The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1908. THE MAYOR-ELECT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2178, 30 April 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1908. THE MAYOR-ELECT.

If we cannot conscientiously compliment the people of Gisborne upon their choice in the selection, of Mayor, we can at least congratulate the successful candidate upon gaining a meritorious victory. During the campaign ave opposed iMr.' Lysnar’s candidature, and in doing iso directed public attention to .what wo considered were solid objections to his election os Mayor, but at the same /time we freely 'acknowledged his good qualities. Of his determination there is no question, nor of his energy, and, as formerly emphasised, lie knows what ho wants, and concentrates his efforts /accordingly. Moreover, /the Britisher, wherever, ho be located, dearly loves a fighter, and in this respect Mr. Lysnar scores heavily, for lie is .a- fighter to the finger-tips, always game, and never recognising defeat. We are glad to acknowledge, also, that in the present instance, Uio fight has been fought on thoroughly fair lines, and in this respect there is no occasion to detract from the credit of a hard-earned victory. To our mind (there were many good reasons why Mr. Lysnar should not ibo elected to the position of chief citizen of Gisborne, but a majority of electors have expressed their wishes differently, and we arc prepared to cordially accept tho popular verdict, and to hope that at the end of the present term it will prove to have been justified. It is, of course, impossible that onc-lialf of Mr. Lysnar’s extravagant- promises can be fulfilled, but if he succeeds in bringing only a fraction of bis ambitious programme to a successful issue, ho will have done good work for tlio town. In /this respect it is to be hoped ho may have tho whole-hearted assistance of the Council, for however bitterly some of the .councillors- may have opposed -vf. Lysnar’s candidature, and however they may, in their own hearts, resent his metohds, it is -necessary lor the. good of the town that they should entirely /respect the office ho holds, and leave no stone unturned to support- any proposal that m-uv benefit the. people. Dr. Williams and Cr. Bright both gave a cordial and voluntary assurance in this direction last •uight, and it is to be trusted that the same spirit -will animate the rest of the Council. So far as this journal is concerned, we may cay .that whilst wc fought Air. Lysnar’s candidatii/ie on what we considered good tand sufficient grounds, lie will, in his position of Mayor, receive all the support it is possible for us to give to any proposal lie may bring forward that is likely to operate for the welfare of the town. It is quite possible /that some of the hard knocks administered t-o Mr. Lysna/r -in the recent campaign may have, shown him some of his weaknesses, -and that, profiting thereby, and having also in view the great responsibility of his position, lie may prove himself -a most excellent Mayor. One thing is certain, namely, that be will bring to his public duties an abundance of energy, perseverance, and painstaking -ability that should find ample scope in tlie multifarious weeds of ia growing .town. For the defeated candidate nothing hut praise can be given. It was generally recognised that in accepting nominatiaon -D.r. Williams had -not tlie slightest idea of personal advancement, hut was, in tho truest sense of the term, offering his services to the -town. In the 'face of very

strongly organised opposition ho put •up a great light, and there is no doubt whatever but that, -as a result of the contest, ho secured a very warm place in the .public esteem. The doctor is to ho congratulated upon tho success of Ilia initial campaign, and there is every reaafcn to beliovo that should ho continue to take on active part in municipal politics the position which ho failed to secure on tho present occasion will ultimately fall to his lot.

A Press niossngo from Wanganui says there is no truth in tho rumor tli'nt typhoid is rife among tho Maoris in tho' up-river sottlomenis.

Messrs James Balfour and Alien Me Loan woro tho only persons nominated for the two vacancies on tho Arohn Road Board and wore consequently declared elected by tho returning officer (Mr. Morion).

Mr. W. F. Massey, Loader of the Opposition, and Mr. AV. Ilerrics, MM’., a prominent member of the Opposition, will arrive in Gisborne mi Saturday. It is probable that Mr. Massey will address a public meeting of electors early next week.

As the office of Mayor of Gisborne carries with it a seat on the Harbor Board, tliero will consequently be a vacancy on that body for, a representation of the County in place of Mr. Lysnar. The secretary (Air. Witty) will arrange for an oleotion to ho held, and tho Board will not meet until the member lias been appointed.

The better-class drama does not appeal to everybody. When Miss Naneo O’Neill appeared in “Aladda,” in Auckland, some years ago, a member of a holiday night audience demanded loudly to know, in tho middle of the first act, when she was going to give them a song. On Saturday night (says the “Lyttelton Times”) there were two men in the nit of His Majesty’s who would have liked a song and a dance in “The Miurnmy and the Humming Bird.” “This i 6 no good,” said one, “there’s nothing to laugll at.” “I went to a variety show the other night,” said tho other. “The dogs were fine.”

The arrangements for the Gisborne Private Band 'Social to be held in His Majesty's Theatre on Thursday, May 7tli, are well in hand. The reports received at the last meeting of the committee mere very encouraging, the ladies having worked with a great amount of enthusiasm to ensure its success. Tho dress circle lias been reserved for onlookers by tho committee, who have also made a point of engaging competent cloakroom 'attendants, and every tilling possible is being done to promote an enjoyable evening.

At tho annual meeting of householders held in tho school room at Morere on Monday evening April 27, Mr. Austin presided. The following wore elected a committee for tho following year:—Messrs. A. G. Smith, C. E. Stewart, J. Austin, J. Roynolds, and AV. A. McKain. At a meeting of the new committee held subsequently Mr. J. Reynolds was elected chairman, secretary, and treasurer. It was proposed by Air. Stewart, seconded by Air. McKain and carried, “That the resignation of Air Esther as teacher be accepted.” The meeting then adjourned.

There is a rumor that, ill certain eventualities, Mr. T. Alackenzio may make excursion into Air. James Allen’s district, says tho Oamaru “Mail,” and that, if this should happen, the Opposition will be skimmed of the cream of its financial genius. It goes without saying that, whilst Air. Alackenzio is popular oven with those whose political sympathies are averse to what ho would call liis politics, and particularly with the farming classes, Air. Allen’s tenure of his so-called representative position has been duo to a personality which would not stand the strain of Air. Alac'kenzie’s popularity. If there should bo a combat between these two, it will be ono of the most striking and interesting of tho general election.

A family settled in the Forty Alilo Bush had a somewhat unique experience in buying n farm. At that time they were in the Old Country, and having read about New Zealand, they got into communication with a firm of land agents, who sent along a list of proprieties to choose from. The intending emigrants selected a farm in the description of which it,said “trains run right past tho house.” On reaching tlieir selection they found the train line was a “bush tram,” and for many months they were heartbroken over tho wild country they had landed in. They have long since got over that feeling, and now rejoice in possessing ono of tho best dairy farms in the “Forty Mile.”

Probably tho first case of its kind in the Dominion is the recent suspension by “Gazette” notice of the license of a surveyor at Opotiki for three years, for having committed oilences as set out in subsections A and B of section 16 of tho “New Zealand Institute of Surveyors and Board of Examiners Act, 1900.” Tho sections refer to a suspension of a Jiconsc for the wilful certifying to the accuracy of a survey, knowing tho same to be or without taking reasonable precaution to verify its accuracy, aiid to any action which may bo construdcd as having wilfully, or by culpable negligence made, under his immediate direction and supervision, any survey or plan which is inaccurate or defective.

The other evening a local resident, says the Oamaru "Mail,” whose poultry prefer the shelter afforded by his. macrocarpa trees for roosting purposes to that contained in their properly constructed habitation, was startled at a late hour by the distressful cries of one of tho birds, and on looking into tho trees with a lantern to ascertain tho cause, discovered on tho topmost branches a weasel on the back of a fowl leisuroly sucking tho blood from a wound indicted at tho back, of the Load. The attempt at capture was a failure, but a trap was set, and later a weasel was caught. Whether jt was the one in question or another it is impossible to stato. Tho incident will servo to settle tho question as to whether these rodents will or will not climb trees.

A statement lias been circulated in tho King Country to the effect that tho chief Wahanui, who consented to the opening lip of tho country to tho pakchas oil condition that no liquor was admitted, did so in order to conserve his own gain from tho illect sale of liquor. At a meeting of tho New Zealand Alliance a letter was read from Sir Robert Stout, stating, “It is absurd to suggest that the prohibition of the sale of liquor in tho King Country had anything to do with Wahanui personally, or was done to enable him to sell liquor without a license. Wahanui was only giving expression, as a chief is accustomed to do, to the strong feeling of his tribe, when he and other, chiefs joined with him, asked that the King Country should bo closed to liquor. You may make what use of this statement you please, as I knew ajl the facts at tho time.”

Speaking in Wellington last week, the Minister for Labor fi'M there would be some important labor legislation introduced during next session. For instance, there was their recent- experience with the Conciliation Board at Christchurch. Ho for one was not in love with it. The hoard had taken five months doing work that could have been done in three weeks. It was going to cost a lot more than they anticipated.- For instance, it had been decided that the proceedings should bo reported, and ho bad just received a bill for £482. The Farmers’ Union and Farm Laborers’ Union would each have to pay £IGS of the amount, lie had asked the chairman a few months ago to fix three or four places to take evidence, and then shut down, but the board had still gone on. He was cprito certain that Parliament, when it met, would hav.e a good deal to say about this matter.

Tlio Turangnnui Public Library Committee invito applications for tiro post of assistant librarian. Applications must bo sent to Mr. U. .Stock, noting lion, secretary, on or bolero Saturday, May 9th.

“Tlio worst witnesses in the box,” remarked Or. McArthur, S.M., at Wellington tlio other evening, “aro lawyers. They aro so often telling fairy tales that I supposo they aro afraid of telling them whilst on oath.”

Tlio Thursday footballers held their first practice on Victoria Domain yestorday afternoon. There was a good attendance of players, and some good form was shown. Present indications point to a considerable improvement, both in tlio quality of tlio playors and tlio standard of play, and thero is promiso that Thursday football will this season bo vastly bettor than that of past years.

A rcmarlcablo story from tlio West Coast backblocks has reached tho cars of a Taranaki, “Herald” representative through’ most reliable channels. A married couplo settled thero in an isolated spot many years ago. Boon after their arrival they quarrelled,and since then they have lived without speaking to each other. They have roared a largo family, and the children having never heard human speech until recently, have not learned to speak. There plight is pitiful now when they come in contack with their follow-beings.

Technical education is proving itself a great factor in social life, and die rising generation of girls are learning the names and uses ot the many varieties of utensils required in the modern kitchen. Later they will remember that Parnell’s ironmongery ,s the place that mother recommended. This week it’s flour Sifters at tOd each, at Parnell’s Popular Saturday Sale. j ;