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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2186, 16 September 1907, Page 2

Tho syllabus item for tlie Gishomo Debating Society this evening is “A Night with the Poets.”

“Russia’s Destiny and Doom, as in Prophecy,” is the title of a lecturo to be given by Mr. W. Corrio Johnston in the Baptist Tabernacle to-morrow evoning.

At the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning, before Mr. Barton, S.M., judgment by default was given in the case Michael Mahoney v. Charles Presswood, with costs 6s.

Revenue received at tho Custom Hftuse last week was as follows: Cilwfonifc duties £944 4s 4d, beer duty £4O os ! 6d, light dues £lB 15s sd, shipping fees £3 6s, Harbor Board revenue £125 9s, other receipts £1; total £1132 15s 6d.

A boy preacher is attracting some attention in tlio North. He preached recently at Hamilton, and on each occasion the church was well filled. The lad’s eloquent style was much admired, and liis addresses thoroughly enjoyed. Tho New Zealand Accountants’ and Auditors’ Association announce in this issue t'he offering of two prizes to the first placed candidates in the Fellows’ and Associates’ Grades, viz; of three guineas and two guineas respectively, at tho Association’s examinations to be held throughout! the colony in November next.

A meeting of the Hospital Social Committee will be held this evening to make filial arrangements for the function. Tho work of decorating tlie wool store will take place on Wednesday. Gifts of poultry, cakes, and trifles will be thankfully acknowledged, as the catering for such a largo number is no light undertaking.

In connection with tho arrival of an heir to the Spanish Throne, .the Mellin’s Food Company liavo been appointed purveyors of Mellin’s Food to tho Royal Household of Spain. Mellin’s Food Company have lately added to their long list of awards the following:—Gold medal for Mellin’s Food and Lacto, silver medal for Feeding Bottle at Christchurch International Exhibition, gold medal for Mellin’s Food at Das Kind Exhibition, Vienna.

A most interesting programme is to bo submitted at the monthly meeting of tho Gisborne United Band of Hope at Whinray’s Hall on Tuesday evening. “Whom Shall We Marry” will bo discussed by twelve young ladies, and a “public meeting,” conducted by three boys and two girls, should be a good item. Admission is free, a collection being taken, for expenses. After the meeting an announcement will be made by the chairman as to prizes to he offered at next meeting.

Messrs. Miller and Craig report the following prices at Saturday morning’s sale: —Hens Is 7d to Is lOd, roosters 2s to 2s 4d, eggs 9d to lOd dozen, blitter 8d to lOd lb, maize 10s s ick (seconds), cabbage Is lid to 3s dozen, cauliflowers 3s to 9s dozen, k inner as Id lb, lemons 2d to 4d dozen, walnuts 3d lb, pumpkins 3s 3d sack, Swcde&- Is bag, parrots 2s 3d dozen bundles, turnips 2s dozen bundles, potatoes 12s 6d sack, oranges 4s to 6s case, mandarins 6s to 6s 6d case, bacon 6£d lb, ham 7Jd lb.

Already the Drovers and Sheepfarmers’ Association has a membership of about 50, a number of additional names being.received on Saturday. Owners are now showing a commendable spirit in co-operating with the drovers to make the Association of mutual benefit, and there is every prospect of it proving a most useful institution. . Air. Graham Johnstone, the secretary, who may be rung up at any time, is starting a register of drovers available for employment, and it is essential that they should keep him well posted up in their movements, as upon this largely depends the success of tlie system.

His AVorship the Alayor received a telegram from the Premier on Saturday, stating that Thursday, 26th inst., is to be proclaimed a public holiday, to mark the adoption of the title “Dominion of New Zealand,” and inviting the co-operation of this district, in common with the rest of the Dominion, in fittingly celebrating the memorable occasion. The Government is requesting Education Boards to proclaim a general school holiday. In towns where it can be arranged a parade of the local and district volunteers will take place, and tlie Officer Commanding the district has been instructed to confer with tho Alayor regarding the form tlie celebration shall take. The Alayor sent a reply offering congratulations on this important step in the history of New Zealand, and stating his willingness to fall in with the Premier’s wishes.

Wintry conditions have effectually superseded tho genial weather experienced of late. The raw weather of Friday led to showery conditions about town and snow on somo of -febe higher lands out hack, Saturday passed in fitful showers and uncompromising outlook, and Sunday ushered in one of the heaviest falls of rain recorded even during a most inclement winter. A 7 ivid lightning and heavy thunder added what little variety there was, tlie rain continuing to pclter down almost incessantly all day. The town, presented a desolate appearance late vesterday afternoon, very few wayfarers emerging from the snug fireside. It was a deluge of the kind'to severely test the drainage facilities, which it is needless to add were found wanting. Alost of the gutters were overflowing, and the low-lying parts' were incontinently flooded. In- AVhataupoko, near tho footbridge, there is a sea of water, almost precluding pedestrian traffic, and tlie streets and footpaths generallv were in a very sloppy condition. The country is also in a saturated stite, and the cold and wet will have a deleterious effect upon the jyoung lambs. It is reported that on Saturday a coating of snow was to be seen at AVhakarau and Alotu, among other places.

Tondors close at noon to-day with the secretary ol the Hospital Bourd for tlie supply of various commodities to tho Hospital.

Thu extra price paid by the pooplo of New Zealand for their boots and shoes oil account of tho Customs duty on llioso imported would, it is calculated, give £2 per week to every innn, boy, and girl employed in tho boot factories ol the colony. Probably it is not generally known (says the Hawora Star) that when land outsido a borough is cut up for sale and tho subdivision includes areas of loss than an acre,tho law now makos it necessary to give tho locality a name, which must bo approved by tho Governor. AVlion is Philip drunk and when is Philip sobor (asks tho N.Z. Herald). It is a question wliich often comes beforo tho Courts, and admitß of no regulation answer. If a man can t stand up, but can tranact business lying down, with a perfectly clear head on liis shoulders, is ho drunk. If a man can walk down tho street with head erect, and never a swerve to right or loft, but. at the same time can see two moons, is he drunk? And if a truthful person tolls a policeman, who has arrested him for looking too often at to red wine, that ho is not drunk, is ho to bo believed, or not? Those aro puzzling questions. But when a man says that lie could not stand, hut “could walk right enough was ho sober? Such a mail was before the Court tho other day. Ho was 73 years of ago and was described as a first offender. I do not know whether I. was drunk or no-, ho said ; “I admit I could not stand, but I c-ould walk right enough. Iho magistrate at once dismissed the case, but by way of compromise the man was asked to pay costs.

It has generally been accepted by a wise and careful public (says the Auckland Herald), that the handiest method of getting rid of old and defaced coin that cannot be tendered to a cautious shopkeeper is to put it as an humble offering into a church offertory* or hand it as a medium of exchange to tho meek and placid John Chinaman, in exchange tor hib succulent vegetables, or—as a dormer ressort—tender it to the rushed and worried tram conductor as a taro during tho five o’clock scramble. This latter method will now be abolished, as in an advertisement* in another column tho public are notified by the A E.T. Union that nothing but good coin will bo taken in future. 'Only this week a leaden half-crown was pay sod by a passenger to an unsuspecting conductor in a crowded car wMe perforated coins, carefully filled with baser metal, are quite a medium of exchange. It is hoped by tho men that when the public are made aware of the fact that all such coin received by the men in future is to bo deducted from their wages only good coin will be tendered as payment for fares. That memory sometimes plays curious tricks was realised by those wlio were present at the Auckland Court to hoar Air. Kettle’s decision in the tramway by-law cases. One of the counsel for the defendants, Mr. Blomfield had contended during the hearing of the cases that tho licenses tor tlio tram cars were not operative beyond tho city boundary. Mr. Blomfield, however, had resumed. practice in his profession after having for some time presided over tlio Auckland Courts in a magisterial capacity, .and during his magistracy he had given a decision that the city licenses tor rehicles, etc., applied within a radious of five miles of tho Auckland Post Office, so that he had the curious experienco of having his own decision, which he had forgotten, quoted against liis own argument. A similar thing has happened in New Zealand before, a solictor who acted on tlio Supremo Court Bench being, confronted with one of his own judgments, which was directly opposed to the point the learned counsel was trying to make, and he found himself bound on that point by liis own Supreme Court judgment. Alessrs. Common, Slielton, and Co. conducted a land sale at Mr. Pettie’6 auction Mart at noon on Saturday. Though tho attendance was good, bidding was spiritless, and little business resulted. The town sections were passed in, owing to the poor demand, and next 73 acres of Air. C. Alatthews’ Patutahi property (known as “ The Triangle”) was submitted to auction in sections. Section 1, containing 5 acres, with cottage and stable, was passed in at £540; section 2, 5 acres 3 roods, passed in at £4O per acre; section 3, 5 ac.res 3 roods, passed in at £42; section 4, 5 acres, passed in at £4l; section 5, 5 acres, passed, £4l; and section 6, 5 acres, passed, £4O. Tlie reserve was £45 per acre, and tho figure not being reached in any instance the auctioneer did not offer the five remaining sections. On account of Air. A. Zeaker, Aluriwai, 132 acres wa6 offered and passed in at £l2 per acre: and no bid was made for 10 aeres, with buildings,, or for three-quarters of an acre, with blacksmith’s shop. On account of Air. A. Alurray, a lot of 1 acre 1 rood 23 perches, situateu opposite the hotel, was passed in without competition. Town sections offered in conjunction with'Alr. Clias. Busclce: Section No. 36, Ormondroad, containing 5 acres, with good, substantially-built kauri house of six rooms and all conveniences, passed tin at £1200; section No. 21, corner of Owen-street and Do Lautour-road. having a frontage of 10 chains and 5 chains respectively to each road, good 6-roomed dwelling and necessary outbuildings, large orchard, passed, no bid; section No. 3, Stout-street, containing nearly half an acre, passed, £450. Subsequently to the sale, section 7 of Air. C. Alatthews’ property was disposed of to Air. S. Scragg, and section 8 -to Air. C. Peach, at tlio jroserve price, £45 per acre.