The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAV, MAY4, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2071, 4 May 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAV, MAY 4, 1907.

It is very cheering and comforting to know on the authority of the Acting-Premier, who addressed his constituents last night at liman., that wo have this year another big surplus of nearly three-quarters of a million. It is cheering and comforting also to know that the coiuitrv is so prosperous that people were enabled to take holiday trips and so add the large sum of £253,000 to the railway revenue; but that was not added to the surplus, however, tor wo are told that £350,000 in increase of wages and salaries was distributed amongst railway employees since 1595. How much of that sum has been added to the lower grade ollicials and how much to tho men who were already well paid is still 'kept secret, so wo will reserve our jubilation until wo know more about it. It is claimed that largo remissions have been mado in Customs duties also, and on railway fares and fiei'dits, but what strikes one as rather odd is the fact that Ministers should make such a boast while the surplus still stands as abnormally and unnecessarily high. Does lie wish to convey the impression that with a surplus of three-quarters of a million pounds this year and larger ones last year and the preceding one, there would bo any justification lor sweating people to tho extent of tho so-called concessions? Naturally, if the amounts had not been conceded the surplus would now stand at something approaching lour millions screwed out of pcoplo’s pockets without any reason whatever, and yet we are expected to think that the concessions about which the Minister brags liavo been made by tho Government in a spirit of pure magnanimity, for which,the people ought to feel truly grateful. But perhaps the most interesting item locally is the admission that about £416,000 remains in the Public Works Fund unexpended while four men and a platelayer are employed on the GisborneMotu railway extension works and the wholo vote set apart by Parliament for that work has not been expended by a good deal. That is a sample of what the Minister considers safe finance with which the people ought to bo pleased. First the vote is passed so that the member for the district can brag about it, and then the vote is not spent so that the Government can have a turn at the boasting over the big surplus in the P.W. fund made up of votes not spent. By .that method everybody but the poor settler who has to stick in the mud has a share of their political fun. The full report of this piece of statesmanship will be waited with interest.

In another column a young ilia applies for a situation.

The ex-launch Noko is at present being utilised as a coal barge by Messrs Nelson. Bros Messrs. Grundy and Sliennan have a new advertisement in this issue. Mr. J. Peckover desires to acknowledge the following further contributions for the Russian Famine Fund: Anonymous ss, A Friend 4s, E. B. Pickard, Motu, 21s. A country boarding-liouso business is advertised for sale by Mr. AV. Lissant Clayton. Mr. Tuohy stated at the meeting of the Hospital Trustees last night that the accounts passed for payment were .the lowest in the history of tho Trustees. At the Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr. R. Johnston, J.P., a first offender for drunkenness was fined 5s and costs 2s, or in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. The Rev. C. Griffin will take both the morning and evening services at AVesley Church, to-morrow. His subjects will bo, “Holding On’” and “A Good Huot.” There will be comnulnion after tho morning service.

A girl for the dining room of a country restaurant and boardinghouse is advertised for.

Complaint has boon made that luggage at the wharf is not sufficiently protected. A fence is put up when the launch returns from steamers in the bay, but in spite of this, some luggage has been reported missing. The Salvation Army services all day to-morrow will be conducted by Adjutant Dickens. A hearty welcome is extended to all. On Tuesday evening next a farewell cofFeo social will be given to Sister. Mrs. Gray and a large attendance is expected seeing that she is one of Gisborne’s oldest Salvationists. It lias boon reported to .Mr. W. H. Bonner, chief postmaster, that the Motu mail did not leave To Karaka yesterday- owing to the Waikonu river being unfordable. The mail is to leave this morning on pack-horses, as the road is unfit for vehicular traffic.

The owner of a ’ gold ring is adver tised for.

Reports have been received that the AA’airoa roads are in a very bad state owing to the recent heavy weather. Messrs. Redstone and Co., however, intend to maintain the coach service if it can be possibly done. The coast road is also in a bad condition, and a number of culverts have been washed away north of Tolaga.

Six men from the Old Men’s Home visited His Majesty’s Theatre last night to hear the performance of tjie' Besses o’ th’ Barn Band, and greatly enjoyed themselves. The Custodian wishes to return thanks to the management for their considerate action in inviting the old men to the performance.

Letters for the following are lying unclaimed at the local post office ‘’or the month of March: From United Kingdom,Mrs J.AV. Strutt, G.AYells; Denmark. F. Svensson: Canada, C. Carter; New South AA’alcs, J. Bruce, T. Mahoney, J. H. Robb, G. Thompson, Mrs. T. R. Roydhouse, Miss E. Jones, Miss E. E. Jones; Victoria, G. C. Brown, T. M. Blake, M. Poynton, Miss C. George; Tasmania, F. N. Page, G. A\ T . AVatson.

The best tiling for nervous, pale young girls is Stearns’ AA’ine, for it increases their strength, renews and enriches the blood and sharpens, the appetite. It is a matchless tonic.— Advt'.

Mr. Robertson, men’s mercer and clothier, lias nil interesting c issoi a tion olsowhoro in this issue oil the

question oi‘ oilconts. A well-known firm of fish dealers and restaurant proprietors m Auckland and Napier intend commencing business in Gisborno at an oai y t a o. Either an existing business is to IH> purchased or a new olio opened. A remarkable instance ot tbo payment of conscience money is recorded. The Invercargill manager ot the Now Zealand Insurance Company has ,received a cheque for £IOO through a Catholic priest from a recipient who sustained loss by fire. Ihe sender had struggled for years to save tlio money.

Mr. Birrell promised a speaker at last night’s Maori gathering that lie would inform the people of Great Britain—(l) that the Maoris of Poverty Bay wore not cannibals; (2) that Poverty Bay was not a place of poverty ; and (8) that strenuous efforts boiug made to change the name.

Messrs. Kerr and Carter advertise

in this issue a partly-improved hush property which they havo lor sale. Tlio increasing number of charge, against moil for bronchos of prohibition orders were commented on b,\ Mr. Graham at the Dunedin Police Court on Thursday. “1 will have t" 'inflict a heavy penalty,’.’ said Ihe Magistrate. “During the last month eight such charges have been proved.”

In this issue the Gisborne Harbor Board calls for tenders for over 200,000 foot of timber.

At the meeting of tlio Hospital Trustees last night the Chairman said it was incumbent, upon them to pass a resolution to the effect that the Medical Superintendent shall not admit to tlio Hospital without tlio consent of the Trustees any other medical man. He wished to remove the responsibility of refusing permission from the shoulders of the Superintendent and make a buffer of the Trustees. It was decided to ask the committee set up to frame now by-laws to embody this when drawing up the by-laws.

Patrick Daly and Harry Sweeney, who appeared beforo Mr. R. Johnston, J.P., at tlio Police Court yesterday morning on the remanded charge of assaulting two men near, the corner of Childers road and Read’s Quay, wero discharged, as no evidence was offered against them. Detective Madderu explained, that the two' injured men. the principal witness, had gone out town and could not bo. found. There was no doubt that the two victims had been badly assault'd!, but he did not feel justified in asking for another week’s remand. The accused wero accordingly released. At the gathering at the Masonic I-lotol last night, Mr. M. Birrell touched on the future of the Maori l *\icc. In the future, Maoris and Europeans must go hand in hand, or New Zealand would be a failure. The Maori race was a virile fighting race, and would never die out, but it must become mixed with the Europeans in the colony: Mr. Ngata was going to make a name for himself, and he urgoil the natives present to suppoit the Young Maori Party by all means in their power. So long as that party was kept going tho race would never die out.

A special meeting of the Gisborne School Committee was held last night for tho purpose of making arrangements for a sports gathering, or some other entertainment, to be held while the Governor is in Gisborne, the object being to raise funds for tlio school grounds. There were present Messrs. Somervell (chairman), Bright. Sawyer, Spence, Darton, Fromm, and Revs. Grant and Griffin. An apology for absence was received from Mr. Blair. A sub-committee, consisting of the chairman and Messrs. Bright and Darton was appointed to go into the matter. Messrs. Darton, Bright, and Spence, and the Rev. Giant were added to the Baths Committee. The lady teacher at a country school in the Stratford district has written to the Taranaki Education Board: “Sonic of the parents object to my using the cane, and the strap I have takes little or no effect. Is there not a particular kind of strap authorised 1 by tho Board for corporal punishment? If so would you kindly send me one, or tell me where I could obtain one?” The secretary replied, directing the enquirer to the clause in the regulations dealing with the dimensions of the tawsej»-and suggesting half of ail old trace as a substitute. Meanwhile, he promised to lay the matter before tlio Board with a view of having penal straps put on the same contract basis as dog collars under county councils, and so forth. The Hon. Mr. Millar, speaking at AA'ailii, said ho would introduce into Parliament next sossion a Bill to do away with imprisonment for small debts, when a man was honestly trying to meet his liabilities. The Bill would provide that a man who had fallen behind in payments could call his creditors together before tho Official Assignee and agree to pay off so much a week, the weekly payments to be divided among tho creditors pro rata. While they were maintained a protection order issued by "tlio Assignee would prevent the debtor being sued in tlio Magistrate’s Court lei the recovery of small debts. While an honest man would be protected, a man attempting to evade his liabilities would have no protection whatever.

A meeting of the School Bath Committee was held last evening in the Technical School. The secretary, Mr. J. o.AA’aucbop, laid before the meeting an estimate of tho cost of the hath prepared by Mr. Harvey Gibbon, the borough engineer. It was decided to put the work in band at once. During the next few weeks full plans and specifications will be drawn up and tenders called for. A social for the purpose of raising funds will be held on July 11th and 12th. The secretary was instructed to write to the Education Department, asking that a subsidy he granted; and a deputation was appointed to wait on Mr. Carroll during his forthcoming visit, to ask for his. assistance in the matter.

In the 'course of his remarks at the gntherinig last night in honor of Air Birrell, Air. Zachariah said there should be a Alaori mounted corps in the district. He had recently enlisted two Afaoris in the East Coast Alounted Rifles, and he hoped soon to have some more. He suggested that Air. Te Kani Pere should take the matter up and get a troop together. Tho troop could be attached to the E.C.M.R., and could be under the direct command of Air Pere. Air Cole said an effort should be made to get the troop ready to go intfr camp with the E.C.AI.R. on the 23rd inst. Air. Pere said that when elie was thirteen years of age he offered his services when there was trouble in the Bay, and ever since then he had been agitating to have a Native corps formed, but the Government was always against it. However, lie would endeavor to raise a troop by the date mentioned.