The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2057, 18 April 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1907.

It is, of course, impossible to guess at this early stago what will be the outcome of tho Premier s Conference now about to commence its deliberations in London, but it appears to have started moic aus piciously than did the last one held some few years ago in which this colony was represented by the late Mr. Seddon. That Conference was scarcely recognised officially by the British Government although Mr. Chamberlain personally gave it every encouragomont. Even the present British''Cabinet appears to have hesitated as to whether or not its members should take any part in tho deliberations, and has contented itself with a formal opening by the Premier, Sir H. Campbell Bannerman, and some secondary assistance by individual Ministers on special subjects affecting their departments. Whatever may bo the intrinsic value of the gathering from a commercial point of view, and great things are not to be expected from it in that respect, thoro will always attach to it a sentimental value that cannot be appraised on tho basis of £ s. d. AVo have seen it called an “Imperial Conference, and though its main value will be afforded from an Imperial point of view, the Conference itsolf can hardlv be styled “Imperial,” seeing that the Imperial Government is as a body holding aloof from it. The fact that His Majesty the _ King has cabled his congratulations is not a sufficient excuse for such a christening, and it ought to be known for what it really is, viz., a Conference of Colonial Premicis. Possibly it may some day be regarded as a historical event, and already it has had itself fastened on the archives of tho ancient city of London by the ceremony of granting certain of its members the “freedom of the city;” but as a body it stands in the peculiar position of not being even a corporate body, for it has no legal existence. For that reason its deliberations and resolutions cannot amount even to agreements, and are in no sense binding on any of the parties thereto They have no force whatever, and cannot have any until they are ratified by tho respective Governments represented thereat, and any one of these Governments failing to ratify them is sufficient to nullify the whole business agreed upon. It will therefore be seen that the Conference stands in a most unique position among the historical events of our history, for notwithstanding its great flourish of trumpets it is. in a legal sense, as helpless as a bundle of sticks. Its advantages to its members individually are. however, not so small, for we find that already they are receiving the plaudits of a sympathetic populace, and honors are beginning to be showered upon them. That these honors are in some cases somewhat empty ones is' not to be wondered at and the historical and traditional institutions of the Old Country appear in this respect to be losing their ancient prestige in rushing at chances to confer their once valued degrees upon itinerant political notables instead of reserving them for those who per force of scholastic attainments could honestly lay claim to them/ The University of Edinburgh jumped at the chanco of conferring the degree of L.L.D. upon the la to Mr. If. J. Seddon, and has again repeated its mistake in conferring tho same unearned honor upon Sir Joseph Ward. This purely ceremonial enabled Mr. Seddon to call himself Dr. Seddon, and similarlv we are now entitled to address our absent Premier as Dr. Sir "Joseph Ward. It. may sound farcical; but when we enquire into the matter we find that these pel missive degrees have their uses. For instance the law of New. Zealand lcgards as a quack anyone who pretends to feel one’s pulse unless he has a doctor’s diploma. For a long time before Dr. Seddon took his diploma he had kept his finger constantly on the public pulse, and proscribed his legislative nostiums according to his own diagnosis. Sometimes these nostrums only tended to raise the temperature of his patients, as in the case of the licensing and the shops and offices legislation which increased the fevei and made the doctor’s position almost untenable; but when ho go* his degree he was safe from the consequences of quackery, and Dr. Ward is now in the same happy position, thanks to the liberality of the Edinburgh University. H the result of tho Premier’s Conference will lead to no other benefit to the people of New Zealand than to guard them against quack legislation bv the issue of its high-sound-ing certificate they may some day become truly thankful for what they are about to receive at the hands of the newly-fledged doctor. Their medicine ought at any ra e to be more reliable and congenial than that prescribed hitherto by « qualified practioners. A\c u ill

Mr. AV. Douglas Lysnnr, candidate for tho Mayoralty, has nil address tp tho ratepayers in to-day s

issue An alarm of lire was raised nt M o’clock last night, but it was lum oc to a name from Clayton Bros, chnn-j noy stack. At the Technical School to-night classes will bo started in cookery, wood-carving and woodwork (>° 1 trade and amateur) if suflieieii puplis oiler. The Coroner (Mr. W. A. Barton) had again to reprove a juror foi lateness at the inquest on the hotly of Elizabeth Wood, yesterday, and made it clear that fines would bo indicted in future. Mossrs. Miller and Craig advertise the salo on Friday next of the household furniture of Mr. H. I’ggott at his residence Harris street Haiti. The sale will start at - o’clock and will be absolutely without reserve. Mr Swainson, of Makauri, called at the “Times” office last night and reported a rather unusual occurrence at his place. A boy climbed a willow tree for a bird’s nost, and besides finding two eggs had the good ioituno to discover a £1 note. ■ At a committee meeting oi the Gisborne Rifles’ entertainment committee, hold last night, it was decided to hold the annual social and prize distribution on 21st May, when it is proposed to take advantage o * e Governor’s visit by requesting him to present the prizes won during the past year.’ Quite unexpectedly the Cook Council has received advice that a grant of £2OO is available for work on the Wharekopae-Tahora road The loans raised for this work (£2200) were insufficient, and a •rap of three miles was left. To complete this gap will take £6OO, and it is expected that in addition to the £2OO now granted supplementary loans of £220 will be available. The committee of St. Andrew’s Church met on -Tuesday evening for the purpose of considering the building of a new church. A proposal was brought forward to sell somo of the church property, but this was objected by some members who held that all the church property was needed for the various services of the church. Sub-com-mittees were set up and a general hopeful view was taken that it would bo possible to raise £2OOO at ail early date. The Outer Harbor League announces in another column that a public mooting will be held in the Choral Hall on Friday evening for tlio purpose of selecting a deputation to wait on the Harbor Board regarding the passing of a Bill authorising the taking of a poll on the outer harbor question. The League endeavored to arrange the meeting for a more convenient date, but Friday was the only date available.

The annual social of the KaiiiCity Football Club is generally looked upon as an enjoyable fixture, and there is every reason to beliove that this year’!; function, which is to be held this evening in 11-s Majesty’s Theatre, will bo even more successful than any of i’.s successful predecessors. The lady supporters of the club have made a special endeavor, and it is expected that the supper provided will be one of the chief features of the evening’s entertainment. Very complete arrangements have been made to make the social enjoyable, and those in search of a pleasant evening can be confidently recommended to attend at His Majesty’s this evening.