The Gisborne Times MONDAY, JULY 8, 1907. TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2127, 9 July 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times MONDAY, JULY 8, 1907. TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1907.

The Cook County Council valuation, on which rates will be struck for the yyar, is £4,386,000.

The ladies’ committee of the School Until Social will meet this afternoon in Townley’s Hall.

A social is to be held m the AAue rcnga-a-hika schoolroom on the 2btl lust., in aid of the local hall.

A meeting of the Harbors Association of New Zealand will ho held in Wellington towards tho end ot the present month.

A mounted parade ot the Last Coast Mounted Rifles is called lor J.U on Saturday, to bo followed by dismounted drill at 7 p.m.

Air C. Busckc reports the sale of Mr. Dudley McKenzie’s Rakauroa property to All*. J. J. H. Alaishall at a satisfactory figure.

A fortnightly assembly will be held at tho Ormond Hall fortnightly, commencing on tho 17tli p.m. shaip doors open half past 7.

Tho half-yearly meeting of Gisborne Tent, 1.0. R., will be hold to-morrow evening. An advertisement 1 in tins issue particularises the business to be done.

It is the intention of Mr. Weymouth, formerly of Alessrs. AA illiams and Kettle’s staff, to embark on a copra plantation m the South Sea Islands.

Prior to their departure to attend the Education Board meeting, Messrs. Darton and Atorgan discussed the question of salaries with the committee of the Poverty Bay Teachers Institute. *

His "Worship the Afayor calls a special meeting for 8 o’clock this evening to consider the question of erasing the troopers’ names from the Look memorial, and erectiii" a separate memorial in their honour.

The case against Frederick Jensen for unlawfully deserting the barquentine lima was withdrawn at the Police Court yesterday by Air. E. J. Chrisp on behalf of Captain Olsen, the master of the vessel.

At the Police Court yesterday morning two first offenders pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness. A Native was fined os and costs 2s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment, and a European was convicted and fined tile amount of his bail, £l.

Two Native cases of eight and ten years’ standing are engaging the attention of the Native Land Court at Gisborne. The facts disclose the difficulties besetting tho path of a Native Court Judge, however he may strive to arrive at some finality.

After inspecting tho waterworks contract on behalf of Air. Hay, Air. Oouston has left for tho South. As all the material has heen delivered the contract, which has been pushed on energetically, should be completed in six weeks or two months’ time.

In regard to the case of two jurors, fined £2 for 11011-attendanco at Saturday’s inquest unless they could furnish reasonable excuse, the Matter of remitting the penalty will be considered by the Coroner this morning. It is understood the “good men and true” were under a misapprehension as to time and place.

With the exception that the mains crossing tlio river have yet to be tested and roads put in order thc'tuwn reticulation, contract is practic complete. Air. Moody, contractor, will probably make a start with the house connections next week, as the small pipes are expected to arrive on AVednesday.

A trap accident occurred on Saturday evening on the River-side road. A gig was being driven along the road when the horse shied and the trap and occupants were, precipitated over the bank on to the rocks below. The hank was steep and high where the mishap took place but luckily neither the men nor the turnout re-, ceivcd any injury. ,

Mr. Graham, speaking last evening on the local drink bill, illustrated his point with the story of two fuddled Scotchmen who were discovered shedding copious tears. Questioned as to the cause for their grief they explained “we’re greetin’ ower the National Uebt.” Applying the case locally he said there was more reason to “greet” over the fact that the'., district’s drink bill amounted (estimated) to close on £70,000 per annum.

Improvements of our roads will be assisted by the use of the road roller, which came to hand yesterday, through Mr. C. B. He La u tour, local agent. It is a 10-ton machine, Fowler’s patent, and will be put together by Mr. F. Appleyard, Messrs. E. Wood and Co.’s engineer, who lias arrived from Christchurch for the purpose. The contrivance should be ready for work next- week. A scarifier, for picking and levelling roads, will come forward by next boat.

Ratepayers arc notified that a poll will lie held, at the. Council Chambers on the 25th inst., on the proposal to form a Fire Brigades Board for the Borough. Under this system the Government and Fire Insurance Com-

panies will, together with the Council, contribute to the increased upkeep of the brigade. It will be remembered that the Council’s decision in favor of a Board so constituted was unanimous, and that it meets with

the approval of the volunteer fire fighters.

In connection with a paragraph in our issue of yesterday regarding vocal street music, Mr. J. D. Elia writes (1) expressing delight that Gisborne possesses such high musical critics ; (2) stating that his troupe is always appreciated, not only in the best country hotels, but in Wellington and (3) informing us that ho lias beard dogs howling at good music as well as bad. We feel grateful for his ‘kindly approbation of our musical critic; we rejoice that liis band is approved by the leading critics of the day; and we cannot sufficiently thank him for his interesting little piece of natural history about dogs.

Application is boing made by the Wanganui Amateur Athletic Club to tho Now Zealand Association to hold the next .championship mooting at AA’anganui. “The true reason why many working men hold aloof from the ohuicli, said the llov. Spottiswopdo, nhon speaking at Petone. is “that they mil understand the few ißol.it d ... > where men misrepresenting Chi)Minii ( ity load other than a righteous lilo.

The Secretary of the AVellington Y M.C.A. (Air. Holmes) paid a visit to Christchurch about three weeks ago to inaugurate a membership campaign. Tim campaign resulted in a record among Australasian associations, no loss than 582 now members joining within throe weeks . Tho AVellington correspondent of the Otago Daily .Times states that Air. Eowhls is still of opinion that the loss on tho Exhibition will bo only between £50,000 and £60,000 but .says a great deal will depond upon tho realisation oi eirocts.

“The verdict is that tlioro is no slump,” said tho Hon. G ; I'owldti, discussing his recent Exhibition - - cursion to Christchurch. 1 lie outlying towns suffered to some extent, but that is now stopped, and they are doing very well. Taking Canterbury as a whole there is something the revorso of a slump; trade is extremely satisfactory.”

Complaint is made by several residents of lCelburne (AVellington) of the nuisance caused by wandering stock. Apart from tho 1 ant that t-liey make tho roads and paths in an unpleasant condition, they have a habit of invading gardens and eating all the green stuff they can nncl. As one aggrieved resident remarked, 1 don’t mind cows having green stuff (l believe it is good for thorn), but 1 object to having to pay for my milk and to feed the cows as well.

A glimpse of a pretty piece of old AA T ellington may he had i- Air. Baillie's office at the Public Library, AVellington. It is a sketch, hearing tlu signature of the late Sir Francis I). Bell; father of Air. F. H. D. Bell, K.C., dated 10th April, 184/. The painting shows a number of men at work, cutting a road through tho hush linking Lower Hutt with 1 aita. There is a little Afaori camp by the wayside, underneath magnificent trees which vanished long ago. The drawing and coloring have boon very elevprlv done.The Education Department has received a letter from the To Ante College Students’ Association enclosing a copv of the following resolution passed at the recent annual conferonco :—“That this conference gratefully recognises the self-denying work done by so many school teachers who ungrudgingly place their services at the disposal of the Afaori people in numerous ways, in addition to their regular school duties, and do much to promote the moral and social, as well as the intellectual welfare of the race.”

Analysis of the powders supplied by a “specialist” to a diphtheria patient at Christchurch made an merestine item in tlio evidence of Mr. A. A. Bicker ton j Colonial Analyst, during the hearing of a charge of manslaughter against the unregistered practitioner. Tho witness said that ho had analysed nine powders, and found that they were practically sugar. They contained each 2.3 to 2.5 grains in weight. They were composed of 90.3 pci* cent of icing sugar, and 0.7 per cent of starchy matter, moisture, and mineral matter

A few days ago the chairman of the Newton Schools Committee(Aucklaud) communicated with the Aliniste>* for education upon tlio question of staff reduction consequent on diminished attendance following on an outbreak of juvenile complaints. Tho Alinister replied by telegraph as follows: —“I think the regulations have been misread. No reduction of staff takes place on account of decreased attendance for ono quarter. The attendance must fall below the minimum for the grade for three quarters ; therefore tlio staff is not reduced.”

“AA'c had bad weather from the time we left AA'ellington till we returned,” states the Rev. P. AA'. Fairclough, who arrived at AA'ellington from Sydney tlio other day. “AA'e did not see a dry pavement in Sydney.” A person could sink ankle-deep in mud in streets within a hundred yards of the very centre of the town. Sydney lias nothing to boast of in tile matter of street cleanliness —the streets of AA'ellington are usually cleaner —iuid Sydney is also badly lighted at night. There is considerable laxity and go-as-you-pleaseness about the people in the streets. They block up the sidewalks, looking into windows, and men bawl out from doorways, ‘roll up,’ and the people stand about to listen.” Circumlocution Office again. The secretary of the No-License League uas asked to obtain police information regarding drink cases. He was “referred” to the Alagistrate, as there scorned to be a hazy, idea that everything the staff said would he “taken down, and may be used in evidence against you.” Air. Barton “referred” the League to the Police Inspector at Napier. The Inspector, equally cautions, “referred” the secretary to the Commissioner. Finally a reply came to hand from the Police Department declining to impart police business. It seems that the ordinary statistics are issued hv tho S.M. Court periodically, and what information is sought can, it is claimed, be collated from them. The matter has been settled by League members deciding to keep a systematic record from the daily press. An auspicious start was made last evening with tlio vocal music class at the Technical School. There was an attendance of sixteen aspirants, of both sexes, including several experienced vocalists, and all. entered upon their studios with zest. The fact that such an able instructor as Mr. Sulpbottom is at the head of affairs should ensure success. In his initial lesson the instructor demonstrated the simplicity of the scale construction, aiul the application of the tonic sol fa to the staff notation, also dealing lucidly with the part that perfect, time plays in correct interpretation. Tho tuition imparted was followed with interest-, those with previous knowledge agreeing that Air. Sidebottom had the ha—>y faculty of combining theory and practice in a manner most helpful to pupils. It has been decided to hold tho class each Alomlay evening at 7.15 sharp. Pupils for the present- quarter will lie enrolled only up to Alondoy next, as progress cannot he retarded for lnte-coniors. Punctuality must be kept in mind by students, as following the regulations, those arriving toil minutes late are not marked on the attendance roll and tho Technical Committee loses in capitation. j