and Labor Federation, and then the world would continue to struggle round as usual on its diurnal routine with just an extra tilt towards the Suez Canal side in obedience to the weight of the appointment, and in order to increase the flow of the tide so that no moro ships will stick there to block New Zealand commerce.

Nurso Marfel, the nowlv-appointed matron of tho AVaipiro Hospital arrived by the Victoria this morning, nu ({proceeds by this morning a cone i or tho Coast* Tho Secretary of tho East Coast Acclimatisation Society announces in this issue that the season for talcing or shooting native and impoi ot game opens on May Ist, and pigeons, pukekos and kakus unprotected for the season.

In connection with the dread lul sufferings of the Russian peasantry from famine, and the relief fund instituted by the Society of Friends in England, we are requested to state that Mr. J. Pcekover, estate agent, Gisborne, is collecting on behalf ol tho Home .committee, and that donations will be duly acknowledged in tho local press.

In granting an application for an adjournment at tho Native Appellate Court yesterday on tho ground that one of the parties was hampered by floods, the Chief Judge said it was only fair to adjourn the case until the following day; but as a rule Maoris were too loud of adjournments, :and he verily bclioved that when tho Last Trump was sounded, some Maori would get up and ask foi an adjournment.

The no-license campaign lor the coining election begins next week. The Rev. F. Isitt is expected from the South on Wednesday, 17th. He proceeds to Ormond the same evening, will meet the local Lengiio on Thursday, and will address a public mooting ill His Majesty’s Theatre on Friday, the 19th inst. Following is a record of tho busi ness (lono on the Gisborno-Ivarak; scctionof railway for the four week: ending March 2nd, the figures foi the corresponding period of 1906 be ing given in parentheses:—Passen gers—First-class: 745 (871, secom class 8,055 (7280), total 8,800 (8154) parcels 144 (124), horses 2 (1), dog: 64 (9), total parcels 210 (131); eattl- — (2), sheep 373 (496), pigs 22 ( —) total stock 395 (498); chaff, lime, etc (6 tons), wool 20 (6), firewood 4; (42), timber 67 (183), grain 84 (95) merchandise 80 (133), minerals Ol' 1 (407), total 909 tons (872); revenue—passengers £404 7s lld (463 10s 2d) parcels, luggage and mails £24 12: «d (£2O 9s 2d), goods £l5B 14s lOd (£l7O 18s), miscellaneous £2 17s lid £2l 8s Gd), rents and cimmissions £ll 12s (£lO 16s), total £602 5s Id (£687 Is lOd.

Although denied by Mr Munro, the following story is vouched for by the Christchurch Press:—“On Thursday afternoon what appears to have been a deliberate attempt to spoil the organ recital given by Mr Harold Gregson was made. Just prior to tho time fixed for the recital, Mr Gregson found that no electrical power for the blowing bellows was available. The powerhouse from which the electric current is derived was found locked, and no one connected with tho machinery could be found. Mr Pollard was informed, and broke open the door. It was then found that several fuses had been removed and also part of tho dynamo. With the aid of one of the electricians in the building, the fuses were restored and other matters adjusted. Mr Gregson then began his recital, but soon found that several of tho pipes had been tampered will in some mannei. partially spoiling the effect of his playing, and the recital was abruptly closed.