The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING TUESDAY, NOV. 5, 1907. ADVANCEMENT OF POVERTY BAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2229, 5 November 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING TUESDAY, NOV. 5, 1907. ADVANCEMENT OF POVERTY BAY.

There has been no word yet of the date 'when tlie supplementary.. Estimates are to bo brought before Parliament, but there are many signs that the session is nearing completion, so that the announcement dll the direction indicated nmy be expected any day now. And the question is. How will Poverty Bay fare when the loaves .and fishes are being distributed? Will our representative in Parliament, the Hon. James Carroll, stand true to In's election pledges and sec that ■, this districtgets its due, or will lie stand supinely by and watch the good things in the shape of Parliamentary votes go .for the benefit of other parts of the Dominion? We are supposed to be specially honored by having a Minister of the Crown as our representative. . This is precisely the time to ascertain to what extent that is ■really a privilege. In the post it appears to have been chiefly used as an excuse for gross neglect of the community’s needs. This state of things cannot continue indefinitely. Citizens of Gisborne and settlers in the country are beginning to realise that there are many tilings more essential to tlieir happiness and prosperity tilt m the very barren honor of returning to tlie House the Minister of a Department whose inefficiency has become a byword throughout the country. Our people want roads, and they also want a railway. Both of these important items will be considered in Parliament within a few days, and there is thus provided '.an excellent opportunity for the Hon. Jas. Carroll to show that he is something more than a very plausible orator and a good-tempered, genial politician. These qualities are admirable, hut they do not comprise the sol 0 qualifications for a member who bus tlie privilege of representing in Parliament a young and growing community ‘with daily increasing needs. Sir Joseph Ward fins given out that no more railways .are to be proceeded with until the Main Trunk line is completed; but just as the Premier was forced to give way oil his land policy so it is certain tint ho will be compelled to yield tortile more insistent claims or country districts ,in various parts of the Dominion that they shall receive railway communication. It is, moreover, equally certain that Only those claims which are tinged vigorously and with determination wild be conceded. In this respect the continuation of the -railway from Gisborne to the Motu is ono the justice of which should warrant the most earnest efforts on its behalf. The line i.s already as fur as Waihuka," and, as there are Jib extraordinary difficulties in railway construction between that point and Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson’s station, •it is n reasonable thing to ask that ■tlie, line should be continued without delay To that locality. Onco the railway reached .Hutchinson's it would be of •imimcnse service to the settlers of Ralniuro-i and Motu. These pioneers of the back-blocks have, despite the. inconveniences and hardships under which they labor, worked wonders in developing that portion of the country, and it is the barest justice that the isolation ■which is tlieir lot- during the wet months should be provided (against. But apart from the absolute fairness of such '> proposition the work can be advocated from an entirely different standpoint, for it can be claimed without the slightest fear of contradiction that no work in the whole of the Dominion could bo undertaken ■with better prospects .of financial success. 'ln brief, it Is recognised by all who know the country that such au extension would pay handsomely from the outset. Under the circumstances we cun only hope that the Hon. Mr. Carroll will organise a strong representation, with the assistance of other members whose interests (are in the Bays, to ensure ■that tills necessary and legitimate work finds a place on the Estimates.

Borough employees nro at present engaged in laying asphalt on the Jarulioi'ti bridge. Gladstone Road, botwoen Groy and Derby streets lias now been thoroughly scarified, and metalling will bo proceeded with at once. Tho Tuatea and Kaeo displayed all available bunting yesterday in honor of tho arrival at Dunedin of Sir Jas. Mills,general manager ol tlie Union S.S. Coy. There aro vacancies to bp filled ill Holy Trinity choir. Vocalists desirous of joining aro asked to communicate with Mr. E. N. Sidebottom, conductor. At a meeting of the Waterside Workers’ Union on Saturday evening it was decided to refer the Union’s application for a new award direct to tho Arbitration Court. Tho Anglican Church people of To Klaraka. have decided to raise a hind of £7OO, of which £3OO is to bo dovoted to tho building of a church, and tho remainder for a new vicarage. “I don’t seo any reason,” ways the poet, “why the Gunpowder Treason should ever bo forgot,” and in case they should not learn so in the conrso of the evening, a. reminder is given to citizens that this is Guy Fawkes’ Day. A special meeting of the- Harbor Board was hold yesterday afternoon, when the proposed amendments of tlie Gisborne Harbor Bill were considered. After discussion further consideration was deferred until tomorrow. In an impounding case at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, tlio defendant, on being fined, exclaimed dramatically, “Tho fine will never be paid,” and on being expostulated with by tho guardians of the peace, refused in rather forcible terms to bo silent. Most housewives in Gisborne would think themselves in clover with £6 per week and a free house, with butter, milk, and firewood, but such was evidently not tho case with one lady who brought an application to Court, despite an offer in tlioso terms by her husband. Improvements have been effected to tho roadway of the Whataupoko bride. Several inches of metal have been removed and a top surface of now material liberally dressed with tar is being laid down. Tho result is expected to bo very great improvement for traffic purposes. “India” will be the subject of a lecture by the Rev. H. G. Blaekie, at the Baptist Tabernacle this evening. Eighty views will illustrate the lecture, which should be of an interesting description as Mr. Bin Okie speaks from an experience extending over eight years in India. Admission ia free, and a collection will bo taken.

“The Lodge as a Short Cut to Matrimony” was the text of a good many speakers, at the banquet held by tho Gisborne Lodge last niglit. One speaker stated that an officer of a Lodge had once computed that when young men joined friendly societies they became married within 21 years. Later, the chairman, in making a presentation to a member about to be married, said that .lately there had been la,n epidemic of matrimony in the Lodge, and that in one recent week somewhere in the vicinity of a dozen marriages of members had taken place.

The monthly meeting of the Utility Poultry Club was held last night in Mr. Morell’s store, Whataupoko. There was a good attendance of members, and the enthusiasm displayed augurs well for the success of the club. In tho absence of tlie secretary (Mr. Mo roll), Mr. Faram temporarily filled the position, and reported that the books of rules were not yet to hand, but were expected in a fendays. Ono new member was elected, and several arc expected to join shortly. Mr. F. J. jtoivley was unanimously elected President for the ensuing’ year. The next meeting will be held on tho first- Monday in December.

An hour and a half’s music and song will mark the Salvation Army Band social on Thursday evening. Three selections, “St. Leonard’s,” “Lead. Kindly Light,” and “Harmonious Strains” will be rendered by the Band, and there will be cornet solos, trombone duets, concertina solo, and other good .items. Honorary members will bo admitted on production of members’ ticket. Tho Army’s united picnic will be held on Monday next, when folks are invited to go along and spend an enjoyable outdoor holiday. "The rendezvous w-ill bo announced on Saturday. A fixture for tlie 28th inst. is the Army’s anniversary .tea.

It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good ! When speaking at last night’s banquet of tho Bodge’s sound sick benefit fund, the chairman said tho healthy state of the fund was in part due to tlie fact- that many members of .tlie Bodge were so situated that they' could liot afford to leave their ordinary avocations, grinning and bearing their sicknesses, and helping the sick benefit fund by not calling on it. Bater on the same speaker instanced how a seemingly good wind might blow ill to certain parties. He stated that during his 15 years’ tenancy of tlie post of secretary there, had only been _ tlireo deaths, and because of the unusually low mortality in the Bodge the valuation was reduced because of the sickness which members, who were, among friendly societies, known as “Neverdies,” might be expected to experience.

A Maori congress is to be held at Wellington next year. It will consist of the following sections of Maori social organisation‘Maori Councils, Native Department, >and tiie Native Minister; the Health Department through its medical officers and sanitary inspectors; the .Church through the native clergy; Maori arts and industries and education, through Te Ante College; Government native schools, Te Ran t! ieo logical college, St. Stephens, Three Kings, .and kindred institutions, ami the beads of these are to be asked to attend. The Te Ante Association, representatives of dairying, pastoral and agricultural iutirests will be invited; also those engaged as mechanics. 'I lie ■ objects of the congress shall bo briefly to enlighten the people of tlie Dominion i:i regnrd to the Maori race at tlie present time, to afford an opportunity of summing up and tabulating what has been accomplished by Maori enterprise along various lines of progress. to demonstrate to the people of New Zealand what the Government has done and is doing for the Maori r ice, to tend to unify the race by defining and promulgating a lace policy of progress, to exert- a. healthy cdiuca.tiiop mid stimulating influence amongst the Maoris, and generally to afford the race ail oppo’l unity ■that it- Ims never yet enjoyed of making widely known through rciiedited and enlightened rcprese.mitives its views, its needs, and Us guevanees.

A speaker at last night’s banquet made a laughable mistake when carried away by his flood of eloquence. Ho said, referring to the Jiodgo’s good financial position, that he had known the Bodge when it was “not in its present financial straits, and when it was not suffering great benefits as at present’.”

A resident called in lust evening to complain of the inordinately long time taken by the Telegraph Dopart'mcn t to deliver a telegram to his house, which is only six blocks unity .from the Post Office. Tho superscription shows that the message was received in Gisborne at 5.25, yet the .addressee did not get delivery until 8.30 or thereabouts. Tlie message was prepaid, but tho hour was rendered too late for a reply that evening.

Tlio question of friendly societies giving full pay during tlio first six months of sickness ol members received n gooil ileal of attention at last night’s banquet. One speaker said that if members were to put their tobacco money into the benefit hind full pay could be given. Tlio chairman said that ho was against full sielc pay, staling that in one county at Homo where the scheme had been tried, tho amount spent on sick benefits went up to 25 per cent.

Stockownors should note that tlie owner of any diseased or .infected stock found in any yard or place whore stock are offered for sale or exhibition is liable to a penalty of £2O. The officers of the Stock Department have recently had occasion to withdraw from sale several palpably diseased animals, (and in future •.All bo compelled to take action against persons offending in sifeh a way. Because animals aro suffering from some trouble, and aro becoming useless to the owner ,it does not justify him in disposing of them by public auction. Before putting animals in tlio sale yard owners must lie quite certain that they are free from disease.

Occupiers of land upon which noxious weeds aro growing, under the Noxious Weeds Act are compelled to clear all scheduled weeds at the proper season of the year, to the satisfaction of the Inspector, otherwise they are liable to a penalty. No notice from tho Inspector is necessary, but every reasonable opportunity" will lie given landowners to comply with the Act. before the adoption of legal proceedings. Landowners are responsible for all roads abutting their properties. For instance in the Borough of Gisborne the weeds that come under tlio operation of the Act aro sweetbriar, blackberry, gorsc, fennell, and some of these are beginning to show up very rapidly within tlio Borough. The same applies to tho Counties.