THE MAYORALTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2165, 14 April 1908, Page 2

THE MAYORALTY.

A definite stage in the contest for the Mayoralty -will take place tonight', when one of the candidates, l)r. AVilliams, will address the electors in His Majesty’s Theatre. We trust that there will be a large attendance, not because of any personal predilections for a particular candidate, but because it is eminently fitI ting that the citizens should meet face to face those who seek to represent them iu the highest office the town has to offer. It is, moreover, as wo .have frequently pointed out of lato, specially desirable at this juncture of Gisborne’s advancement that the town should have at its head a Mayor in whom the people can have every confidence to lead them along progressive lines out of the rut ' in which its public affairs have been allowed .to drift. lii this connection every elector has an urgent duty to perform ip giving a vote that will count for the future welfare of town and district. To give such a vote it is necessary that both candidates should be heard, so that not only the political views but also the personal characteristics of the candidates can be judged. In this connection .it is well to remind those who have not yet been placed on the roll that after today at five o’clock no further names will be accepted. The qualification of an elector is broad enough to suit the most democratic, embracing not only ratepayers, both men and women, but also tenants and boarders, so that a heavy polling can he looked for. There has been of recent date a good deal of whole-hearted criticism by tho man in the street of our public representatives, who have been vaguely designated as “slow going,” “fossilised,” “out of date,” and so forth, but it must be remembered that the people as a whole are partly to blame. So long as they decline to take a serious interest in municipal matters, so long will the evils they complain of continue to gxist. It is, of course, characteristic of many people that they can never be accused of attending a political meeting, municipal or national, and will scarcely vote unless they are practically dragged to the poll, yet these same individuals will spend a goodly proportion of their subsequent existence standing at street corners railing against those

who have been placed in office us being responsible for everything of which tlioy disapprove. It should bo borne in mind by all who complain of the state of the roads, flic difficulty of getting the water supply into certain streets, tlio price of gas, the lighting of the streets, lack of drainage, and 'kindred matters that preelection timo provides tho best opportunity of securing attention to them, as tho views of tho candidates upon all these topics can readily ho ascertained at their public meetings. Tlieso, then, eompriso a few of tho reasons why every elector should take a keen, personal interest in tho Mayoral contest, which is being formally commenced to-night.

A general mooting of hockey players will be held to-night, at 7.30, in tho. Royal Hotel.

Owing to tho Easter holiday 'arrangements, tho TJ.S.S. Co.’s Manuka arrives from Auckland this evening, instead of to-morrow, and loaves for South again at 7 p.m. The Gisborno Private Band will give an open-air concert in tho Trafalgar Rotunda to-night, at 8 o’clock.

The young man, Finley Ferguson, who was injured at Patutahi last week, and who is a natient at Nurse Harney’s hospital, is reported to ho making fair .improvement.

Mr Geo. Darton has been wa’lcd upon by a number of townspeople with tho request that ho would l Umv himself to bo nominated for the vacant seat on the Borough Council, and lias given his consent.

Rua, the Maori “Prophet,” with his followers, Uroweras and others, is coming to AVairoa this week. A largo crowd from Hawke’s Bay is expected.—Press Association.

Our AVellington correspondent wires that figures regarding rent and the cost of food stuffs in the four centres show that tho cost of living is greatest ill AVellington.

Tho ratepayers’ roll will close at the Town Clerk’s office at 5 p.m. this evening, and those entitled to vote and wishing to do so at tho forthcoming municipal elections should see that their names are on the roll today.

The Te Arai settlers are wasting no time in getting on to their allotments, and yesterday Messrs. Evans, Neild, and Co. sent away several waggom loads of timber for the construction of four houses they have contracted to creot on the settlement.

A meeting of l)r. AVilliams’ committee was held at Mr. E. H. Mann’s office last evening, Mr. Mann in the chair. Good reports were received from the canvassing committees, and other routine business was transacted. Dr. Williams will deliver a public address in His Majesty’s Theatre to-night, at 8 o’clock. Captain Tucker will take the chair.

A meeting of Mr. AV. D. Lysnar’s executive committee wa3 held last evening in the Farmers’ Club Rooms, Air. Bin-ell in the chair. Good reports were received from tho canvassers who are working the district, and other routino business was transacted. It is "expected that Air. Lysn-ar will return from Wellington on AVeduesday.

* The statutory meeting of. shareholders in the Gracedale (Ltd.) Land Syndicate will be held in AVellington on April 28tli, the date having been altered to allow the Gisborne shareholders time to meet, and appoint a representative to vote at tho statutory meeting by power of proxy. Shareholders are requested to communicate with Air. iLissant Clayton.

‘ “When questions of what is. law crops un,” said the Commissioner of Cron'n Laiids yesterday, “the Board has te go to a judge for a decision, and . all judges seem te have different- opinions.” Air Lano remarked that the Hawke’s Bay Land Board had never gone to the Supremo Court for a decision yet. “No, and we don’t want to go,” interjected Air Trent.

A seaman from the auxiliary schooner Kereru, named Donald McDonald, who, while in a state of intoxication on Saturday night, was anxious to display his pugilistic powers, and was challenging all and sundry to combat, appeared at the Police Court yesterday morning before Mr. W. A. Barton S.M. Accused pleaded guilty to a ’charge of riotous behavior and was fined 10s and 2s costs, with the alternative of 48 hours imprisonment.

As indicating the peculiar season in Wairaraxia, wattle trees in full bloom may be seen at Konini, as well as apple trees blossoming after having yielded a good harvest of fruit. In Masterton one resident has secured two crops of potatoes consecutively from the same piece of ground since the beginning of the spring. In several Christchurch gardens the wattle trees are iu bud, while currant hushes are sprouting now growths which threaten, to burst into leaf before the past season’s foliage is finally disposed of.

The Crown Lands Hanger (Mr Simson) in his report to tho Land Board yesterday drew attention to the fact fhat a number of section holders (father and daughters) were residing upon one block, pooling; the stock, and running over all tho sections as one run. Mr Lane said he did not think the Board had power to interfore as long as the conditions of lease wore complied with. Mr. Simson said the daughters had huts on their sections, and sometimes slept there. The Board decided to take no action in the matter, and considered the terms of tho lease were being observed.

The deatli occured at the Gisborne Hospital yesterday morning of Mr. Alfred J. Robb, who for the past seven years was onmWeel in the local post office. The deceased, who was only 21 years of age, accidently scratched his arm about a. month ago; blood poisoning set in and on Friday the limb was amputated ,at the elbow", lie rallied somewhat after the operation, but just before midnight on Sunday, bis condition changed for tho worse, and lie died about half-past two the fallowing morning. Tho unfortunate young mam was widely known and re..pec Led throughout the' town. The funeral will leave the hospital to-morrow at half past two.

Argument in two coast cases was hoard by Mr AY. A. Barton, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. One was a case brought ib.v -theTologa Bay School Committee (Mr Bright) against 11. McNeil, a claim for 30s damage to a school gate caused by defendant’s horse bolting with a buggy. Tho other case was for an alleged breach of covenant in trade, brought by AA’alter H. Coiinoiiv (MiBright) against Herbert Henry’Fairlie (Air T. Alston Coleman), claim for £75 damages -and £l7 17s l®gai expenses. Evidence in both cases was heard during the recent sittings of the Court on the Coast and after argument had been taken yesto-dav, His AA’orship took timo to cons'dor 1 is decision in each case.

From the time I first saw you my heart has sighed for the opportunity that Leap Year affords a lovesick maiden. I now claim the privilege, and offer you my whole heart, that has long sighed and hied for you. If you accept me I shall be the happiest woman on earth; but if you re fuse, m-ay your eyelashes nuit and obscure all other girls from your sight; may all your teeth fill ‘out, and your chickens all die with croup. This week-it’s Bread Knives at Sd at Parnell’s Ironmongery.

AA oods’ Great Popporniint Cure for Coughs and Colds never fails. Is Od and 2s 6cl.

On her voyage South the auxiliary schooner, the Kaco, supplemented her ordinary cargo by an unusual consignment. Captain, Skinner called at AVkalo Island, where there are, according to his estimate, at least a thousand wild, goats. . Some of tto crow caught eight, which wore taken aboard. They were disposed of before Gisborno was reached, land the remaining half-dozen were presented to persons -who happened/ to bo on the’wharf yesterday afternoon when tho vessel was berthed.

Some timo ago somo of the shareholders of the Kia Ora Dairy Go., Ltd., expressed dissatisfaction- with the financial arrangements of the company, and withdrew their support? The directors therefore invited .the shareholders to ineot thorn at AVaeronga-a-hika- last night to discuss the position. There was a large attendance of shareholders, about 150 being present. The chairman of directors, Mr. J. A. A. Latsar, presided, and gave a thorough explanation of the company s financial arrangements, and several other directors and shareholders also spoKe. The meeting was a quiet one, and after hearing the directors explanation the shareholders present- expressed complete satisfaction with .and confidence an the directors, and with their system of management.

Tho annual meeting of .this Freezors’ Union 'was hold last night. Theio was only a moderate attendance, owing to many of the members being out of town. Keen interest was displayed .in the election of officers tor tho ensuing year. Mr. Okl retains the office of president, and Mr. J. Jackson was re-elected to the position of secretary, it being now his fourth term in- that -capacity. jVLr. onowsill was re-elected assistant secretary and treasurer, and Messrs. Haycock and Petersen were appointed auditors. The following commit-te-o were elected : —Messrs. R. Haycock, F. Hay-cock, Hewitt, Petersen, Hamilton, Hill, and Corbett. It was decided to cite the -two local companies for a breach of award, and. a special meeting is -to he called for tho purpose of confirming the resolution. A notice of motion was tabled by Air .11. Haycock, te the effect that a committee be appointed for tile purpose of revising the present rules in some respects. The year’s operas tions of tho -union were very.satisfactory, 114 new members having been enrolled. The finances were in -a sound position, and a general feeling of unity is manifested among tho men.