The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2062, 24 April 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1907.

It is not our dostrerto interfere with the prerogative of tlio electors o Gisborne by attempting to dictate to them on the morning o an election day how they should cast their votes. Tho privilege is theirs and the responsibility is theirs also, for if thoy put in the men who will not best serve tlioir interests it is they who will have to pay for the mistakes. Nevertheless, it is the duty of a public journal to supply such information to its readers as will enable them to como to a decision upon the questions at issue, and to correct any and every misconception that is likely to arise in order that a fair and just decision may be arrived at. In other words, it is their privilege to vote; but it is ours to sift the facts and placo the issues before them in such a way that without prejudice for or against any candidate those issues may form the basis of a fair vote by any reader who pays attention to what appears in these columns. First, then, we have now before us the public addresses of the opposing candidates for the Mayoralty, and we 'have also the personalities of tho candidates themselves which latter aro of some importance in the selection of one to fill the honorable and honored position of chief magistrate of the borough, for to place a man in such a position whoso character is not what it should bo, if such a man there bo, is to sink the moral status of tho community beneath his level, and without making any allusion to either of tho candidates in that respect, it is a consideration that should never bo forgotten in tho selecting of a man to (ill such an appointment. As regards the reasons given by tho candidates themselves, as to what their claims are to fill the position, it may be taken for granted that both of them, especially ono, have said all that they can say in their own favor as far as their innate modesty has permitted, and wo find Mr. Lysnar is by far tho more modest of the two because he has given lower tangible reasons why the electors should favor him with their choice. True he has claimed to have done a great deal for tho borough during his term of office as a councillor; but when his statements como to bo examined it is found that they aro not reliable, and that when his misstatements aro subtracted from his whole store there is very little left oxcept his inferential claim that ho has made fewer mistakes than his opponent. Possibly that is so; but to put the matter fairly they ought to be- numbered in each case and an average struck in proportion to the years of service and the respective of the positions held. But as Mr. Lysnar bases his claims not so much upon his own perfections as the alleged incapacity of his opponent the consideration may be confined to his final manifesto which, it must be assumed, embraces all that he can pretend to be able to substantiate. This interesting document with the ungrammatical title of “Some important reasons necessitating a change of Mayor regarding local administration,” contains three allegations which, if true, apply to the work of tho Council as a whole, and therefore we logically infer that Mr. Lysnar has forgotten his main purpose, and imagined when he wrote the document that he is still a candidate for a seat on

the Council, or else that he believes the position of Mayor to be that of a demigod whose function it is to

make the Council and the Harbor Board do his bidding. Under no other circumstances could the Mayor be blamed for what is the Council’s and the Board’s work as a whole. It will be news to most people to learn that Mr. Townley has “practically wasted £388,669”0f the hardearned cash of the Gisborne borough “on river works” without its consent, and that for that reason the ratepayers should now consign him to oblivion while at the same time they should instal Mr Lysnar though ho has had a hand in voting a great deal of this money, and proposes to still further add to the waste on tho Kaiti bank. The matter is too ludicrous for serious consideration except to illustrate the unfitness of its author for so responsible and j)rominent a position, because the manifesto is as confused in its reasoning as it is in its grammatical construction. Not that we expect tho Mayor to be an accomplished grammarian; but it is reasonable to expect that at least ho shall be truthful, courteous, and reasonably accurate when dealing with public matters. Mr. Townley, on the other hand, like all reasonable mundane mortals, lays no claim to infallibility. He is not over pretentious; like other people ho has. made mistakes, though not a single serious one has been proved against him; ho will not wilfully misstate things, and his claims to the suilrages of the people rest on an untarnished personal character that has withstood temptations through a long series of years of public life under the closo scrutiny of public opinion which has yet found no tangible cause to forsake Jiim, except that ho is too much of a Scotsman in the eyes of some —that is to say, he is accused of being over cautious, and that is the gravest charge alleged against' him after all these years. But, curious to relate, that charge applies only to borough matters, for when ho gets into the river he is said -to be most prodigal—a perfect spendthrift, in fact, vide the waste of a third of a million sovereigns which he, according to his opponents, has thrown into the stream. Voters who believe that, and those only, will vote for Mr. Lysnar unless their consciences are as elastic as his

Regarding the candidates for the Council, we are pleased to find that most of them have taken the hint we gave them a few days ago to take 'the electors into their confidence, and to give some indications of their views on the larger questions to be dealt with. The several views exjuressed are so closely allied in theme that there is little to choose between them on public grounds as far as the fn+ure programme is concerned. The selection therefore has become largely a matter of personal preference, and individual fitness to carry those views into effect, so that the voter’s task should not be a difficult one. Some attempt fias been made to run a ticket; but that is evidently an unauthorised one, for two of the candidates included in it

have in another column disclaimed any knowledge of it or intention to allow thumsolvos to bo associated with it. Dr. Williams and Mr. E. 11. Mnnil hnvo taken tho correct curse in preserving their individual independence of any combination which if successful nt tho poll, could only menu tho formation of a cotorio within tho Council, and nothing could ho moro undesirable than that.

. The Pouudkoopor lias a notice elseivlioro regarding a chestnut geld n ,~ ivliich is to ho sold to-day.

Mr. C. E. Armstrong, engineer in charge of the railway works at to Karaka advertisers for twenty men. A list for subscriptions to the Seddou Memorial Fund is lying at the office of the Cook County Council. Tho annual meeting of the Poverty Buy Hockey Association will lie held in the Royal Hotel at eight o clock Vlijs ovoning. Servants of all kinds are advertised for by Mr. J. Peckovor. A skittlo alley and shooting gallery are advertised to let by Sir. George Smith, who also advertises for cooks and bush tollers. The launch for the Tarawera this morning leaves at 9.30 a.in. to allow peoplo to vote at tho municipal elections before leaving.

Messrs, lverr and Carter advertise that they have clients waiting for certain classes of property.

Tho plan for tho nurses’ home which is to bo erected at the Hospital for the accommodation of the nurse: on night duty, is in tho hands of tin architect, and tenders will he eallec for immediately.

A notice to temperance voters i connection with to-day’s elections a] poars elsewhere.

The Borough Council decided lasi night on the notion of Or. Colley Ilia, the Engineer should prospect tiirthe: into the Ormond quarry betore oxponding any more money on the road At tho meeting of householders at the Haiti school on Monday the headmaster expressed his appreciation ot the way in which tho children attended tho school, the average attendance being 94 per cent, of tho total number on the roll. During one week there wore. 97 per cent, present. In the course of a few remarks at the meeting of householders in tho Kaiti school oil Monday, tho headmaster said that the school suffered a disadvantage in regard to tho grading. - If 20 more attended they would lie entitled to another certificated teacher.

From Wednesday next, Ist May, tho launch for the Auckland boat on Wednesdays will not leave until 9 o’clock, instead of 8. This is an appreciable concession on the part of the company, and does not interfere greatly with the time of arrival in Auckland. At tho Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M., Michael Mahon, who was convicted for tho third time within six months for drunkenness, was fined £2 and 2s costs or seven days’ imprisonment, and a prohibition order was issued against him. Speaking at the meeting of householders ill the Gisborne school on

Monday, the Rev. Mr. Cockrell said tho children at the Hastings school, where Biblc-teacliing lias been in vogue for many years, welcomed the Scripture lesson, not so much for its religious value but because it afforded a pleasant break ill the dull routine of school work. Mr. M. Segodia, lato of Auckland, applied to the Borough Council last night for a billiard room license. Good testimonials were received from Auckland people. Cr. Colley thought it could bo granted if a good room were secured. C'-r. Sheridan proposed as an amendment that as it was an important question it should he 101 l over, and this course was decided on. At the meeting of the Kaiti householders. a discussion arose as to religions instruction for half-an-hour’in schools, and Mr. Morgan asked whuff,her the question could he put the nominated members. Mr. Fyson objected, as the candidates should have hen seen beforehand. The Chairman decided that the question was irregula r. Some people, have still, it appears, a notion that a voter must select nine names on his ballot impel'. This is not so, and any voter may select one or more candidates up to nine without making his vote informal. It should also he remembered that the old method of striking out names i~ abolished,and an x opposite the name of tho candidate for whom he desires to vote is the new method of voting. Harry Phipps, who appeared before the ?.lagistrate, Mr. Barton, on Friday, Saturday and Monday, will be called upon this morning to answer another charge of entering licensed premises during the currency of a prohibition order against him. The secretary of the Technical School announces that if sufficient pupils offer classes in cookery, woodcarving and woodwork will he started on Thursday evening at 7 o'clock. A letter from the secretary of the Firo Brigade asking that the Fire Districts Act he made operative In Gisborne and that Mr. .1. Thompson, who had been elected sub-superin-tendent, should lie appointed a fire inspector, was considered at the meeting of iho Borough Council last, night. It was decided to appoint Mr. Thompson a fire inspector and to hold over consideration on the other request. The following statement of the d---

bits to date on the District Fund .Account was submitted to tlio Borough Council lust night: American Bridge Co. £1827 6s 9d, Gas Co. £7 15s 7d. IV. Webb £l7 16s Sd, “Times” Co. £lO, “Herald” £2l 4s, sundries £4 9s lOd, day labor £96 Os 2d, Williams and TCetlfo £l3 2s 6d, Dayvs and Third £4 9s 9d, Railway Department £lB 14s 2d. Gas Co. £2i 4s Bd. wages £lO4 Bs. Od. salaries £97 6s Bd. Roebuck Road Bridge approach £607 10s J. A. Moody £1707, R. Hav £l9l. Spiral Steel Pipe Co. £4228, - J. Hav £2O, total £8997 9s 3d. A letter from Messrs. Mays and Gordon (writing on behalf of Mr. .T. A. Moody), regarding the waterworks was received at the meeting of the Borough Council last night. The writers stated that in consequence of a delay of six weeks in the delivery of the material for the reticulation contract, caused through a strike being on amongst the British ironworks at the time their order arrived in England, they asked for an extension of time equal to the time lost through- non-delivery. It. was decid-

ed that the engineer should report on the matter to the next meeting. At the meeting of tile Mangnpapu School Committee on Moiulav evening it was decided to send telegrams to the Acting-Minister and the member for the district, pointing out the need for increased accommodation. The telegrams were sent yesterday byMr. W. Smith s Chairman of" the

meeting, and the following replio were received:—“Appreciate posi lion. Have moved in the matter be

fore. Will do all 1 cau.to secure til. desideratum. Kia, Ora.. J. Carroll.’ “In reply to your telegram re Man gaps pa school, shall be’glad lo brim matter before my colleagues on my return to Wellington. W. Hall J biles.” Mr. Carroll wired fron New Plymouth and the Acting-Pro mier from Palmerston.

A copy of flic rules of the Auslraiau game of football lias been forvarded to this office by the secretary if the local branch of the Football

-league (Australian game), Mr. .J. II iVack. It was in consequence of tin

prevailing belief as to the unnecessary risks of Rugby as played, and the opinion that needless exposure to personal injury did not necessarily tend to increase courage, that certain Victorian enthusiasts in football in the early days were led to consider whether the unnecessarily rougher features of the game as played under Rugby rules could not be deleted, and a game devised where risk to life and limb would be so minimised that the game could be played without anxiety to parents, and which would also he a source of unmixed enjoyment to the most timid onlooker. The result was the Australian game of football. A good story is told of Judge h ishor. the newly appointed U. R. to Native Department. When Mr. I' 'fiber relieved Mr. Reynolds at New Plymouth as Reserves Agent lie ms a complete stranger to the natives there, his predecessor Mr. Reynolds refused although retired on a good pension, to do the slightest work roi the Government in the way of helping Mr. Fisher unless his services were duly paid for. The Natives came in for their rent but as they were all strangers to Mr. Fisher he sent them to fetch someone to identify them- One old woman who was most anxious for her money on being, tend to fetch a European to identity her thought for a moment and then in a moment was stripped to tie waist and turning her hack to the surprised and blushing agent showed her name tattoed in large Jett thereon, asking at the same time 1 that wa ssufficient for her identification. Mr. Fisher paid oiu immediately. The foundation of lifelong dihealth may ho laid for y° u JK S j by failure to keep their health a sti engtli up to normal. Stearns IViue is best for them because it a true tonic.—Advt,

Thn following aro tlio latest now connections with tho Gisborne Telephono Exchange:—lll, J. E. Newton, butcher, upper Gladstone Road; 203, R. Stuart, Gladstone House, Bright street; 205, A. W. J. Mann, private residence, Stout stroot; 315, W. A. J. Gibson, private rosiddneo, Clifford stroot; 327, Gordon and Broeklobnnk,., general carriers, Harris street; 382, R-. G. Jollio, Whnrokopno (4 long rings); 382. TV. M. Renner, Tnliorn (3 long rings); 382, 13. and A. lvosoii, Wharekopao (1 short and 2 long rings); 382, Chas. Leggett, Taliora (2 short and 1 long ring); 120, Miss F. Campbell, Haronga road, Kaiti; 273, Mrs. A. Harnoy, private residence, Carnarvon street; 202, A. G. Jeffrey, “The Glen,” Ormond (I long and 1 short ring). The following are deleted: 111, TV. Adair, Lowe street; 231, Trocudoro (C. J. Knopp) ; 255, M. and S. E. Judd, Gladstone road; 321, O. B. Hnbblo, Kaiti; 327, J. F. Pottle, Lowe street; 203, G. Boag, Gladstone House; 315, Harold Bright, Clifford street. Tho following amendment is made: 313, Dr. A. P. Coker, Palmerston road and Gladstone road.