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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2072, 26 December 1907, Page 2

This office will be open for receiving advertisements from 5 o’clock this evening.

The Gisborne Rifles intend -to hold a- week-end camp at AVainui on January 18th.

To-day the Gisborne Defence cadets will shoot matches at the Haiti range for trophies and medals specially donated. The Post -Office advises that the AVolliugton-Na-ples despatch of November loth arrived in London on the morning of the 23rd hist.

Although the town was crowded on Christinas Eve, it speaks volumes for the order which prevailed, that only one arrest for drunkenness was made. This state of affaire shows decided improvement on past years. The offices of Messrs Gaudin and Co. will he closed from December 25 Until the 28th and from January Ist to 3rd. Clients having business to transact during- the holidays may do so through* the medium of telephone 236.

A misprint crept in the Harbor Board report in Tuesday’s paper. In reference to Mr. AA r . L. Rees’ letter about extra wharf accommodation, rt should read th-vt the -Board thought that there was sufficient accommodation already provided. An -arrival from Auckland yesterday was -arrested by the police on a charge of drunkenness. AVhen taken to the lockup -the man appeared to be suffering somewhat, and medical assistance being summoned lie was found to be suffering from an attack of delirium tremens.

The heavy rain which set in yesterday afternoon will -prove exceedingly welcome to for the soil has been badly in need of a thorough soaking. Stock has not suffered to any great extent as the result of the long spell of dry weather, for sheep thrive wonderfully well on dry feed, but cereal -and other crops were being stunted through lack of moisture.

A very useful diary for 1908 has been issued by Messrs. Common, -Shelton, -and Co., local agents for Messrs. Andrew Usher and Co., distillers of Scotch whiskies. Amongst a. quantity of interesting information contained therein is a list of tlie world’s athletic records. Almanacs have also -been received from the Phoenix Assurance Co., and Messrs. T. and J. Dalrymple. Even had--the weather been of -the -most perfect description for outdoor gatherings, it is extremely unlikely that the Tokonnaru sports meeting to ■have been held to-day would have passed off in a manner entirely satisfactory to all. It appears that through -some oversight the liquor refreshments, which it bad been intended should take an important -part in the day's enjoyment, were not ordered from -Gisborne in time, so that it became impossible to get, them delivered in time for the sports. An accident lia-ppened to -the Matawliero coach on Tuesday afternoon. AVhen near the cemetery a bolt broke, dropping an axle. This frightenedtile horses, and t-liey bolted, lurching from side to side. The driver fell out, -and a lady, Mrs. Gordon, jumped out and sustained some bruises. The driver -was unhurt. (Some person coming up the road brought the runaways to a, standstill. 'One of the wheels was slightly damaged, bun temporary repairs -were effected, and the coacli proceeded to town. One' passenger refused to continue his ride and walked into town. The other occupants, -mostly ladies, got a- severe fright, but they were not ’.nut.

There is probably no part of Australasia in which fewer complaints against the police force are heard than in New Zealand (says the New Zealand Times). As a general rulle, it is recognised that the constables and their officers are actually guardians of the public’s interests, not marionettes or automatic beat-walk-ers. This is wliat the “AV-est-ern Pacific Herald” of November 29th last (published at Suva) has to say of two of our Dominion police sergeants who were recently, at the request of the Fij-ian authorities, attached to the force of that sometimes agitated portion of the Empire: “Tlie public are very pleased to notice that we have at least two European sergeants with colonial experience in the Suva police force. Sorgoants Earl and Gregor -arrived by the Atua from New Zealand on Tuesday last, and should prove most valuable additions to the force. Already they are making their presence felt, and 'had several cases before the Bench this morning.”

Some of the public who attend t'ho sittings of the Conciliation Board during the hearing of the farm laborers’ dispute are inclined to look' ii]i on the proceedings as partaking of the farcical, says the Cl.ristcliurcli “Press,” tut one of thorn present at a recent sitting at Ashburton carried his contempt of the Board too tar. Desp'te the fact lhaa all the doors and windows were open, tho tcm-per-it lire in the-crowded room in, which the Board sat was almost intolerable. Two or three in tho audienco appeared with tlieir coats off, and one man in his attempts to keep cool started smoking. Suddenly the proceedings were interrupted by tho uprising of tlie chairman, Who remarked that lie did not object to certain demonstrations, so long as tliev were not too partisan in character but- there was a gentleman who thought it was gentlemanly to smoko in the room. Ho (the chairman) did not think it was. “Hear, hear,” and applause greeted this mild rebuke, am! it was generally thought that tho “gentleman” alluded to would there and then take the hint. He didn’t, and the chairman uprose again iu a few minutes. “If that smoking is not discontinued,” said the now thoroughly irate chairman, “I will have you put out. I have power to order you into custody, and if the police were here I Should have you put in custody for twelve hours.” This proved effective, and the delinquent did not further offend. AValnut Toffee, the delectable dainty, just opened fresh for Christmas.—Dustin’s.

A petition, having for its object tho release of Lionel Terry from Seacliff ' Mentall Hospital, and his transference to another country, will shortly bo circulated and presented to tho Government. Tho petition has its origin in tho Hindon district, whore Terry spent a groat deal of his time while at large.

Tho obliging nature of tho officials in the Now Zealand railways has always been an admitted fact (says a North Island exchange), and the legends of tho guard who cheerfully delayed the train until a lady consignor’s fowls had laid sufficient c*«s to make the daily consignment up' to tho usual tally lias had a somewhat similar exemplification. The bailiff of a certain Court, not far from Master ton, had a summons to serve at a place about half a mile from, the railway flag station, and not wishing to spend four or five hours in comfortless solitude to wait for the next train, ho requested tho guard to wait until ho had served the summons. The bailiff is an athletic sort, and lie cut out the half-mle in pretty well record time, and tli-o person .served, not understanding the situation, thought he had encountered an escapee from Torirua as the summons wins thrust into his hand. The usual injunction as to the day of hearing, etc., was gabbled through hurriedly, and tho Court man darted back to the station without giving his victim time to gather breath. Tho train was duly reached, the guard’s whistle blow, and perfect contentment reigned as the st'.tion disappeared from sight.