The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1908. A DISTINGUISHED IRISHMAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2220, 18 June 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1908. A DISTINGUISHED IRISHMAN.

Tlio brief cable message appearing in Saturday’s issue referring to the return to London of Sir Robert Hart after 5-4 years sorvico in China, concerns ono of those really -groat men whose -life work has not only cbnferred an immense benefit upon those immediately a (fee led, but has also reflected a brilliant lustre upon the reputation of the nation which claimed them as its representatives. In a Joiig leader on tlio extiuordjivary career of 'Sir Robert Hart the London “Times” says that the departure of Sir Robert Hart from Peking practically terminates an official career which is perhaps unique in. the history of the relations of the Western world with the Orient. For forty-five years Sir Robert Hart has controlled tho -great service of tlio Imperial Ohincso Maritime Customs with which his name is inseparably associated. He did not found it, hut he guided its development and euiarged its ecopo to such a degree that hi may be almost regarded as ite real creator. . Yet it is not only as Ins-pector-General of Customs in- China that Sir Robert Hart has received world-wide recognition and . distinction. Thatposition- mado him, as has been truly said, ‘the permanent trustee of foreign interests in China’; but ho was much moro tliau that. For many years ho was tlio acknowledged intermediary between AVostern nations and tlio Chinese Government. Lining a ipexiod of transition, wliou Europe was hammering at the gates of China, sometimes with guns, always with insistent requests, it fell to his lot to act as a diplomatic buffer .and to lessen tlio impact of many a shock. He was the constant and confidential adviser of the Chinese auhoritiee, and lie was oven permitted t-o -negotiate treaties- and conventions. (He made terms of peace with Franco -after the war of 1885, and his was the-preponderating voice when the Clii-fu Convention andmany another international -agreement was drafted.

Sir Robert Hart’s control of Chinese Customs dates from the period when the central provinces were in the throes of the Tai-ping rebellion. In the chaos caused by that gigantic revolt, when even tlio nutivo city of Shanghai was in the hands of the rebda, the new service was horn. The selection of the young Consular olficor to direct it almost coincided with the opening of several new treaty ports, and the service -began ii. expand at once. Sir Robert Hart brought to his task an unusual coin.;, biiiatioii of qualities. 'He possessed indomitable industry, inexhaustible patience, shrewd .perception, the fa-,-,-ltv of selecting good subordinates, a talent for organisation, anil a love of order and method-*-which was in strong contrast to the casual character of tlio Chinese Administration.

He insisted on- discipline, and, above aill, he exacted the strictest financial probity from his staff. In •an atmosphere of stagnation and corruption the Imperial .Maritime Customs grew to be a. shining example of official honesty, promptitude, -and just treatment. The Chinese marvelled to discover that, while their revenues expanded-, not » tael stuck illegitimately to the fingers of any person in authority. The Customs facilitated the growth of foroign trade, and yet was a. cautious guardian of Cliineso interests. It was an abiding object lesson in a land rotten with mismanagement. It gained the implicit confidence of foreign Powers, and its revenues served ns a sound security when the time came for China: to borrow. Tho service was well, paid, and attracted to its ranks able men of many nationalities. Its growth was steady and continuous, for between 1864 and 1906 the foreign imports increased in value from less than .620,000,000 to £67,000,000. lit lit the coasts of Chiii-i, and it compiled statistics of foreign trade .Which were the equal of any in. tiro world. So efficient was the Customs Administration, so ample was the faith reposed in it, that many extraneous executive duties were entrusted to Sir Robert Hart. He was asked to organise a postal service, which lie did with'admirable success; and at one time it seemed as though half the direction of the Chinese (Empire would be thrust upon his willing shoulders. He was always at his post, and rarely loft Peking. \His high conception of his responsibilities cannot fail to have made a deep impression upon the Chinese officials who were wont to seek his counsel and guidance.

AVriting editorially of the Department’s'- milk inspection regulations, the .. Christchurch . “Press” says: — “When the requirements o-f the Department are ibetter understood,, -and they are recognised as being on practical lines, there will not be much difficulty in enforcing tlio regulations, providing tlio .inspectors understand their business, and aim at advising rather than coercing’.’

Amongst the cargo which came to hand -by the s.s. Tarawera yesterday morning were 323 bags of flour ol different -weights, imported -from Melbourne. - A Press Association telegram from Christchurch, which appoam in another column, fctutoo that the directors of the F.lourmillers’ Association in that city have decided to reduce the price of flour by 10s per ton op account' of recent -heavy importations, chiefly from Australia.

A lecture on mission work in China was delivered in the Baptist Tabernacle list night by Mr. AV. S.Strong, who has for some years past boon laboring in the cause of Olirktianit'- in the East. The lecturer gave a graphic account of the- superstitions of the Chinese, and told how hopelessly they wore under the influence of the priests of their different religions. At the' conclusion of the lcctufe -Air. 'Strong answered a number of questions.

Two Dunedin boys. ; aged 14 and 15 years,- have caused their parents and friends considerable anxiety during the past few weeks, owing to a strong desiro to become circus performers (says tlio “Otago Daily Times”). Too youths, unknown to their parents, joined a circus which recently visited the city, and although requested to do so, stoutly refused to return to their homes. At Balclutha, on Friday the younger of the two, with whom the glamour of circus life had slightly worn off, consented to return liomo, bub tlio elder boy set parental authority at defiance and went oil with the travelling show.

Mr Fairfield Thompson, of Kimbolton road, Feilding, who possesses a magnificent herd of Jersey cattle, -had an experience with a Jersey cow that is well worth chronicling. It appears that the cow in question -was sold to a farmer at Hakino some six or seven miles away. Fences proved no obstacle to this -animal’s desire to return to the homo of its birth, and although the cow wa6 returned to Makiuo on no less than -five occasions, it surely -found its way homo again in less than 2-4 hours. Mr Thompson was so impressed with the Jersey’s iovo for tlio -placo that lie prevailed upon the buyer to accept the reurn of ins purchase money, and the -faithful animal is now again among tho -herd from which it was taken.

Information was received in town yesterday morning by 'Sergeant Hutton tint an elderlv man named Thomas Holmes had died somewhat suddenly at -Mataw-ai on Tuesdav night. Deceased, who was about fifty years of ago, was engaged at his usual occupation of road-making through the day, and in the afternoon had a- lon-g walk. -In tho evenin-g, after eating a hearty meal, he was seized Avitli asevere attack of vomiting, and died almost immediately afterwards. Communication was interrupted -between To Karaka and -Motu, -and Sergeant Hutton wired to Constable Doyle yesterday to proceed to Matawai. The constable arrived yesterday 'afternoon and is making tho necessary arrange; menU for an inquest. Death is supposed to have been caused by heart failure. The deceased man is stated to hive relatives named McDougall residing at 'Kaiti.

The question of whether or not a doctor had the privilege of refusing to give evidence in criminal cases heard in a court' of law was raised during the hearing of a doctor’s evidence at tlio AVellington Magistrate’s Court last week. Counsel for the defence, in cross-examining a medical witness, suggested that the doctor had a right to object to answering certain questions put by the prosecution. Subsequently, Chief Detective M'Grath took the opportunity of pointing out that counsel for the defence was not quite correct. Tlio Chief Detective proceeded to explain that although a medical mail was still privileged in criminal cases up to a- couple of years ago, ho had no option but to give evidence under tlio present -law. Counsel did not appear to be convinced.

The muddy and greasy state of the roads, it as responsible for a certain, amount of mild excitement in Peel street last evening. The Blorougli Council’s steam roller, which had been working on. Head’s Quay during tho day, was 'proceeding to the depot shortly before 5 o’clock. Finding Childers road unpassablo, Mr. Fairlie, driver of the roller, decided to go ;by the main street. With the intention of reaching Gladstone road he turned into Peel street, but found that the wheels refused to grip the road, and when just opposite the “Times” office the steam roller came to a standstill. Tho wheels would take no grip in the soft mud,- and spun round and round uselessly. Portunatolv the Council’s employees were engaged in spreading shingle on the opposite side of the road, and with tho aid of a quantity of this, and the use of some corn sacks, the roller eventually obtained a flying start and ultimately arrived at its destination without furlier mishap.

A matter of .public interest in connection with tlie hire-purchase system was discussed at tho meeting'of Owen Haigent’s creditors (says tho Wellington “Post.”) One of the creditors was I Air Fitzgerald, of Alatterson and Fitzgerald, cycle agents. Wellington, Vho had. sold the bankrupt a bicycle on the hire-purchase system, iAir Fitzgerald l claimed preferential treatment, but tlie Assignee disallowed the claim to regard the machine as security—holding that the covenant between the parties was not legal, as .it had not been registered. Mr Fitzgerald contended that the Assignee’s ruling was a serious matter for him and all business people who sold articles on the hire purchase sys. tom, and it would go hard with tlie vendors if it was deckled that the agreements were not valid, because they were not registered. The Assignee said that Air Fitzgerald coukl prove as an ordinary creditor. Liter on .Air Fitzgerald decided that bankrupt should retain the bicycle and complete the payments.

After .the extremely pleasant weather experienced locally for sonic time past, the sudden change to wintry weather yesterday was koenlv felt. The day was bitterly cold, with a biting south-easterly wind blowing, accompanied at intervals by driving showers of sleet. The drop in tlie temperature was considerable, and has also been felt in tho surrounding district. Falls of snow have been reported from Flaiigaroa. AVharekopae, and' Tiniroto, "and information was received from Whatatutu yesterday to tlie effect that the surrounding hills were snow-clad, although it was raining steadily in the township. In consequence of the strong wind, there was a heavy swell in tho Bay yesterday, and tlie transhipment of both passengers and cargo was attended with considerable difficulty. The bow-lines of the lighters, made fast to[ tlie s.s. Tarawera in the forenoon, parted several times, and at half-tide heavy sons were breaking over both the breakwater and groyne. The sea- moderated considerably towards evening, and the s.s. Victoria’s passengers and cargo were landed without mishap, and, under the circumstances, in good time.

At the inquiry held over the accidental . ramming of the gunboat Gladiator d"ring manoeuvres at Spithead, when so many were seriouily injured, it did not transpire whether the pastry for the sailors was cooked in pie plates or not, nevertheless this week its pie .plates for sevenpence each at Parnell’s Popular Saturday Sales, goth inst., only.

It Is reported Unit W. J. Wallace, A second edition of “Agriculture the well-known Poncko and Mew Zen- in New Zealand issued by the Gonml representative player, is suffer- vernment Agricultural Department nix 'from what is termed “moulder’s ban just been issued, it is a concise knee” and will bo unable to play J tittle pamphlet admirably compiled fuelhall amiin. 1 and well illustrated and is part-icu-tootuan a.«u. j laiJy useful for circulation in coniines whence immigrants are sought.

On tho Oth July noxt a billot is to bo taken amongst contributors to tho Public Service (Superannuation Fund for the election of members of the Superannuation Board. Two members are to be elected bv the contributors other than those in that l)e pertinent. A circular just to hand announces that Messrs Cha.s. Js. Bennett (Department of Beads). 11. E. Radcliffo (Mines Department), and Captain (1. S. Jticliurds<ai (Defence Department) are offering thiuisolves for election.

>•' Some days ago a farmer leaving tho Union Bank of Australia, Rangioru, dropped four new £1 notes, folded together, which fell near the doorstep. ThT> first man passing gajo the little parcel a kick, the next .picked them up under tho impression that they were theatre “dodgers,” and was on tho point of throwing them into the gutter when lie detected their face value, and going into tho bank with them, left the notes to be claimed. The rightful owner turned up exactly a week later, and recovered his lost property.

It is abundantly evident from the amount of land that is changing hands in Taranaki this winter that the end of the land boom is not vet (save tlie “iEltliam Argus”). The question that is agitating Taranaki people is whether the price that is being paid for land is within the value of the land. There is one aspect of tho land' boom that is not pleasing to local tradesmen, and that is the exodus of old sottlers from tho district. 'Many of these have held their land while it advanced by from £lO to £2O per acre, and they have taken the advantage of the' high price of land to self out.

'ln discoursing on tho shortcomings of noxious weeds inspectors, one of the speakers at tho conference of Manukau local bodies said it seemed that the inspectors exhibited leniency towards those whom they thought were unable to afford to strictly comply with tho Act. Ho instanced the ' n sy of a property in his district, which, he said, was overgrown with blackberries, but on which no cutting had ever been done. This property belonged to a widow, and probably this was why no notice was taken of the neglect t 0 clean tho obnoxious brambles. "Perhaps,” said the chairman (Mr E. Allen), “the inspector has taken the advice of Sam Weller to heart 1”

As a result of the recent agitation for the stopping of the u s o of stoamors whistles in Lyttelton harbor, tlie Harbor Improvement Committee recommended the Harbor Board to make tlie following by-law:—“A steam whistle, or. siren, or foghorn shill not be sounded on any vessel (tho Lyttelton (Harbor Board’s tugboat excepted) navigating the waters of the port or when .lving alongside any wharf for the purpose of summoning or signalling to workmen or passengers or any person whatsoever, but shall only be sounded for such purposes as relate' to navigation.”— The recommendation was adapted.

Mr Perry, 'New South Wales Minister for Agriculture, referring to the shutting out of New Zealand potatoes from that State, said .New South Wales had done nothing in the matter until information was received from the New Zealand Government that blight existed all over the •Dominion. The disease could not be detected in the seed, and develops only when, the crop grows, and consequently New South Wales had no alternative but to absolutely prohibit importations. The Now Zealand Minister for Lands had suggested that a sample of the diseased mandarins which bad recently arrived at Dunedin might he placed in a jar and labelled with the certificate of the State officer declaring them clean, to be used as a shelf-decoration for the Minister’s room. In reply to this, Mr Perry said, “I suggest lie should send the fruit back to Sydney. It would look just as well on niy shelf as on his.”

A New 'Zealander w]i<> recently visited Honolulu says:—Business in Honolulu is in a, good healthy condition and tlie merchants seem to bo confident of continued good times, mainly on account of the high prices which their, products are bringing in the world’s market and the fact that they are opening out in now lines notably tlie growing of pineapples and tlie further improvement in machinery for working of lisal a competitor in the hemp market). As showing the probable development of the pineapplo industry a Marge block of *3OOOO acres of very poor land which was considered useless has now been found to grow good pine apples and from a few shillings an acre this land has n s en to be worth £2O per acre and will soon be almost exclusively used for growing this very profitable fruit and this, will be a great heb> to the exports of the Hawaian Islands.

“Wantor—a smart youth.” so runs the advertisement to bo seen almost daily in the newspaper now when a merchant or other business man wants a boy for office work (remarks the “Wairarapa. Daily Times”). Bnt “smart youths,” who wore once wont to “rush” these billets, now stand off, and employers aro complaining of a scarcity. The reason is hot far to seek. The advent of District High Schools lias prevented a good many boys from leaving school after passing the sixth standard, and the facilities given them for pursuing the higher branches of education have been eagerly availed of. To give an instance. Air. AV. iH. Jackson, headmaster of the Masterton District High school, was asked by a prominent local business man the other day, if there, was any probability of a smart boy leaving school shortly who would be likely to accept a position in bis office. - (Mr. Jackson went round the seventy-five scholars in the sixth-stan-dard,.and put the question, but there was not one favorablo response. Tlie parents evidently think they have better tilings in store for their boys.

(Last year about 1,300 Australians were brought back from South Africa by the Commonwealth Government and the states, at a cost of nearly £9,000. It was ’arranged that tlie Commonwealth should share with each state the cost of advancing the funds for the repatriation of these people, and that they should, as soon as possible, repay the money spent. Over 100 Victorians were brought back from South Africa under this scheme, and the cost per head varied from £7 to £lO. Captain Jenkins, secretary of the Closer Settlement Board, was given charge of the Arrangements on behalf of the Victorian 'Government. It is now about a year since these. Victorians returned from South Africa, but the Government has, so far, succeeded in collecting but a small proportion of the money which it advanced. Some of them have disappeared, and in many cases tho assistance of the police has had to lie sought. Tho money is, however, trickling into the Treasury from a number of these repatriated Australians, who are ridding themselves of their liability to the Government by a system of time-’ payment in small sums.

SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES. Miss AT. C. Terral describes the horrors of the convict lease system and the chain-gangs which constitute peonage in the Southern States. She [quotes evidence to show that the convicts, black and white, are forced to work from fourteen to twenty hours a day, are often provided with no clothes, shoes, bed, heat- in winter, or ventilation in summer, are given rotten food, are allowed ’to die for want of medical attention, the women are outraged, the old men, too feeble to work are beaten to death, young men nrp killed for the mere sako of ’killing. There arc in Georgia at the present time 1500 men who were sold to the highest bidder in April, 1904, for 3 period of five years.