The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1908. DRUNKENNESS IN GISBORNE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2134, 7 March 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1908. DRUNKENNESS IN GISBORNE.

'Sergeant Williams’ report on the increase in tho number of arrests lor drunkenness made in the Gisborne district is one that should give cause for deep thought amongst the community. According to this report, there have been no less than 76 arrests for drunkenness sineo January T, as against 43 during a similar period last year. AVithout taking up a pessimistic position, we can only describe so largo an increase as a matter of grave concern. Drunkenness spells poverty and distress in many homes, loss to tho State, -and disorder in. tho community. According to his Honor Air. Justice Chapman, the bulk, of the charges placed before him in tho criminal calendar during the present session have been connected with drink, and this, after all, is but a common experience in Court records. For some time Gisborne has held a somewhat unenviable reputation as a place whore drunkenness is particularly prevalent, and according to latest records wo arc certainly not going tho right way to belie the unpleasant imputation.. The position is one that must he faced, and in tho present instance it is the hotel-keop-ers who are primarily concerned. Sergeant AYilliams makes no charge against the various licensees, and his suggestion that a good deal of the drunkenness takes place in such a way that the hotel-keepers can scarcely be directly blamed, lias probably a good deal of force. If a man comes into town, and whilst ill a sober condition buys several- bottles of beer, and taking them down the street forthwith engages in a drunken spree, it is difficult to see how the publican can be held responsible. At tile same time it must bo remembered that the general public is not, as a rule, disposed to analyse these matters closely, and will look upon every case of drunkenness, however brought about, tas - a charge -against the present licensing system. Thus it becomes tho first duty of tho « liotel-keepers in Gisborne, if they value their licenses, to take all possible steps to remove any reproaches that may at present be levelled against this town from the point of view of the sobriety of its people. There is no getting away from the fact, unpleasant- though it be, that there is an undue amount of drunkenness in the town, and also in the outlying districts, with the result that many a person is disposed to vote with tho no-license advocator who, in his own mind, does not believe in prohibition. This is one of the most important facts in tho present- situation, and the hotel proprietors will be well advised to give it duo weight. In several towns in the Dominion, including Christchurch, tho licensed victuallers, recognising that they 'are only -holding their licenses, las it were on sufferance, have formed a vigilance committee which gives the police material assistance in bringing to book those undesirable licensees who their hotels so badly as to bring the trade as a whole into disrepute. The hotels in Gisborne aro, as a- whole, fairly well conducted, but there is -undoubtedly room for improvement, and tho latest returns for drunkenness should provide a hint that the publicans will be wise to take. The No-License League lias already commenced a very active campaign for the prohibition of all • licenses, and the representatives of the liquor trade will doubtless organise shortly, but in the meantime it is well to make it thoroughly clear that the result of the poll next December will depend very largely upon the manner in which the hotels are conducted from now till then.

The box plans for “The Mummy and the Humming Bird” were opened at Miller’s yesterday morning, when there was a keen demand for seats.

The Lenten services to be held in Li 10 Parish of Holy Trinity, Gisborne, to-morrow are announced in ti;e Church services advertisement in this issue.

The monthly meeting of the No License League will be held in the Wesley school-room on Monday overling, when a full attendance of members is requested.

At the Police Court yesterday William Smith was fined £l, in default 1 days’ imprisonment, for drunkenness, having been tlirieo previously convicted of a similar offence during the past six months.

At the Park racecourse yesterday, while Mr. L. A.•Mclntosh’s Soultite was being given ordinary exercise she fell and broke her shoulder. Mr. E. V. Luttrell was called in, and bandaged her up temporarily, but it is very probable that she will have to be destroyed.

Yesterday a new shipping record was put up, when the steamer Regains, 227 tens net register, the largest vessel yet brought into tile river, was berthed at the wharf. She was drawing lift Gin, and was berthed without once touching bottom. A record was also put lip as regards cargo, the 550 tons of coal brought by the steamer being the largest amount of coal ever brought into the river in a steamer.

Wellington, housekeepers are paying .s (kl per lb. for butter.

The first meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate ol Thomas Alorrisoii will bo hold on tho ttoth lout.

The Gisborne City Band will rei dela programme of music from the 'lwfalgar rotunda to morrow lUmnoon at 3 p.m.

T'ho critie of tho Now Zealand Herald writing of “Rotor’s Mother, says: “Its intrinsic merit lies m its sheer humanity, its straightforward sentiment, its hoiiHry, vigorous atmosphere." This play will he staged in Gisborne on Friday next.

Mr AV. Lissant Clayton, Sharebroker, reports the following quotations telegraphed from Auckland yesterday: Buyers at: Champions (Lkl) 4s 8(1 Champions (Cent) 3s 9d, Comsloks 3d, Crowns 7s Id, Talisman’s 53s 3d AVniotahis 8s Id, Karaiigaliake Is, Mountain Kings. 96, l airua Golden Hills (tkl paid) Is sd.

At the Salvation Army Barracks tomorrow mootings will ho hold to mo!come Captain Adams, late of Eltliiim, who has been appointed to assist Adjutant Dickons an tho work of tho local branch of tho Army. At 3 o’clock in the afternoon a lecture will be given by Mr. Taylor, who has recently returned from a visit to England, descriptive of his visits to social reform homes in England, including Dr. Barnurdo’s well-known homes.

A soi/.urc of a number of sacks of bad oysters was made by tho Health Department at Alastorton tho other day. According to tho AVairaripa “Ago” .it has been discovered that hawkers -attend sales in AA’ellington and purchase for two or three s-lnl-lings ii sack ol oysters absolutely _unlit for human food, and it a time when good oysters aro bringing lbs or more per sack. Tho bad oysters are immediately taken up to country towns, and hawked round at what might be a reasonable price if they were good, but both price and oysters provo very high under, the circumstances.- “

Despised of men as he is, tJio.Chinain in (says the Sydney “Morning Herald”) can set his Christian brother many a lesson in humanity. One of tlio greatest is in tho treatment of his horse. It is proverbial that- a Chinaman will rarely be seen with a poorly-conditioned beast, and .even when fodder prices are highest Ins horse will be sleek and tat, while the poor things in the city cabs and ’buses seem almost like animals of a different- -species by comparison. Tho reason that it belongs to a Chinaman does not make a horse fat, it is because he gets careful treatment and the best of feeding. In the Sussex Street produce markets you wnl often hear a buyer object t 0 a price for the reason that it is a “Chinaman’s price.” Tho explanation _ is that when a shipment of chaff arrives the yellow man will pny from 5s to LO.s above the market rate to have his pick of the choicest for his horse.

For upwards of 20 years a man named AleCabo has dwelt in the hills to the west of Alat-amata. Ho existed in a strange manner, resembling the ancient hermits. AA’hat caused him to seporate himself from other human beings is unknown, for though lie visited various homesteads, lie could not be induced to stay more than a week or two in a civilised home. According to his own account (says the N.Z. “Herald”) he was ono of 'the 18th Royal Irish Regiment-, which fought in tho AVaikato capaign, and a- bullet wound was in evidence to attest the truth of the story. He was. however, the victim of various delusions, one of the most familar being that lie was tho owner of tho Matamata Estate and nil the flocks and beards thereon. Ono day last week AleCabo was found dead on the property of Afr N. Banks. An inquest was held on Friday evening, before Mr Forrest, Coroner, from Paeroa, when a verdict (in accordance with the evidence) was returned of “Death from old ago and exposure.”

Yesterday morning a large number of local commercial men gathered together in tho Afasonic Hotel for the purpose of farewelling Afr. T. Adair, who leaves shortly lor a trip to tho Old Country. Air. J. To will ey presided, and in tho course of a short speech wished Air. Adair a pleasant and profitable trip. On behalf of those assembled, Air. Townley presented Air. Adair with a pair of fieldglasses as a slight token of the esteem in which lie is hold. Short speeches were also delivered by Alessrs C. H. Ambridgo, J. AA 7 . Bright, A. F. Kennedy, and AV. Pettie, wishing their guest a luippy time while away from Gisborne. After tlio toast “Bon voyage to Air. Adair" had been honored, Air. Adair feelingly replied, thanking the speakers and others for their expressions of goodwill,, and stating that on liis return he hoped to be able to pay more attention to the affairs of the town. Air. Adair concluded by emphasising the good feeling that had always oxisted between the various firms in Gisborne and his own.

During the season of Lent, tho vicar of Holy Trinity is giving Special courses 'of addresses in the church on Sundays and also AYed uesday evenings. The subject for Sunday morning is “Somo friends of the Alaster.” On Sunday evening the vicar speaks oil “The Lord’s Prayer, its message for.our times.” On Wednesday evening the subject will bo “Some favorite hymns, their . history and teaching.” The vicar invites parishioners and residents generally to the various services . A special invitation is issued to strangers and newcomers. AA’itli the view of helping enquirers the vicar invites questions On any point raised in his address to be put in the church boxes or sent through the post. The enquiries may be anonymous and all questions will be answered from the pulpit. Persons wishing to know the history of.their favorite hymns are asked to forward the numbers. Special music will be sung at all services. There will be a children’s lenten service in the church to-morrow afternoon. All young people and their friends are invited. The usual Sunday evening services will bo_ held in the Afangapapa and Ivaiti district schools.

In conversation with a “Times” reporter, Captain A. G. Deere stated, in regard to the Easter manoeuvres, that it was to bo hoped that tho employers would assist them in releasing the men. Some of the employers, lie knew, did not look too favorably upon volunteering, but their assistance was looked for. lie certainly had very little trouble in most cases, but that was not always experienced. They wanted really the whole Dominion to realise that this, test was a test of the efficiency' of the whole force. That was one of the main, objects, and although not a case of absolute necessity, still the work had to bo done, and the programme as laid down would be a very fair test of the efficiency of the corps. For the liiouuteds, the shifting of 40 or 50 horses was a big undertaking, and it was hoped to make arrangements for a special boat. The ordinary boat would need an extra couple of days, and a special boat could leave when necessary. To take them overland would mean a trip of five days to Napier, allowing a day for rest, to give the animals anything like fair treatment. It had been done before, on Ihe occasion of tho Duke’s visit in 1902, when a party went down. It was not such a busy time of year, and these from the country wee free. The horses suffered, and cue or two were lost owing to the rough weather. If it was a case of necessity, tho men would strain every nerve to meet the wishes of headquarters, but it was not a case of necessity, and it was not fair to ask the men to do what might cause them to lose their employment.

Afer the exceptionally dry summer, it is anticipated the winter will be an unusually wet one. To be well shod enables man, woman and child, to defy the elements. Genuine bargains in boots and shoes of every variety are to be had at H. J. Andrew’s Boat Depot, Gladstone Road. Mr. Ad Irew is leaving shortly for Auckland, and his large stock must be cle ired. Como and see what liberal discounts are allowed on all liiies*

Tlio Supremo Court site at 9.30 this morning in divorce.

By fclio /oal.'imlin this morning 2*l Gisborne passengers leave for foreign ports, all haring been booked through Cook’s Tourist Office.

Last night a good performance was put up at CnrJylo Mouse. Whatuupo'ko, when two couples waltzed on an oilcloth floor in a room twelve feet square for two hours eleven minutes.

The s.s. Mogul us which arrived from Westport yesterday has the distinction of having been built in the fliuno yards as the Atlantic greyhound Mauretania. On the day the itegulus was launched she ran foul of the big liner, but no damage was done. The annual narudo of the Gisborne Hides was held last evening, Captain Beere being in command. Company movements wore taken in the .Drill

Hall, as the weather did not allow outside practice. There arc vacancies lor ono or two good recruits.

A movement is on foot to place Thursday football on a more satisfactory footing next season than it has occupied in the past. It is intended to arrange for a rogular series of matches to take place weekly, and a meeting is to bo held in. Dustin’s rooms on Tuesday evening to discuss matters.

Mr. lan Sinison, who has just returned from a visit to the coastal districts beyond To Araroa, states that the country is now looking firstclass as the result of recent rains, although the streams and rivers aro still very low. Pastures appeared to ho in hotter condition beyond Pakarao than on this side. Mr. Simeon was greatly struck with the fertility of the soil beyond the Waiapu river. Whore the land was grassed it seemed to him to bo carrying from 2$ to 3 sheep to the aero. There was a largo attendance at the Victoria Hilliard Saloon last evening, when E. Austin mot M. Jones in tho Gisborne championship matches, and all could not find seats. Austin got away from tho start, but Jones drew lovel in tho second hundred. Austin got away again, and made a break of 38, putting him up to 233. Then ho made a small break of 18 and ran out. His opponent made 189, Austin winning by 61. At the conclusion of tho game, tho spectators accorded well-deserved applause. Jones, however, had all the worst of tho luck. To-night E. Austin meets IV. Wallentino at 7.30, and a good game should result.

At the Kaiti School yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a fair number of ladies, tho medals awarded for unbroken attendance during tho past year were presented by the Headmaster, Mr. J. H. Bull. Occasion was also taken to present the prizes of £2 each generously presented by Mr. Frank Harris for the best boy and girl in the school. These prizes were divided between Emma Bell and Mabel* Baty and Alan Hawley and Elvin Hansen. Attendance medals wore presented to the following :Mabel Baty, Emma Bell, Ruby Baty, May Fairlie, Rose Bradford, Dorothy Downey, Christina Baty, Ada Bell, Eva Bpll, Nellie Fairlie, Norman Bishop, Leslie James, and Vera "Wilson. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Harris closed the proceedings.

In his report to the Licensing Committee yesterday, Sergeant Williams stated that since January Ist, 76 persons had been arrested for drunkenness, the number including 8 females. For the corresponding period of the previous year 39 males and 4 females wero arrested. He- (the Sergeant) was of opinion that the increase was largely duo to the supply of liquor in bottles to persons who took it away for consumption, and thus encouraging prohibited persons to drink. The Chairman said he was afraid the Sergeant’s remarks were only too true, but as a Committee he did not know' what they could do in the matter. Mr. Darton thought licensees might he warned. On Saturday nights it was a common occurrence to see drunken men carrying bottles of beer in their pockets. The Chairman said that in the case of drunken men they probably received liquor from more sober friends, W'lio obtained it in the hotels.

The experienced Parliamentarian is rarely at loss for something to say, and Mr Massey, M.P. can speak when called upon as readily, and to the point, as any member of the present Parliament. Still (remarks the N.Z. •‘Herald”) it was somewhat disconcerting, oven for Mr Massey to discover, when lie reached Hamilton on Monday, that his bag had been left behind at Otahuhu, and in the bag were all the notes he had prepared ready for his speech on Monday night. To the sympathetic remarks of friends upon the position, Mr Massey responded in his breezy style, “Oh, it dosen’t matter, I’ll think of something to say all right.” The big audience which gave him so cordial a welcome that night was unaware of tho circumstances of the lost bag, but nevertheless listened to a remarkably line, clear, and decisive speech, which evidently found much favor, being applauded to the echo. Subsequently Mr Massey was warmly congratulated by. a number of those present, the opinion being expressed by several who have known him for many years that ho was never in better fighting form and the speach was one of tho best they had heard him deliver.

Sergeant Williams reported to the Licensing Committee yesterday that he had found the closets at tho Roseland Hotel, Makaraka, in a dirty condition, and the urinal at the Albion Club Hotel was in need of repair. The Clerk said notices had been served on tho licensees on the matter. Constable Doyle reported that the conveniences at the Ormond Hotel required extensive repairs or to be replaced, and that the w.c. enclosure at tile Waerenga-a-liika Hotel was in an insanitary state. Mr. F. W. Nolan, on behalf of the licensee of the Waerenga-a-liika Hotel, said a new urinal had just been erected. The Chairman said it was necessary in the interests of health that premises be kept clean, and unclcanliness was a ground Tor refusing a renewal of a license. Publicans seemed to have an idea that they could allow their promises to become dirty, and by cleaning them after the inspector’s visit escape further liability, but this was a mistake. _ Mr. Darton said that in one case a licensee excused himself on tho ground that his conveniences were open to the public. The Chairman said that was no valid excuse. Mr- Darton said licensees paid too much attention to the bar and not enough to the back premises. The Chairman: That is only too true.