The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, OCT, 5, 1907, ANOTHER DREADNOUGHT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2203, 5 October 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, OCT, 5, 1907, ANOTHER DREADNOUGHT.

England is still adding to lier navy, and tlie fifth Dreadnought is to bo laid down at Portsmouth immediately. Tlio new warship is to bo armed with eight of tlio 13.5 guns, and will displace 20,000 tons instead of 18,000. These facts aro in themselves interesting, but still more so when it is recognised that thoy aro tlio result of.tho complete failure of the Hague Conference to take any practical s-teps to bring about the limitation of armaments. In other words, tho fifth Dreadnought is tho answer of England’s naval experts to the agreeable fancies put forth by the Peace delegates. The Conference possibly arrived at some conclusions that may have the effect of ameliorating some of tho horrors of war, but so far as acting as a preventive it appears to be as signal a failure as its predecessors. After all, tlio chief security against war nowadays is the keen jealousy existing between the various European nations, nono of which would care to see ono Power make a substantial gain by conquest over a rival, and then again there is all the influence of tho financial magnates, -whoso enormous interests make war, with its consequent dislocation of the money market, the last thing in the world to be desired. However, so Jong as the position remains as it is Britain is compelled to adopt tho policy followed by President Roosevelt, who “believes in peace, but. carries a big stick.” It is not a matter for surprise, therefore, that the Admiralty and the Government should he found bestirring themselves over this question of the increased effectiveness of tlio fleet. Ever since Sir John Fisher took the reform of the navy in hand lie and they have been beset by jealous criticisms. A favorito charge is that the maritime defenco has been weakened, and that England has fallen below that two-Power standard on which the security of her coasts is traditionally said to depend. We know' that Germany has revised her naval construction programme, with a view to making provision for larger vessels. Tho usual British answer to th 0 menace behind that is a polite reminder that British naval improvement has not come to a standstill yet, and that if rival nations have a programme of war-ship-building reaching several yoars ahead, England is not bound to remain idle in the meantime. The five Dreadnoughts, in being or in prospect, translate that into- tangiblo action. Writing in tho “Fortnightly” recently “Excubitor” goes farther. He contends that tho navy to-day is still well above the two-Po-wer standard in ships, in men, and in fleets at sea. Tho review of the Home Fleet in August was a signal demonstration of the increased effectiveness of that arm of our Imperial defenco service, and -however our sympathies may go out to tho peaco delegates at the Hague it is at least comforting to remember that tho nation is not lotting the stkndard of naval effectiveness be lowered, and that it is following Cromwell’s advice and keeping /to powder dry

Tho services to bo hold at St Andrew’s Church to-morrow are advertised in this issue.

A number of teaching vacancies aro advertised in this issue by tho Hawke’s Bay Education Board.

Tho Outer Harbor Committee, which was to have mot yesterday, adjourned to Afomlay week, vvhei general business will bo transacted

Air. T. G. Lawless notifies tho salo of tho leaso of tho Cofleo Palaco, Haiti,- from Airs. How Chow to Airs. Boag, under whoso management the business will in futuro bo conducted.

In view of tho forthcoming'Riflo Association mooting, on November 9th, local riflcmon aro holding shootin*' practice each Thursday and Saturday. This afternoon practico commences at 2 o’clock.

At the Alagistrato’s Court yesterday morning, before Alessrs R. Johnston and W. E. Akroyd, Js.P., Alisa Agnow Brown was charged with riding a bicycle on tho footpath, and was fined 10s, costs 7s.

Tho following addition has been made to the Telephone Exchange: 78, Jas. J. Niven and Co, Engineers, Lowo street. Tho following liavo boon deleted:—7B, J. Brown, Engineer, Lowo stroet;. 108, Airs. E. E. Tate.

Mr. A. F. Kennedy arrives in a fortnight’s timo from London, and will bo mot in Sydney by Airs. Kennedy, who is a passenger by tho Victoria this morning. Air and Airs. Kennedy will roach Gisborno about tlio first week in November.

At Wesley Church to-morrow tho Rev. C. Griffin’s subjects are, morning “Jesus Rejoicing,” evening, “Jesus Weeping.” There will bo Sacrament of tho Lord’s Supper at tho morning sorvice. The United Biblo Class moots in tho afternoon.

A meeting of shoopfarm-jrs and drovers in connection with the newlyformed Association will bo hell on tho Saturday after tho Show. Balloting for members will bo ! ho principal business, and there will be general discussion on tho lino to bo li 1lowed by tho Association.

A sale of work and garden party in aid of tho building fund of St. Andrew’s now church will bo held on Thursday afternoon, 21st November, in Aliss Alorice’s grounds, kindly lent for the occasion. In the evening an open-air concert will be held. Iho salo is being organised by the LtcUes’ Guild.

Alessrs Gaudin and Co. have a special advertisement in this issuo. The firm liavo for salo a number of choice properties, sections, and houses which will repay the attention of country s.ettlers desirous of residing in town. Some of the finest country properties aro offered for sale.

At the annual meeting of tlio Wharekopae-Tahora Settlers’ Association, held on tlio 2nd instant, the following office-bearers were elected:—Chairman, Air. E. At. Hutchinson; vice-chairman, Air. P. J. Roberts; secretary and treasurer, Air. Chas. Leggett. Tho resignation of Air. C. R. Alitford as secretary was accepted with regret, members speaking appreciatively of his past services.

A capital programme will bo submitted at the annual social of the Patutalii Presbyterian Church, on Thursday next. . The choir, assisted by visitors, will render a service of song, entitled “Tim’s Special.” This in itself should bo well worth hearing. The moral contained, in “Tim’s Special” is directed against tho gambling craze. About 25 or 30 will participate in the programme, and an enjoyable evening should be spent. A public tea at 6 o’clock will precede tho Service of Song.

Tho Christmas number of the Auckland "Weekly News ” is to hand, and, as lias been the case in recent years, tho proprietors havo produced an illustrated magazine that is creditablo not only to tho firm which produced it, but also to Now Zealand as- a country. Tho distinctive featuro is that tho numerous high-class illustrations, as .well as the literary portion, are essentially of New Zealand character, and in this respect tlio Dominion is capitally represented.

The Gisborno Rifles paraded in mufti last night, and participated in a shooting contest on the miniaturo range, the points to count in the squad competition. Lieutenant Coleman was tho officer in charge. Of a possible 25, the following wero the scores: Private Schieb 24, Corporal Broignan 22, Sergeant Hay 20, Lieu tenant Coleman, Private McGuffie, and Private Holmes 19, Sergeant Somervell and Privato Barnes 18, Private Jones 17, Private Scott 14, Private Thompson, Bugler Tate 12, Privato Andersan 0.

One passenger by the Hazel Craig was glad enough to set foot on terra firma. . To oblige a local resident, Captain Savory took a young dog which the owner wished to got rid of. Its departure was involuntary, being carried out by force and subterfuge, and a bad attack of mal de mere by no means reconciled the canine to the delights of a seafaring life. As the breakwater was entered the dog showed great excitement at the approaching termination of his short voyage, and tho moment the vessel touched the wharf he .lumped ashore.. Then, with ears laid back and tail erect, lie bolted for homo, and one. home in Gisborne received prompt intimation of tho return of tho Hazel Craig.

The north-west gale bn Saturday afternoon .was the strongest wind experienced in North Canterbury within the past two years (says the "Lyttelton Times’’’). Clouds of dust were swept from the roads and river-beds, and at times in the open tho wind could hardly be faced. Straw stacks were blown over, a good number of chimneys suffered, and trees were brought down. In tho railway station at Rangiora three or four pino trees were uprooted, and the evening train from Culverden was brought to a standstill a short distance south of Amberley owing to part of a tree having fallen across tho lino. Tlio obstruction was quickly removed, and the train was almost on time when it reached Rangiora. The wind moderated towards evening.

“Mr. McCullough is at Hawardcn, mobilising tho farm laborers,” said the chairman of a Christchurch meeting of protest against Mr. McCullough’s suspension, “so they have not knocked tho fight out of him yet.” Tho speaker said that Mr. McCullough had to cycle forty miles to carry out his organising mission, and Aid not receive payment for it, and in most cases not even expenses. The vice-president of tho Political Labor League had gono to Ashburton to deliver ail address on labor matters, and ho also had to cycle back without receiving any payment for it. ' Thero was, ho added, a great deal in tho labor movement, and thoso who wished to participate had only to “roll up” and pay their florins to become members.

. A now phaso lias arisen in connection with tho admission to tlio Auckland hospital of Edward Cornwall Clark, -who was recently sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment at t-ho Gisborne sessions, and oil whoso behalf medical testimony was given to show that ho was in a delicate state of health through tho morphia habit. A letter was rceeivcu yesterday from tho Auckland Hospital Board, notifying Clark’s admission to that institution, and stating that a claim would be made on tho Gisborne Charitable Aid Board for liis maintenance, bo being a resident of this town. It appears that it us the usual custom for one Board to make a claim of this kind upon another Board, which has tho privilege of collecting the amount from those interested. Probably when the relatives are communicated with thcere will bo no responsibility cast upon tho Charitable Aid Board,