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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2085, 10 January 1908, Page 2

The weather was again very warm yesterday ami people spoilt the halfholiday on tiie beach, although the tide was dead low. The following have been added to the Telephone Exchange:—3B2, E. Richardson, tVharekopae (four long rings); Go, Tocknell, and Connack, builders, Ormond Road. The following is deleted3B2, R. G. Jcllie. A witness in a judgment summons case at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning stated that living was very much more expensive in Te Ivaraka than Gisborne. Milk, he said, was 4d per quart. the Hospital subscribers’ meeting, which was to have been held at the Farmers’ Union Club rooms last evening lapsed for want of a quorum. Those present were:—Messrs. Townley, V. Ryke, E. Lysnar, E. G. Matthews, (secretary to the Hospital Trustees), and the Hon. Captain Tucker. Tho next meeting will be held, in accordance with statute, on Thursday evening, 23rd ins!:. Experiments were made by four members of the Eire Brigade yesterday afternoon between 1 and 2 p.m., at the stable near the Eire Brigade shed with a new smoko helmet,'with which a fireman can enter a room full of smoke, make a thorough examination and put the water in tho right place on the fire. The room was filled with smoke and the experiment was very successful. 'l'lio helmets are to come into general use. They are of brass, and there is an apron of leather attached to them. Air is pumped in through a metal hose, 50 feet long, and it emerges as a current through a wire netting arrangement an-inch wide in front of the eyes.

A meeting of tho Drivers’ Union will! be held this evening. Tho annual meeting of tho subscribers to the Turanganui Library will be held at the Library on Monday next. Freezing buyers are now offering 4Jd per lb over-all for lambs, 21d for sheep, and 19s per hundred for cattle, delivered at tho works. Rush fires were agin in oyidonco last evening and just at sunset tho sun appeared to bo transformed into a ball of lire and tho eifeet was very beautiful. The cocksfoot market is very firm it present, and a loeal farmer who made inquiries from a Southern merchant was quoted 8d per lb for a primo .sample. 'Twelve months ago it could have been secured at under sd. Early yesterday morning a fiveroomed house at Ormond, known at Whitlock’s, near tho Waipaoa river, was destroyed by fire. Jt was occupied by two young men named Lynch, ono of* whom was badly burned about the neck. Mr. Tow nicy received a similar intimation. Ho silso said that tho ■Borough Council, at its meeting on Tuesday night, would decide as to what course of action to adopt. It was tho Minister’s first visit to Gisborne, and he would certainly he shown 'round. No doubt, a number of deputations would meet him and place before him the requirements ol the district. Evidence of tho value of sheep-dogs was given at the Mata where sale yesterday, when a few were sold at prices from £3 15s to £5. When- it is considered that the qualities of these dogs were unknown to the buyers, and that it is a common tiling to hear of £lO or £ls being refused for a. dog, it will no scin that a good team of dogs is a valuable asset to their owner. Rain is badly needed in the country districts, graziers in particular feeling tho effects of t'ho_ dry weather. Although there is a green shoot on some of tho paddocks which have been cut for grass seeding purposes, yet it is altogether insufficient to carry thoir stock. This is a bad state of affairs, especially as this m ml 1 '; and next month are generally iin driest of the season, and if rain h;w not fall soon the position will become serious.

The local freezing works are being kept fairly busy at tho present time, yesterday about 4000 sheep and I mills arrived at Nelson Bros.’ freezing works. Reports are to tho effect (hat this season’s lambs are coming

A> hand in goodly numbers and in capita! condition. It is asserted that the quality is superior to that of former years. So far freezing sheep have been slow in coming forward, farmers being disinclined to accept the reduced rates now offering. Beef is fairly plentiful and tlio quality well up to tho average. Canterbury this season will have tho most prolific apricot crop known in her history, and when tho main crop comes into the market, the prices for same should bo within the reach of tho careful housekeeper. This abundant supply (says the Christchurch “Press”) is the result of ,'la.st season’s drought which ripened up the wood early and sot the flower buds. Apricots are partial to a dry climate, and this accounts for their suecesful culture in Central Otago where the summers are intensely hot and dry. They, however. arc partial to other conditions, especially to a heavy stiff soil where eh:v is much in evidence. This explains why the ITeatlicote Valley has proved to be one of the very best centres in Canterbury fpr producing this .luscious fruit. Here Air. AY. Gimblett has an orchard of apricots several acres in extent, which is at present in the interesting stage to those who have a penchant for the apricot . Not only do the trees bear abundantly, but they ripen very much earlier with him than elsewhere in Canterbury. This no doubt is owing to their high elevation, as they arc growing on slopes some hundreds of feet up tho hill side. How early lie can market them is proved by the number ho sent to tho local salerooms several days before tho New A’ear. This, it is well to point out, is much in advance of the Nelson apricots, which are generally well in advance of other centres. It is worth noting that Heatlieote AUilley is one of the earliest spots in Canterbury, being noted for early crops of all kinds. This is owing to tlio sheltered conditions which prevail, especially from the cutting east winds.